Search - Fela Kuti :: Beats of No Nation / Odoo

Inital Impressions Don't Hold Up

Jeff Hodges | Denton, TX United States | 01/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At first listen, Fela seems unfocused on Beasts of No Nation / ODOO. Extended songs are a long-standing trademark of Fela's afrobeat, but in most cases the song's length is propelled by the energetic strength of Fela's music and the conviction in his message. His seeming lack of focus makes the half-hour tracks on this recording seem overlong. However, Beasts of No Nation / ODOO were a pair of relatively late-period albums for Fela (roughly 1988), and the toll that decades of imprisonment and beatings had taken on him is well-documented. Close listening reveals that the strength of this recording lies not in his slightly diminished charisma, but by the evolution in his compositions and the realization of this evolution through his band, the Egypt 80.



Considering that Fela's performances (even on record) always had an improvisatory aspect to them, the Egypt 80 proves to be a highly flexible and responsive group. In comparison to the hard-driving Africa 70, The Egypt 80 was more attuned to the texture and subtleties that Fela was developing in his late-period work. Although the Africa 70 excelled in executing highly complex beats derived from local traditions, Beasts of No Nation / ODOO shows that Fela was experimenting beyond the boundaries his previous work. Repeated listening reveals some of his most complex arrangements and memorable melodic material, seamlessly bound into an improvisatory tapestry. It does not take too much effort to visualize Fela conducting the Egypt 80 like an orchestra in the same way that Frank Zappa conducted his bands.



However, one can't help but feel that on some level Fela is repeating himself. Despite the subtle strength of the overall composition, his direct quotation of "Zombie", "Suffering and Schmiling", "Unknown Soldier", and several other of his "greatest hits" in ODOO feels a little more like nostalgic lip service than relevant political dialouge.



The Lowdown: Listen really closely to this one. Although Fela's usual politics are present, he was channeling his energy into evolving his music towards what he considered a new "African Classicalism". One cannot help but think about where this path would have led him if he would have stayed with us for just awhile longer.

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Very powerful stuff

Jeff Hodges | 09/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Fela at his powerful, revolutionary best. The polyrhythms are so entrancing and gripping that I hear them for days after listening to the album. The lyrics highlight not only the injustices in Nigeria, but talk of the world scene as well. The images are striking and lasting...dis-united United Nations, country against country, powerful leaders against their own people. A strong reminder of the injustices around us."

Beasts of No Nation ... deserted island soundtrack

Jeff Hodges | 05/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You ask the age old question, what album would you want if you were stranded on a deserted island? Well, this is the album I would have with me. Specifcally, BONN, is simply the funkiest, most driving, hypnotic, fluid based, jam/song there will ever be. The ebb and flow of the beats, lyrics and interjected horn lines make you want to jump up and get freaky-deaky (to quote another masterpiece). Then the title track gives way to a melodic, if not, mesmerizing slow pulse jam that is one of Fela's greatest juxtaposition songs ever i.e. lyrics are forceful and strong political claims while the beats are steady and peaceful, inviting the listener to sit back and enjoy. As far as advice, if you have stumbled on to this site looking for Fela stuff, I highly recommend this album as your foray into afrobeat OR just the next afrobeat album to add to your collection."