Nursery Boys Go Ahead
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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]
Production[edit]
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", which chronicles an accident that led to a broken leg.[7][10]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [12] |
| Robert Christgau |  [13] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide |  [14] |
The Boston Globe listed Nursery Boys Go Ahead as one of the best albums of 1992, labeling the band a "surprising guitar-and-Fanta-bottle ensemble."[15] Robert Christgau praised "Esiesi Siolle" and "Elira Yesu Ndayanza".[13]
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."[12]
AllMusic opined that, "if all worldbeat attempts at fusion came off like this, we'd be living in a perfect world."[11] 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."[14]
Track listing[edit]
| 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[edit]
- ^ a b Trillo, Richard (May 3, 2010). The Rough Guide to Kenya. Rough Guides UK.
- ^ Wright, Michael (Jun 1993). "!Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Audio. Vol. 77, no. 6. p. 102.
- ^ poet, j. (May 1993). "World — Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Utne Reader. No. 57. p. 123.
- ^ Rule, Sheila (December 9, 1992). "The Pop Life". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Levesque, Roger (28 Dec 1992). "Dance rhythms a delight". Edmonton Journal. p. C7.
- ^ Barlow, Sean; Eyre, Banning (1995). Afropop!. Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 35.
- ^ a b "Album Reviews — Nursery Boys Go Ahead! by Abana Ba Nasery". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 50. Dec 12, 1992. p. 48.
- ^ Dorian, Frederick; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (February 21, 1999). World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides.
- ^ "Abana Ba Nasery Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Hadsley, Neville (June 3, 1992). "Taking pop just a little bit further". The Birmingham Post. p. 14.
- ^ a b "The Nursery Boys Go Ahead". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Hoekstra, Dave (January 3, 1993). "Sampling from the Top of the Tropics". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Abana Ba Nasery". Robert Christgau.
- ^ a b 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". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 63.