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Legends of Benin - Afro-Beat, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Funk 1969-1981

Following on from the mighty African Scream Contest – Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin & Togo 70s and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou’s visceral The Vodoun Effect, Analog Africa’s Samy Ben Redjeb digs even deeper into the crates to deliver yet another supa dupa, twisted compilation of Afro Funk, Cavacha, Agbadja and Afro Beat. As expected the man’s selection delivers some truly scorching dancefloor cuts. Looping guitar riffs, deep bass lines (from Motor City funk to Cuban rumba), shuffling percussion, blistering horn solos, quirky keys and great call and response vocals. Gnonnas Pedro & his Dadjes Band kick it off with a drum beat that sounds like Outkast before settling into a spacey funk groove with looping vocals and insistent percussion that maintains drum machine-like precision. It’s a total classic and paves the way for the gritty El Rego et Ses Commandos (dig that name!) where Benin’s ‘Jerk’ scene meets Stax Records. I have a definite soft spot for Antoine Dougbe’s Afro Cavacha – an action-packed fusion of Congolese rumba, Latin sounds and Vodoun rhythms. Just check Honton Soukpo Gnon – it just builds and builds. If Afrobeat is your tipple look no further than Tin Lin Non or Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu - Honore Avalonto is the man. All this is top and tailed by a sensuous Latin cut - La musica en Verité by Gnonnas Pedro. Analog Africa is deservedly building a serious global rep amongst crate diggers and music headz looking to explore the raw, deeper side of Africa’s past. They deliver the goods whether it’s the music, the superb story-packed liner notes (a 44 page booklet) or, wait for it, the deluxe double vinyl package complete with gatefold sleeve! Don’t sleep on this.

www.myspace.com/analogafrica

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// ALL GNONNAS PEDRO'S REVIEWS


Legends of Benin - Afro-Beat, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Funk 1969-1981
03/06/2009






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