Super Afro Soul

This Vampi Soul package contains the original Strut reissue of Orlando Julius & His Modern Aces 1966 debut album Super Afro Soul, plus four bonus cuts, which were all singles that preceded its release -- indeed, demanded its release, as the people of Nigeria went wild for this blend of the highlife sound with soul. The first four singles, "Jagua Nana," "Topless," "Olufe," and "E Se Re Re," are all sounds that point the way to the album. The first has a much more juju-meets-jazz feel (and indeed it is the reason the track was included on the album as its final track). Its B-side, "Ijo Soul," touches on calypso and early James Brown-styled funk along with Stax-brewed dance-soul. The other three cuts move toward the interconnected rhythms and dance music feel of '60s Northern soul. Indeed, this magical brew with upstepping rhythms, tight, funky changes, and repetitive grooves with American soul and rhythm and blues melody and horn lines is no less than infectious today. (Ask any of the DJs in the U.K. who began playing this stuff in the '90s.) The second disc in this collection, originally issued on CD as Orlando's Afro Ideas: 1969-1972 on the Ekosound imprint way back in 1990, is simply presented here in identical fashion. Essentially, it's nine cuts compiled from tracks off Julius' other two Polygram LPs, Orlando's Ideas and Ishe, with both his Modern Aces and later with his funkier, harder band the Afrosounders. These tracks are no less fine, groundbreaking, and booty-shaking than their predecessors, but are more sophisticated musically. Sound is as good as it gets here considering the quality of recording gear in Africa at the time and the less than pristine condition Polygram kept the original master tapes in. The liner essay by Max Reinhardt is brief, but as comprehensive as can be expected considering how little documentation there really is. In fact, historically it's sound, to the point, and offers a solid overview of the bursting at the seams atmosphere in Lagos at the time, when Fela Kuti's Koola Lobitos were also on the scene before Fela left for the States and returned to form Africa '70. In fact, Reinhardt points out the little known fact that Fela and Orlando shared bandmembers at the time. This is the only way this set is available currently, so jump on it. Once more, Vampi Soul, by not even working very hard, showcases once more the best in groove conscious music from the '60s and '70s from all over the globe. ~ Thom Jurek|