Sammy Ben Redjeb’s Analog Africa series has been a revelation, unearthing some breathtaking soul and funk heritage via his extensive travails around Benin and Togo.
For this instalment the focus shifts to Latin America with a retrospective of legendary Colombian accordionist Anibal Velasquez. Born in the musically verdant port city of Baranquila, he cross-pollinated traditional styles with imported Cuban guaracha rhythms to produce a frenzied, highly infectious dance music driven by his own ebullient playing. Despite consistent problems eluding the increasingly ubiquitous drug cartels, Velasquez went on to spearhead the Musica Tropica movement while releasing over 300 LPs.
Anyone familiar with the Analog Africa series will recognise a similar energy and joyful abandonment here. Like their predecessors these are recordings designed not for the head but for the dancefloor. It’s hard to isolate tracks that pass by in such a glorious blur but Que Paso has irresistible melodic twists and turns amid Latin drum rolls. Elsewhere, Mambo Loco’s shuffling rhythmic assault is permeated by some memorably ludicrous “loco” laughing.
While the music here isn’t as heart-stoppingly original as some of Redjeb’s Beninese finds, this imprint certainly maintains its reputation for bringing visceral and exciting world musical history to the West. The continental focus has shifted, the quality remains high.
