Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora 1980-93

UKの人気レーベルSoundwayが贈るハイライフ～アフロ・コンピレーション!

Pat ThomasやRex Gyamfi、Gyedu-Blay Ambolleyといったレジェンドからオブスキュアなアーティストまで網羅したガーナ音楽の決定盤!

アフロ、ジャズ、レゲエなどのレア音源の再発から、Lord Echoをはじめとした現行アーティストのリリースも手がけるUKのレーベル、Soundwayから特大ボリュームのコンピレーションが登場。80年代に西ヨーロッパ～ドイツに移住したガーナ人が、ディスコやニューウェイヴ、ズークやソカからインスピレーションを得て制作した1980年～93年の音源を収録。伝統的なアフロ・リズムとエレクトロニックが融合した革新的でダンサブルなサウンドが魅力的な全18曲を収録。
2CDは24ページのブックレットを含む6パネル・ジャケット仕様。

Soundways first Ghana Special compilation focused on rock- and funk-influenced songs recorded between 1968 and 1981, often originally released as 45 RPM singles. The second volume moves on to a different time period, documenting an era in which the countrys music was heavily influenced by post-disco and boogie, new wave, and Caribbean sounds such as zouk and soca. Many of these tracks originally appeared on the less time-restricted formats of cassette or LP, allowing the dance grooves to stretch out for longer durations. While there are plenty of full-band arrangements here, including the effortlessly cool "Gye Wani" by highlife veterans Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas, much of the music from this era reflects the increased availability of electronic instrumentation. Since it was often more economically feasible to create and perform music using keyboards and drum machines, due to a combination of increased taxes on instruments and shifting musical tastes, DJs and electronic artists often replaced live bands, many of whom relocated to Europe or North America. This led to the development of hybrid styles such as burger highlife, named after the German word for citizen. "Mumude" by Nan Mayen was recorded in Germany, and its a cross between rousing highlife and European art-pop. Gyedu-Blay Ambolleys "Apple" has boisterous, Fela-like vocals over a synth-funk rhythm that the Afrobeat pioneer never would have touched. "M.C. Mambo" by Pepper, Onion, Ginger & Salt sports a rap-influenced vocal cadence along with a midtempo drum machine rhythm, brassy synths, and heavy hand percussion. Andy Vans "Adjoa Amisa" bounces along to a housey kick drum, and George Darkos "Kaakyire Nua" has a heavy, clap-along boogie groove. "Asafo" by Jon K has much more sophisticated 80s pop-rock production and a wailing guitar solo. The lyrics of Dadadis carnival-ready "Jigi Jigi" acknowledge the sounds of several disparate lands, and Nana Budjeis "Asobrachie" has a strong digital reggae rhythm. Best of all is "Barima Nsu" by Kwasi Afari Minta, an equally hypnotic and haunting ten-minute whirlwind that instantly feels like a lost classic. ~ Paul Simpson