Congolese guitarist Messo-Messo has enormous talent, unfortunately proportionate to his very great discretion. Based in Montpellier for over thirty years, he has played with everything the local afro-folk-fusion scene has to offer, from the historic Kunta Kinte to the chanson réaliste of Dimoné and the afro-gospel of Emmanuel Djob. He has also set up his own projects, a trio with drummer Sega Seck for example, and produced a terrific album, Cité Indigène, released in 2000. A plunge into the traditional rhythms of the Congo, where Messo-Messo alternates guitar and sanza, accompanied by the magical drumsticks of Denis Tchangou, Marco Baliu and Serge Ngando on bass, and François Rava on saxophone. You might think of Sixun or Ray Lema – or you might think of nothing at all and just let yourself be carried away. This is an album to discover without moderation, as long as you manage to get your hands on it – unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible to find!
Cité Indigène – Messo Messo, 2000
