Afrobeat has always been too far eclectic for simple classification, destined to confound those who prefer their music neatly categorized into genre buckets. That special quality makes this compilation of previously vinyl-only remixes and reinterpretations of recent material from the renowned percussionist all the more fitting.
Hailed for his work with Fela Kuti's Africa 70 as well as his first trio of solo albums, Tony Allen may actually have been more important than even the late frontman, as his inspired, inventive style of playing all-but defined Afrobeat, something that none of the surviving Kuti clan can claim despite their continued commitment to preserving Fela's legacy. In recent years, the ubiquitous Damon Albarn has brought Allen to all new audiences as part of the unlikely supergroup The Good, The Bad and The Queen, as well as a full length album and subsequent 12” records released through the Honest Jon's label, several of which are compiled here. As made clear with Lagos Shake, Allen's admirers are hardly limited to Britpop royalty. Here, a diverse group of artists grab hold of his 2006 full-length Lagos No Shaking, adding elements of this contemporary work to their own. As should be expected, some rely heavily on the source material while others choose to sprinkle choice bits of Allen into their contributions. Still, whether it be the lively jazz on Salah Ragab's take on “Ole” or the Bonde Do Role's snapping carioca electrofunk reshape of “Awa Na Re” the music splendidly revels in its freedom and hardly ever loses momentum.
Unlike so many remix discs, no one style dominates Lagos Shake. Honest Jon's labelmates Wareika Hill Sounds present a tribal luminosity on “Reggae Land Dub” while indie producers like Diplo and Newham Generals mold Allen's originals into subversive clubwise cut-up fare and (thankfully) instrumental South London grime, respectively. Both halves of the Basic Channel / Rhythm and Sound partnership take a crack at transforming Allen for the dancefloor. Mark Ernestus lays down a disco dub that's as starkly minimal as it is silky and smooth. Superior to this fine cut is Moritz von Oswald's ten-minute long mix of “Ole,” a sonic odyssey that starts with a steel drum performance in the echo chamber that steadily climbs into transcendent Sunday afternoon house adorned with wistful pads and snippets of Rolling Dollar’s voice.
Yet perhaps the real show stealer comes from techno icon Carl Craig, who remixes “Kilode” into a positively exuberant blend of Detroit-friendly stabs, diva-quality vocals, and broken breakbeats. Though discerning DJs already have this killer in their crate, the CD release offers a potentially greater audience for such a warm track. Lagos Shake hits all the right notes for the coming summer season.
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