afrofunk

Montpellier’s Fanga is one of the two Afrobeat bands that’s released a new album recently (The other being Kokolo). Frankly the selling point for me was the involvement of the legendary Fela Kuti sidekick Tony Allen as I haven’t heard about their 2004 debut “Afrokaliptyik“. Thank God for that because this is an essential piece of modern afrobeat.

I’m sure mersenne agrees that every show is a small struggle between packaging the most loved pieces of the week together and doing a formally wholesome show for the sake and well-being of broadcasting. It’d be wrong if i said “It used to be fun, now it’s not“, however playing on a radio channel has different liabilities than podcasting and it does effect how we play in certain levels.

Our first shows were less sentient, not bad or random but more like recent faves glued together (at least mine were, since mersenne has more musical output experience than me), but upon the 11th show, i can see we’ve matured and although we still have a long way to go we’re starting to grasp the whole integrity thing. I can’t make any promises it’s gonna be the best radio show ever, the music range will always be pretty diverse and it can go from suprising to crazy since this has always been the base of the show and since it still is and will always be a fun thing. It doesn’t hurt if entertainment sounds a bit more professional though. That’s the moral of this long boring pep-talk anyway. Here’s me getting better:

01. men-an-tol - men-an-tol
02. feist - sea lion woman
03. forro in the dark - limpiao do ceu
04. george benson - sunny
05. the aquarians - batakum
06. agostones - csillagosveny - star track
07. luba alexandrov - gankino horo
08. trio balkano - florina tik
09. alamaailman vasarat - katkorapu
10. mr. bungle - none of them knew they were robots
11. frank zappa - i’m the slime
12. nowy - escalation
13. sookie - rhythm on rhythm
14. ebo taylor - heaven

Undomondo Radio Show #11

I came across this one while searching for some nice afrobeat pieces to play on the show (and i have to admit that’s mostly because fela kuti songs are neverending stories between 8 to 13 minutes…too long for the show) Anyway i’m very happy to have stumbled on this compilation since every song is a gem of spicy afro-funky taste for all Africa 70’s fans out there. If, you’re content with Fela, Tony Allen, and Manu Dibango on the afrobeat subject like me, you shouldn’t be. At least that’s the conclusion I reached after i heard these.

African music whether it’s jazz or ethnic or otherwise, has always been different (from a western perspective anyway) and it’s not really my place to say how African musicians have offered a lot originality and divergence; but i find the 70’s afrobeat scene a special era, totally black roots & African and all that, but also in tune with the western ear and the awakening movement worldwidely acclaimed throughout the 60s and 70s. I find it a universally noteworthy combination much like our Turkish Anatolian Rock scene from the 70’s and just like Turkish Anatolian Rock, it’s unique qualities make 70’s afrobeat scene great listening pieces and great collectibles, also great reminiscents from a time of massive change and rebellion against stagnation.

Ebo Taylor - Heaven
Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band - Bukom Mashie
Honny & The Bees Band - Psychedelic Woman