I used to think that choosing a favorite Fela album was difficult, not because one stood out from the rest, but because in doing so you're indicating that the others weren't as good. Well, forget about all that. Afrodisiac is it. Better than Gentlemen, Expensive Shit, Zombie, He Miss Road. All of em. No political agenda here, no anger directed anywhere. Just classic hard, heavy Afro-funk, super tight horns, meticulous arrangements, completely indecipherable lyrics and some particularly impressive keyboard work. Fela at his best. Do you have a favorite? Let me know about it in the comments.
Showing posts with label Fela. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fela. Show all posts
Friday
Fela Kuti & Africa 70'
Afrodisiac - 1973
I used to think that choosing a favorite Fela album was difficult, not because one stood out from the rest, but because in doing so you're indicating that the others weren't as good. Well, forget about all that. Afrodisiac is it. Better than Gentlemen, Expensive Shit, Zombie, He Miss Road. All of em. No political agenda here, no anger directed anywhere. Just classic hard, heavy Afro-funk, super tight horns, meticulous arrangements, completely indecipherable lyrics and some particularly impressive keyboard work. Fela at his best. Do you have a favorite? Let me know about it in the comments.
I used to think that choosing a favorite Fela album was difficult, not because one stood out from the rest, but because in doing so you're indicating that the others weren't as good. Well, forget about all that. Afrodisiac is it. Better than Gentlemen, Expensive Shit, Zombie, He Miss Road. All of em. No political agenda here, no anger directed anywhere. Just classic hard, heavy Afro-funk, super tight horns, meticulous arrangements, completely indecipherable lyrics and some particularly impressive keyboard work. Fela at his best. Do you have a favorite? Let me know about it in the comments.
Wednesday
Tony Allen & the Afro Messengers
No Discrimination - 1980
By 1980 Tony Allen had not only vacated the role he'd held as Fela Kuti's band leader and drummer for well over a decade, but had begun taking afrobeat off in his own unique direction. Much like Allen's previous two solo LPs, 1975's Jealousy and '77's Progress, the results aren't completely removed from what Fela was up to around the same time, but the gap between the two masters was undoubtedly widened with No Discrimination. Comprised of many members of Fela's Africa 70, Allen's Afro Messengers forged ahead with a deconstructed, almost dub-like approach to afrobeat paired with a subtle underpinning of greasy synths and gentle polyrhythms - a genre Allen himself would appropriately term afrofunk. As the decade wore on, Allen began incorporating period electronics, rap and R&B into the mix, but No Discrimination captures the brief moment when his music was still firmly rooted in West African traditions, but his desire of a more expansive palette first started to emerge. There's not a tune under 8 minutes here, and while all four are outstanding, the delicately trippy "Ariya" is my personal favorite. The Evolver label re-released this album paired with 1979's No Accomodation for Lagos a few years back, so pick that one up if No Discrimination piques your interest.
By 1980 Tony Allen had not only vacated the role he'd held as Fela Kuti's band leader and drummer for well over a decade, but had begun taking afrobeat off in his own unique direction. Much like Allen's previous two solo LPs, 1975's Jealousy and '77's Progress, the results aren't completely removed from what Fela was up to around the same time, but the gap between the two masters was undoubtedly widened with No Discrimination. Comprised of many members of Fela's Africa 70, Allen's Afro Messengers forged ahead with a deconstructed, almost dub-like approach to afrobeat paired with a subtle underpinning of greasy synths and gentle polyrhythms - a genre Allen himself would appropriately term afrofunk. As the decade wore on, Allen began incorporating period electronics, rap and R&B into the mix, but No Discrimination captures the brief moment when his music was still firmly rooted in West African traditions, but his desire of a more expansive palette first started to emerge. There's not a tune under 8 minutes here, and while all four are outstanding, the delicately trippy "Ariya" is my personal favorite. The Evolver label re-released this album paired with 1979's No Accomodation for Lagos a few years back, so pick that one up if No Discrimination piques your interest.Thursday
Tony Allen
Jealousy/Progress - 1975/77
Unofficial band director and drummer extraordinaire for Fela Kuti 's groups from 1968 through the late 70s, Tony Allen is arguably as important in the development of Afrobeat as Fela himself. A master of subtle precision and a purveyor of deep, classic funk, Allen released this pair of LPs in the mid 70s to step out of the shadow of his boss and pull his own contributions to the forefront. And while this is certainly the Tony Allen show, it's by no means a one man affair. It is, however, a massive attack of percussion. With Africa 70 providing backing and Fela contributing heavily on keys and saxophone on both albums, the sound isn't that different from any of the classic Fela LPs from this era - the drums are understandably pushed up in the mix, but the chant vocals, percussive guitars and plunky electric pianos pull everything toward a familiar core - but much like He Miss Road, the sound is less immediate, more atmospheric and spacious. All told, a magnificent pair of LPs that shed some long overdue sunshine on one the all-time greats. There's no way not to love this collection.
Unofficial band director and drummer extraordinaire for Fela Kuti 's groups from 1968 through the late 70s, Tony Allen is arguably as important in the development of Afrobeat as Fela himself. A master of subtle precision and a purveyor of deep, classic funk, Allen released this pair of LPs in the mid 70s to step out of the shadow of his boss and pull his own contributions to the forefront. And while this is certainly the Tony Allen show, it's by no means a one man affair. It is, however, a massive attack of percussion. With Africa 70 providing backing and Fela contributing heavily on keys and saxophone on both albums, the sound isn't that different from any of the classic Fela LPs from this era - the drums are understandably pushed up in the mix, but the chant vocals, percussive guitars and plunky electric pianos pull everything toward a familiar core - but much like He Miss Road, the sound is less immediate, more atmospheric and spacious. All told, a magnificent pair of LPs that shed some long overdue sunshine on one the all-time greats. There's no way not to love this collection.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)