West African Soundclash

Just when you thought the battle for West African archival comp supremacy was winding down, the two major combatants, Soundway and Analog Africa, have resumed one-upping each other with a renewed vigor. Soundway supremo Miles Cleret was forced to step up his research/repackage game after his own TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo collection The Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80 was totally obliterated by a much more deeply dug Poly-Rythmo set called Vodoun Effect. Thoroughly researched and beautifully annotated by Analog Africa founder Samy Ben Redjeb, Vodoun Effect – focusing on the group's psychedelicized groove-heavy recordings for small labels (1972-75) – was amazingly enough, merely Volume One of a series.

Following four years of research which had our man Redjeb turning over rocks across Benin, Togo and Niger to amass and license the required Orchestra Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou materials: 120 master tapes, 20 hours of interviews with band members, 100 photographs and a few hundred pieces of extremely rare vinyl, the follow-up collection has just appeared and it's another revelation. Of the 500 or so songs that Redjeb reviewed, only 14 tracks Poly-Rythmo recorded for Benin's Albarika Store label between 1969 and 79 made the grade for Volume Two: Echos Hypnotiques. Each joint is a killer and taken together, the compilation (CD and 2LP) well demonstrates the group's creativity and versatility as they effortless shift from hard-pounding Afro-beat through transfixing sato and sakpata jams that come with the freaky fuzzy atmosphere of an afterhours party. Check out the Analog Africa link below to hear the pumping Mi Ve Wa Se, the swinging boogaloo-variant Zizi as well as the propulsive head-nodder Malin Kpon O which initially inspired Redjeb's obsessive search for more of Poly-Rythmo's lost treasures.

Echos Hypnotiques track listing:

01. Se Ba Ho
02. Mi Ve Wa Se
03. Azoo De Ma Gnin Kpevi
04. Noude Ma Gnin Tche De Me
05. Ahouli Vou Yelli
06. Gan Tche Kpo
07. Malin Kpon O
08. Mede Ma gnin Messe
09. Agnon De Kpe
010. Ma Tafou Gnin O
011. Zizi
012. Ma Dou Sou Nou Mio
014. Houe Djein Nada
015. Minkou E So Non Moin

Link:

myspace.com/analogafrica


Over in England, Cleret wasn't sitting idle while Redjeb was assembling Echos Hypnotiques. Oh no, he was dreaming up a magnum opus of his own. Returning to the more familiar ground of Ghana, he decided to similarly build on past successes. Creating a worthy addition to Soundway's landmark Ghana Soundz product line which established the label's reissue rep wouldn't be easy but after 10 years of running around the cities of Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, Takoradi and Kumasi, you know that Cleret had to have at least a few badass burners stashed away. Evidently, he did.

The fantastic Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues book-bound 2 CD set contains 33 crazy corkers drawn from obscure single B-sides and album tracks by a wide assortment of kick-ass groups along with a 44-page colour booklet rammed tight with insane sleeve images, artist photos and track-by-track annotation.

Believe it or not, the simultaneously released vinyl configuration is even better! You know how the CD version of an archival release always has a few additional songs you only find out about after you've bought the vinyl? Well, the Ghana Special five LP set comes with four extra tracks – two numbers that appeared as a bonus on the Ghana Soundz CD and two otherwise unavailable killers including Joe Mensah's monumental Cry Laughter which clocks in at nearly 18 minutes and takes up the whole second side of the fifth LP! If you shop around, you should be able to find the Ghana Special LP box in Toronto for under $50 Canadian. To put that deal into proper perspective, 50 bucks is about half of what you'd need to pay a European dealer for a rinked original copy of any one single used for the set.

Ghana Special track listing:
CD 1
01. The Mercury Dance Band - Kai Wawa
02. T. O. Jazz - Owuo Adaadaa Me
03. Christy Azuma & Uppers International - Din Ya Sugri
04. The Barbecues - Aaya Lolo
05. Asaase Ase - Ohiani Sua Efir
06. St. Peter & The Holymen - Bofoo Beye Abowa Den
07. City Boys Band - Nya Asem Hwe
08. Hedzoleh Soundz - Edinya Benya
09. The Cutlass Dance Band - HweHwe Mu Yi Mpena
10. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Sei Nazo
11. Kyeremateng Atwede & The Kyeremateng Stars - I Go Die For You
12. Vis a Vis - Obi Agye Me Dofo
13. Ebo Taylor - Twer Nyame (excerpt)
14. The Big Beats - Mi Nsumõõ Bo Dõnn
15. Pa Steele's African Brothers - Odo Mmera
16. The Ogyatanaa Show Band - You Monopolise Me
CD 2
01. The African Brothers International Band - Wompe Masem
02. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Creations - Akoko Ba
03. The Sweet Talks - Akampanye
04. Houghas Sorowonko - Enuanom Adofo
05. Oscar Sulley's Nzele Soundz - Bukom
06. Bokoor Band - You Can Go
07. K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas - Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'Awu
08. Basa Basa Soundz feat. Fela Anikulapo Kuti - Dr. Solutsu
09. Pagadeja - Tamale
10. Hedzolleh Soundz - Omusus Da Fe M'musu
11. The Uhuru Dance Band - Yahyia Mu
12. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Noble Kings (Yako Aba)
13. The Wellis Band - Bindiga
14. Boombaya - Boombaya
15. Sawaaba Soundz - Owuo
16. The Cutlass Dance Band - Them Go Talk Of You
17. Honny & The Bees Band - Sisi Mbon

5LPs
A1. The Mercury Dance Band - Kai Wawa
A2. T. O. Jazz - Owuo Adaadaa Me
A3. Christy Azuma & Uppers International - Din Ya Sugri
A4. Asaase Ase - Ohiani Sua Efir
B1. The Cutlass Dance Band - HweHwe Mu Yi Mpena
B2. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Sei Nazo
B3. Hedzoleh Soundz - Edinya Benya
B4. City Boys Band - Nya Asem Hwe
B5. St. Peter & The Holymen - Bofoo Beye Abowa Den
C1. Vis a Vis - Obi Agye Me Dofo
C2. The Big Beats - Mi Nsum
C3. The Barbecues - Aaya Lolo
D1. Kyeremateng Atwede & The Kyeremateng Stars - I Go Die For You
D2. Ebo Taylor - Twer Nyame (excerpt)
D3. Pa Steeles African Brothers - Odo Mmera
D4. The Ogyatanaa Show Band - You Monopolise Me
E1. The African Brothers International Band - Wompe Masem
E2. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Creations - Akoko Ba
E3. The Sweet Talks - Akampanye
E4. Houghas Sorowonko - Enuanom Adofo
F1. Oscar Sulley's Nzele Soundz - Bukom
F2. Bokoor Band - You Can Go
F3. K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas - Kyenkyen Bi Adi MAwu
F4. Basa Basa Soundz feat. Fela Anikulapo Kuti - Dr. Solutsu
G1. Hedzolleh Soundz - Omusus Da Fe M'musu
G2. Boombaya - Boombaya
G3. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Noble Kings (Yako Aba)
G4. The Wellis Band - Bindiga
H1. Pagadeja - Tamale
H2. The Uhuru Dance Band - Yahyia Mu
H3. The Cutlass Dance Band - Them Go Talk Of You
H4. Honny & The Bees Band - Sisi Mbon
I1. Sawaaba Soundz - Owuo
I2. Honny & The Bees Band - Psychedelic Woman
I3. The Black Star Sound - Nite Safari
I4. T.O. Jazz - Osaman Ba
J1.  Joe Mensah - Cry Laughter

Link:
soundwayrecords.com