Afro Psych (Journeys Into Psychedelic Africa 1972 - 1977) | Various Artists

Afro Psych (Journeys Into Psychedelic Africa 1972 - 1977)

by Various Artists

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12" Vinyl LP
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Includes unlimited streaming of Afro Psych (Journeys Into Psychedelic Africa 1972 - 1977) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Oriental Brothers International - Tax Drive 03:51	info	buy track
2.	Bunzu Soundz - Bokonor 02:42	info	buy track
3.	Saxon Lee & The Shadows International - Mind Your Business 09:54	info	buy track
4.	War-Head Constriction - Graceful Bird 03:48	info	buy track
5.	Lucas Tala - Moghie Nu Te Eka Tse Mu 04:50	info	buy track
6.	Aura (Aspiritual Emanation) - Ariya 04:09	info	buy track
7.	Celestin Nyam feat Voices of Darkness - Mbembe 04:01	info	buy track
8.	Christie Azumah and The Uppers International - Aja Wondo 03:52	info	buy track

about

Whilst the continents contribution to the global funk, boogie and disco canon has been well documented for decades, the strong presence of rock and psychedelia in 1970's African music has been a more slowly evolving story over the years.

Pockets of young Africans, turned on by Hendrix, the Doors, Santana and more, started to add heavy guitar riffs to rumbling, ever present funk, and built an afro psych scene that is still turning up gems to this day.

With Lagos an epicenter for the emergent scene, in 1972, local headquartered label Afrodisia was born near to the eye of the storm, and provides many of the tracks on this latest attempt to capture a bit of afro-psych magick.

Iconic Lagos twins The Lijadu Sisters' 'Bayi L'ense' (1977) opens proceedings in LP defining style : the Yoruba vocals, pattering percussion and cooly strutting funk bassline are eventually joined by soaring, scything fuzz guitar, and we're off on a six and half minute head journey.

From there, tempo's and moods shift throughout. The Oriental Brothers International free-wheeling 'Tax Drive' is underpinned by tight playing and insistent grooves; Saxon Lee and the Shadows International combine James Brown style brass with what sounds like long, improv'd hammond sections across the near 10 minutes of 'Mind Your Business'.

Gears are quickly shifted as Warhead Constriction get straight up heavy on Graceful Bird, and Aura easily integrate early synth work outs on Ariya (at about the same time Kraftwerk were starting to hit wider audiences, 1976). Celestin Nyam's 'Mbembe' takes no prisoners, as free jazz sax workouts, horns, hammonds AND squalling Hendrix style guitar riffs all make welcome appearances, before Christie Azumah And The Uppers International, again combine deep funk with hammonds, choppy guitars and insistent vocals on 'Aja Wondo'.

credits

released August 12, 2022

01: The Lijadu Sisters - Bayi L'ense
Written by The Lijadu Sisters. (P) 1977 Afrodisia

02: Oriental Brothers International - Tax Drive
Written by Godwin Okpara (P) 1975 Afrodisia

03: Bunzu Soundz - Bokonor
Written by Yram Hossoo. (P) 1976 Afrodisia

04: Saxon Lee - Mind Your Business
Written by Saxon Lee. (P) 1973 Afrodisia

05: War-Head Constriction - Graceful Bird
Written by Etim Bassey. Produced by Dave Bennett. (P) 1973 Afrodisia

06: Lucas Tala - Moghie Nu Te Eka Tse Mu
Written by Lucas Tala. (P) 1975 Sonafric

07: Aura (Aspiritual Emanation) - Ariya
Written by Aura. (P) 1976 Afrodisia

08: Celestin Nyam Ft. Voices of Darkness - Mbembe
Written by Celestin Nyam. (P) 1972 Afrodisia

09: Christie Azumah - Aja Wondo
Written by Chester Adams Issaka. (P) 1976 Afrodisia

Audio Restoration by Timmy @ Tiger Bright Studios (www.tigerbright.net)
Mastered by Eugene @ Cromon Tor.
Artwork by Rich Elson.

Many thanks to our licencing partners Afrodisia (www.afrodisiarecords.com), and Sonafric (www.sonafric.net).

(P) 2022 Africa Seven

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