The Mahotella Queens - Reign & Shine

(Wrasse Records/ WRASS 177)

'Queens' is truly what these women should be called. Seven years after they lost their front man Mahlathini, they are still proving to the world that they are more than just backing singers. Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola, and Nobesuthu Mbadu have been in the business for over 40 years, yet have a youthfulness and freshness that most new musicians would cry for. This album really takes you back to where they came from musically, and it's strange to think that in 2006, a lot of it reminds me of those performances of the 1960s and 1970s. I love this album - it is one of the most uplifting and energetic albums I have heard this year - proves that things only get better with age. Enjoy!

Reviewer: Chino Odimba

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