<Freshlyground>

Freshlyground have taken the country by storm, and for good reason, it is rare to find a band that is so diverse that they have a sound that appeals to South Africans of every walk of life. Anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to their previous album “Nomvula” can tell you that their particular brand of genius is one that even the harshest critic finds hard to deny. Freshlyground’s distinctively South African sound is like a breath of fresh air despite any individual taste in music. This band understands the value in simplicity while still keeping a full sound without intruding on the powerful vocals.
“Ma’ Cheri” is unmistakably Freshlyground. While they have not strayed too far from the afro-pop of their multi platinum album “Nomvula”, each and every song on this enchanting album offers a different vibe. There is a slightly commercial feel to the album as a whole, not in a negative way though, it is well thought out in every respect. The lyrics are sometimes beautiful, sometimes ironic, but always entertaining. There is such a strong element of fun in this album with songs such as ‘Go Gorilla’ and ‘Manikiniki’. If you, like me, can’t understand Xhosa, take a look at the bands website, www.freshlyground.com, for the original and the translated versions of each track.
“Pot Belly”, the first single off the album, is the song so many people (especially women) have been waiting for to be written. It has a great melody and inspiring lyrics – a great way to create the hype that the album deserves. This band seem to be able to capture moments in time and express them musically creating a personality for each song. I’m a sucker for hidden tracks, and any album that has one gets an extra credit in my books.
Vocalist Zolani has an incredible voice and a great talent for story telling, she breathes life into every track with great charm. Not to be upstaged, the other members of the band make their presence known, and felt, with such a wide variety of instruments each song is distinctive. One of the intentions behind this album is to use it to reach a global audience, and this is where they get it right unlike so many other SA bands. Freshlyground have stayed proudly South African through and through and would be great ambassadors to the music world. Having gone multi platinum here at home, it’s time to take the next step and as our first MTV winning artists, the future is looking bright.
“Ma‘Cheri” is extraordinarily colorful and a great addition to anyone’s CD collection. The only thing that could possibly be better than listening to the album would be watching them live, which is why I am not going to pass up the opportunity to catch their countrywide tour this November.
As we are rolling into the last few months of 2007, “Ma’Cheri” is an ideal Christmas gift for all those friends and family who will need some warming up in the cold UK over the festive season and maybe make them a bit homesick, so get your order in early!