Various Artists - Afrobeat Sessions
(Union Square Sessions/ SESHDCD219)
The subtitle of this 29-track double CD is “Over two hours of the funkiest music ever made” – and I couldn’t agree more. The compilation doesn’t strictly stick to Afrobeat but instead covers current music influenced by Afrobeat, music from the same era as Afrobeat and of course Afrobeat itself.
CD 1 is a mix more recent Afro-inspired dance music, even including surprises like Fatboy Slim, US rapper Common, as well as New York’s Afrobeat outfit Antibalas, Afrobeat-influenced Ras from Germany, Ethopian Gigi (remixed by Tony Allen), and our very own Ty (feat. Tony Allen) and JJC & 419 Squad (‘Malemicita’). There’s house, there’s hip-hop, there’s ambient – all with a distinct Afrobeat influence.
CD2 opens with Fela Kuti’s classic “Water No Get Enemy” and it then moves on to a fantastic selection of 60s and 70s gems from The Funkees (‘Ole’), Manu Dibango (‘Soul Makossa’), Peter King (‘Shango’) and many more.
Reviewer : JJC