Various Artists: The Albarika Story Vol. 1 (Various Artists)

Founded in the late 1960s by record store owner Seidou Adissa, Albarika Store is one of the most important independent record labels on the African continent. That it was founded in the relatively small ex-French colony of Benin (then still called Dahomey), is a testament to it's founder's musical taste and vision for what the local musical scene had to offer. Acid Jazz releases the first ever over-view of the label and it's music, compiled by David Hill of The Soul Revivers and West African musical expert Florent Mazzoleni, who also wrote the in-depth notes. The compilation provides a look into what was a developing and then thriving post-colonial music scene. It focuses on the label's biggest and most prolific act Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo and it's founder Melome Clement - who released under a variety of names often spotlighting on the musicians key to their sound. It also looks at the other established artists on the label such as the incendiary Les Sympathics de Porto Novo and Les Volcans. All of these artists create a unique mix of Westernised Funk, Soul and Latin sounds cross-pollinated with the traditional music of the region. Elsewhere, we hear the music as it is consumed further by funk and disco, with tracks from the ultraobscure, and exceptionally danceable albums by Ipa Boogie and Ogassa.

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