Utterly Irresistable!
5
By Outernational
Utterly irresistible.
One of the greats of Ghanaian music and just loaded with infectious beats, great jazz and wonderful humour. When the music is this much fun you can see yourself completely hooked on his take on Afrobeat.
Taylor has, incredibly, been around since the 50’s in the forefront of Highlife with bands like The Stargazers but he has been one of Ghana’s leading composers and bandleaders since the ‘60’s after studying in London. This is the first thing he has had released internationally and it beats me why he hasn’t been lauded and trumpeted over here before – this is just wonderful.
‘African Woman’ is loaded with horns and a continuous shuffling rhythm that you just can’t ignore along with some delicious keyboards while the title track has a huge and stuttering heartbeat to it with the horns again taking the melody but the vocals, richly spoken and bemoaning the dangers of “Love and Death: walking hand in hand, the way to thy grave is just the same”.
The whole album is funky and makes you want to dance with such delicious simplicity overlaying some seriously complex playing – the epitome of great African music, simple to listen but all the ahrd work is in the playing.
An absolute gem that rewards you a little more every time you listen.
reviewed by: Andy Snipper
