VERCKYS – Congolese Funk, Afrobeat & Psychedelic Rumba 1969 – 1978
aaamusic | On 22, Jan 2015
A journey to the origin of funk – that’s what Analog Africa has, once again, undertaken with its latest release by Verckys et l´Orchestre Vévé.
Congolese Funk, Afrobeat & Psychedelic Rumba 1969 – 1978 is another astonishing collection released by the German label, which has decided, on this occasion, to rediscover one of the most influential Congolese musicians: Georges Mateta Kiamuangana, better known as Verckys. The collection focuses its view on a troubled period for Congo: the years between the 1960s and 1970s, when the so-called Zaire began to be subjected to Mobutu’s authoritarian dictatorship, which lead the country to a deep economic crisis caused by corruption and misgovernment.
But, as often happens, those critical years were also culturally radiant and identified Kinshasa as one of the most vibrant musical scene in Africa, if not in the world. Part of the merit is also to confer to Verckys, who was able to import the Latin and American influences, but at the same time, to preserve the indigenous Congolese styles.
From 1963 onwards, when only 18, he joined the renowned Franco´s O.K. Jazz orchestra; his career literally rocketed. One year later, he left the band and since 1969 he has helped to redefine Congolese music. He opened his own studio, established his own label and thanks to the support of Orchestre Vévé, Verckys started to mix his passion for James Brown’s funk, to the traditional Congolese soukous, to more Latin oriented rumba and merengue.
The result is, still today, an electrifying circuit wired to the most dynamic aspects of the Congolese culture, and able to energise its listeners since its first notes. Verckys chose the most genuine ingredients from the North American, West African and Latin traditions to create a genre on the hedge between afro-funk, blues, psychedelia and Latin rhythms. His musical skills, which enlighten the sax, the flute, the clarinet, the guitar and the keyboard, are glaringly showed in this collection: a tribute to the first artist who led Congo on the music atlas.
Among the 11 chapters of the opera (14 on the bandcamp’s edition), it is possible to have an in-depth understanding of Verckys’ production: the years between the 1969 and 1978 can be indeed considered as the most glorious and inspired of his career. Next to it, almost all the faces of his artistic path are represented.
‘Bassala Hot’ is pure afro-beat, swinging between Nigerian beats, inspired brass and relentless percussions, while ‘Cheka Sana’ features more funky atmospheres and freewheeling vocal parts.
‘Oui Verckys’ is gloriously enhancing the spirit of the ’70s with its groovy keyboard and smooth trumpet lines, but then, in ‘Nakobala Yo Denise’ Verckys et l´Orchestre Vévé exhibit the most traditional Congolese attitude and the Latin dance charm making room to more rhythmic arrangement too.
It’s a matter of fact that, reflecting Verckys’ inventiveness, every track on Congolese Funk, Afrobeat & Psychedelic Rumba 1969 – 1978 enjoys its own character and features. Every track is a world on its own, able to expose not only one of the best periods in African music, but also to predict the music development of a Continent.
