In this post we’ll be taking a look at some cool, chilled mbaqanga from the early 1980s. Today’s share is Isitha Somuntu by the shortlived group The Shoe Laces, produced by the legendary West Nkosi and released on the Black Hi-Lights label in 1981.
Think of the last great mbaqanga bands to come out of South Africa… Abafana Baseqhudeni, the Soul Brothers, and Amaswazi Emvelo. This record is very much in that vicinity – which doesn’t come as much of a revelation considering West Nkosi had a hand in some of Abafana’s early (mid-1970s) recordings, and was in fact the utter brains behind Amaswazi Emvelo itself.
The liner notes paint a very vivid picture of the formation of The Shoe Laces: "The Shoe Laces were born and grew up together in the small village in Natal called Sweet Waters. They all attended school together. At school there was one older boy by the name of Hlongwane, he was playing piano, he is the guy who brought these young boys together and formed a musical group out of them. He taught them how to sing, that was in 1961."This is, however, mostly exaggerated! The Shoe Laces were yet another studio creation out of the deep pool of musicians at Mavuthela in 1979, at a time when mbaqanga music was in danger of ebbing away completely following events happening in the political (and musical) landscapes of South Africa.
The Shoe Laces were mostly comprised of Amaswazi Emvelo personnel and naturally share much a similar sound. In this, the Laces’ third album, the music is just as tasty as anything you’ve heard from Amaswazi. The cool guitar glides across a backdrop of florid organ, deep bass and soulful drums, all topped off with shimmering male vocals.THE SHOE LACES:
Big Boy Thusi (vocals)
Elliot Mncube (vocals)
Joseph Thusi (lead guitar)
James Zondi (bass guitar)
Mandla Mtalana (organ)
Alpheus Harari Mnyandu (drums)
Enjoy!
ISITHA SOMUNTU (The Shoe Laces)
Black Hi-Lights BL 290
1981
1. UMENDO UNZIMA
2. ZANDILE
3. ISITHA SOMUNTU
4. UVUKA EKUSENI
5. IZOLO LOKU
6. UDAKWA NJALO
7. KUDALA SIHAMBA
8. KHULUMA NENTOMBI YAKHO
9. HLONIPHA ABAZALI
10. SIZA UBUYELE EKHAYA
11. AWUNAMAGAMA
12. DLOMO
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