Soul Mussango ("peace of the soul") was founded in Marrakesh by French bass player Pierre-Paul Mayer and Cameroonian vocalist Diese Mbangue back in 2007. Complemented with the guitar sounds of Guinea-Conakry born Jonas Boni, the trio presents a first album called 'Bolatè' ("all in due time"). The repertoire of the band reminded us somewhat of that of Blick Bassy, not coincidentally a compatriot of Mbangue; but where Bassy mainly sings in Bassa, Diese opts for Banen, a language mainly spoken in the coastal regions and the central parts of Cameroon. In his lyrics Diese tackles everyday subjects from the love for a woman (opener 'Alanè M'ba') or his own mother ('Mama') and the opposite, jealousy ('Ikoyi'), to his own childhood memories in 'Mabihonghol', but also social issues like the importance of decent education ('Django'), the ecological impact of our lifestyle on the planet ('Bossou Bounong'). Most of the tracks on 'Bolatè' sound poppy to slightly melancholic with a touch of rock here and there (Jonas Boni's weeping guitar in 'Mama', the rock guitars in 'Bossou Bounong'), but for title track 'Bolatè', Soul Mussango opted for a reggae rhythm, ending festively with closing track 'Nou Sacona', indisputably the most groovy track from the track list and a direct invitation to dance. Poppy Cameroonian-Western crossover with Moroccan Marrakech as its home base.