Kanda Bongo Man

A definitive soukous album, Kwassa Kwassa takes its name from the dance that swept through parts of Africa and Europe in the late 1980s (which is said to derive its name from the French phrase "quoi ca?"). This album shows off African guitar playing at its best: bubbly, often piercing, sweeter than fresh fruit on a hot day, while Kanda's voice quivers overhead.

Vocals mild, tempos unvaryingly moderate-plus, named for an African dance craze that's only a wonderful name to me or you ("Quoi Ça? Quoi Ça?"), this one-hour serving of modern soukous cynosure is what vulgar poppophiles call samey. The first two cuts played back-to-back will certainly delight whoever you play them for. Any two cuts played back-to-back will probably delight whoever you play them for. All 10 cuts played back to back will fade into the background as surely as Brian Eno or the washing machine. (Grade - B+)