The Albarika Story (Vol. 1) Various Artists - Acid Jazz

• 1 Segla 06:56
• 2 Get The Music Now (Edit) 04:20
• 3 E Sa F Aiye 03:14
• 4 Aiha Ni Kpe We (Edit) 05:29
• 5 Ego-Ibo 06:57
• 6 Gbeti Ma Djro 02:57
• 7 Oya Ka Jojo (Edit) 06:20
• 8 It's A Vanity 04:20
• 9 Bakassine Gabou 05:38
• 10 Nan Man Nan 05:59
• 11 Gbe We Gnin Wa Bio (Edit) 05:45
• 12 Kpede Do Gbe Houenou 04:34
• Total Runtime 01:02:29

Info for The Albarika Story (Vol. 1)

Founded in the late 1960s by record store owner Seidou Adissa, Albarika Store is one of the most important independent record labels on the African continent. That it was founded in the relatively small ex-French colony of Benin (then still called Dahomey), is a testament to its founder’s musical taste and vision for what the local musical scene had to offer.

"The Albarika Story". It was compiled by David Hill of Soul Revivers and West African musical expert Florent Mazzoleni, who also wrote the in-depth sleeve notes.

The compilation provides a look into what was a developing and then thriving post-colonial music scene. It focuses on the label’s biggest and most prolific act Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo and its founder Melome Clement – who released under a variety of names, often spotlighting on the musicians key to their sound. It also looks at the other established artists on the label such as the incendiary Les Sympathics De Porto Novo and Les Volcans. All of these artists create a unique mix of Westernised Funk, Soul and Latin sounds, cross-pollinated with the traditional music of the region.

Elsewhere, we hear the music as it is consumed further by funk and disco, with tracks from the ultra-obscure, and exceptionally danceable tracks by Ipa Boogie and Ogassa – the latter sounding like they have been adding psychedelic rock to their funky brew. The record is a story of local music, and they way that it was cross-pollinated by both the West and the wider regional scene in neighbouring Nigeria. Adissa would often head to EMI’s state of the art Lagos studio to record his acts, contributing to the exceptional sonic quality of the recordings, and it is no surprise that the influence of Fela Kuti and Afro Beat is writ large.

Albarika Store
is home to many rare recordings, from more traditional folkloric and Sato styles, to the funk, blues and psych inspired workouts of the All Mighty Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou, as they referred to themselves. Many of the original records are sought after by DJs and collectors as prime examples of Afro-funk, Afro-Latin and Afro-psych sounds.

This album contains no booklet.