Tear Rec./Shadoks
Witch : Lazy Bones!! (ZAM,1974)****
This album has no "real African" style, but is "western" styled (Afro-)rock with a psych touch, great fuzz, some wahwah, just at times a bit raw/garage-like in inspiration but already in a more 70s rock context, with a fine emotional awareness in the singing (with a few vocal harmonies). Compared to Chris Zebby or The Blackfoot, the only two other acts I heard from the same period, this is a bit more developed, in an urban way, and sounds like a next stage of inspiration of driven rock music with a slightly more worked out electric guitars. “October Night” has a slight African psych touch in the second part, but also a more bluesy improvisation. The album is just perfect and enjoyable as it is, and therefore comes recommended. The LP I think will be sold out by now. I hope there will come a CD reissue later.
One source on the net says "In the capital Lusake you should be able to find all 4 cd reissues of Witch."..
Earrrational : "Completely unknown band from Zambia, privately pressed on a small local label, this 5 piece electric band plays a strong electric African underground style. Tons of wah wah-fuzz guitar in every track, African style beats and vocals and all original song. If bands from Nigeria such as Blo and Ofege and bands from Zambia such as Rikki Ililonga and Chrissy Zebby are all traveling on the psychedelic highway with 100 mph the Witch overtakes them with 120".
On the cover we can read : "If you're feeling depressed, low, disturbed, out-of-sorts, sad, frustrated or widely demented, then folks, we suggest you seek out a quiet place, indulge in some soothing meditation and cut away that headache by listening to this inspiration album."
Damonway : "Packed full of fuzzed out wah-wah leads, and rolling vocals melodies, this five-piece takes you on a wonderful ride… nothing short of pure excellence. The icing is the wonderful accent that the singer delivers… English with a Zambian slur, which makes for a nice vocal play against the rest of the ensemble."
Other internet description : ."..inspirational psych/rock group blasting out of Zambia in 1975. A soul-shouting edge combines with hard driving punk/garage guitars, tons of wah-wah, mesmeric melodic constructs, heavy African rhythms and powering blues testifying that sounds like a more militant/low-down take on South American psych."
One member of the band should still be alive. I heard also the rest of their stuff should be worth tracing.
