Mahotella Queens

This is a nice album but wasn't there a way to find an extra ten minutes or so to get the running time up above a very brief 27 minutes? Shanachie's tendency to price their releases lower than the average market price is outweighed here by the brevity of the album. That complaint aside, this is a chance for the Mahotella Queens to step out front and strut their stuff (despite the male vocalists who rise up and dominate the mix from time to time). Usually working in conjunction with Mahlathini as well as the Makgona Tsohle Band -- essentially the primary mbaqanga ensemble when you combine the three main elements -- the Mahotella Queens aren't often seen right out front, so this is a pleasant change. Other than that, there isn't much to say; as usual there's the marvelous vocal interplay, rhythmic gaiety, instrumental swift-footedness (the arrangements forsake emphatic walloping for emphatic melodic structures), and periodic deep-voiced male vocal outbursts. The songs are strong on melody and enthusiasm, with the Queens working in harmonic unison, rather than having one of them step out and take a song as a solo (when one does solo, it's brief and usually sunk deep in the mix). The one caveat, then, is the shortness of the disc. Other than that, this is recommended. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide