A Ma Zone
1999 studio album by Zap Mama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Ma Zone is an album by the group Zap Mama, released in 1999.[2][3] The group supported the album with a North American tour.[4] The first single was "Rafiki".[5]
| A Ma Zone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Label | Luaka Bop[1] | |||
| Producer | Marie Daulne | |||
| Zap Mama chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
Produced by frontwoman Marie Daulne, the album was recorded in part in the United States; Daulne was influenced by techno.[6][7][8] The group, which included Daulne's sister, Anita, sang in Swahili and French, among other languages.[9][10]
Manu Dibango played saxophone on "'Allo 'Allo".[11] Black Thought rapped on "Rafiki".[12] Speech also appeared on the album.[13]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| Calgary Herald | [15] |
| Robert Christgau |  [16] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [17] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[18] |
| Spin | 7/10[19] |
The Washington Post noted that "actual drums and bass ... now underpin the group's sound, but this album shifts the emphasis back toward interwoven female voices."[20] Entertainment Weekly praised the "strong central voice—main Mama Marie Daulne—anchoring a rare album that’s both global and personal."[18] The Chicago Tribune thought that A Ma Zone "taps into electronica, funk and folk with an inspired, gimmick-free dexterity."[21]
Spin determined that, "at points, the gorgeously arranged vocal interplay suggests pan-rap paradise."[19] The Calgary Herald concluded that "Zap Mama has lost a little of its originality, a little of its uniqueness—or perhaps its funky sound is simply more familiar in the global musical melting pot."[15] Newsday stated that the "sound is an ethereal tumble of synthesizers and other instruments, anchored by muscular, percussive beats."[22]
AllMusic wrote that "breakbeats, jazzy upright bass, and turntable manipulation are now a part of the mix—a mix that was already rich with European and West African influences."[14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rafiki" | |
| 2. | "W'Happy Mama" | |
| 3. | "Call Waiting" | |
| 4. | "Gissié" | |
| 5. | "Songe" | |
| 6. | "Kemake" | |
| 7. | "Comment Ça Va?" | |
| 8. | "Ya Solo" | |
| 9. | "My Own Zero" | |
| 10. | "M'Toto" | |
| 11. | "Gbo Mata (Station)" | |
| 12. | "'Allo 'Allo" |