250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 149 Bhundu Boys

 

For a brief season in 1986 Bhundu Boys were hot news and Shabini was a record to listen to in the UK. John Peel and Andy Kershaw had latched onto the Shabini sound and it was rocking the evening session shows on Radio One.

I was born in Zimbabwe myself so it made sense for me to go for this music. I had it in my hips. Your body never completely forgets the sun you were born into. It's a beautuful gift which always makes you feel slightly apart from those born into a land with rain seeping into their souls. Unkind perhaps but I've had a lot of experience of it. Keeps a spring in your step. Helps you find the silver lining when others get sunken in gloom and glass half empty morbidity.

I saw Bhundu Boys play a small venue in Norwich where I was at university. They lit up the small venue they were playing. Their guitars skittered like fireflies taking you halfway across the world. The record still does. Taking me home.