Customer Reviews

Shoki Remixed

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One of the best Afrobeat releases ever - primarily due to the phenomenal mix. While Femi's father Fela's afrobeat succeeded in spite of lacadasical mixes, here a group of mostly french producers lay a thick and drum-heavy house style mix on Femi's contemporary take on afrobeat and the result is fantastic - this double CD pushes afro-beat into the 22nd century with a nod and a wink to King Tubby on the way. The usual afro beat horn arrangements are pushed to the background allowing a unique focus on the rythmic elements. I hope Femi continues in this direction instead of following the usual label-charted path for African mucisians - packing releases with lame guest spots by rappers and rockstars - stay underground, Femi, and keep it real.

While most of the individual tracks are strong, the sequencing gives the disc the feel of an album. Ashley Beedle's sparse E.T. mix of "Beng Beng Beng" kicks it off, and from there each successive track adds layers - overdubbed keyboards and percussion, but more appropriately original instrumental tracks from the SHOKI album sessions - ending with a mix of "Scatta Head" that is clearly influenced by the King Tubby/Prince Jammy school of Jamaican dub, all thunderous rimshots and infinity-echoed urgent vocals. This disc may be one of the strongest releases in the new international house genre.