VA:Africa Airways 03 (The Afro-Psych Excursion 1972 - 1984)
AFRICA SEVEN
Afro / Reggae / DubNew Vinyl LP / 20 EUR
We are pleased to welcome you once more aboard Africa Airways. For your third flight your pilot has informed us of some particularly adverse turbulence en-route. Your trip may be multi-coloured, the winds may be swirling and the clouds may be kaleidoscopic. Ladies and Gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts for your mind-expanding journey through the Afro-Psych skies.
Opening up proceedings are Afro National from Sierra Leone. Their progressive psyche-highlife foot-stomper setting down a marker for things to come. Next it is Ifang Bondi who serves up a swirling concoction of powering afro rhythms, fuzz guitar, magic flute, fuzz organ, all underpinned with a driving powerful driving bass line. Next stop is Mali where Sory Bamba serves up the highlight from his 1979 album “Kanaga 78”. An early use of psychedelic synthesizer paired cleverly with pulsating bass guitar and harsh choppy guitar.
We step forward in time a few years for the distorted guitar chords and over-stacked beats of “Nzango” by African Black. Bunzu Soundz from Ghana close side A with their choppy, percussive, “Zinabu”.
Messi Jacques & Les Dissoumbas De Libreville open up side B with “Onga Ben Ma Na Mene Mebua”, prepare for an onslaught of psych organ, crazed drumming and eeechho vocals to the max. Decca… more