Radio LBB: Roots Vol. 29

Now into its sixth year and the 29th edition, for the uninitiated the Roots playlist showcases an eclectic range of music from across the globe of unfamiliar, forgotten, or recently discovered, to the most upfront sounds of now, all with the common theme of being rooted in Africa.

Some of the highlights this time round include:

Yvonne Archer - Ain’t Nobody

Following the long tradition of dialogue between Jamaican reggae and American soul artists, Yvonne Archer’s 1983 cover of Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody translates one of the crown jewels of euphoric disco into a laid back, boogie-indebted Lovers Rock chug. Full of splashy '80s drum processing, sci-fi synth arpeggios, big power ballad guitars, and the unmissable reggae backbeat, the effect is intoxicating. Archer’s vocal delivery is softer and sweeter than Chaka Khan’s iconic diva wail, a sound that perfectly reframes the song from the sweat-drenched late night energy of New York clubs to the relaxed buzz of sunset on the beach. 

Alhaji Waziri Oshomah - Omhona-Omhona

Alhaji Waziri Oshomah is the third and most recent addition to Luaka Bop’s essential World Spirituality Classics series, pitching the Muslim highlife musician alongside Alice Coltrane’s seminal spiritual jazz album, Turiyasangitananda, and the rare as hen’s teeth private-press gospel compilation, The Time for Peace is Now. Hailing from the town of Auchi, in the multi-cultural Afenmailand in Edo State, southern Nigeria, Oshomah’s native culture is one in which Muslims, Christians, and people of various faiths coexist peacefully with a shared appreciation of the healing spiritual powers of music. According to the label, “Omhona-Omhona” roughly translates to, ‘you cannot be a jack of all trades’ and the song promotes collaboration, coexistence, and togetherness in plurality. It’s an incredible, sprawling piece of music, chugging along and unfolding over almost 9 minutes with a gorgeous harmony of syncopated drums, bass, organ, rhythm and lead guitars, and Oshomah’s inspirational vocal invocations, each individually restrained but together greater than the sum of parts.

Tomede Ehue & L'International Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Bella Bello

L’International Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo are among the icons of Beninois music and have appeared in Roots before, but this collaboration with vocalist Tomede Ehue is a really special one, hitting that sweetest spot between driving, euphoric, Afro-funk for the dancefloor, and just a hint of melancholia. Ehue’s voice is haunting and ethereal, while the band’s embellish a throbbing disco groove with a minor mood provided by dueling horns and organ sounds with a subtly camp spooky feel that vaguely recalls tracks like The Special’s Ghost Town. Swooshing synths and moody jazz chords embellish the mood, but the real treasure here is those stunning vocals,

IAMNOBODI - You Are More

IAMNOBODI rose to prominence nearly a decade ago, through his releases with the LA-based label Soulection. Born into a musical family in Düsseldorf, Germany, his father is a Nigerian-born blues and jazz singer, and the vast variety of influences from his environment and heritage manifest in his productions, which fuse elements of hip-hop, house, neo-soul, and broken beat. Their calibre has led him since to work with artists like Ab Soul, Jay Prince, and Little Simz, and he’s played shows with influential beat-makers such as Kaytranada and Cashmere Cat. You Are More comes as a bonus track on IAMNOBODI’s 2014 Dearly Beloved EP, but it’s far from an afterthought. With an uptempo, hip-hop break influenced by UK garage and broken beat, the looped guitar lines give it a nostalgic feeling, while the emotive soul vocal washes gently in the background, drenched in reverb.

Barrabas - Time To Love

This stunning tune sounds like it could have come from the psychedelic heyday of Brazilian Tropicalia, but was actually recorded by the Spanish psych-rock band, Barrabas, in 1973. Still the same influences are palpable, drawing as much from funk & soul as from the laid back ethereal freak-out music of late '60s California. Pulsing samba drums roll along beneath a languid Rhodes organ and echoing chorus vocals, until the chorus kicks in in full euphoric mood, reminiscent of Minnie Ripperton’s Les Fleurs. A wild jazz flute intervenes sparingly throughout the song, until a switch-up eventually sends the track into an improvisational meltdown of dueling solos. A stunning balance of restraint and exuberance.

Skyy - First Time Around

Skyy came about in New York at that potent late '70s moment that changed the face of dance music forever. Music absolutely rooted in the club scene of the time, but full of experimental impulses, dubbed textures and forward-thinking early '80s production techniques, and sweetly nostalgic vocals. Again, it’s a track of contrasts, balancing softness and heaviness in a perfect equilibrium. It’s an intoxicating combination and no wonder First Time Around became a favourite of the pioneering DJ, Larry Levan, whose residency at the Paradise Garage laid the foundations for New York’s homegrown brand of house music, and the proliferation of the garage sound that informed so much UK music as well. Potent, incredible, and vastly important music.

These are just some of the highlights in what I hope is an enjoyable musical journey that spans across continents, generations and genres…

A huge thanks goes out to labels such as Now Again, Light In The Attic, Numero Uno and Luv N’ Haight, Analog Africa, Music From Memory, Africa Seven, Far Out Recordings, Strut, Mr Bongo and Soundway, who continue to unearth some of the most unique and amazing music that may have otherwise never seen the light of day.