Following the success of recent collaborations between Cuban and African musicians, such as the popular Africando series, there's no faulting
Tshala Muana for trying the same with Zaire's other hot dance style besides soukous: muatashi.
Muana's voice and both her bands (one African, one Cuban) are equal to the task as she mixes the son montuno and other Cuban forms with percolating Zairean rhythms, but something goes just slightly flat, beginning with claustrophobic sonics that make this fresh project sound cramped and dated. It's still a nice disc with memorable songs, but not the
Angelique Kidjo-style breakthrough she deserves. ~ Bob Tarte