Pitchfork

In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic is the very long and very beautiful title of the first album from the Kasai Allstars. Comprised of 25 musicians from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Allstars bring together members of five different ethnic groups, each with its own language. Inspiration for the tunes is drawn from the festival and ritual music native to the Congo that predates the European settlement in the region around the turn of the 20th century.

The 7th Moon disc is the third in Crammed Discs' Congotronics series, and fans of that series will recall Kasai Allstars' appearance on 2006's Congotronics 2 compilation. In the 7th Moon will arrive July 15 in Europe, and September 23 in the States.

Both the Allstars and their labelmates Konono No. 1 had planned to tour Europe this summer, but a series of passport and visa tie-ups have made the trip impossible. A right shame! We hope they get a chance to share their Magic again soon; until then, guess we'll work on memorizing that album title.

In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic:

01 Quick as White
02 Mukuba
03 Kafuulu Balu
04 Beyond the 7th Moon
05 Mbua-a-Matumba
06 Mpombo Yetu
07 Tshitua Fuila Mbuloba
08 Analengo
09 Drowning Goat (Mbuji-Mayi)