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A big band beginning in ‘Sizophum’ Elokishini’ sets the album off nicely with fine tinkling piano from Keiko Matsui and Simphiwe backed terrifically by a choir. More excellent piano comes in ‘Zundiqondisise’ with Slyvester Mazinyane due credit. ‘Iliwa Lam’ then opens with lush Heritage Orchestra-sounding strings and soft vocals. The use of a backing chorus is a regular feature throughout The One Love Movement… accentuating Simphiwe’s stunning voice.

Comparisons to Miriam Makeba, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott are well deserved; a real diva Simphiwe is able to offer more than most singers moulding South African choral traditions with accessible Western styles. Singing in Xhosa, the liner notes provide an English translation that poetically shows her forthright strength plus compassion and desire for human freedoms and equality. A declaration is also offered explaining ‘One Love’ “One Love celebrates our individual achievements as peoples and has enough humility to find a lesson, a step towards the next level of evolution, in each of them”.

My favourite moments are in the middle section with the uptempo ‘Injongo’ and my album highlight ‘Sebenzile’ where the beat and singing is countered superbly by well-timed keys. However, the boom tschak that follows in ‘Uzobuya Nini?’ may be stirring but is limited with its repetitiveness and contrasts so strongly with the rest of the album it is out of place. Many tracks have an ultra-polished production, with Bheki Khoza in charge of the musical direction. Rather than this clean sound enhancing the record I feel it leaves the album too tidy at times and unlike Simphiwe’s debut Zandisile, more steady than scintillating. Not as funky as Letta Mbulu and far from firing Afrobeat, The One Love Movement… should not be overlooked though as it is beautiful, lamenting soul, with the colossal brilliance of Simphiwe’s vocal talents caressing notes.

Simphiwe’s appeal is broad and her reputation in Europe growing, built upon on her huge success in South Africa. Recently nominated for a BBC Radio 3 World Music Award, there is also a good feature in the premiere issue of Shook. Collaborations such as the opening track to Aaron Jerome’s album Time to Rearrange should assist in reaching new audiences. Following a highly commended debut UK show at the ICA last year Simphiwe Dana returns to perform in London at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 21 February 2008.

Links:
Simphiwe Dana Official Site
Simphiwe Dana MySpace
Gallo Music Group
Bheki Khoza
BBC Radio 3 World Music Award info
Shook Magazine
Queen Elizabeth Hall show details