Underrated. Is that a word we could use to describe Ishan? A part of me says yes. In fact if we take “underrated” to be in reference to the first instalment of Bhundu Pop, then certainly yes that project was very much underrated. It’s arguably one of the best albums to come out of Zimbabwe in the last 5 years but it doesn’t have anything near that level of recognition.
When you think about it, Ishan might be the greatest Afropop talent in Zimbabwe, Gemma Griffiths aside of course (She’s a personal favourite so I’m biased). He has 2 of biggest hits to come out of Zimbabwean music in recent years with “Kure” and “Lola”. Ishan has been recognised countless times for excelling in the Afropop genre and for his singles but his album was a bit like it didn’t happen.
So the label fits, but I wish he hadn’t put it there. I even wish he hadn’t given us a sequel to the first Bhundu Pop. Because from the first instant I listened to his latest chapter, I was comparing it to the album that came before. The expectations were simply too great, and I wish he had named this album anything else. Because when you put the two Bhundu Pop albums side by side, in some instances the ratio looks like the famous “1:1” exchange rate. Of course I’m talking about the rate before 2018, when the comparison of currencies was still respectable but no one was under the illusion that they were equals.
While different, “Bhundu Pop: Underrated” still carries the sounds from the jungle. Yet this second chapter embraces more the sounds from across our borders. You could say that one album is the story of the Zimbabwean jungle, while the other has a more African narrative sonically. Now while the sound wanders, the lyrics are still firmly grounded here.
It feels like an EP for the lovers. Intoxicated is the opening song and it talks about an all consuming love. If there’s one word for it, it would be soothing. In fact I think soothing fits a lot of the music on this album. Shungu which comes next has that same feeling and it sounds like a fusion of Afro-Jazz and RnB. In contrast to Intoxicated, Shungu is more of a goodbye. This however doesn’t make it any less good. Ishan even pays homage to Tuku in the lyrics of the chorus.
Baby even if I could just undone, the things I had done
Dzenge dzangove deno dzangove shungu
Zvimwe hazvibvunzwe ka, don’t wanna know why
Ndaiperekedza mwana kupi kwadoka
Musandikanganwe can be described as a prayer. It is Ishan asking God not to be forgotten when the time comes for God to uplift those who’re struggling. It is upbeat but the rhythm maintains a poignant feeling brought about by the lyrics. Mapere comes next and it’s a song about heartbreak and betrayal. The song gets it’s title from the phrase “Kutungamidza mapere, shuwa ndirere”, which Ishan sings on the chorus. Loosely translated the phrase means, “They sent what would destroy me while I slept”.
I’m certainly a fan of the production on this EP, that coupled with the storytelling give the entire project a certain cohesiveness. Although I could’ve done without the Longtime interlude which is essentially a sample of Longtime, the track that comes right after it. The song is a collaboration with Nutty O and Tamy Moyo, but it’s a song that doesn’t live up to the billing. For the caliber of artists collaborating it feels like they could’ve done better.
Safamire is quite possibly my favourite track on this project. It’s another slow paced love song that fuses Afropop and Amapiano. It speaks of a new love and it is open with possibilities. Kumasowe gives a fitting end to this project, with a brief cameo from Nuggs as he delivers a verse right at the end.
Bhundu Pop: Underrated is another great body of work from Ishan. It loses some of its lustre when compared to the sounds of the jungle that came before but you’ll be hard pressed to find more than a few artists who can create a better 8 track album. Yet without a general sense of an obvious radio hit from the songs and the lack of conversation about the project as a whole, it seems the curse of being underrated has struck again.
