Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti has a vast catalogue that dates back over half a century. Roforofo Fight is one of the many standouts and it was recorded in Lagos in 1972 on the Jofabro label with the legendary Tony Allen on drums as well as Christopher Uwaifor on tenor, Lekan Animashaun on baritone and many other key players alongside the main man. The lyrics convey Fela's frustration at intolerant and violent behaviour as told through the story of a street fight.

Review: There are a bunch of reissues of classic Fela Kuti albums dropping right now which is always going to be good news for collectors and Afrobeat lovers a like. As was often the case with his music, this album Kalakuta Show from 1976 was a way of him taking revenge on the military regime that attacked and brutalized him two years prior when the police mounted a large scale raid on Kalakuta Republic incoming Fela's own heavily guarded compound. They were the second raids in eight months and left Fela with scalp wounds and a broken arm, and us with this most remarkable musical retort.

Review: Like so much of his often faultless work, Original Sufferhead by Fela Kuti is a powerful and politically charged album that embodies the essence of Afrobeat. For that reason, it is well deserving of this reissue as it remains relevant in more ways than one all these years after its original release in 1981 with its signature blend of funk, jazz, and traditional African rhythms, coupled with biting social commentary. The album confronts issues of oppression, corruption, and inequality, with Fela's impassioned vocals leading the charge. Each track is a call to action, urging listeners to rise against injustice and oppression. With its infectious grooves and thought-provoking lyrics, this is a timeless listen that continues to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world.

Review: Fela Kuti's Alagbon Close, released in 1974, stands as one of his most powerful Afrobeat statements, criticising police brutality in Nigeria. The title track was inspired by two raids on Fela's home, where police searched for marijuana. After swallowing a planted joint, Fela was detained at Alagbon Close, the headquarters of Nigeria's Criminal Investigation Department, for three days while police waited for evidence. His cellmates, in what became known as the Kalakuta Republic, helped Fela escape prosecution. Fela's lyrics denounce the arrogance of the police, declaring that wearing a uniform doesn't place one above the law. The album also marked the beginning of his collaboration with artist Ghariokwu Lemi, whose iconic cover art became synonymous with Afrobeat. Recorded at the A.R.C. Studios, the album is fueled by tight polyrhythms and fiery organ and horn sections, with Fela's sharp political commentary at the forefront. On Side-2, 'I No Get Eye For Back', offers a more groove-driven, mostly instrumental track, showing the collective talents of Africa 70. Together, these tracks solidify Alagbon Close as a timeless work of rebellion and musical innovation.

Review: Originally released in 1972, Shakara is a shining example of Fela Kuti & The Africa 70 in full flight. Made up of two 13-minute long pieces, the definitive Afrobeat sound is laid out in undulating, impossibly funky form. Tony Allen holds it down on the drums and the brass section from Tony Njoku, Igo Chico, Lekan Animashaun and Kuti himself punches out with urgency. This 50th anniversary release does things a little differently by inviting the excellent Ezra Collective to deliver their own versions of each track, each getting their side to lay down expansive reflections on the trailblazing groundwork laid by Kuti and his bandmates half a century ago.

Review: Fela Kuti lives on! This is the 10th Anniversary reissue of the classic tribute album Red Hot & Fela, pressed on opaque banana yellow and opaque red vinyl, with proceeds benefiting the Red Hot organization. Since his death in 1997 from complications related to AIDS, Fela Kuti has grown from a West African household name and musician's musician in Europe and the Americas, to a worldwide musical icon. This album hears thirteen collaborative supergroups - made up of stars including Childish Gambino, Kronos Quartet, Spoek Mathambo, Sinkane, Tune-Yards and Baloji & L'orchestre De La Katuba - pay tribute to the Nigerian musician and activist, taking after him in style and cover. Successful, they translate the Afrobeatific sound of Kuti, Africa 70 and Egypt 80 towards an electrified present and future.