Soak up OUKOUS MUSIC raises up the dead to dance. Michael Becker RECORD REVIEW Loketo, a nine-piece soukous (secouer “‘to shake’’) band from Paris by way of the Congo and Zaire, hits the Town Pump Thurs- day, May 16. Fronted by vocalist Arlus Mabele, Loketo (nove your hips} drops the slower rhumba in- troduction traditionally defining the Congo music and speeds on to a higher dance fleor with the cranked up, synthesizer zapped “hot pop” rhythm of soukous. Loketo, a 1988 collaboration be- teen Mabele and guitarist Diblo Dibala — dubbed the fastest guitar in the west by one World Beat fanzine — is an essential product of the effervescent African pop scene in Paris. The 1970s economic nosedive in Zaire and the Congo made re- cording untenable for homegrown musicians. Colonial residue, in- cluding the French language, meant that the musicians of the area gravitated to Paris, where in- Wednesday, May 8, 1991 - North Shore News - 29 the soukous with Loketo struments, high-tech recording studios anc! a shot at fame awaited, Music Now recently spoke with Loketo manager Alex Boiccl. Music Now: ts Paris still *‘it’’ for African music? Boicel: ‘It’s like the big dream to be in Paris. They have studios and they can have a better sound. In Africa when they make an album it’s two-track. But in Paris with new technology, digital... And when a musician goes to Paris it’s good for them. In Africa people always think that when you are in Paris, things are going very well. The clothes are different, the lan- guage when you come back is dif- ferent. And they are talking about you in the papers. You are more like a big star. In Paris there is an album every six months for each musician because the money is there. And when you hear one, right away you have to do another one. It’s not easy.” Music Now: I understand that there is a fashion-statement side to soukous. What makes a “sapeur’’ (Societe des Am- bianceurs et des Personnes El- egantes)? Boicel: ‘’t would say the original sapeur was Papa Wemba. It’s a kind of movement. It came to make him stand out, a political thing. At one point the president, Mobutu (Sese Seka) wanted everybody to dress the same way ~— the same shirt, the same jacket, like Mao. And then this guy Papa Wemba, who was a big star at this time, decided that he was not go- ing to dress the same way. He Sweet Adelines to perform THE DOGWOOD Chorus of the Sweet Adelines will be performing their show The Circus Came to Town on Saturday, May 17. The two-part show, held at West Vancouver Senior Secondary School, includes a repertoire of songs and circus acts and guests Sonic Boom, the men’s barber- shop quartet. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. For in- formation phone 929-7828 or 922-0475, Do You Have the Fastest Hamster in Vancouver? ENTER CUR HAMSTER/FUNBALL - RACE FOR SATURDAY MAY 18th TO “2. QUALIFY * PRIZES FOR ALL ENTRANTS * REGISTER NOW! * ITS FREE! FOR MOTHER'S “DAY HAGEN BUDGIE STARTER KIT REG. $57.99 NOW JUST pk) decided to choose designer clothes. And that was making some peaple upset. And nobody could tell him anything because he was a big star over there. And so the musicians began to follow him and it became “‘sap’’. It looks beautiful. Shoes are very important, the ties, the belt, the pants have to be good fabric...” zs e¢ ae ee For a good sampling of the best in soukous check out Diblo with Loketo, Super Soukous, 1989 on Shanachie; Extra Ball by Loketo, a * Brent Heighton « Joyce Kamikura e Museum Arts Park & Tilford Centre ae a ee ee eee ee ee ee ee ed Park & Tiiford Save-On Framing, Art May Special % off Fine Art Prints & Posters Offer ends 31 May "91 . Compare our low framing prices and cur best quality guarantees SAVE ON FRAMES & ART 983-3854 333 Brooksbank Ave., N.Van 1991 release on the Shanachie label. Although Diblo is on the disc, he is no longer with the band. Replacing Diblo is another guitarist fram Zaire, Dally Kimoko. More soukous — Kwassa Kwassa by Kanda Bongo Man, released in 1989 on Hannibal Records; Papa Wemba, a 1988 release on Dis- ques Esperance and a 1989 release on Stern’s Africa. Tickets are available locally for the May 16 Loketo show at Out Of Africa at Lonsdale Quay or through Tickeimaster outlets. ¢ Dawna Barton ¢ Nancy G’Toole ¢ and more is purchased. 1 i i I ! | 1 i I | | | ! | 1757 Marine Drive, West Vancouver — | i I ! 1 i ! 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