Mario Rui Silva Stories From Another Time 1982-1988

Label / Time Capsule
Category / African, PALOP, Folk, Synth-Pop, Organic Electronica
Code / TIME 013 / TC 013

The roots of Angolan popular music explored in the meticulous guitar studies of Mário Rui Silva 1980s albums. Whether on mesmerising acoustic ballads or hypnotic groove-led tracks, the music of Angolan guitarist, researcher and intellectual Mário Rui Silva has a beguiling, melancholy quality, woven into the dynamics of his deft guitar playing. Rhythmically complex yet supremely effortless, the music collected here stems from three albums Mário released in Luanda in the 1980s that reflect his diverse range of influences, from traditional Angolan and West African rhythms to European jazz and classical instrumentation. It is united by a sense of low-key beauty, whether on the chugging opener ‘Kazum-zum-zum’, the jazz-funk keys of ‘Lembrança Dum Velho’, or the twinkling, late-night poly-rhythms of ‘Kizomba Kya Kisanji’. 🇦🇴 Born in Luanda, Angola in 1953, Mário dedicated his life to Angolan popular music. His fifty-year career has seen him live between Angola and Europe, rub shoulders with Cameroonian musicians Francis Bebey and Ewanjé, record the seminal album Angola ’72 with fellow Angolan musician Bonga, and draw influence from Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell. It was the teaching of Angolan legend and Ngola Ritmos co-founder Liceu Vieira Dias that Mário gained a technical, political and spiritual understanding of Angolan musical culture. In the hands of Liceu, the traditional Angolan semba and kazukuta rhythms of the 1940s and ‘50s helped create an emancipatory sense of national pride and collective agency that awakened its listeners to the racism and tyranny of colonial rule, underpinning the country’s push for independence in the process. What might sound like the intonations of Brazilian influence are what Mário attributes to the “African rhythms taken by the slaves [which] gave rise to other musical cultures” around the globe. Instead, this music emerged from a collective instinct to assert a cosmopolitan Angolan identity free from the patronising falsehoods of Lusotropicalism. “There was a need within me to contribute in doing new things,” Mário describes. “In the sense of solidifying the music of Angola that was the result of the meeting of two cultures, and wanting to value the Angolan part whenever possible.” A selection from Mário’s three 1980s albums, Sung’Ali (1982), Tunapenda Afrika (1985) and Koizas dum Outru Tempu (1988) have been compiled here as a 2xLP release by Time Capsule’s Sam Jacob and Kay Suzuki. Together, they provide a snapshot of one man’s journey to the core of his nation’s music, charged with the search for a culture uprooted by colonialism. 📩 FEEDBACK 📩 “This is the best album I have listened to this year. Thank you!!" - Hunee “Fantastic!” - Gilles Peterson "This sounds amazing, thank you!" - Ben UFO "It's a beautiful album. Kazum-zum-zum is a winner!" - Antal (Rush Hour) "The production is wonderful, so many quality tracks , it is very hard for me to choose just 1 or 2 favourites. I'm loving his journey, musical direction and the songs very, very much. The vocals are incredibly sublime & extremely soulful in their own right. This for me is a very special release, I had heard of Mario back in the early 80s, but had never managed to obtain many of his records until now. THANK U, THANK U, THANK U! You have made me extremely happy and I will give you my full support on this beautiful release." - Dr Bob Jones "The neutral eyes of a music lover from outside the lusophone space are sometimes enlightening. Mário Rui has always been a very underrated artist in Angola and Portugal. He has been recognised more as a researcher and as a talented musician by some of the people he played with, but never as a main act, as a figure himself. A shy, middle-class, low-profile man of mixed race (frowned upon because the creoles from Cabo Verde were used as intermediate aides of the colonists in mainland “Lusophone” Africa), that did not even have a sharp revolutionary tone would never stand a chance of big impact at that time. I am glad your work has helped to correct this." - Francisco “Fininho” Sousa “A damn fine selection of sunshine-filled 6-string showcasing songs, that fit perfectly in between Gratien Midonet and Serginho…” - Dr Rob (Ban Ban Ton Ton) “This is great new and beautiful release on Time Capsule, which makes me want to know more about Mário Rui Silva, of whom I only knew of his participation in Bonga - Angola 72. Mario Rui is a great acoustic guitarist who has spent his life in search of the roots of Angolan music. He is a free spirit & intellectual. His music is high quality that captivates you and that fills your heart. Grazie.” - Leo Mas “Another great release. Congrats!” - Charlie Dark (NTS) “Truly wonderful collection!” - Max Essa “Incredible!” - Alejandro Cohen(dublab) “Exceptional!” Matt Werth (RVNG Intl.) “This is amazing!” Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) “This album is fire 🔥 Loving it so much.” Charlie Dark (Run Dem Crew) “The recording sounds so high fidelity, could have been recorded last week!” - Mano Le Tough “Man this is a great record. I really like his stuff! Right down my street” - Esa Williams “Beautiful. Kazum-zum-zum-zum-zum…” - Eli Soul Clap “Beautiful floating melodies and laid back grooves. Really enjoying this :-)” - Aroop Roy

2LP Out of
stock 29€

see shipping rates

Listen

Mario Rui Silva Stories From Another Time 1982-1988

Same Label :: Time Capsule

Newsletter