• Crucial recordings of Mbilia Bel, the queen of Congolese music and one of the most popular pan-African stars throughout the 1980s selected from Tabu Ley's 'Genidia' label by Gerald Seligman with additional notes by Ken Braun, these recordings represent an artist at the peak of her career.
"Bel Canto is as much a retrospective of [Mbilia Bel] as it is of Afrisa in the 80s, when soukous had fully flourished,when increased production quality showed rhythms to bubble and crisp where before they'd only gently percolated....a smooth voice that flutters in upper ranges and croaks in lower, embodying its natural tensions. "
Mike Powell Pitchfork
"...a dynamic soprano voice that is powerful and feisty when handling upbeat material, and beautifully sweet and sensitive on slower ballads"