CD Review: London Afrobeat Collective - Food Chain

Funke Adeleke (vcl); Alex Farrell, Alex Szyjanowicz (gtr); Andy Watts (tpt); Edmund Swinburn (ten); Klibens Michelet (bar); Lee Crisp (cong); Zak Cohen (perc); John Mathews (bs); Farivar Gorjian (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Living the cloistered life that I do, Afrobeat, as a genre, hasn't clicked on my awareness gene, until now - not much call for that sort of stuff down 'wor street'.

Which is more the pity as it's great music to boogie to - I'm sure that if I played this on a summer's evening at full blast and opened the living room windows, the neighbours would be out in force either dancing on the Green or telling me where to go and it wouldn't be to Africa!

London Afrobeat Collective are favourites at festivals as contrasting as Glastonbury and Cheltenham.

Their music slots in easily at either.

I don't understand many of the words which Adeleke sings but it doesn't matter as they are anthemic songs with socially conscious lyrics which may be applicable in the current electoral climate although the album isn't released until May 25.

Adeleke chants almost non-stop (or so it seems) with the horns blowing power riffs over hypnotic ethnic rhythms and occasional wild solos that  hit the ozone layer with such intensity that Climate Change could be laid at their door - not to mention damage to flooring by the foot stamping their music inspires - they probably also have the secret of making rain.

I'm reminded in places of the Grand Union Orchestra but this is even grander!

Music is for everyone came through in one of the more lucid vocals and no one will argue with that - apart from, maybe, the Arts Council of GB!

The good news is they gig around the UK (well some of the UK) in May/June/July.

London; Leeds; Bristol;; Isle of Wight; Glastonbury; Scotland and, although they don't hit Newcastle, they do play Nigeria in October.
London Afrobeat Collective - Food Chain - May 25 is the release date
Lance.