ANALOG AFRICA No.6 - Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Vol.2

"The riches of Vodoun rhythms are of such magnitude that one would never get to the bottom of it - we've tried"
Vincent Ahehehinnou - Lead Singer
.................................................................

Release Date October 26th, 2009
"Echos Hypnotiques"

Four years in the making, Analog Africa finally presents the second volume of Africa's funkiest band, the mythical
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.

What had started as a children entertainment group became one of the greatest bands of their era. Volume One was a collection of amazing LO-Fi recordings produced for various labels around Benin. Volume Two showcases superbly recorded tracks, courtesy of the EMI studios in Lagos, one of the best studios in the region. All tracks here were recorded for the mighty Albarika Store label and its enigmatic producer, Adissa Seidou.

The idea for this compilation was born 5 years ago when Samy Ben Redjeb, founder and compiler of Analog Africa, received the addictive funk track Malin Kpon O released in 1975 on the Albarika Store Label. That discovery triggered the compilers curiosity and what followed was a long journey through the musical history of Benin and the history of its most important ambassador, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.

The 4 year journey involved criss-crossing Benin, Togo and Niger trying to lay hands on the bands recording output which was found in record stocks and had laid untouched for a quarter of a century, reviewing reels and master tapes at the headquarters of Albarika Store, conducting interviews with all the living members of the band, searching for pictures of the Orchestra and licensing the music from the composers and producer. The result: approximately 100 pictures, 120 master tapes, 20 hours of interviews and a few hundred Orchestre Poly-Rythmo vinyl records - 500 songs in total - some of which were previously unreleased.

(Copyright 2009 - Analog Africa )

Almost half of those tunes were recorded for Benin's No.1 label - Albarika Store.
15 out of 200 tracks were carefully selected for this compilation which comes with a massive 44 page-booklet stuffed with amazing pictures of the band and its members, a complete discography and a biography tracing the history of the bands from its foundation as Groupe Meloclem in 1964 via Sunny Blacks band (1965), Orchestre Poly-Disco (1966), El Ritmo (1967) and finally Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou in 1968.

During the period presented here - 1969 to 1979 - the mighty Orchestra was without any doubt one of Africa's most innovative group. Capable of playing any style of music, the band moved from Traditional Vodoun Rhythms to Funk, Salsa or Afro-beat seamlessly and quickly became the powerhouse of Benin's music scene, backing most of Africa's stars touring the country such as Manu Dibango, Ernesto Djedje, Bella Bellow as well as supporting an array of local composers such as Honore Avolonto, Antoine Dougbé and Danialou Sagbohan.

Given the size of the tiny country one could think that Poly-Rythmo must have been too big a fish for such a small pond, but the more one understands Benin's culture and traditions the more it appears that a phenomenon such as Orchestre Poly-Rythmo couldn't have happened anywhere else. Some of the planets most exciting rhythms are related to the complex Vodoun Religion born in Benin. Those rhythms, supported by chants and dances, have been transmitted from generation to generation and are still being performed to this date - a few hundred years after they were created. The composers and arrangers of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo understood that they were surrounded by a gold mine of inspirational sounds which, if modernised and mixed in with whatever was in fashion at that particular moment, could have a strong impact on the urban population.

(Copyright 2009 - Analog Africa )

Those astonishing combinations can be heard here: Afro-Beat, Sato, Funk, Sakpata, Psychedelia and Latin sounds all mixed into a heavy hypnotic Sound - Les Echos Hypnotiques.

"Drums, bells and horns are the fundamental instruments used during our traditional Vodoun rituals - we added guitars and Organs - we modernised those ancients rhythms and combined them with western genres that were on vogue at that time".
Melome Clement - Founder of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

1. Se Ba Ho
2. Mi Ve Wa Se http://www.myspace.com/analogafrica
3. Azon De Ma Gnin Kpevi
4. Noude Ma Gnin Tche De Me
5. Ahouli Vou Yelli
6. Gan Tche Kpo
7. Malin Kpon O http://www.myspace.com/analogafrica
8. Mede Ma Gnin Messe
9. Agnon Dekpe
10. Zizi http://www.myspace.com/analogafrica
11. Ma Dou Sou Nou Mio
12. Koutome
13. Houe Djein Nada
14. Minkou E So Non Moin

ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED

Ebo Taylor in Frankfurt (18.07) and Paris (17.07)

Ebo Taylor for the first time live in Europe!

The AFRICADELAY-Party, taking place at the Schwedlersee on July 18th promises to be a cultural Highlight and a sensation for all lovers of Afro beat, Highlife and Afro jazz. Ebo Taylor, the legendary composer, arranger and musician from Ghana will take the stage for the first time in Europe, together with members of The Poets Of Rhythm, Kabu Kabu, Afrobeat Academy and Kologbo, guitarist for Fela's Afrika 70!!

The gig will be followed by a crazy DJ set, courtesy of Pedo Knopp and Samy Ben Redjeb who just returned from a three months trip through Africa and South America. Expect a heavy brew of soundz from Angola, Benin, Venezuela, Ghana, Peru, Ethiopia, Colombia, Congo, Sao Tomé, Cap Verde.....y mas!!!

Ebo Taylor - Bio

The exceptional guitar player is considered as one of the most distinguished Highlife, Afro beat and jazz composers of Ghana. Between 1962 and 1965 he studied together with his friend Fela Kuti at the renowned Eric Guilder School of Music in London. As early as the 50th and 60th he caused quite a sensation as the head of the Stargazers Dance Band as well as the Broadway Band. In the early 70th he headed the best known Big Band of Ghana, the “Uhuru Band” (later called Uhurus) and so formed the Highlife.Since the 70th Taylor produced different albums as solo artist and developed more and more his own, innovative and distinctive style – recognisable for instance on his albums

“Ebo Taylor and the Pelicans” or “Twer Nyame”. Ebo has been very active in numerous projects as session musician. Besides his solo works, he contributed significantly to the development of music in Ghana, as arranger and producer to the big labels in Ghana, like Essiebons and Gapophone. For these labels, being their musical director, he produced i.e. well known musicians such as C.K. Mann as well as the Apagya Show Band, a legendary All-Star-Highlife-Funk-Band, or artists like Pat Thomas, Jewel Ackah and Papa Yankson.


Mr George Prah (Gapophone Producer) and Ebo Taylor in Accra - June 2009

Concert in Paris

This gig is organized by two heavyweights: Djouls of ParisDJ and Loik Dury.
These two guys who have been at the forefront of the afro music scene for a very long time have been instrumental in making African music a force to be reckon with.......Respekt!!
Click here for more information about Ebo Taylor´s gig in Paris (Check the nice Mix)


Dick Essilfie Bondzie (Essiebons Producer), Samy Ben Redjeb (Analog Africa) and Ebo Taylor in Accra - September 2008

ANALOG AFRICA No.5 - Legends Of Benin

A collection of super rare and highly danceable masterpieces recorded between 1969 -1981 by four legendary composers from Benin:
ANTOINE DOUGBÉ
EL REGO et Ses Commandos
HONORÉ AVOLONTO
GNONNAS PEDRO & His Dadjes Band
each one of them with their own distinctive sound. This compilation comes with a 40 page full colour booklet with ultra rare pictures and biographies. Fasten your seat belt and enjoy the mind-blowing sound of Benin. (more details in the days to come)

RELEASE DATE: May 15th 2009
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED

1. Dadje Von O Von Non - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band LISTEN HERE
2. Feeling You Got - El Rego et Ses Commandos LISTEN HERE
3. Honton Soukpo Gnon - Antoine Dougbé LISTEN HERE
4. E Nan Mian Nuku - El Rego et Ses Commandos LISTEN HERE
5. Tin Lin Non - Honoré Avolonto & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo LISTEN HERE
6. Okpo Videa Bassouo - Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Panchos LISTEN HERE
7. Ya Mi Ton Gbo - Antoine Dougbe & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo LISTEN HERE
8. Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio - Antoine Dougbé LISTEN HERE
9. Djobime - El Rego et Ses Commandos LISTEN HERE
10. Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu - Honoré Avolonto LISTEN HERE
11. Vimado Wingnan - El Rego et Ses Commandos LISTEN HERE
12. Dou Dagbé Wé - Honoré Avolonto & Black Santiago LISTEN HERE
13. Kovito Gbe De Towe - Antoine Dougbé LISTEN HERE
14. La Musica en Verité - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band LISTEN HERE

Analog Africa Selection Vol.2

This mix was originally done for The Wire Magazine Website. But not only did I want to avoid the mix getting lost in "the universe of data" after it has been remove from the Wire's front page but more importantly I wanted you guys, who have been so supportive of my label, to enjoy it as well.

The week I was about to finish the mix I got a message from Julien from www.parisdjs.com one of Europe´s best website when it comes to sharing our passion for worldwide dancefloor oriented music, asking me if I would like to send him a Mix for his site.

So I wrote to the Wire to make sure all is cool and we agreed that they will have it for a week exclusively and that Julien and myself will make it available later. The Wire kindly offered to pay me for the mix but I thought it would be fair to decline the offer.

The initial idea was to make a pure West African Afro-beat/Afro-Funk mix, as I guessed they wanted something that reflected what I was releasing but then, while selecting the tracks, I bumped into few titles from Ethiopia, Angola and Guinea that I have been enjoying a lot in recent months and decided to add them as well.

This mix is also an occasion to celebrate "the Vodoun Effect" Compilation by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou which has been released in France today and will be available in the rest of Europe and in the USA at the end of November.

The mix contains a slower version of the Poly-Rythmo killer track "Se Tche We Djo Mon"

I hope you´ll enjoy it !!!
(S)

ARE YOU SEATED? CLICK HERE

ANALOG AFRICA No.4 - Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

"The Vodoun Effect" 1972-1975
Funk & Sato from Benin´s Obscure Labels
14 tracks compilation available on CD and double vinyl (Release Date November 3rd)

Few sentences to announce the release of my 4th Compilation. I have been working on this project for a very long time and I must admit its a dream becoming reality now.
It will see day-light on November 3rd in the UK and World-Wide on November 21st!! The CD comes with a MASSIVE 44 pages booklet containing super rare pictures of the band and obscure record covers.

It will be available on October 20th exclusively from Analog Africa, two weeks before the official release date in the UK. If you would like to purchase your copy contact me here: analogafrica@yahoo.com

Spread the Word and MANY THANKS for the support!!

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret. Their output, both in quantity and quality, was astonishing. During several trips to Benin, Samy Ben Redjeb managed to collect roughly 500 songs which Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou had recorded between 1970 and 1983. With so much material to choose from Samy decided to split it into Volume 1 and 2.

While Volume 2 will be material the band recorded under an exclusive contract with the label Albarika Store, the band also “secretly” recorded with an array of smaller labels based around Cotonou, Benin’s largest city, and Porto Novo, the capital city of Benin Republic. It is those tracks (all officially licensed) that are presented here on Volume 1.
The producers of those labels were genuine music enthusiasts, some of them, ran these labels as a part time occupation, with very limited budgets. They couldn’t afford high-quality recordings - all they had to work with was a Nagra (a Swiss made reel-to-reel recorder) and a sound engineer - courtesy of the national radio station. These sessions were recorded in private homes using just one or two microphones.

The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese music had an immense impact on the sound of Benin’s modern music. Benin is the birthplace of Vodun (also Vodoun, or, as it is known in the West, Voodoo), a religion which involves the worship of some 250 sacred divinities. The rituals used to pay tributes to those divinities are always backed by music. The majority of the complex poly-rhythms of the vodun are still more or less secret and difficult to decipher, even for an accomplished musician. Anthropologists and ethnomusicologists agree that this religion constitutes the principal “cultural bridge” between Africa and all its Diasporas of the New World and in a reflection of the power and influence of these sounds many of the complex rhythms were to have a profound impact on the other side of the Atlantic on rhythms as popular as Blues, Jazz, Cuban and Brazilian music.

Two Vodun rhythms dominate the music of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo: Sato, an amazing, energetic rhythm performed using an immense vertical drum, and Sakpata, a rhythm dedicated to the divinity who protects people from smallpox. Both rhythms are represented here mixed in with Funk, Soul, Crazy organ sounds and Psychedelic guitar riffs. Bandleader Melome Clement explains: “Sato is a traditional rhythm derived from Vodun. It is used in Benin during annual rituals in memory of the dead; you can’t just play Sato at any given time. Sato is also the name of a drum which is used during the ceremonies. It’s huge: about 175 centimeters high. The drummers, armed with sticks, dance around it and hit it all at the same time. It’s very coordinated. The Sato drummers are backed by an orchestra of smaller drums and shakers. We also did some modern versions of a Vodun rhythm called Sakpata. ‘Mi Ni Non Kpo’ and ‘Houi Djein Na Da’ are Sakpatas, which in Fon means "god of the Earth".



None of these tracks (except one –Mawa Mon Nou Mio) has been distributed outside Benin before. These obscure coastal labels had a small distribution range, that barely reached beyond the outskirts of Cotonou or Porto Novo. Because of financial considerations most, if not all, of these recordings had very limited pressings that rarely exceeded one thousand copies total and many labels rarely produced more than 500 copies of any given record.
The music in this compilation is not only extremely rare, but illustrates how Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo with the support of a number of local record labels, thrived by mixing the coolest parts of funk, soul, latin and vodun rhythms into a new sound that not only reflected the musical culture and heritage of Benin, but also transformed it and turned the small country into such an incredible musical melting pot.

In the 44-page booklet, full of rare photographs and record covers, Analog Africa introduces three important producers who were collectively responsible for some of the most amazing music released in Benin: Gratien K. Aissy of the Echos Sonores du Dahomey label, Bernard Dohounzo of Disques Tropiques, Lawani Affissoulayi of Aux Ecoutes (the label behind El Rego & Ses Commandos’s fame) as well as en encounter in Niamey with Honliasso Barnabé, Poly-Rythmo´s Producer in Niger. Samy Ben Redjeb also interviewed Vincent Ahehehinnou, the man responsible for composing some of the funkiest stuff ever to come out of Benin, and Kineffo Michel, the sound engineer of Poly-Rythmo’s legendary Nagra "home" recordings.

This fourth Analog Africa release of forgotten musical gems from 70s Africa was once again lovingly compiled by label boss and vinyl collector Samy Ben Redjeb, driven by the wish to keep this extraordinary music alive.

ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED
(Some tracks can be heard in full HERE)

1. Mi Homlan Dadalé
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
SAMPLE2 - LISTEN HERE
2. Assibavi
3. Se We Non Nan
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
4. Ako Ba Ho
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
SAMPLE2 - LISTEN HERE
5. Mi Ni Non Kpo
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
6. Se Tche We Djo Mon
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
7. Dis Moi La Verité
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
8. Nouessename
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
SAMPLE2 - LISTEN HERE
9. Iya Me Dji Ki Bi Ni
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
SAMPLE2 - LISTEN HERE
10. Akoue Tche We Gni Medjome
11. Nou De Ma Do Vo
12. Koutoulie
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
13. Kourougninda Wende
14. Mawa Mon Nou Mio

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Gbeti Madjro

Here a little "summer present" for all the people who have supported Analog Africa in recent years.
2008 has been a very exciting year and a humbling experience, thank you!!
This video was especially edited by Mario Stahn (from Rockstahn Media in Frankfurt) for Analog Africa using 45 minutes of video material found in various places in Africa. One of them I got in Niamey and shows Orchestre Poly-Rythmo performing Gbeti Madjro in front of "La Voix du Sahel", Niger´s state owned broadcaster.

Zexie Manatsa´s legendary Wedding

For the last three years I have spend most of my time listening and writing about Afro Beat and Afro Funk related music and I have to admit that listening to more traditional African Music by the Green Arrows (and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo) recently has been an incredible breath of fresh air. Their music is deeply anchored in my soul and I´ve come to realize how much that band means to me.

I´ve discovered their music 10 years ago in Harare and I still cant hold my jaw dropping when listening to the way the instruments interact.....it´s absolutely impressive.
I believe it has to be one of the tightest African bands I´ve ever had the chance to hear. (this might sound like a promotional post for the Green Arrows compilation but I have been out of stock for months now and I do not think the demand would justify manufacturing some more....less then 800 copies sold in Europe mind you)

I travelled to Benin in 2005 to met the musician of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo and one of the first thing I did was to offer them my Green Arrows compilation so that they can have an idea of what I was planning to do. Lohento Eskill & Melome clement whom I met again few days later, had spend a whole evening listening to the compilation at Bentho Gustave house and they were astonished by the way the Bass guitar was handled. I heard the same comments from Mulatu Astatke and Roger Damawuzan.

This might be the first time you ever heard of Zexie Manatsa but in Zimbabwe Zexie was a Legend and one of Africa´s most amazing bass player, an instrument he had learned to play on an acoustic guitar. Self taught, Zexie played his instrument in a way I rarely heard before. Some of my friends who study Jazz music at the university of Mainz were saying that he was actually Zig-Zaging between the other instruments notes (Whatever that means) and they couldn´t figure out how he was doing it. After 10 years composing amazing tunes, including some revolutionary tracks for which the band was emprisoned and tortured, Zexie became such an icon that when he decided to get married to Stella, the woman who has been by his side for more then a decade, they though of celebrating the event at Harare´s Rufaro stadium on August 29th, 1979.

In the liners notes for the Green Arrows release I wrote:
"It was one of the most memorable events ever to take place in Salisbury. The festivities took place at the national Rufaro Stadium where a huge concert took place, with some of the most important bands in the country performing in honour of one of the legends of Zimbabwean music. A crowd of people 60.000 (!!?) packed the stadium. As soon as Stella and Zexie made their entrance, Thomas Mapfumo started performing one of his most popular tunes "Africa". Later that afternoon, things started to get out of hand when Tineyi Chikupo & the Mother Band (Picture Below) started playing the song "Sirivia" (Listen Below....a monster hit in Zimbabwe). The crowd became really wild and started tearing fences apart to get closer to the stage. Two people were hospitalised as a result.



Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who was at that time prime minister of Zimbabwe / Rhodesia, and who was campaigning for the forthcoming elections, had made the mistake of organising a political rally on the same day. Muzorewa later blamed Manatsa for the poor attendance. The Daily Mail had a screaming headline on their front page the following day: “Zexie’s Wedding Spoils Muzorewa’s Rally”.

While writing this I wished I could find some picture to document what was going to be published as my first though was that few would believe this story in the first place. Despite trying hard I couldn´t find any (I manage to find a poster advertising the event though).

When the Green Arrows compilation was released in Zimbabwe I´ve organized a Party at Zexie´s place in Glen Norah. Friends as well as people working for the record industry and few journalist were invited. On that day I offered Zexie the wah-wah (Fuzz) pedal he had been asking for (for the last two years) and I very clearly remember the moment I hand it to him.
It had started raining so all the guests were now sitting in the living room, Zexie had passed my present to Stella to Open it, When she realized what it was she started jumping and shouting wah wah wah wah wah wah!!!.....everybody was steering at her not really understanding what was going on. To make explanation easier she just played the track "Bambo Makwatila" (Listen Below) that when things became clear to everyone. Zexie was literally speechless, it was the first time I saw him close to tears and also the first time I saw him kissing his wife (...I might even have a picture of that)

Zexie´s wish was to re-create the typical sound of the Green Arrows mastered by Stanley Manatsa, his late young brother and without doubt Zimbabwe craziest guitarist. Now Stanley´s blood and Talent was running in Tendai´s veins, Zexie Son, who at the age of 21 was already considered one of the best. (few month later he was already doing some amazing stuff with the wah-wah....I had connected him to Chains, Legendary Guitar player and founder of The Acid Band, who showed him how to handle it)

Anyway at the end of the Party Zexie asked me to follow him into his bedroom (sacred place) Stella was sitting on the bed with a picture Catalog on her knees. "There is something we would like to show you" she said. I sat between the two. When she opened the book I could hardly believe my eyes: Pictures of Zexie and Stella in their wedding dresses, walking as if it was the most natural thing in front of a crowd of 60.000 fans........so the whole legend was real, I thought.



TINEYI CHIKUPO & THE MOTHER BAND - Sirivia......LISTEN HERE (Recorded from the original master tape)
THE GREEN ARROWS - Bambo Makwatila..................LISTEN HERE