Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Viva la Musica & Papa Wemba

  • Pole Position [Sonodisc, 1995] A-

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Consumer Guide Reviews:

Pole Position [Sonodisc, 1995]
As an excellent soukous record, this is indeed a return to form for the most excellent of active soukous artists. "Endena (Unfukutanu)" is one of those grooves so eternal that it seems to (a) go on longer than its near-seven minutes and (b) approach eternal life rather than endless tedium in the process. And for sure the accordion beats any synthesizer not counting the one that generates it. But whether all of this would so excite the Afropop faithful if Wemba hadn't just compromised himself credibly for Peter Gabriel I honestly can't fucking tell. A-