A divine masterpiece

This disc is a milestone, one of the main productions of the 80s, and they helped meet the expectations of consternation bosses of Warner Music not only Simon's stalled career more advisable to renewed vigor, but the entire African music to a reputation which they retain to this day could. And "Graceland" radiates up to 2008, but have just brought with Vampire Weekend, the hottest American guys a CD on the market that has been heard and also avowedly inspired by Simon's "Graceland".
And also for me the album was an awakening experience, if not in 1986, but five years later. Paul Simon, whom I knew, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and so, as it could not go wrong, so I bought the plate blind. And was already enchanted by the first sounds. That sounded familiar, and yet something exotic was there doing something that reminded me of Africa. And indeed, "Graceland" is a homage to the musical richest continent of the earth, and it is teeming with African musicians, of which Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Youssou N'Dour later (and probably also because of this album) probably lay down the most amazing careers , Simon has - reviled much - go to the forbidden land there and later developed into the then rightly internationally outlawed South Africa, and has in New York together with his African friends eleven songs, each one a gem before the Lord and thoroughly with socially critical content ( Boy In The Bubble, Homeless ...). Highlights include the with Ladysmith Black Mambazo written and rehearsed title "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Homeless", the latter reveals also because of its narrative structure, the African roots. In addition, it is also the most popular in South Africa township jive, the magic guitar Ray Phiri and so wonderful voices like those of the Gaza Sisters to know. Undundund. Here's all rhythm: whether clever bass lines or multi-layered percussion. But that Simon African music is not considered as a museum as Elvis Presley's Graceland, show z. B. "Under African Skies" with country star Linda Ronstedt which rhythmically adapted to the typical course of Zulu, or "That Was Your Mother" which contains a strong dose of Zydeco.
More than twenty years after its release, the album still sounds fresh and sparkling, timeless and versatile. A terrific discovery album, a divine masterpiece: Paul Simon never had better!