Malawi Mouse Boys

Malawi Mouse Boys
Malawi Mouse Boys at WOMADelaide in 2015
Malawi Mouse Boys at WOMADelaide in 2015
Background information
OriginMalawi

Malawi Mouse Boys are a Malawian band. They have released four albums, and performed internationally in Europe, Australia, and the United States.[1]

History

Malawi Mouse Boys are named for their work while not making music, which is selling the Malawian delicacy of skewered mouse.[2] Ian Brennan came across the band in 2011, and produced their first album He is #1, released in 2012.[1] Several of the songs on the album are about Jesus Christ.[2] It was the first album sung in Chichewa to be released outside of Malawi.[1] Writing for BBC Music, David Katz described the album as "rough around the edges, which keeps everything a bit more real."[3] The Times compared the album to the music of the Blind Boys of Alabama, and praised the vocals of Zondiwe Kachingwe.[4] In the New York Times, Jon Pareles wrote that "The guitars don't stay in tune, but the voices do. They're remarkably steady and resolute".[5]

In 2013 Malawi Mouse Boys played at WOMAD.[6] Their second album Dirt is Good was released in 2014, and Songlines described it as "Afro-reggae gospel, bare-boned and scrappy".[7]

Malawi Mouse Boys' third album Forever is 4 You was released in 2016, and was less well-received than its predecessors. Songlines wrote that "the general delivery is rickety in the extreme".[8] Brennan described the sound as "more experimental" than their previous albums.[1]

Albums

  • He is #1 (2012, Independent Records)
  • Dirt is Good (2014, IRL Records)
  • Forever is 4 You (2016, IRL Records)
  • Score for a film about Malawi without music from Malawi (2018)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Conor Gaffey (8 April 2016), "Malawi Mouse Boys: Making a Noise in the World's Poorest Country", Newsweek, retrieved 30 July 2025
  2. ^ a b Nigel Williamson, "Malawi Mouse Boys – He is #1", Songlines, no. 85 (July 2012), p. 69, ISSN 1464-8113, retrieved 22 July 2025
  3. ^ David Katz (2012), "Malawi Mouse Boys He Is #1 Review", BBC Music, retrieved 22 July 2025
  4. ^ "Malawi Mouse Boys: He is #1", The Times, 2 June 2012, retrieved 30 July 2025
  5. ^ Jon Pareles (23 September 2012), "From Calexico to the Malawi Mouse Boys", New York Times, retrieved 30 July 2025
  6. ^ Robin Deneslow (20 March 2014), "Malawi Mouse Boys: Dirt Is Good review – rodent-kebab vendors turn gospel charmers", The Guardian, retrieved 22 July 2025
  7. ^ Martin Longley, "Malawi Mouse Boys – Dirt is Good", Songlines, no. 99 (April/May 2014), p. 59, ISSN 1464-8113, retrieved 22 July 2025
  8. ^ Martin Longley, "Malawi Mouse Boys – Forever is 4 You", Songlines, no. 117 (May 2016), p. 47, ISSN 1464-8113, retrieved 22 July 2025
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