Another great Funk unit that went under the radar...
Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 05/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Lafayette Afro Rock Band were actually from the U.S., but were a Paris based group - - and to this day (except for DJs who find this stuff the ultimate groove juice) are virtually unknown back at home despite their ultra heavy levels of Funkativity. The formula:'70s dance music with a funk, afro, latin disco mix. An evil mix of Osibisa vs. Mandrill (if that means anything to you!) - - They changed their name to ICE in 1976 and recorded alteast one ULTRA heavy JAZZ FUNK album for Prestige as I recall - - its highly collectible... my copy went missing and I want it bad.
Meanwhile while ICE (at the time of this writing) is still MIA from the reissues bin, its great to see Lafayette Afro Rock, which has always been hard to find is back in reissue. If you dig tripped out funk with lot's of percussion, including the funky Hammond screamin' "jungle music" you'd hear in those Euro-porn films back in the '70s, you definitely won't regret this purchase ! ! !"
Great underrated band
shezan | Rimini, rn Italy | 03/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of my favourite band from the 70's, which was able to combine afro rhythms with funk and soul in a very effective way. This compilation is a very good starting point for anyone interested in rare grooves. Here's what the Strut label says: "Darkest Light is the first ever retrospective of one of the '70s most influential bands. Recorded in Paris and New York under the production guidance of Pierre Jaubert ("Berjot"), the Lafayettes were a jazz-based super session group that created a heavy, dense, no compromise ghetto funk that has since been sampled by everyone from Public Enemy to Wreckz 'N' Effect. This album brings together the essential tracks from their two studio albums as well as a selection of tracks as their earlier incarnation, Ice, and is the first official collection of their work ever in the UK."Since there is no tracklist on the Amazon page, you can find it below:Voodounon
Conga
Hihache
Malik
Ozan Koukle
Nicky
Soul Makossa
Darkest Light
Scorpion Flower
Red Matchbox
Racubah
The Gap (instrumental)
Dr. Beezar "Soul Frankenstein"
Baba Hya bonus break This is a great buy. Go get it!"