Toto Bona Lokua - Bondeko – a seamless African trio

The Guardian 80

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Twelve years between albums is a stretch, but the members of this innovative Afro-French trio have busy individual careers. Cameroon’s Richard Bona, Congo’s Lokua Kanza and the Antilles’ Gerald Toto are all celebrated for their lithe vocals, which are here at the forefront of gentle, samba-style rhythms. Picked and strummed guitars, flute and discreet electro atmospherics (from producer Laurent Bizot) provide a dreamy backdrop, with the triumvirate of voices alternating between solo and immaculate sweet harmonies – an African Crosby, Stills & Nash, if you like. French language Ma Mama is a gentle opener, M’aa Kiana hits a plaintive note and Awo has a more forceful, jazzy groove, but it’s seamless stuff.