From Out Of Nowhere: @KongosMusic’s Album “Lunatic”

KONGOS, Lunatic

You’ve already heard the single “Come With Me Now” blasting out of car stereos, but aside from being one of those winning kind of hit songs, you probably don’t know anything about the group behind it, Kongos.  Kongos is the last name of the four brothers in the band (Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Daniel) and they are all sons of the South African singer John Kongos, who’s best known for his minor 1970 hit “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”.  The brothers grew up in both South Africa and England, and their sound is heavily influenced by their father’s homeland.

The band’s diverse sound stems from classic rock, late 70’s punk like Elvis Costello, as well as traditional South African elements which you can hear through the accordion and the odd Umbaqanga rhythms.  It’s not like Paul Simon’s Graceland or Ladysmith Black Mambazo thank goodness; Lunatic is best when it rocks out.  I love the deep bassy rhythm of “Hey I Don’t Know” (below) and the Reggae influence on “I Want To Know” is infectious.  You can hear that Umbaqanga rhythm (best exemplified by Johnny Clegg’s bands Juluka and Savuka) on “Sex On The Radio”.  “It’s A Good Life” is a standout because it sounds like a natural follow up to “Come With Me Now” without sounding like anything else within Lunatic.  This is a tight band of brothers who know their stuff and produced a record that took a long time before a major record label (Epic) re-released it earlier this year.

So now that you know more about the brothers Kongos, you will not be hearing the last of them.  They just played my city and I’m sure will be back again.  No one hit wonders these guys!