Ethiopiques - the Very Best of Ethiopiques: Hypnotic Grooves from the Legendary Series ~ Various Artists |
~ Amadou & Mariam
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~ Fela Kuti
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by Richard Dowden
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~ Fela Kuti
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lady | |||
| 2. Shakara | |||
| 3. Gentleman | |||
| 4. Water No Get No Enemy | |||
| 5. Zombie | |||
| 6. Sorrows Tears And Blood | |||
| 7. No Agreement | |||
| 8. Roforofo Fight | |||
| 9. Shuffering And Schmiling | |||
| 10. Coffin For Head Of State | |||
See all 13 tracks on this disc
| |||
| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Roforofo Fight | |||
| 2. Shuffering And Schmiling | |||
| 3. Coffin For Head Of State | |||
| 4. ITT | |||
| 5. Army Arrangement | |||
| 6. ODOO | |||
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Political activist, outspoken radical and inventor of "Afro-Beat", Fela Anikulapo ("he-who-carries-death-in-his-pouch") Kuti left behind him an incomparable legacy of music when he died in 1997. His struggles against the Nigerian state became the stuff of legend in his home country, his denunciations of world leaders such as Reagan and Thatcher gained him notoriety abroad. But his music remains as his supreme achievement over and above the details of his amazingly courageous life, even if many (most) of his lyrics are angry condemnations of politicians. His vast output of recordings can hardly be distilled onto two discs, but Black President (named after a classic 1981 album) is nevertheless a good introduction to this extraordinary man and his music. The album lacks any personnel details and fails to indicate the origins of each track, but it scarcely matters: Fela's band, Africa 70, was a large and always flexible group (it rarely actually boasted 70 members), with the only constant presence being his 30 backing singers, most of whom were also his wives! Throughout, the beats are solid, the solos are never overpowering and the rhythm--the powerful, hypnotic rhythm--is always preeminent. If, in the end, it's impossible to divorce Fela Kuti's music from his life, it is at least a real pleasure just to play this album and let his grooves possess your spirit. --Mark Walker
CD Description
Fela Kuti is generally considered to be the inventor of Afrobeat, a propulsive, highly danceable music that borrows from American soul, R&B, funk, and jazz, but is deeply rooted in traditional African folk as well. This superior, two-disc compilation collects material from across the Nigerian performer's stunning career, beginning with a handful of recordings from 1972 and continuing up to 1989. Funky, passionate, and technically precise, yet free-spirited and given to extensive improvisation, Fela's music runs on webs of percolatingpercussion, bobbing bass, wiry funk guitar, cacophonous andsultry horns, and call-and-response choruses.
In addition to being a musical visionary, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Fela was also a fiercely political figure. A socialist and revolutionary, Fela protested oppression in all its forms, touching on everything from police brutality to Pan-African identity, and THE BEST BEST provides a sampler of these themes. The only drawback here is that some tracks have been edited down to fit the compilation (Fela's jams could last upwards of 20 minutes). For this reason, dedicated fans may want to seek out the original albums. Still, THE BEST BEST is nearly unbeatable as an introduction to the irresistible power of this world-music icon.
Political activist, outspoken radical and inventor of "Afro-Beat", Fela Anikulapo ("he-who-carries-death-in-his-pouch") Kuti left behind him an incomparable legacy of music when he died in 1997. His struggles against the Nigerian state became the stuff of legend in his home country, his denunciations of world leaders such as Reagan and Thatcher gained him notoriety abroad. But his music remains as his supreme achievement over and above the details of his amazingly courageous life, even if many (most) of his lyrics are angry condemnations of politicians. His vast output of recordings can hardly be distilled onto two discs, but Black President (named after a classic 1981 album) is nevertheless a good introduction to this extraordinary man and his music. The album lacks any personnel details and fails to indicate the origins of each track, but it scarcely matters: Fela's band, Africa 70, was a large and always flexible group (it rarely actually boasted 70 members), with the only constant presence being his 30 backing singers, most of whom were also his wives! Throughout, the beats are solid, the solos are never overpowering and the rhythm--the powerful, hypnotic rhythm--is always preeminent. If, in the end, it's impossible to divorce Fela Kuti's music from his life, it is at least a real pleasure just to play this album and let his grooves possess your spirit. --Mark Walker
CD Description
Fela Kuti is generally considered to be the inventor of Afrobeat, a propulsive, highly danceable music that borrows from American soul, R&B, funk, and jazz, but is deeply rooted in traditional African folk as well. This superior, two-disc compilation collects material from across the Nigerian performer's stunning career, beginning with a handful of recordings from 1972 and continuing up to 1989. Funky, passionate, and technically precise, yet free-spirited and given to extensive improvisation, Fela's music runs on webs of percolatingpercussion, bobbing bass, wiry funk guitar, cacophonous andsultry horns, and call-and-response choruses.
In addition to being a musical visionary, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Fela was also a fiercely political figure. A socialist and revolutionary, Fela protested oppression in all its forms, touching on everything from police brutality to Pan-African identity, and THE BEST BEST provides a sampler of these themes. The only drawback here is that some tracks have been edited down to fit the compilation (Fela's jams could last upwards of 20 minutes). For this reason, dedicated fans may want to seek out the original albums. Still, THE BEST BEST is nearly unbeatable as an introduction to the irresistible power of this world-music icon.
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