Some songs – often from Latin America or Africa – have such stupendously hypnotic grooves that you become utterly lost. But the shaka-shaka-shaka drums, the…
Afro-Beats
25/03/2022: “Alo Mi Alo” by Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders
The rhythm just doesn’t quit on this one – an absolute masterclass in Highlife groove! Originally released in 1973 as a single, it resurfaced in…
13/10/2020: “Samba” by Les Amazones de Guinee
Anyone who’s been going to the cinema in the last 5 years might be familiar with the Amazons as the tribe of fierce warrior women…
10/10/2020: “Atwer Abroba” by Ebo Taylor
Ebo Taylor has had a long and fruitful career in highlife and afrobeat. This groove filled jam exemplifies the musicianship which seems to flow like…
04/11/2019: “Kita Kita” by Gasper Lawal
Deeply, deeply funky. There’s a nice dub element to this too! The song was released in 1981 as a single on Cap Records in the…
19/06/2019: “Piani” by Jo Tongo
This track isn’t an invitation to move. It’s a command to boogie! Jo Tongo was born in Cameroon, but moved to France to study Pharmaceuticals….
08/06/2019: “Lagos Sisi” by Bola Johnson
Bola Johnson is associated with the Nigerian highlife and afrobeats scenes. He was a bandleader, but his true skill was with the trumpet. At this…
19/04/2019: “Mama Matotoya” by The Mombasa Vikings
The Mombasa Vikings were the house band of the Mombasa Reef Hotel in the 70s, so called because of the location and due to a…
16/03/2019: “Asa-Sa” by Fred Fisher
Sometimes it seems like Nigeria has produced an extraordinarily high proportion of excellent musicians and groovy sounds. This is more 70s brilliance, this time from…
10/02/2019: “Afe Ato Yen Bio” by De Frank Professionals
Ghana has a deep affinity for funky sounds, and if “Afe Ato Yen Bio” is anything, it’s funky! There’s an almost tropical feel to the…