Volume 5

Irresistibly catchy, groovetastic soul-funk from Somalia (!), sourced from an obscure cassette dating to the 80s, back when Mogadishu was stable enough to sustain a thriving music scene. This is relentlessly danceable, summery and lighthearted, from a “private” band that had the privilege to sing about quotidian themes like love, instead of being forced to sing political propaganda. There’s a certain Caribbean tenderness in the horns, while crooning vocals sound like the best Asian soul Sublime Frequencies could ever dig up, think Fela Kuti with a Calypso twang. This is freaking amazing. RIYL The Funkees, The Funk Ark, Funkadelic, Toots & the Maytals, James Brown, Awesome Tapes From Africa

1. (1:31) Sparse funky guitar, a beat, trippy echoed band introductions
2. (5:41)** cool happy bassline drives a summery anthem
3. (6:28) Seriously crucial 50s-style Ska guitar, steel drum-sounding keyboards, Headhunters bass groove, even I’m tempted to dance now
4. (4:44)* slick guitar, wry spy-theme horn lines, midpaced grooving to a somewhat melancholy feel
5. (4:52) squiggly, bluesy guitar licks in a steady groove, horns respond, vocals sound somewhat sadder than the joyous trumpets
6. (6:42)** minor-key guitar theme leads the horns through a maze, female vocals wail over some dark funk
7. (6:02) Happy horns! Simple grooving, crooning baritone vox, some scorching guitar solos toward the end!
8. (6:51) cool syncopated guitar lines, somewhat serious-sounding horn melodies, male and female vox trade off
9. (7:06)* Seriously DIRTY rhythm section groove, old-timey sound system shuffle
10. (3:55)*** sharp, driving funk with keen guitar leads and a rushed pace, bluesy syncopated perfection like the best of Parliament or James Brown, with vocals wailing from a minaret
11. (3:50)** Damn, more funk, just as sexy! Warbling female vox with shouting chorus, another fine tune for struttin’