Track Listing

1. Mbaki (Intro)
2. Iwiye
3. Mundane
4. D
5. Muka Mwam
6. Muto
7. Profunda Sensação
8. A Sawo
9. Mbombo
10. Bayedi
11. Oa Nde
12. Bila
13. Stabat
14. Mbaki (Outro)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #209026 in Music
• Released on: 2003-01-14
• Number of discs: 1

From Amazon.com
Other than Manu Dibango's soul-infused 70s hit, Soul Makossa, and Henri Dikongue's latter-day singer-songwriterly poetics, artists from the West African nation of Cameroon are still relatively unfamiliar to Western audiences. But the area is home to some of the continent¹s most vital and accessible pop styles, and Coco Mbassi¹s throaty, caressing vocals and sophisticated arrangements require even less translation than most. Her soulful, urbane sound is assembled from relatively small forces. A tinge of dreamy, melancholic French cabaret melody weaves through jazzy piano, woodwinds, and acoustic bass, but the multi-layered percussion and women's choirs speak eloquently of centuries past. She sings about the tragedy of drug addiction, her devout Christian beliefs, and appreciating those you love before it's too late. It may seem odd to recommend this album to fans of Norah Jones, but open-minded listeners who are not overly attached to English-language lyrics will find plenty to love here. -- Christina Roden

Album Description
Sepia is a unique debut album from a Cameroon storyteller named Coco Mbassi (em-bas-see). Bridging the Christ-centered message of Gospel with dreamy songs erected on sparse acoustic instrumental arrangements with minimal and mostly hand percussion, bel canto piano, string quartet, solitary soprano sax and vocal overdubs or harmonizing backup singers, Sepia straddles the fence - between a tender roots-folk feel for its elemental yet delicate atmosphere, and a mature finesse for the impressionist palette of pastels wherey Mbassi sketches her lyrical soundscapes. Tropical. 2004.