Fally Ipupa – Den’s Love

Congolese rumba star Fally Ipupa shares “Den’s Love” the seventh track from disk one of his sprawling “XX: Délirium” project. This one really takes its time to build, coming in at seven and a half minutes.

Fally Ipupa has been searching for the romantic big picture all along the double album and “Den’s Love” takes that impulse the furthest. Here he draws on ancient Egyptian motifs, calling the pyramids and Cleopatra to construct a love intended to withstand time itself. So steeped in traditional Congolese rumba, and so full of imagery, “XX: Délirium” is an ambitious production that demonstrates just how far he’s ready to go with the genre’s storytelling.

True to rumba’s calm, melodic basis, the production is slow and patient throughout. There’s nothing here that has to be resolved quickly. Instead, the arrangement is allowed to breathe, the long runtime giving permission for the expansive story of the song to come to fruition.

Fally Ipupa leads with his characteristic expressive, seasoned voice, bearing true lyrical weight through each verse. It sounds more like a love song of scale than simplicity.

“Den’s Love” succeeds only because Fally Ipupa totally commits to that great, languid romantic vision. The long running time never feels squandered. It sounds like one of the most elaborate romantic declarations on the entire ‘XX: Délirium’ production.