Peacock back with a sweet album

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Tuesday September 9, 2008 00:00

 

His third offering clearly illustrates how far the youngster and his mentor producer Dan Tshanda, are destined to go in music. Peacocks new album hit the shelves last week and already disco enthusiasts are anxious for a performance from the energetic musician when the Dalom Music groups start their national tour next month.

A year after its release, Nozukile still sounds fresh. Those with a copy in their car or taxi hardly spend a day without blaring it out and Umgo Wame is likely to surpass that success.

Tshanda said of the album: This is, perhaps, the best project that I ever did with him (Dandile). The way the lyrics are arranged and the way he sings them makes it more than just a good dance album. He gives it more meaning not to mention the way the instruments fuse with his voice.

Indeed, the best of the two might still be far from here. There have been complaints in recent years that Tshanda was losing his old touch, which made him such a legend, and this is perhaps his chance to prove just how dangerous he can be when he produces music for other groups.

As Africas greatest statesman, Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday, millions around the globe joined the tributes while others like Mzwakhe Mbuli jotted down songs and poems. Peacock was not to be left out. One of the hit songs in his album is a tribute to the former South African president.

The song has a balanced tempo with a heavy bass and it is arranged in such a way that the listener can have a good time even when sitting on a couch.

Tona ya Rona, is the track to watch out for during this summer. That it is sung in various languages, like Setswana, Xhosa as well as English, makes it a faivourite to many who would easily relate to its message.

This is a song about the current social problems that are actually besieging Africa as a whole. It is an appeal to political leaders to come forward and control the situation where people are killing each other for various reasons. We did it in such a way that it could have you feeling the pain that people are suffering, but we did not want to get our fans too stressed after listing to it, which is why it has a danceable background instrumental, Tshanda said.

But it is not Peacocks beautiful colours that will lighten up your summer, there is another man at Dalom Music with a unique style of music. The old type Mpaqanga from the likes of the Soul Brothers, the mega group that dominated the music scene in the 80s.

Cyril is the name of the artist who recently released that album and it is already a hit around many townships. Tshanda himself started as guitarist with Soul Brothers before he formed his Splash.

I have always wanted to do that type of music because it reminds me of where I started and I realised that Cyril had exactly the type of voice that was suitable for that style. I added a little bit of my disco tunes and it has worked well for both of us because it appeals to both young and old who used to follow the Soul Brothers, Tshanda said.

Tshanda and his groups have been getting a lucrative market here in Botswana than in their homeland, hence he started a branch of Dalom Music Productions in Gaborone a few years ago. Their shows have always attracted huge crowds.

With the new liquor regulations, they would be amongst the most affected, but Tshanda believes that it would do little to affect the attendance. Every law must be obeyed. We now have to start our shows a little earlier like at 1600 hours so that we can be able to give our fans more songs before the 02:00 am closing time. Like everybody else we are hoping that people will be reasonable when applying the law. It will be our first time to play under such conditions when we come in October, but we will strategise to avoid inconveniencing our supporters, he said.