Personally, I love mixing Fela with house. I find that if you take some of
the more uptempo Fela, like 'Roforofo Fight,' and a house dub--Frankie
Valentine's 'Midnite Sun' works perfectly--and mix them together you can get
sweet results. With 'Roforofo Fight' I kill the bass and let Fela's
chanting and keyboards build over the other track's beats until it breaks
into full percussion and horns at which point I make the cut. It sounds
delicious and unless it's a particularly close-minded dancefloor (and then
to hell with them!) folks really dig the unexpected change.
That said, the more matchable beats of some Manu Dibango (I'm really feeling
'Pepe Soup' as of late) and the onslaught that is Max B. (his Bananaticoco
is available on one of the Club Afrika comps, I believe) is another great
introduction to the sound. This sort of afrofunk mixes really well into
deep, percussive disco although frankly, I find that it's difficult to
return to relatively simple four-on-the-floor after hitting the dancefloor
with such intense rhythmic complexity (granted this merely reflects my
inclination towards the more organic side of the dancefloor). Keeping this
bias in mind, I would definitely encourage a full afrobeat set.
Also really feeling DJ Spinna's 'Deep Rooted' particularly the dub and
beats. Crazy tracks!
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Steady [mailto:innerpink@yahoo.com]
Sent: February 22, 2002 2:46 PM
To: acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
Subject: Thoughts on Afrobeat /Afrofunk
It's older, but I just got done listening to a great
BBC documentary on Afrobeat. . .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/documentaries/lamacq_docs_afrobeat.shtml
I have been slowly collecting Afro records here and
there, but have yet to play any out. I was hoping
maybe someone could give me some insight and maybe
relate some past experience playing Afrobeat. I
normally play house music and I am just a little
apprehensive to drop Fela in the middle of a four on
the floor set.
How about a full afrobeat set, is that to much?
Any suggestions for must have Afro records?
Thanks a lot!
The apprehensive DJ Joe Steady ;)
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