Nursery Boys Go Ahead
Nursery Boys Go Ahead, also stylized as !Nursery Boys Go Ahead!, is an album by the Kenyan band Abana Ba Nasery.[2][3] It was released in 1992.[4] The band, a trio, traditionally produced its sound with just their voices, acoustic guitars, and a Fanta bottle.[5] The album is considered to be Luhya pop and folk music.[6]
Nursery Boys Go Ahead | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1991 | |||
Length | 53:36 | |||
Label | Globe Style Xenophile[1] | |||
Producer | Globe Style | |||
Abana Ba Nasery chronology | ||||
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Production
The album was produced by staff at Globe Style.[7] It was recorded while the band was touring Great Britain, in 1991.[1] Members of 3 Mustaphas 3 and the Oyster Band contributed to the album.[8][9] Ron Kavana played on "Esimiti Khusilenje".[7]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
Chicago Sun-Times | [11] |
Robert Christgau | [12] |
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
The Boston Globe determined Nursery Boys Go Ahead to be one of the best albums of 1992, labeling the band a "surprising guitar-and-Fanta-bottle ensemble."[14] Robert Christgau praised "Esiesi Siolle" and "Elira Yesu Ndayanza".[12]
The Edmonton Journal called the album "delightful," and noted the addition of "strings, trumpets, pipes and percussion" to the band's traditional instrumentation.[5] The Chicago Sun-Times wrote that "the guitars are lilting, the harmonies are rich and resplendent ... when bouzoukis, tenor banjo and uillean pipes are added to the mix, 'Esimiti Khusilenje' takes on the rhythm of a country-Irish hoedown, albeit in a Kenyan setting."[11]
AllMusic opined that "if all worldbeat attempts at fusion came off like this, we'd be living in a perfect world."[10] MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide considered the album "another low-key masterpiece," writing that "the main attraction remains the amazing fretwork of [Shem] Tube and [Justo] Omufila."[13]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Esiesi Siolle" | 5:22 |
2. | "Abakambi" | 3:52 |
3. | "Sumila Omusiele" | 5:14 |
4. | "Omwana Wa Mberi Nesiekhoira" | 3:08 |
5. | "Tumebeba Msalaba" | 4:58 |
6. | "Esimiti Khusilenje" | 6:11 |
7. | "Abakhasi Bano" | 4:39 |
8. | "Elira Yesu Ndayanza" | 3:39 |
9. | "Mabingwa" | 4:51 |
10. | "Abandu Bandi" | 6:40 |
11. | "Abebi Be Tsingombe" | 4:59 |
References
- Trillo, Richard (May 3, 2010). "The Rough Guide to Kenya". Rough Guides UK – via Google Books.
- Wright, Michael (Jun 1993). "Rock-pop recordings — !Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Audio. 77 (6): 102.
- poet, j. (May 1993). "World — Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Utne Reader (57): 123.
- Rule, Sheila (December 9, 1992). "The Pop Life" – via NYTimes.com.
- Levesque, Roger (28 Dec 1992). "Dance rhythms a delight". Edmonton Journal. p. C7.
- Barlow, Sean; Eyre, Banning (1995). Afropop!. Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 35.
- "Album Reviews — Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Billboard. 104 (50): 48. Dec 12, 1992.
- Dorian, Frederick; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (February 21, 1999). "World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
- "Abana Ba Nasery Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- "The Nursery Boys Go Ahead - Abana Ba Nasery | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- Hoekstra, Dave (January 3, 1993). "Sampling from the Top of the Tropics". Chicago Sun-Times. Show. p. 3.
- "Robert Christgau: CG: Abana Ba Nasery". robertchristgau.com.
- MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. pp. 1–2.
- Gonzalez, Fernando (18 Dec 1992). "These should have made the Top 10". The Boston Globe. ARTS & FILM. p. 63.