Essential Afrobeat (The Very Best Of Afrobeat/Selected By Dele Sosimi) - Various Artists

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Great triple CD
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Essential Afroboeat is essential if you are in any way interested in Afrobeat music. The CD sleeve notes bake a somewhat bold claim. "This is Afrobeat: The past, the present and the future. Contributions to this compilation come from all the corners of the Earth, with influences from every culture of the world. Fela said that Africa was "The centre of the world." This compilation has proved him right: Afrobeat is afrian and Africa is at the centre. The contribution of each artist to this compilation is testimony to the fact that Afrobeat is universal."

But are these sleeve notes right? Yeah. I guess they are, pretty much. There's a glittering array of some of the best of the most talented musicians from Africa. There's Fela Kuti himself, with his super-eclectic style, which combines elements of R&B, Reggae, Ska and some hard pushing jazz style horns.

There's Chief Udoh Essiet whose style reminds me of the best of blues, with a fantastic horn section that could blow even the great horn sections of the past into a cocked hat. His song they Must Go also brings in elements of African gospel singing. And some cool funky guitar, too!

And there's Peter King, whose Watusi is the epitome of cross cultural genius, with laid back jazz grooves that would stand up against any of the jazz greats of the past 40 years. Maybe more.

Next up is something by Femi Kuti, Truth Don Die. Femi is the son of Fela Kuti, and is no mean musician himself. Funky, groovy, and eminently danceable.

Next is Salif Keita, whose track Madan (Laid remix) is a splendid working of modern style with traditional African music and singing.

Next up is Witchcraft, another song by Fela Kuti, making excellent use of horns and rhythm, backing his strong and powerful voice.

Then there's Wganda Kenya with Shakalode. This has to be one of the funkiest, most groovy tunes I have heard in many years! Driving, repeating guitars, working well with some really neat singing and some great, funky organ playing.

Chequers comes up next with a very hard edged and rhythmic Get Up, Stand Up. "It's 'Get Up, Stand Up,' Jim, but not as we know it." It has to be said that this beats the Bob Marley version into a distant second place! Don't think that's possible? Then you'll have to buy this CD to find out for yourself!

Then, along comes Showboy, with Jazzakuti, an entirely different but equally good track. Nice, laidback rhythm section with some thoughtful yet insistent horn playing.

Fela Kuti's Rofordo Fight comes next and has starts with some beautiful guitar work, which seems to be looking for something, reflected nicely in the quick rhythm section, both of which are then met with some really groovy, funky horn playing, which mingles nicely with the grooves.

Komidara by Cheick-Tidiane Seck is a fine example of traditional African music that might give a passing nod at Western influences, by using traditional keyboard instruments, proclaims that it is African music, and proud of it!

Salif Keita performs Sina, a perfect blend of modern European influenced pop an d traditional African vibes. Understated music and laidback, melodious vocals.

Campus Life by Frankoye is punching, driving rhythms, Booker T and the MGs style keyboards and another fine employment of jazz horns, played to perfection.

Wow! Che Che Kule, by Eddie Quansah. Apparently Che Che Kule is a new dance, but the music is pure fantastic dance grooves combined with a mix of African style and great flair!

The fifteenth track is Turbulent Times by Dele Sosimi. The music is anything but turbulent. Thoughtful, piano playing, with an understated rhythm section and the ubiquitous horn section makes for an intelligent, yet funky track.

Serere's Lekaun Animashaun should be the last track on side two. It features some pointed solo trumpet plaing, countered by some nice, in the background guitar work, with some horn that impose themselves (for want of a better expression) to great effect.

There are two tracks on CD 1, that are not listed on the CD sleeve. The first is Senga, by Manu Dibango. Nice vocals, with interesting funky backing making for a "clean" sounding piece of music.

Then there is Freedom Train by Feso Trombone. A fascinating start to a track that uses funky, urgent music to create the impression of a train hurtling along the tracks. What kind of train? A freedom train, of course! Interesting, 'pleading' vocals, too.

The second CD is, basically, more of the rather good same. If you'll pardon the expression! More of the rather good same, with the rather curious inclusion of a track by Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook. I mean? Afrobeat??? Fatboy Slim? As they used to say in Star Trek: "That does not compute!" His track, First Down, was the usual Fatboy Slim fare, rather like The Orb on cocoa. I doesn't really sit well with the rest of the tracks.

Two other strange selections on the second CD are Booker T and the MGs with Melting Pot and Herbie Hancock with Wiggle Waggle, though I really can see the point of including these tracks, more so than using a piece by Fatboy Slim. Indeed, Wiggle Waggle is not really out of place on this album, being Hancock at his modern jazz best.

Other tracks include Mory Kante's Yeke Yeke, Lekah Babalola's Oya, Denns Ferrer's Funu, Maw with Time is Now, Area F's Akumbe (the original mix) Soothsayer's Follow Your Path (remix) Massak's rather intriguingly named B.L.A. Part 1 (Part 1), D J Food's remixed Dub Lion, Mamu Dibango's Soul Makossa, !Knuf's An Der Beat, Fela Kuit's Ako, Quantic's Use What You Got, Hugh Masekela's Don't Go Lose It Baby (12 inch version), Fela Kuti's Obe and Ghetto Blaster's Na Waya.

Oddly enough whilst the track listings for CD 1 showup, there are no track listings for CD 2.

There's also a third, bonus CD, called Afro Chill with 17 tracks to chill out to.

The CD costs £15.99 and is available via Amazon and is on Family Records.