AMG Review of Sai-Liza

John Storm Roberts
All Music Guide

The recording that introduced the kouassa-kouassa dance has been a runaway smash in Paris and Africa. Unsure why this has been one of the biggest hits in quite a while? Try Dibala on lead guitar, Lokassa ya Mbongo backing him up, and Pablo Lubadika on bass guitar, all of them in top form. Add KBM's admirable liking for a small tight group -- aside from those mentioned, there's only synth, drum, and a two-voice backup vocal group. Kanda Bongo Man is one musician who almost always deserves the semi-adulation Western buffs have given him.