Sound Travels has been all about Ghana over the weekend that culminated in an entirely funky Sunday mixtape of vintage Ghanaian funk. We ended last week with a whole day of Ghana funk and carried it into the weekend with an hour-long mix of music. Much of this was inspired by the new compilation, and second installation of deep Ghanaian funk on a compilation called Afrobeat Airways 2: Return Flight to Ghana 1974-1983 that just came out last week. It came as no surprise to me as the label that released it, Analog Africa, has just been killing it on these re-issues and this one is no different.
I had the good sense to pick up the first edition a few years back and this update, this return flight as they put it was well worth the wait. As with many of their releases, it's more than just the music. The disc also arrives with an in-depth, 40+ page book with pictures and a well written account of the era and the scene in cities like Accra and Cape Coast where a very funk-driven form of afrobeat grew from the wealth of highlife music in the country. I like the approach, it's as stylish as it is personal and the release also features some very interesting interviews. For fans of African music, afrobeat or funk and soul, this release is a must.
And then there was the mixtape I played on Sunday night that was so inspired by this compilation, that I busted out a few other Ghanaian funk comps and made a mixtape...
tracks:
Alex Konadu "W'awu Do Ho No" Ghana Soundz
Uppers International "Dankasa" Afro-Beat Airways
Cos-Ber-Zam "Ne Noya" Afro-Beat Airways
The Ogyatanaa Show Band "Ageisheka" Ghana Soundz
Ebo Taylor "Atwer Abroba" Ghana Soundz 2
Itadi "Live In Another World" Afro-Beat Airways
Tony Sarfo & The Funky Afrobisi "I Beg" Afrobeat Airwaves 2
Ebo Taylor "Heaven" Afro Tropical Soundz Vol.1
Freedom Family "Holy Worshipping" Ayentsoo
Pierre Antoine & Vis-A-Vis "Say Min Sy Soh" Afrobeat Airwaves 2
Ghana Funk ft. Gyedu Blay Ambolley "Mumunde"
The Rob "Boogie On" Funky Rob Way
Gyedu Blay Ambolley" Simigwa do (whiskey barons rework)"
C.K.Mann "Asofo Beson"Selected Best of C.K. Mann of Ghana
De Frank Professionals "Afe Ato Yen Bio" Afro-Beat Airways
The African Brothers "Wope Me A Ka" Afrobeat Airwaves 2
The Ogyatanaa Show Band "Disco Africa" Ghana Soundz 2
Oscar Sulley "Olufeme (Natural Self Remix)" Africa Is Home (Soundway Records)
Kyerematen Stars "Maye Obi Den" Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque
Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band "Bukom Mashie" Ghana Soundz
Mawuli Decker "Mawu Nafako Nam" Ayo Special