In the late 70s, it was reggae that was the power-source of much British black music. But in Paris, it was the era of the birth of zouk and soukouss that inspired the dance clubs.

Soukouss’ heady fusion of classic Congolese rumba with rock, latin and disco inluences and recording techniques swept the Afro-Caribbean diaspora in the 80s and 90s. And if Caribbean supergroup Kassav’ wore the zouk crown, there’s no doubt that their soukouss counterparts were Les Quatre Etoiles.

Nyboma, Wuta Mayi, Bopol Mansiamina and Syran M’Benza had together represented a who’s-who of Congolese musicians’ aristocracy since the late 60s: Nyboma had forged his style with Bavon Marie-Marie’s Orc. Negro Success, Bella Bella (with the legendary Fréres Soki) and Lipua Lipua (with the late, great Pepe Kalle). Wuta Mayi and Bopol had partnered vocal frontlines with Papa Noel’s Orc, Bamboula and Josky Kiambukita’s Orc Continental, with Wuta Mayi moving later to join Franco’s Orc. TP OK Jazz and Bopol first to Dr Nico’s Orc African Fiesta and then Tabu Ley Rochereau’s Orc Afrisa.

Syran MBenza’s lightning lead guitar scales had graced any number of young Zairean bands, finally finding a home around 1978 (with Nyboma) with Sam Mangwana’s African All-Stars in Abidjan, the crucible-city where soukouss was first forged. By 1983, all four found themselves in Paris looking for new opportunities and inspiration. Les Quatre Etoiles were born, and the hits came pouring in.

And it didn’t stop in Europe, Africa and North America. For instance, the busy sailors’ trade in vinyl along Colombia’s Caribbean coast was flooded with the sounds of soukouss and even today, signature classics of Cartagena’s Champeta beach sound-systems are Bopol’s ‘Africa Night’, Nyboma’s ‘Samba’ and half a dozen classic 4-Stars hits. Even in Brazil, Les Quatre Etoiles’ sound was also a smash in the more savvy 80s clubs of Salvador, Rio and Sao Paulo. Although the 4 Stars stopped recording as a band almost 15 years ago, all four members have continued to keep busy throughout the period with their own projects. There are no cobwebs on their playing: no sterile ‘oldies-but-goodies’ band, this.

At the Cargo show, new material will be interspersed with classic favourites, and the backing band includes at least three of the original 80s studio players, Miguel Yamba, Komba Bellow and Jimmy Mvondo.

And finally, DJ John Armstrong- who was playing this music every Saturday night for much of the 80s and early 90s at Hoxton’s mythical Bass Clef Club — will be celebrating the occasion with a vinyl-only reprise of the soukouss and zouk tunes that kept ‘em rocking back in the day!

LIVE BAND: LES QUATRE ETOILES
DJ: JOHN ARMSTRONG
VENUE: CARGO 83 RIVINGTON STREET, EC2A 3AY
DATE: WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER
DOORS: 7PM-1AM

ADVANCE:£12.50 (ON THE DOOR, £15)
ADVANCE TICKETS; 08700 600 100

www.cargo-london.com