Staff Benda Bilili Archives

Staff Benda Bilili: Congolese Survival Music

Staff Benda Bilili, a band of paraplegic musicians from the Democratic Republic of Congo, uses its music to deliver a message of hope to the world.

Konono No. 1: “Bazombo Trance” Stars Reflect Congolese Roots

Konono No.1‘s music stems from Congolese history and the heritage of its members’ families, which is reflected in the band’s makeshift equipment and unifying practice. Difficult and minimalistic, its music is not immediately accessible but eventually understood and appreciated, no matter what one’s background may be.

50 Unheralded Albums from 2009

ALARM leaves no genre unloved in our round-up of 50 albums that didn’t receive enough attention in 2009.

Ten Albums to Anticipate This Spring

As the weather stops being oppressive in the Northern Hemisphere, a number of potentially great albums from countless genres are on the way. Here’s a list of ten that have us excited, including efforts from Isis, MF Doom, Coalesce, Prefuse 73, Mr. Lif, and more.