Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Moçambique - Marrabenta Piquenique (1996)

«With its dance-inspiring fusion of lively marrabenta, Fena and Xingombela rhythms, Congolese guitar melodies, and the soulful vocals of female singer Mingas and male singer Wazimbo, Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Moçambique was one of Mozambique’s most exciting bands in the 1980s and early-’90s. Formed in 1979, Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Moçambique served as the house band for Mozambique’s national radio station. The group’s style of marrabenta, Mozambique’s urban dance music, featured two lead guitars set to the harmonic strains of a keyboard, a rhythm section that included bass, drums, and hand percussion, and a horn section featuring two trumpets and saxophone. Wazimbo, who had previously performed with Grupo Radio Mocambique, wrote most of the band’s material. His most successful tune, "Nwahulwana," was used for a global television advertising campaign by Microsoft. Since the disbanding of Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Mocambique, Wazimbo and Mingas have gone on to successful solo careers.» (AMG)

«Mozambique is a country blessed with a kaleidoscopic diversity of cultures, regional mannerisms and musical styles, none more immediate and exciting than marrabenta, the “city” sound of Maputo, the capital. Genuinely popular dance form, or decadent backdrop for an underworld of pimps, bars and prostitutes… define it as you will, the percussive rhythms, sensuous vocals and languid horns of marrabenta are thrilling and uplifting, earthier than Zairean soukous and subtler than South African jive.
Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Moçambique are one of the leading exponents of the genre and masters of all the essential ingredients that combine to make marrabenta such a tasty proposition: conscious lyrics, pulsating dance rhythms, hard-edged riffs and a wild sense of fun. Piquenique captures them in sizzling form, ready to mesmerise, energize, elevate and educate all comers in a magical marrabenta style!» (From the liner notes)

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