“Unina Kavusi” by S’modern Girls - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1980 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s

The Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje girls (Jane Dlamini, Julia Mangqu, Lindiwe Mthembu, Nobesuthu Shawe and Hilda Tloubatla) were certainly keeping themselves busy in 1980. They released the sotho vocal LP “Makoti Wakena” (Umjondolo ‎LJD-31) around the same time as this zulu vocal LP “Unina Kavusi” (Umjondolo ‎LJD-30), here billed under their S’modern Girls psuedonym. Historian Nick Lotay of Electric Jive comments: “1980’s Unina Kavusi features 10 strong Zulu vocal numbers with powerful harmonies, sunny guitar, pounding bass and glorious organ. Most of the vocals on Unina Kavusi are split pretty evenly between the Zesimanjemanje maidens and a male soul chorus (not actually the Soul Brothers on this LP, although they do sing on Ujabulisa Abantu). The trademark mbaqanga rhythms are definitely imbued with that Soul Brothers magic and the result is happy, sunny and delightful. Every number is brilliant but particular standouts include “Ukuhlakanipha Akukho”, “Utshwala”, “Thathakahle” and “Mawumthanda”.”

The Jukebox Rebel
03–Dec–2016

Tracklist

A1	[03:44] S’modern Girls - Unina Kavusi (Lindiwe Mthembu) Africana
A2	[03:44] S’modern Girls - Wenza Izintozakhe (Lindiwe Mthembu) Africana
A3	[03:44] S’modern Girls - Ukuhlakanipha Akukho (Julia Mangqu) Africana
A4	[03:30] S’modern Girls - Utshwala (Julia Mangqu) Africana
A5	[03:34] S’modern Girls - Uzojabula (M. Meso) Africana
B1	[03:32] S’modern Girls - Thathakahle (M. Meso) Africana
B2	[03:31] S’modern Girls - Ngithetha Amacala (Windy Sibeko) Africana
B3	[03:41] S’modern Girls - Vulamehlo (Lindiwe Mthembu) Africana
B4	[03:36] S’modern Girls - Ukungazi (Lindiwe Mthembu) Africana
B5	[02:59] S’modern Girls - Mawumthanda (Windy Sibeko) Africana

ratings by TJR