Kwaito, as with rap and hip hop, is a musical style that offers a fresh canvas to any artist willing to experiment with beat, melody and samples. It is music that relies on a base of simple rhythms, sparse arrangements and uncomplicated lyrics but still depends on the broad creativity of its writers to constantly take it into new territory. This first album from Dantai is, strictly speaking, a kwaito album although its innovative mixing of this new dance sound with mid-tempo house, rhythm & blues and hip-hop gives it a new and extra dimension. 'Operation Lahlela' is a nine-song EP that runs for almost an hour. Six of these tracks are original compositions and the remaining three include two remixes of 'Dantai' and one of 'Pyjama Jam'.

The album was produced by Terry Pinana, Dantai and David Beukes at the Mama Dance Music Studios in Cape Town and engineered and mixed by David Beukes and Jerry Barnard respectively. The result is a sparkling album brimming with teeth-loosening bass, an assortment of synthesizer effects and solid percussion. All these elements contribute a big, clear and energetic backdrop to Lungu's sweet and confident vocals, which add a complementary lightness to the deeper male vocals of Diggy Bongz and Goggi. The album opens with a killer trio of songs, 'Dantai', 'Pyjama Jam' and 'Living Aint Easy'. 'Dantai' begins deceptively with a single keyboard chord and some scattered marimba sounds before the bass and melody kick in with a vengeance. The three voices swop lead and harmonizing roles throughout the song, giving it a freshness and Fugees-type feel. 'Pyjama Jam' follows a similar pattern with the male voices dominating here. 'Livin' Aint Easy' cools down the mood and works off a lovely piano melody with Lungu's emotional and yearning vocals adding poignancy to what is possibly the best song on this album.
'Kaige', 'Ten Years', and 'Ubzukubhonke' give this album its solid centre before the 'Dantai - Skollie Mix' and instrumental versions of 'Dantai', and 'Pyjama Jam' close off this excellent album. Dantai cite kwaito heavyweights TKZee and BoomShaka as their inspirations; but it is not going to be too long before those roles are reversed.

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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