Brilliant work from Benin -- an ear-opening compilation that's filled with wonderful grooves we've never heard before! The rhythms are unusual, instrumentation hypnotic, and vocals really offbeat -- making the whole thing sound very different than more familiar African work we've stocked -- especially some of the better-known grooves from the Nigerian scene! There's an occasional hint of the exotic tones of Ethiopian music, but the rhythms are more focused overall -- making the tunes all pretty groove-heavy, even when dropping in odd elements -- an approach that makes the music here very easy to get into -- even without any sort of history or geography lesson. But the booklet also provides plenty of that -- a great story of the scene, and some wonderfully personal notes from compiler Samy Ben Radjeb -- who's very open about his slow process of discovering this music. The whole package is beautiful, and the set's every bit as crucial as Radjeb's earlier African Scream Contest collection. Titles include "La Musica En Verite" and "Dadje Von O Von Non" by Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes, "Feeling You Got" and "E Nan Mian Nuku" by El Rego Et Ses Commandos, "Ya Mi Ton Gbo" and "Honton Soukpo Gnon" by Antoine Dougbe, "Dou Dagbe We" by Honore Avolonto Et L'Orchestre Black Santiago, "Djobime" by El Rego Et Ses Commandos, and "Na Mi Do Gbe Hue Nu" by Honore Avolonto. © 1996-2009, Dusty Groove America, Inc.
"The album leaps from Afro-funk to Afrobeat to Soul to Cavacha seamlessly."
Legends Of Benin comprised of fast-paced Afro Latin funk rhythms has been carefully selected by Ben Redjeb. Spanning four genres and three decades, the album highlights the work of four of Benin's great musicians: Gnonnas Pedro, Antoine Dougbe, El Rego and Honoré Avolonto. Each adds a unique vibrancy to the album, contrasting with and complimenting each other.
Traditional rhythms form the base of many of the tracks, Gnonnas Pedro's Abadja Rhythms underscore Okpo Videa Bassouo, while Antoine Dougbe's music combines Vodoun and Congolese rhythms in the 'Afro Cavacha' style he pioneered. His track Ya Mi Ton Gbo is one of the funkiest tracks here. Legendary percussionist and composer Honoré Avolonto offers some of the grittiest music on the album. His style, similar in parts to Fela Kuti, is enormously energetic.
The album leaps from Afro-funk to Afrobeat to Soul to Cavacha seamlessly. This variety has a lot to do with when the music was recorded: the 70s was a politically turbulent decade for Benin, reflected in the raw unrelenting beats.
Legends Of Benin is praiseworthy for contextualizing Benin's contribution to Afrobeat and African music as a whole. (BBC Review, Johnny Lais)
1. Dadje von O von Non
2. Feeling You Got - el Rego et Ses Commandos
3. Honton Soukpo Gnon
4. E Nan Mian Nuku - el Rego et Ses Commandos
5. Tin Lin Non
6. Okpo Videa Bassouo
7. Ya Mi Ton Gbo
8. Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio
9. Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu
10. Vimado Wingnan - el Rego et Ses Commandos
11. Dou Dagbé Wé
12. Djobimé - el Rego et Ses Commandos
13. Kovito Gbe de Towe
14. Musica en Verité
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