ALOGTE OHO & HIS SOUNDS OF JOY Vinyl & CDs

Review: Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy's debut album Mam Yinne Wa was a real triumph. A sensuous fusion of international rhythms, gospel vocals and jubilant vibes that was an instant hit with lovers of world music. His new single is said to be a teaser for a seance upcoming album and is another masterpiece from Frafra Gospe, a legend of this genre. First up is 'Doose Mam,' a repetitive rhythm that goes right for the hips. The big horns bring the character and sensuous vocals are the icing on the cake. On the flip is 'Gure Yose Me,' a tune rooted in reggae rhythms thanks to the work of Josie Coppola, Europe's No.1 reggae drummer.

Review: It's taken a while, but Philophon chief (and in-house producer) Max Weissenfeldt has finally managed to finish the album he started working on with Ghanaian Frafra-gospel singers Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy. It's a set that has been promised for the best part of five years, so it's fantastic to see it finally materialize. Musically, it explores similar sonic territory to Oho's previous singles on Philophon (all of which featured music from Weissenfeldt), effortlessly joining the dots between traditional Ghanaian styles, local interpretations of funk and soul, dub-wise reggae rhythms and occasional nods towards contemporary electronic beats. The results are superb, making this a must have for those who love a bit of West African musical positivity.