Ladysmith Black Mambazo

This is the U.S. release of the German title Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela that appeared in Germany in 2003. The album comes in both standard and SAS CD formats. As for the music found here, this is just a going-through-the-motions set for Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the legendary South African supergroup who use the township sound of Isicathamiya as their base. While most of their recordings are spiritual in nature, this set offers some more secular themes -- including a tune reminding people to buckle their seat belts while driving! Musically, the territory is the same as it ever was, with the only real differential being the voluminous use of English here. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide