Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Antibalas

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Ninja Tune
• ASIN: B00005B379
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #159,247 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Owing as much to James Brown and Tito Puente as to Fela Kuti, Antibalas, the multiracial 14-piece Brooklyn collective named after the Spanish word for "bulletproof," are far from straight Afro Beat revivalists. Instead, Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 lays New York's rich musical heritage of jazz, funk, and Latin groove over Afro Beat's polyrhythms to spectacular effect, resulting in a raw selection of driving ghetto funk. Despite tracks being mostly instrumental and nearly 10 minutes long, the relentless onslaught of rasping horns, African chants, strutting bass, and frantic percussion mean there's nothing dull about these eight phenomenal tunes. The collection's explosive Afro/Latin/American collision may earmark it as a party album, but there is a deeper motivation to their music. Hear the cries of war in the tenor sax breaks of "Dirt & Blood" and "World War IV"'s denouncement of American foreign policy; Antibalas's unreserved '70s grooves come with unreserved passion and politics. With all the ingredients of the golden age of funk, Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 is a modern classic that matches (beat for socially aware beat) the best the era had to offer. --Dan Gennoe

Product Description

Ninja Tune. 2001. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, April 23, 2001

By	Sean M. Kelly (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This cd is more than just wonderful retro-funk- it's an album brimming with confidence. There is little doubt that Antibalas has major talent, and their brand of Feli Kuti-esque soul/funk mixed with ska and reggae influences is perfect to groove to. There really is not much to say about this lp that the music can't explain for itself, so give this lp a good listen or 2, fall in love with its tight, funky grooves, and prepare to be amazed.

Recommended to anyone who digs Fela or Femi Kuti's brand of deep dish African funk pie. A wonderful listen.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sonically amazing, musically fantastic, February 15, 2002

By	C.B. Derrick (From the 2.20 Aspect Ratio) - See all my reviews

Afrobeat is TOTALLY underrepresented in the mainstream airwaves, and that's a crying shame. I guess with very little lyrics to their music, an MTV appearance is out of the question; but that's MTV's loss. Don't miss out Antibalas.

I saw them live at the Temple Bar in LA and they blew me away. The orchestration of their big band is sublime with all the aggressiveness one would expect from those following in the footsteps of Fela Kuti. They groove and swing with incredible passion and intensity.

The song World War IV sums up the political stance of the group and you can't deny it.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old afrobeat flavours., February 20, 2001

By	Matthias Mazzag (Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada) - See all my reviews

This 14 piece ensemble hails from 'Brooklyn, NY* United Police States of America' - according to the back cover. The band includes members of Soul Providers and Daktaris Allstars, both of whom used to be great Desco acts. The former specialized in funk/soul as played back in '69/'70: fluent bass lines, choppy/chicken guitars, pulsating drums topped with screaming organ work. The latter focused on bringing back the Ransom days, when Fela Kuti was busy cranking out 15 minute long afrobeat tunes in Nigeria. With this album you get the best of both worlds. On the Daktaris recording I missed the organ/keyboard playing, but the horns were hard hitting. So they kept the horns and added keyboards for some enhanced groovism. The drums are funky, but also a lot more. They play a complex rythm and at the same time their repitativity draws you in until slowly you hear the tune unfold. Kind of hard to describe but there is reason why these songs are 6-8 minutes long.

Martin Antibalas plays the baritone sax and conducts the music. With song titles like 'Dirt and blood' and 'Uprising' they continue in the tradition of Fela Kuti who added a political message to his funky music.

This is funky world music people! Recommended to anyone who likes Fela Kuti's earlier work or any band on the Desco label.