The Rough Guide to Congo Gold

“Gold” feels right materially as well as judgmentally—these tracks sparkle in ways redolent of sunlight glistening off precious metals. For example, the single-note guitar ringing that occupies the first half of the solo on Grand Kalle & L’African Jazz’s “Parafifi” is about the most burstingly beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. There’s further resonance when the soloist takes a break on the next track, Tabu Ley Rochereau & L’African Jazz’s “Adios Tete,” that heavily resembles the “Parafifi” tune. But not only do the pieces of this one chime together, they’re chronological, covering 1949 to 1993. The instrumentation and production evolves—here come the synths on track eight, by Sam Mangwana—and so does the groove. But it also stays enticingly the same.