Welcome to Zamrock! Vol 1: How Zambia’s Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution 1972-77

Audio Remasterer: Dave Cooley.
Liner Note Authors: Leonard Koloko; Eothen Alapatt.
Recording information: DB Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (05/1977); Green, Carpet Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (05/1977); Kenya (05/1977); Multimedia Studios (05/1977); Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Studio, Lusaka, Zamb (05/1977); ZBS Studios, Lusaka, Zambia (05/1977); DB Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1973); Green, Carpet Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1973); Kenya (1973); Multimedia Studios (1973); Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Studio, Lusaka, Zamb (1973); ZBS Studios, Lusaka, Zambia (1973); DB Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1974); Green, Carpet Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1974); Kenya (1974); Multimedia Studios (1974); Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Studio, Lusaka, Zamb (1974); ZBS Studios, Lusaka, Zambia (1974); DB Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1975); Green, Carpet Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1975); Kenya (1975); Multimedia Studios (1975); Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Studio, Lusaka, Zamb (1975); ZBS Studios, Lusaka, Zambia (1975); DB Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1976); Green, Carpet Studio, Lusaka, Zambia (1976); Kenya (1976); Multimedia Studios (1976); Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Studio, Lusaka, Zamb (1976); ZBS Studios, Lusaka, Zambia (1976).
Recently liberated from British rule but suffering from the growing pains of its autocratic first president, the Republic of Zambia found itself on hard times in the early '70s. Landlocked, isolated, and poor, Zambia somehow managed to avoid war while conflicts raged in surrounding countries. From this environment emerged the hard rock scene that became known as Zamrock. Taking heavy influence from American and British rock bands, Zamrock fused psychedelic sounds, traditional elements, and the overriding social themes of the day into a powerful if sometimes ragtag brand of African rock that was far different from the popular Afro-beat of so many Northern nations. Now-Again's excellent Welcome to Zamrock! Vol. 1 offers 16 tracks by the scene's primary movers and shakers -- like Ngozi Family, Witch, and Musi-O-Tunya -- spanning the years 1972-1977. At times hard and funky (Ngozi Family's cosmic thumper "Hi Babe"), political (the soulful "Fwe Bena Zambia" by Five Revolutions), and occasionally heartbreaking (Chrissy Zebby Tembo's riffy race jam "Born Black"), this set sheds light on a unique and previously overlooked branch of Africa's rich musical heritage. ~ Timothy Monger