Artist: Fela Kuti
Album: Lagos Baby 1963/69
Label: Vampi Soul
Year: 2008
Reviewed by: Woodstock Slim
Hell, I don't have an idea either! I don't know what Fela is grinding on about but his music gets you going man! This is the true king of African Music. Why? Relentless! Kuti has an energy that rolls on and on. His music echo's every single genre you can imagine. You can here elements from "Music to watch girls go by" to Soul funk, Surf rock, melancholy Country twang to reggae and bits of Indian razz, Mex... and the list goes on. His shakers and bongos; deep brass and heavy bass meanderings are deceptive in the way it masks everything. At first you don't hear the nuances he created between and below the relatively simple "Kuti sound". The more you listen the more you hear. Highlife, Soul, Jazz, everything you need to know about Fela and about 40 tracks of pure African Fire!
“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.” Miles Davis said and this is what Kuti does. In the way all his work is thick and cumbersome on the outside but the finer workings and almost whimsical soul and heart of the music is flowery and at times strange because you don't expect(at first) to find the music behind the music. It is almost buried. He has become a master of this.
His music is political and filled only with fire. It's hard on the ears and soft on the soul. He used his music as a weapon. At first I thought this weapon was pointed at America in the 60' and 70's but later realised this weapon was pointed here, to Africa, to his people to the people of Africa to wake up and start this fire Marley would later also sing about.
Fela's famous quote: "My name is Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Black president or Chief Priest of Shrine." (Shrine I think was a name of his nightclub. in the 70's.)
You will not be able to digest Kuti. Not in one listen. Not in just passing by or a fleeting listen. You have to wear Kuti like a new jacket and only when it is worn in good you realise the bond between you.
