A Ma Zone

Well done!... Rafiki? like the baboon?..

I set the Preview All button thinking that I was just going to like 1-2 songs...by the time it got to the 4th song, I bought the whole album. I love it...the sound is really "soulfully-upbeat" and a WONDERFUL change from American Pop/R&B. I haven't picked a favorite yet because I'm still enjoying the whole thing!

This album opens up with the energetic Iko-Iko - feeling like dancing on the beach with the best friends you have in the world and then slides you all the way to the slowest, coolest hip-sway moves of Ya Solo...for drinking a nice rich red wine and dancing not so alone in the dark of night. I highly recommend this album for a lasting listen. It will never disappoint and it will possibly open your musical horizons.

it adds to the feeling of mysticysm and mystery.

This is one of Zap Mama's strongest albums. I'm not too deeply into African ethnic music, but "A Ma Zone" is an impressive feat that really gets your head bopping along to the beat. If you don't want to buy the whole album (which I strongly recommend), you should at least listen to "Iko-Iko", "W'Happy Mama" (which, by the way, was one of the songs performed in "So You Think You Can Dance"), and "Gissié". "Gbo Mata" is a great song as well; it's a blend of cool beats and an even more chilling vocal. Even if you don't understand the lyrics or you've never heard anything in this genre before, you should definitely give "A Ma Zone" a try. For those who prefer something more traditionally ethnic, take a listen to Ladysmith Black Mamboza, an acappella group. It's a pity that 1 "one-star" rating from a person who couldn't care less about music he or she does not understand can bring down the rating of an excellent album.

Discovered this CD while importing a stack of disks I found in my Garage. It has aged well and has an awesome groove. check it out!

This music is incredible. This woman's voice is sultry, thought-provoking, and arousing. I'll take this music, her wonderful lips, and that gorgeous face to go please!

Zap Mama is a ground-breaking group. I love their music because it is a brave thing to adapt and synergize to some of the crazy things the "all-mighty west" throws at the world in the area of music. Westerners (Americans) can be so self-contained. We want to see everything from our point of view and become bigots when the world doesn't give us our way. This is sometimes why many "Westerners" give world music bad ratings. So I am going the other direction....

Zap Mama's efforts here are very praise worthy. Iko-Iko, very commercial. Rafiki, is a club heater. with the roos' influence that was the track that caught my ear. a very good effort.