In the 1980's, Congolese singer Mbilia Bel became one of the biggest star in African pop, largely through her association with Tabu Ley Rochereau and then-ascendant soukous pop band, Afrisa International, which she joined early in the decade. With a gorgeous, shimmering voice, Bel became one of the most lauded singers on the African continent, as well as globally, but left Afrisa within a few years, to launch a solo career. Unfortunately, her solo records were less successful than her work with Tabu Ley. Still, it's a marvelous legacy, and discovering her voice is a pure delight for any world music fan. Here's a quick look at her work...
M'bilia Bel "Bel Canto: Best Of The Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987)" (Stern's Africa, 2007)
When M'bilia Bel first joined the band of Congolese bandleader Tabu Ley Rocherau, she was thought to be just another in a long line of female support singers. She swiftly emerged as one of the most potent forces in African pop music, an incandescent vocalist emanating vibrancy and good cheer in a series of gorgeously produced, uptempo recordings. Bel eclipsed Rocherau, whose own career spanned decades, and by decade's end they parted ways. Throughout the 1980s, however, Rochereau and Bel produced some of the most lovely African pop ever made -- this stunning 2-CD set gathers the best of their work on Rocherau's Genidia label, one sweet song after another, packed with the finest melodies that soukous music had to offer. Longtime fans and newcomers alike with instantly fall in love with this collection, one of the finest reissues I've heard in recent years. Highly recommended!
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Eswi Yo Wapi" (Sonodisc, 1983)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Faux Pas" (Sonodisc, 1983)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Loyenghe" (Sonodisc, 1984)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Boya Ye" (1984)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Keyna" (Stern's Music, 1985)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Ba Gerants Ya Mabala Paka Wewe" (Sonodisc, 1985)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Beyanga" (Stern's/Sonodisc, 1986)
Tabu Ley Rochereau & Mbilia Bel "Contre Ma Volonte" (Stern's Music, 1987)
Mbilia Bel "Phenomene (et 'Eli Loba')" (IMA, 1988/1996)
Singer Mbilia Bel found stardom working first with Sam Mangwana and later with Tabu Ley Rocherau, becoming an internationally recognized performer, due to her electrifying vocal presence, gorgeous phrasing and beautiful, pure tones... This was her first solo album, from 1988, wherein she is guided by producer/arranger Rigo Star, who was in many ways the epitome of the too-slick "Parisian style" of African pop production. Indeed, many songs have a prefab feel and rely too heavily on airy synthesizer riffs (particularly annoying when used as a rhythm instrument), but when Bel hits her stride and the guitars coalesce around her voice, all is forgiven. Lovely stuff, though I've heard other albums with her on them that I like better.
Mbilia Bel "Bameli Soy" (Shanachie, 1991)
Mbilia Bel "Desole" (Celluloid, 1991)
Mbilia Bel "Ironie" (Celluloid, 1993)
Mbilia Bel "Yalowa" (1997)
Mbilia Bel "Explorations" (Terrascape, 1997)
Mbilia Bel "8/10/Benedicta/8/10" (Sonodisc, 1999)
Mbilia Bel "Welcome" (Sonodisc, 2001)
Mbilia Bel "Boya Ye" (Genidia, 2003)
Mbilia Bel "Belissimo" (Stern's Africa, 2004)
