When Papa Wemba has not been heard from for three years, fans and critics start to get a bit impatient. The Congolese singer has released an album on average once a year since the nineties, but after Somo Trop (2003) it remained silent. So there was great relief when New Morning came out, and the French critics immediately labeled the record as a 'convincing comeback'. Yet New Morning is actually
… nothing more than a warm-up for his new studio album that will soon follow. This is an acoustic live performance of his best songs in the Parisian jazz club New Morning, recorded in February 2006. Only the bonus track Ye Te Oh is new. Papa Wemba's beautiful vocals come into their own in this intimate setting and modest accompaniment. And whether the CD is a comeback or a snack, doesn't matter much else. (MH)more
