‘Raw’ isn’t a word I would normally use to describe music. It is too often casually slung into conversation and used to describe African music without any real meaning. Yet Sotho Sounds is a band that proudly proves to be an exception to the rule; their outstanding music truly is raw to the very bone. These funky shepherds from the Kingdom of Lesotho have quite literally invented their own music, crafted their own instruments and now continue to follow their own mission – turning junk into funk.

Listen closely to their music and you can hear everything from the jangle of their home-made guitars, to the hum and shatter of the percussion, to the bark of a dog, an accordion, whistles and more. Stumbling across the band, don’t be surprised to find them in traditional Basotho blankets, or instead decked out in gumboots, rainbow-framed shades and, if you are lucky, a neon-pink wig. This is one excellently eccentric band, with a mission to bring their Sotho sounds worldwide.

Lesotho is a landlocked enclave surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. The country is often referred to as the ‘Kingdom in the Sky’ due to its status as the only independent

state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres elevation. The landscape is dotted with looming, lush mountains that harbour bright-green vegetation in summer and snow in the cold months. Shepherding is a distinctive feature of Lesotho society and it was while out tending livestock and wandering the hills that the group Sotho Sounds was born. In the quiet hours, the group began to carefully craft instruments from wood, tin, metal and wire. Soon their instrumental line-up was complete, boasting four-string tin guitars, metal one-string fiddles and booming oil-tin drums. Since their first musical meetings high in the mountains back in 1997, the band have embarked on a remarkable international adventure – and are showing no signs of slowing down yet.

The South African percussionist Risenga Makondo was travelling through Lesotho when he first caught Sotho Sounds playing live. He was immediately taken with the band and videoed their sweet music-making. By 2003, the group and Risenga had forged a team, and together secured a gig for the band at the prestigious music festivals WOMAD UK and WOMADelaide, Australia. Other

international performances included the Bushfire Festival in Swaziland (2010) and Womex, Copenhagen (2011). This release is their debut album and perfectly captures the excitement and humorous bounce of their live performances.

In interview, Tumelo Mpokoane explains the construction of his home-made drum: ‘I got some branches from a tree because I needed two sticks to support the wire and the sink that I had cut up.’ His logical DIY approach says it all: the band craft their instruments with aplomb, never stopping to worry about the look of the thing, but are solely concerned with the sound. As a result their thick-layered music features the rich reverberating thud of the drums, the melodious rattling of tin-can guitars and the fuzzed ring of one-string fiddles. Atop the mix, swinging unison vocals bring to mind the hugely popular choral tradition of Lesotho.

The subject matter of their lively songs draws on the social issues and experiences of their everyday lives at home in Lesotho and while travelling abroad. ‘Something To Think About’ was inspired by their travels in England. Amused by everyone constantly asking them, ‘How are you?’ and ‘What are

you thinking?’, they decided to write a song in order to give them ‘something to think about’. ‘Ha Kele Monateng’ translates as ‘When I’m Happy’ and is a bright, positive number with catchy call-and-response vocals. ‘Ntheke Ntheke’ (or ‘The Sun Is About To Set’) is a stunning a cappella track that is reminiscent of South African isicathamiya.

Sotho Sounds cite the influence of Basotho traditional music and South African pop, especially the bubblegum pop stylings of Brenda Fassie. Yet ultimately the band is remarkable because of their fierce innovative streak, they have literally built their music from the ground up. Their home-made sound bestows their music with a deeply personal edge – every fibre of the sound was crafted by them, from the slap of the strings, to the crash of drums, to the call of the voice. This is raw Sotho Sounds. Let the Junk Funk revolution begin.

For videos, further information and more visit www.worldmusic.net/sothosounds

Musicians:

Josepha Kojoane Chaka Tankiso Pita Paseka Mohale Tseliso Rantho Richard Mohale Tumelo Mpokoane Remeleke Rantho

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 composed and arranged by Josepha Kojoane Chaka

Tracks 2 and 11 composed and arranged by Remeleke Rantho

Track 5 composed by Sotho Sounds, arranged by Josepha Kojoane Chaka

All songs published by Riverboat UK Music (MCPS)

Produced, recorded and mixed by Risenga Makondo Recorded at Toybox Studios, Bristol Mastered by Ben Turner, Finesplice, London

Sleeve notes by Rachel Jackson

Sotho Sounds would like to thank: Risenga Makondo – for discovering, mentoring and producing the band; Julia Childs – for believing in the music and helping to take it to an international audience; Marion Drew and Tello Moeketsi – for keeping the project alive in Lesotho; Ed Morgan – for his video and photographic images; Jackie Wills – for the journey of discovery; and everyone who has enjoyed the music.

Thanks to Phil Stanton, Sandra Alayón-Stanton and all at World Music Network

Front cover photograph courtesy of Ed Morgan

Other photographs courtesy of Jacob Crawford and Risenga Makondo

Design by Brad Haynes

Coordinated by Brad Haynes and Rachel Jackson

For booking and information, visit www.sothosounds.org

Sotho Sounds are funky shepherds from the Kingdom of Lesotho who have quite literally invented their own music, crafted their own instruments and now continue to follow their own mission – turning junk into funk.

Les Sotho Sounds sont des bergers funky du royaume du Lesotho, qui ont littéralement inventé leur musique, créé leurs instruments, et qui continuent de remplir leur mission: faire du funk avec leur camelote.

01 Intro: Be Ea Bojoa (Part 1) 01:2602 Ha Kele Monateng 03:2503 Jerusalem 04:2204 Koloi Eutate Mandela 01:5205 Mobopong 03:4006 Lesholu 03:4607 Jo! Kelishapa 02:3208 Lefaatse La Bajo 03:5709 Ntheke Ntheke 02:4610 Tseanku 04:0711 Something To Think About 05:0512 Outro: Be Ea Bojoa (Part 2) 01:23

Total playing time: 38:54

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