Wah Wah 45s have got a way of being Wah Wah 45s and brilliant all at the same time and they've found another rising star, this time it's a 'Rising Woman', Léa Mondo.
This is so "Gilles Peterson", a DJ/record label boss/etc known to be ahead of the game and not slow to feature new stars (check out Léa's live performance on Worldwide FM's Wah Wah 45s 25 year anniversary show HERE: that also features Dele Sosimi, Kahil El'Zabar and head honcho Dom Servini - check out the Interview HERE from when you could go to Cargo for a fiver!)
This new 6 track EP does reminds me of when Peterson first featured Amy Winehouse in a way as the DRC born/Manchester raised/now North London resident Ms Mondo has a beautiful voice, charm and sass in equal messure plus a great band behind her. The two sides of the Amy influence can be heard on 'Heights Of Love' and 'Vices' with a Body Positive/Social Media "update" on 'Nah Mate' that features Tiece.
The EP opens and closes with 'Mwasi'/'Kitoko' - translates as 'Beautiful'/'Woman' which has a fantastic flute and guitar and is inspired by the vision of a Congolese 'The Girl From Ipanema'; with just a touch of Lonnie Liston Smith.
And in another sense of duality, her inspiration for 'Brave New World' is the Aldous Huxley 'A Level' classic of the same name that she sings mostly in her native Congolese language Lingala.
If you like harder, sultry Sade on a jazzy, Afro-bossa tip, Léa Mondo is the next emergent talent to follow and you can catch her live at the EP launch on Friday, 24th May at 91 Living Room, East Lonon (details HERE).
Happy Birthday Wah Wah 45s too!
Artist: Léa Mondo
Release: Rising Woman EP
Release Date: 17th May, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: -
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP
Release: Rising Woman EP
Release Date: 17th May, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: -
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP
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