Album review: Various Artists, Afro-Beat Airways 2 (Analog Africa)
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The accompanying information’s boast of “ultra-rare tracks” could have been a euphemism for “scraping the barrel”. But because of the apparently bottomless pit of 1970s Afro-funk still being found and dusted down – and because this is an Analog Africa release – you can be sure quality control has been maintained for this “Return to Ghana 1974-1983”.
So immerse yourself in some edgy, guitar-centered grooves that combine the influences of Fela Kuti, James Brown and Isaac Hayes while being as tight as the skin on a djembe. There’s also a generous 44-page booklet that features an absorbing essay by Banning Eyre and pictures of some delightfully gaudy LP sleeves featuring men with huge halos of hair and unfeasibly wide flares.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments