Neil Spencer 

The Good Ones: Rwanda Is My Home review – mesmerising close harmony

Four Rwandan farmers, one bewitching album
  
  

The Good Ones live at Womad in 2014.
The Good Ones live at Womad, Charlton Park, Wiltshire, in 2014. Photograph: John Couzens Photograph: /John Couzens

Tribal divisions can be deadly in Rwanda, a country with a history of genocides that have periodically devastated the country. Being drawn from Rwanda’s three tribes, Tutsi, Hutu and Twa, this quartet of small plot farmers are a microcosm of their country at peace. They sing in close harmonies that are as odd and ear-bending as any bluegrass vocals (the waltz-time Araje Umwami could have been plucked from an early country hymnal) accompanying themselves with minimal guitar and the odd rattle of percussion. Produced by peripatetic Grammy winner Ian Brennan, it’s as raw as their debut, though the songs, mostly love calls written by all four members, are stronger. A charming, mesmerising set.

 

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