This ain?t your daddy?s Afrobeat, but a prime sampler of cutting-edge urban dance grooves by African artists. Of course, most non-classical Western styles can trace their essence to the continent anyway. But now, as Americ... more »an and European pop saturate the world?s airwaves and the internet is omnipresent, enthusiastic cross-pollination in the opposite direction has also become commonplace. Ancient tribal traditions are colliding--and colluding--with hip-hop, funk, reggae, and electronica, incorporating every imaginable sound-manipulation technology with compulsively danceable results. The set opens with a spine-loosening, mid-tempo floor-warmer by Mali?s techno Issa Bagayogo, and progresses through a small universe where synth patches, wah-wahs, programmed beats, and manipulated voices coexist with talking drums, balafons, and hypnotic tribal chants. Musicians from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa are all heard from, and the beauty of these tracks is in how their birthrights somehow emerge transformed, but triumphantly unadulterated. -- Christina Roden« less
This ain?t your daddy?s Afrobeat, but a prime sampler of cutting-edge urban dance grooves by African artists. Of course, most non-classical Western styles can trace their essence to the continent anyway. But now, as American and European pop saturate the world?s airwaves and the internet is omnipresent, enthusiastic cross-pollination in the opposite direction has also become commonplace. Ancient tribal traditions are colliding--and colluding--with hip-hop, funk, reggae, and electronica, incorporating every imaginable sound-manipulation technology with compulsively danceable results. The set opens with a spine-loosening, mid-tempo floor-warmer by Mali?s techno Issa Bagayogo, and progresses through a small universe where synth patches, wah-wahs, programmed beats, and manipulated voices coexist with talking drums, balafons, and hypnotic tribal chants. Musicians from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa are all heard from, and the beauty of these tracks is in how their birthrights somehow emerge transformed, but triumphantly unadulterated. -- Christina Roden
Susan G. from SOMERVILLE, MA Reviewed on 2/9/2007...
"Technology meets tribal beats on this funky blend of contemporary African dance, electronica, and hip-hop" (the back of the album says)
CD Reviews
Feels like home
Tesfa iMergeAndSee | 05/31/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I received this as a gift. As a native of the Caribbean, this album reflects the roots of the music that I grew up with. It reminded me a lot of the reggae, soca, and calypso I grew up with and cherish so dearly."
Amazing African Groove
Tesfa iMergeAndSee | 02/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This Album is definetly a winner, the combination of traditional afro beats mixed with Electronica is such a refreshing sound from the current trend of monotonous sounds in the dance music scene today. Pick up this album and check out any globally influenced, Dance, Electronica, House, Lounge Groove, Hip Hop, Soul music liek Euro Lounge, Sahara Lounge and World Groove."
Wonderfully different
Ronald K. Ingersoll | Los Angeles | 12/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"great arrangements, soothing, and peaceful. I am a writer and love to allow this to run in the background."