Afrobeat/Afrofunk Treats

The Same Blood
Tony Allen
Black Voices
Comet Records : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

African Hustle
Mombasa
African Rhythms & Blues
Intercord : 1976
[Listen]

Racubah
Ice
The Afro-Instrumental LP
Musidisc : 1970
[Listen]

Eyi Su Ngaanga
The Sweet Talks
Adam & Eve?
???? : 1975
[Listen] [I think it's on Adam & Eve... if someone can verify, please let me know in the comments?]

New Bell
Manu Dibango
Soul Makossa
Atlantic : 1972
[Listen]

Hot and Jumpy
George Danquah
Hot and Jumpy - New Dimensions in African Hustle! Reggae! Native! Soul!
Quami : 1970
[Listen]

Afrobeat is music of the body. It is sound and rhythm that appeals to each and every sense, regaling the spirit with joy, passion and positivity. It's the beat to keep, the beat to pick you up after a difficult time, or a prolonged spell of tough living.

For its creators and first proponents, Afrobeat was the bridge between all types of African music, uniting people in sonic solidarity and providing a platform for lyrics and sentiments of profound change and political context.

Today, as we turn the corner into full-on winter and FmGT is preparing for the cold, I thought I'd present a variety of afro-beat and afro-funk for the ears. It's the best music on the planet; unhindered by tragedy, it flies defiant as a celebration of the human spirit against any and all obstacles put in our way.

And to be honest, that's where I find myself currently. Trying to turn things around. Looking to make changes, transitions, take on new challenges and shed all remnants of spiritual stagnation and woe. There's a lot of dust to beat out of the closet, a lot of voicemail to sift through and a lot of correspondence to be completed.

This soundtrack should help you all get back up to speed as well, with anything and everything you've been slacking on in your own worlds.

From the top....

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Tony Allen is the rhythmic godfather of afrobeat. His polyrhythms and percussion mastery helped to define the genre and anchor it to spirit of dance. Allen's command of syncopation on the snare drums and frenzy behind the kit are synonymous with the movement, and this track, from his LP Black Voices, is as good as it gets.

It's all to do with that unmistakable beat, the one that roots you, props you up and drives you forward. It's dark, it's futuristic, it's funky. It's sexual, irresistible, seductive.

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Next up, a funky cut from Mombasa, a European afro-funk band led by US trombonist Lou Blackburn [who was perhaps best known for his collaboration work with Mingus during the Mingus at Monterrey recordings]. Comprised of mostly African musicians, the band recorded and made a home in Germany, pressing this amazing LP during the mid-70s.

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By contrast, Ice was an entirely different outfit. The band was born as the Bobby Boyd Congress on Long Island in 1966, but the band relocated to France shortly thereafter due to the abundance of US funk acts around that time period. When Bobby Boyd decided to head back to the USA, the band changed their name to Ice and worked on refining their sound. The end results were fantastic, thanks to the infusion and influence of African immigrants to Paris [particularly the Barbes district, where Ice had a huge following] throughout the 1970s.

Their funk became heavy with African rhythms and textures, and in 1973, after the release of their LP Each Man Makes His Own Destiny, the band changed their name to the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

By this name, they are of course well-known throughout the hip-hop/funk world.... their songs have been sampled extensively by everyone: Jay-Z, Nas, the Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and De La Soul to name but five.

This cut from their 1970 pre-Lafayette-era French release is a fantastic snippet of Afrofunk. Big, bold horn arrangements and flawless funk bass slammed together at a high tempo, signaling the beginning of a prolific, influential catalog.

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The Sweet Talks were a Ghanaian highlife band, known for their jazzy, up-tempo arrangements and layered guitars. Led by the legendary A.B. Crentsil, they put out two or three records in the mid-70s before going their separate ways, and this is undoubtedly one of the highlights.

The beat is relentless, anchoring the rhythm section and the shimmering layers of funk guitar. Once that horn riff hits and Crentsil's voice kicks in, you're hooked. It's simply gorgeous music that grabs you by the collar and transports you back in time to the heyday of Ghana's music scene, the Talk of the Town club.

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Next, Manu Dibango. Arguably one of Africa's most prolific musicians and ambassadors, the Cameroonian saxophone master has enjoyed great success in the jazz-funk world. His first LP, Soul Makossa, is one of my all-time favourite albums, and this track is its highest point. Thick with percussion and horns, Dibango's music is captivating.

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To close out today, a little George Danquah, bringing in the gentler side. There isn't much on the web about Danquah, with a few of his tracks popping up on some West African funk compilations, but his music definitely belongs in this little collection. Led by a funky, countrified guitar, this song is fantastic. Look out for the monster funk break right in the middle, which catches you totally unawares.

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And so I've returned. And the good form will continue with some treats on sunday, and then on into next week with some regular action. It feels good to be back.