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This collection originally surfaced on the Kona label in 2001, boasting that it was a collection of rare and unreleased Afro-Beat from Africa. Yet it’s more influenced by western funk than Fela Kuti’s unique creation. Most of these tunes prior to 2001 had not been heard outside of Africa, which is a shame because it’s brimming with super cool 70′s funk that matters little what continent it was created on. It’s all pretty obscure, and though the smooth urban sounds of Sierra Leone’s Geraldo Pino did filter out, the majority comes from artists so obscure they’re not even known in their own country. This is an album that is heralded as launching the crate digging culture in Africa, with outlandish tales like finding the piece Yuda from Dackin Dacking on a discarded reel. There’s music here from Nigeria, Zaire, and Kenya on an album that doesn’t let up the funk for one second. Out of print since 2002 this album itself had become highly sought after, not in the least due to the incredible picture on the cover. It’s another quality and exotic rare groove release from a label that seems unable to do wrong.
Bob Baker Fish
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