We moved a little up-tempo yesterday.. let’s keep it that way.

Today we’ll hear some music by a class afro-funk group, Ice. They’re featured on several compilations, including Harmless’ Africafunk Volumes 1 and 2 and Comet Record’s aptly-titled, Racubah… but never played here on Benn loxo.

I don’t care if you’ve heard it already. It’s the end of the week, we’re all tired, and I need some bright brass and driving drums to get me moving.

Time Will Tell was original released by Epic in 1976.. the jacket, as you see to the left, is supah. Is that Geddy Lee in the middle or am I seeing things?

And does anyone have Ice’s 1970 release, Afro-Instrumental?

Ice – Time Will Tell

The beaches of the French Atlantic coast left me tanned and wanting more. I was definitely not ready for a multiple crisis-filled workday. Only one thing can get me out of this funk and through this mound of paperwork: West African psychedelia.

It occurred to me this morning that I’ve never posted any Manu Dibango. While today’s selection may not be the conventional pick, it comes by way of yet another gift from a Benn loxo listener.

Cameroonian by origin, mainly French at this point, Manu Dibango is one of Africa’s most well-known musicians. He’s still playing big gigs and releasing albums fairly regularly – you can catch him almost monthly in Paris and he plays in a few of the European festival circuits. He’s most famous for his saxophone-based jams that helped popularize the African soul-funk sound on a global level.

Today’s track is from the 3rd and latest release from the World Psychedelic Classics series: Love’s a Real Thing, The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa. And no, it’s not Soul Makossa.

Manu Dibango – Ceddo End Title

As promised, I’ll post a track today from the Club Africa 2 compilation. Quickly, because it’s Friday and beautiful outside – I want to get the hell out of the office.

Today we’ll hear some music by Afro-funk pioneer, Senegal’s Wasis Diop. In the early 70s Diop moved to France where he formed the group West African Cosmos with Guinea-Bissau musician/producer Umban Ukset. They released their one and only album in 1976 on CBS. The recording brought them instant fame.

West African Cosmos – Wuyé Wuyé

I’m in London today. No time at all for a long post, but I’ll put up a good track from everyone’s favourite ex-British colony, Nigeria.

Here’s a little afrobeat from the popular 2004 Soundway compilation, Afro Baby: The Evolution Of The Afro-Sound in Nigeria 1970-79. Soundway are the UK label also responsible for the great Ghana Soundz compilations that I wrote about here and here.

Tunji Oyelana & The Benders – Ipasan

I like Ghana Soundz Vol. 2 even better than the first. It bursts with funk.

Today’s selection off this compilation is by Ebo Taylor Jr. & Wuta Wazuri. Ebo Taylor Jr., son of the relatively well-known Ghanaian guitarist Ebo Taylor, was a pretty solid musician in his own right. The keyboards on this track are pretty funky, even though at moments they sound a touch like some tripped-out segment from an ELP track. Wuta Wazuri back Ebo’s keys up with some of their 70s Ghana pop-funk.

The liner notes to Ghana Soundz 2 say that this track is “an end-of-the-night wobbler for sure.” Exactly.

Ebo Taylor Jr & Wuta Wazuri – Mondo Soul Funky