October 24, 2006 - Fontana North

FELA KUTI
"Monkey Banana...." reflects
a time during which Fela's
music was moving even more
into long extended grooves.
Both "Monkey Banana" and
"Sense Wiseness," have his
characteristic blends of
improvisational-sounding
trades between various
instruments and lead and
chanting backup vocals,
along with his minor-based
melodies. Excuse O is one of
the better cuts from his mid-
1970s discography, with
remarkably spooky, effective
organ, a slow ominous
groove, and a blunt critique of
Africa's educational system.
8 75232 00252 4
Monkey Banana + Excuse O
Cat #: WRA045
File: World
G.C.: 43
Box Lot: 25
Price Code: SP
Order Due: Oct. 5
Release Date: Oct. 24
Label: Wrasse / FN
Format: CD
Everything Scatter + Noise For
Vendor Mouth
Cat #: WRA049
File: World
G.C.: 43
Box Lot: 25
Price Code: SP
Order Due: Oct. 5
Release Date: Oct. 24
Label: WRASSE / FN
Format: CD
Everything Scatter tenminute
title track posits
Kuti and his followers
versus the status quo. The
15-minute "Who No Know
Go Know" strikes a more
relaxed groove in its call
for African unity. "Noise
for Vendor Mouth" puts
some more emphasis on
the choppy, lean, funk-ish
guitars than some other
Kuti cuts. "Mattress" goes
a little further afield in its
controversial subject
matter, here reflecting his
polygamous lifestyle.
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An unusual item in Fela's
discography - "Upside
Down" is sung by Sandra
Akanke Isidore. - the
woman Fela met during his
stay in the United States at
the end of the 1960s, and
who is credited with helping
to elevate his own social
awareness and ethnic
identity. It makes for
something refreshingly
different. "Music of many..."
is utter genius, musical
history and at first glance
completely unlikely: a
collaboration with vibist and
innovator, Roy Ayers.
8 75232 00422 1
Upside Down + Music Of Many
Colours
Cat #: WRA050
File: World
G.C.: 43
Box Lot: 25
Price Code: SP
Order Due: Oct. 5
Release Date: Oct. 24
Label: Wrasse / FN
Format: CD
Confusion + Gentleman
Cat #: WRA069
File: World
G.C.: 43
Box Lot: 25
Price Code: SP
Order Due: Oct. 5
Release Date: Oct. 24
Label: Wrasse / FN
Format: CD
Two of the most notable
albums from the mid-'70s.
Lyrical skill in abundance,
and at the height of his
instrumental power, Fela
employs 3 languages to
describe the confusion
inherent in the
marketplace of Lagos'
Ojuelegba area. Confusion
is an Afrobeat epic. No
less a masterpiece - and
the first time Fela played
sax is Gentleman, some of
the most innovative of
Fela's Africa '70 material.
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For more information please contact Nathan Wiszniak:
nathan.wiszniak@fontananorth.com