Various Artists African Scream Contest
On this terribly overdue comp of ‘70s funk from Benin and Togo, curator Samy Ben […]
On this terribly overdue comp of ‘70s funk from Benin and Togo, curator Samy Ben Redjeb documents some of the best footprints that James Brown left on West African groove. The infusion of the Godfather’s screeching energy and locked grooves is ripe in the Beninese dance rhythm on Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou’s “Gbeti Madjro.” Elsewhere, Picoby Band D’Abomey’s frenetic breakbeats and lightly distorted vocals achieve a fine psychedelic grace, while the Discafric Band produces ace robotic funk from deadpan chants and a hypnotic, bare-bones rhythm. It’s sad that so few outsiders have discovered these gems until now.