Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

With a whole pile of albums under their belts, it is fitting that Ladysmith should need a second Best Of album to sum up the beauty of their music. They are generally recognised as the best of the mbube groups in South Africa and having gained international prominence working with Paul Simon on Graceland'. as well as advertising soup (yes, that song is on here!), it is very difficult not to fall in love with their unique sound. Apart from "Homeless", the rest of their material isn't in English so it really is the sound and spirit of this music that grabs you rather than the words - although there are quite a few "amens" at the end of songs that suggest the gospel nature of their music! If you caught their live Greenbelt performance a few years ago, you'll know how mesmerising this can be. The rich swooping vocals and gorgeous harmonies are built around the distinctive lead vocals of Joseph Shabalala and each song blends into another to form a relaxing wall of harmonies that fill my room with beautiful sound. With all the hi-tech CCM that is available, the stripped down sound of Ladysmith is a breath of fresh air.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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