Various - Angola Soundtrack 2 (Analog Africa)
LP/CD
Out Now
A compilation representing the holy grail of Angolan popular urban music.
You may not have come across the Angolan recording industry before and it’s hardly surprising given that it lasted just ten short years between 1969 and 1978. It is therefore, a joy that the tracks (maybe around 800) have started to appear on compilation albums such as this and Volume 1 which won the Black Music section in the German Record Critic Prize of 2010 ahead of favourite Aloe Blacc.
Angola Soundtrack 2 brings together twenty-tracks of the slightly more obscure dance tracks from the aforementioned period with influences from Congo and the Dominican Republic to create a mini tour through the sounds that were almost hidden from the rest of the World.
Much of todays music from Africa seems to stem from Mali so it’s interesting to see how Angolan music differed in its style where it gives us a more dance orientated Carnival music which is a delight to hear and feel. There was a real co-operative feel to the groups too, artists would share visits to gigs and listen to each other songs for inspiration in the highly comptetive and short-lived Angolan music industry.
Highlights onclude Agarrem by Africa Ritmos wth its superb guitar and swaying rhythm it’s an instrumental of the highest order, and Basooka by Carlos Lamartine which steams along with horns, guitars and percussion bringing together funk, soul and jazz in an Afro-beat style.
A great insight into a music industry that came and went in the space of a decade, but by the indications of this album, left something very worthy behind.
As ever with Analog Africa releases, it come with a quite stunning forty-four page booklet with breat photos, interviews and newspaper clips from the era.
8/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 16/12/13 - here
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