SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 レコード& CD

Review: This bold project from Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 captures the world's most prominent afrobeat musicians in the midst of a world tour, entering the studio for a one-shot blast that captures the raw, unpolished talent of a mammoth ensemble locked into a groove. Kuti brought his band to the Artone Studio in Haarlem, Holland, and without rehearsal they laid down this album of effervescent afrobeat grooves in one take, cut direct to disc on the in-studio lathe in a true capturing of the moment. Every vibration in the room going through the cutting lathe's needle, now forever immortalized on this record. What's not to love about that?

Review: Like his elder brother Femi, Seun Kuti was probably always destined to follow in the footsteps of his late father, afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. He's been bandleader of afrobeat orchestra Egypt 80 since the early 2000s, releasing a pair of impressive albums. A Long Way To The Beginning, the combo's third album, is as celebratory as you'd expect, offering a heavy and intoxicating take on the trademark Kuti sound, with explorations of similar lyrical themes (black power, in particular). There are a few interesting twists to keep things fresh - see the slo-mo Afro-soul of "Black Woman" and afrobeat-rap fusion of "Imf" - but it's the horn-heavy, dancefloor