Review: Léa Mondo - Rising Woman EP (Wah Wah 45s)

Wah Wah 45s have got a way of being Wah Wah 45s and brilliant all at the same time and they've found another rising star, this time it's a 'Rising Woman', Léa Mondo.

This is so "Gilles Peterson", a DJ/record label boss/etc known to be ahead of the game and not slow to feature new stars (check out Léa's live performance on Worldwide FM's Wah Wah 45s 25 year anniversary show HERE: that also features Dele Sosimi, Kahil El'Zabar and head honcho Dom Servini - check out the Interview HERE from when you could go to Cargo for a fiver!)

This new 6 track EP does reminds me of when Peterson first featured Amy Winehouse in a way as the DRC born/Manchester raised/now North London resident Ms Mondo has a beautiful voice, charm and sass in equal messure plus a great band behind her.  The two sides of the Amy influence can be heard on 'Heights Of Love' and 'Vices' with a Body Positive/Social Media "update" on 'Nah Mate' that features Tiece.

The EP opens and closes with 'Mwasi'/'Kitoko' - translates as 'Beautiful'/'Woman' which has a fantastic flute and guitar and is inspired by the vision of a Congolese 'The Girl From Ipanema'; with just a touch of Lonnie Liston Smith.

And in another sense of duality, her inspiration for 'Brave New World' is the Aldous Huxley 'A Level' classic of the same name that she sings mostly in her native Congolese language Lingala.

If you like harder, sultry Sade on a jazzy, Afro-bossa tip, Léa Mondo is the next emergent talent to follow and you can catch her live at the EP launch on Friday, 24th May at 91 Living Room, East Lonon (details HERE).

Happy Birthday Wah Wah 45s too!

Artist: Léa Mondo 
Release: Rising Woman EP
Release Date: 17th May, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: -
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Léa Mondo - Vices (Wah Wah 45s)

From a label that's celebrating it's 25th year, that "rediscovered" Dele Sosimi and has brought us many a "must have" release, a new voice originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that's now resident in North London via the home of Northen Soul, Wigan! What sort of musical vices has she discovered.

As the label admits, it's a glorious "smorgasbord of experimental styles fusing aspects of soul, high life, bossa-nova, jazz and reggae" with a big side of Sade (happy 65th this week BTW) and Red Hot Chilli Peppers (when they were good).

The band consists of Jasmine Burton (bass), Alex Karakurt (drums), Tawanda Manika (guitar), Olivia Cuttill (trumpet), Max Rodriguez (rhythm guitar) along with the singer/songwriter/arranger/guitarist.

She'll be playing incredibly innovate Grow in Hackney Wick (near the Copper Box Arena) on 2nd February along with legend Vanessa Freeman (last seen with Reel People, see review HERE), label head honcho Dom Servini (last seen, by me that is, at WeOutHere Festival orchestrating the main stage) and more Wah Wah 45s favourites.

This new single follows 'Heights Of Love' (see review HERE) so we're getting excited at the prospect of a debut album for what is definitely a long way from Wigan, pier or otherwise: did I ever tell you of my pilgrimage to Wigan Pier or the snowed off game at Springfield Park? Another time eh!

Artist: Léa Mondo 

Release: Vices

Release Date: 19th January, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Léa Mondo - Heights Of Love (Wah Wah 45s)

What! Wah Wah 45s find the new Sade?  Naaaw, this is far more promising than that!

A single recorded live in North London that's soul, jazz and bossa nova driven will find love at the heights and lows of love.

Léa, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then Manchester and now London based is backed by the band of Jasmine Burton (bass), Alex Karakurt (drums), Mousa Dembele (percussions), Allexa Neva (sax & flute), Max Rodriguez (rhythm guitar) and Léa on vocals, guitar, lyrics, arrangements and co-producing the track with producer Louis Auneau. 

There's a full 12" jazzdance mix in here (when Dom Servini has the time to find it) but there's lots more to come from Ms Mondo is guaranteed.

P.S. Crazy to release this on a Black Friday and so soon after Espen Horne's brilliant album, 'The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence' (see review HERE); just saying?

Artist: Léa Mondo 

Release: Heights Of Love

Release Date: 24th November, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP