So I've been sitting in front of this PC for the past 23 minutes with a blank Word document open trying to figure out how I'd start this post. I've been racking my brain on how I'd make you want to go get this album before the early bird even knows what done hit him! But my efforts have sadly been in vain, I haven't come up with any genius marketing strategies so I'll just tell my subjective truth about the album coz nanas, it's just THAT hectic...
Last week I posted The Soil-God's gift to Mother Earth whose writing was inspired purely by the videos I found on Youtube. But my frame of reference has thankfully widened because I have with me The Soil's self-entitled debut album. It's an eleven track glimpse of heaven! Their sound is difficult to describe, they choose to label it "kasi-soul" but until you actually listen to the album you won't really have a firm grasp of what kasi-soul is. So I've made it easier and created an analogy that's far more idiot-friendly than the group's preffered politically correct term :-)
Time to employ a bit of theatre of the mind (use your imagination Nana!).
- So imagine you're listening to a sultry soulful ballad, sung accapella. Your favourite soppy song. Got that?
- Next thing you know your boyfriend whisks you off your feet and lays a moist one on you (you get to choose WHAT exactly it is he lays on you). Got that?
- Now, after all that swooning and caressing, have him dump you on a lumpy kasi-style matras and vacate your life forever, like the proverbial thief in the night leaving you yearning for more.
That's precisely how I felt: like I was tricked into loving something that was only going to leave me in desperate need of a second helping...just a little more. I absolutely adore this trio although they do seem a bit confused about exactly how many units The Soil comprises of (they perform as a trio but the album sleeve states there are four members!). I just wish there was more to the albumm than eleven tracks! I want more dammit. Whispering sweet nothings in my ear is not gonna do the trick if you don't get to the durrty bits!
I love how all the songs have a story to them (in vernac too), if you're black you'll identify and be reminded of your childhood when you hear the beautifully sung "Futseg, gowan. Nom'ungangizonda anginandaba nawe!" If you're Caucasian (is that a politically correct term? If it isn't just make pretend I'm Juju and I don't give a fuck!), you'll further be perplexed by the simplicity in which "our kind" find pleasure.
I feel like I've said enough. It's a scorcher of an album. If you're ready to return to your roots and have ALL the tracks from the album rushing through your brain all at once and continue wondering whether you'd prefer The Soil as a three or four member band, then this album is for you. It's available at Musica and Look&Listen stores for R110.
That's my two cents worth
CrazyBlackVirgin
