International Recommendations May 2016

Review: In terms of being an afrobeat legend, Pasteur Lappe is Cameroon's Fela Kuti, an unsung hero who was ahead of the game back in the 1970s and 1980s, and one whose been famous for burning the pockets of many diggers nowadays. Luckily, Africa Seven have compiled some of his best work onto a ten-track LP, ranging from the funky oddities of "More Sekele Movement" or "Na Real Seke Fo'ya", to the future-zouk sound of "Sanaga Calypso", and plenty of jazzy, popped-out, disgruntled soulfulness to satisfy anyone from Gilles Peterson to Cherrystones. Heavy and warmly recommended.

Review:  Although the Crammed label is normally more associated with leftfield indie their long running Afrocentric series Congotronics is one of their most respected. Here they aim big and score big with a real coup - the pairing of veteran Congolese musicians Konono No. 1 and Angola-based producer and DJ, Batida. Recorded in his native Portugal, the long player boasts contributions by many African and Afro-influenced artists over eight beguiling tracks, including the hypnotic and otherworldly "Nlele Kalusimbiko".

Review: 1971's Na Poi is one of our all-time favourite afrobeat records, but this isn't just our opinion, it is simply a fact of logic. For one thing, the work that legendary musician come politician Fela Kuti did with Africa 70 is most certainly his best, and the early 70's was the nucleus that started the whole African funk thing off. Secondly, each of these three long and meandering chunks of brain dynamite contain anything that you could possibly want from a track - hypnotising and magnetic drums breaks, psychedelic melodic patterns, a jazzed-out makeover, and a truly singular approach to singing. We are not worthy....

Review: Nigeria's Tee Mac has been a digger's favourite ever since his tunes came out in the 1980s, and alongside the likes of Willian Onyeabor, he has been one of the driving forces behind his country's afro-rock and afro-beat mania. France's Hot Casa have masterfully put together a compilation containing his best tunes, originally out on the Party Fever LP. This is all quality, but just to give you a little taster, you have the inimitable funk destroyer that is "Nepa",Tee Mac's notorious "Talk To Me" bombshell - a tune that verges closely to proto-house - the sublimely washed-out "Stay On Me", and the painfully hummable swings of "Wake Up". Recommended.