Femi Kuti makes a long awaited return with his fourth album Day By Day. Without the pressures of MCA/Geffen to mainstream him by forcing hip hop artist on him (like they did with mixed results on 'Fight To Win') Kuti focuses on what he does best. Funk, Soca and Afro-beat rhythms all converge on this, his tightest, most pivotal LP to date. Some of the songs hit their mark in under three minutes. The fantastic "One Two" jams and builds with playful nursery ryhme choruses to counter verses that decry the disparities of the Nigerian Government- biting. Elsewhere, the frenetic beat of "Democrazy" runs it's workout course through organ, percussion, vocals and horns that sound like they come from a stampede of angry elephants. Femi also pays tribute to forebearers (John Coltrane, Billie Holiday) in music including his father in the swinging "Do you Know". There's much that references the past whether it be Parliament Funkadelic bass synths or Santana-styled organs but is it clear that Femi has become his own band leader and doing right by the Kuti Legacy. It's great to hear music that shifts in arrangement and tempo at the drop of a dime. The Positive Force deserve just as much credit for being just as talented. You may not understand all that is said lyrically but there is no denying the power and energy of the music. There isn't a dud track on this.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force- Day by Day
Femi Kuti makes a long awaited return with his fourth album Day By Day. Without the pressures of MCA/Geffen to mainstream him by forcing hip hop artist on him (like they did with mixed results on 'Fight To Win') Kuti focuses on what he does best. Funk, Soca and Afro-beat rhythms all converge on this, his tightest, most pivotal LP to date. Some of the songs hit their mark in under three minutes. The fantastic "One Two" jams and builds with playful nursery ryhme choruses to counter verses that decry the disparities of the Nigerian Government- biting. Elsewhere, the frenetic beat of "Democrazy" runs it's workout course through organ, percussion, vocals and horns that sound like they come from a stampede of angry elephants. Femi also pays tribute to forebearers (John Coltrane, Billie Holiday) in music including his father in the swinging "Do you Know". There's much that references the past whether it be Parliament Funkadelic bass synths or Santana-styled organs but is it clear that Femi has become his own band leader and doing right by the Kuti Legacy. It's great to hear music that shifts in arrangement and tempo at the drop of a dime. The Positive Force deserve just as much credit for being just as talented. You may not understand all that is said lyrically but there is no denying the power and energy of the music. There isn't a dud track on this.
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