Opika Pende: Africa At 78 Rpm (4cd+Book) [Box set]

I received this set about a week ago directly from Dust to Digital, and I take it as an honour and a privilege to be able to write the first review for such a splendid collection. That said, there is a lot to absorb here, and I know that my favourite songs today will differ from my choices tomorrow. In lieu of choosing favourites or delving into other subjectivities, here's a little bit of background for you to start things off:

This four disc set has been compiled and annotated by Jonathan Ward, longtime Excavated Shellac blogger extraordinaire. This guy really knows his stuff, and compiled all of the music in this boxed set from his own collection of African 78s. None of these songs have been released on CD prior to this, making this set doubly important as a document of early African music that may have otherwise never seen the light of day. Moreover, the set was produced by the good people at Dust to Digital, a label with a proven track record of putting the music, packaging and ultimately the customer, first.

The set is beautifully packaged in a hard box with one booklet containing all four discs, and a substantial book that provides thoughtful details and background information for every song. The discs are divided roughly by geographical region; North, West, East/Central and South Africa. Sound mastering is incredible given the age of some of this music, and while there are inevitable clicks and pops, the depth, dimension and dynamics of the music have been preserved beautifully. As for the music itself, the sheer variety and eclecticism that is able to flourish in a continent as large and varied as Africa (and any given country therein) maintains diversity and listener interest with ease. If I do have one complaint, it's that this set seeks to represent the 78 in Africa, popular from just after the turn of the century through to the 1960s. While I enjoy all of this music, it can be somewhat jarring to hear rural acoustic traditional music back to back with urban sounds and electric guitars. That said, I guess that's part of the diversity, and certainly part of the idiosyncrasy of Africa.

In all, this boxed set is a steal. The riches contained within are well worth the price and then some, especially considering the beauty and rarity of the music. I think I read Ward assert that he believes or hopes that this could appeal to just about anyone. While I do find it incredibly appealing and ceaselessly engaging, I am definitely already a convert to this sort of thing. I love early African music dearly, but can certainly acknowledge that it may be just a bit too eclectic, raw and "unpolished" for your average listener. Still, I do admire Ward's optimism, and sincerely hope that his set succeeds in spreading a love for this music. If it at least succeeds among those of us with a pre-established interest, and prompts more incredible releases of this calibre, Ward will have done much for vintage African music and for willing listeners everywhere.

Leave it to Lance Ledbetter's Dust-to-Digital reissue label to give collectors of early "ethnic" records a box set that is as visually unique as it is historically important. Produced by Ledbetter in collaboration with collector Jonathan Ward, Opika Pende: Africa at 78 RPM compiles 100 78rpm sides recorded on the continent of Africa between 1925 and the 1960s (when, yes, they were still producing 78s) onto four CDs. It arrives in a slipcase (with great graphics) along with a 112-page booklet of detailed track notes (and more great graphics). The album's title means "Be strong" or "Stand firm" and many of these recordings (from Ward's collection) never made it outside Africa and are the only document of a culture. The styles include both folk and pop music and each of the discs is devoted to a different region. Surely this set is aimed at the specialist collector but it also acts as an aural "world music" (well, part of it) history course.

I can't say enough good things about this CD. But here are the first few good things I can think of:

First, the range and quality of the music is fantastic. Ranging from the 1900's to the 1960's and from traditional "folk" music to more commercial "pop" music, with a CD each from the north, east, south and west, there's a little of everything here. Individually they're all really fine tracks, all 100 of them. And together they form a wonderfully comprehensive overview of African music over several decades and across the continent. I've never heard a collection that offered such a range and such a balance. One reviewer commented that it's a little jarring the way the tracks jump between styles and eras, but to me every track felt really fresh and surprising because of that approach to mixing the CD. A chronological approach would have been too predictable.

Second, the tracks have been wonderfully preserved - remarkable for 78's dating back that far. The compilation is so wonderful I'd listen to it even if the tracks were really scratchy, but the fact that the vast majority of tracks sound so good is a great bonus.

Third, the packaging is elegant, thorough and informative.

I've never bought a Dust to Digital compilation before, but from what other reviewers say, they always do a great job and I'm going to look up more of their stuff. Honestly I'm floored by how exquisite this collection is from start to finish.