from the LP Nigeria 70…, Strut Records, released: 2001, recorded: 197?
This past decade really spoiled us westerners with a seemingly unending glut of top quality compilations covering popular African music in the late ‘60s & ‘70s, exposing us to the considerable depth of localized talent found across the entire continent, far more sounds and grooves than the Fela or Ladysmith records we’d heard before. Of particular interest to us heads are these comps which focus on the fusion that was created when western musical trends cross-pollinated with the indigenous rhythms and cadence; the result: bloody fucking brilliant! The western African nation of Nigeria has proven to be of particular interest, and having the densely populated & relatively metropolitan capital of Lagos as its hub helped to forge a record-pressing industry that was nearly on par with those in Brazil and Colombia at that time. I couldn’t find any information on this particular group, but they sure as hell know how to develop one funky-ass groove---that explosion of fuzzed-out, psych rock guitar near the end of the song (right at 4:06) grabs me every time. Dude, homeboy in the cover photo is stylin’ yo, from the diagonal fade to those “fuck-off” boots, you know these cats came to party!
