Volume One: The Vodoun Effect - Funk Sato From Benin's Obscure Labels 1972-1975

Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou
Reviewed by Sadie O., 1/26/09
Funky psychedelic Afro-garage from 70’s Benin, involving rhythms used in Yoruba (vodou) rituals. Fine singer - imagine Fela Kuti with a pickup band who are very high and channeling Shango, except for the half of them who are practicing for next week’s gig with Afrika Bambataa… Mondo cool-o!
1. 5:58 **slow fanfare, chanting, then uptempo syncopated highlife interspersed with moments of psychedelia, esp. in the keyboards.
2. 4:43 ***uptempo syncopated funk, soulful vocals, swingy groove. Jazzy psycho feel to the guitar solo. Call & response vocals.
3. 5:04 ****roots funk with jazzy horns and a bit of psychedelia.
4. 3:34 ***funky, minimalistic groove with complex syncopation, solo vocals.
5. 4:36 ***midtempo inscrutable but danceable groove, solo vocals and psycho sax. Ends with a few seconds of crazed guitar.
6. 4:12 ***smooth uptempo funky butt wiggler. Inspired guitar solo worthy of acid flashbacks.
7. 6:01 *****fade in to chugging groove, then terrific midtempo funk. Psychedelic farfisa with funkadelified horns – damn!
8. 3:24 ****roots intro with cowbell and chanting, then big band midtempo syncopated funk. Long guitar/keyboards-and-drums jam.
9. 4:12 ***makossa! A bit downtempo and stoned – but check that bass… ooooh! Call & response vocals – very vodou.
10. 3:59 **rootsy midtempo shuffle with maybe a proto-cha cha feel, tuneful solo vocals.
11. 3:34 ***uptempo, sounds Afro-Cuban (or Afro-Cuban sounds like it). Manic running bass and lots of “Latin Percussion”. Demented guitar solo!
12. 5:04 **people squeaking, chants, more squeaks, most chants… finally, midtempo lilting (yet semi-offkey) groove. Farfisa solo is particularly compelling.
13. 4:37 ***smooth makossa groove with horns. Long fade out with keyboards.
14. 16:29 ***drum jam! Chants… Vodou ceremony with funky sax – listen, if you’re nervous about things like orishas and sacrificing chickens, you probably should leave while there’s time… (another hidden track… music cuts out after 6:45, then there’s silence until 8:45, then interview in French, then 12:35 (~3:55 from end), another nice shuffling “Afro Cuban” groove.