One great thing created through the vinyl-hype of recent years is the fact that a vast amount of forgotten, unheard and allegedly lost music has been (re-)introduced to the world through compilations and reissues. »Can’t You Hear Me?« is the contribution to this movement by Eothan »Egon« Alapa of Now-Again and the designer Christophe Lamaire. They are presenting the psychedelic, energetic, politically controversial and terrifically and dirtily mixed sound of obscure 70s-rockers like Blackfoot, Born Free or Paul Ngozi. Being socialized through the music of post-colonial Africa with names like Fela Kuti, Mulatu Astatke and Ebo Taylor is quite the custom these days – hence, it’s all the more refreshing how different the music sounds on »Can’t You Hear Me?«. In a unique manner, the tracks combine surf- and psych-rock with influences from funk, beat and highlife. This record never gets boring, and that is not only because most original records would have hardly ever been touched by anyone outside the most elitist digger-circles. A keyboard-solo chases a drumbrake chases a strange stereo-effect chases a catchy guitar riff with souly vocals. This works best in the incredible title track »Can’t You Hear Me« and in »Don’t Take Me For A Ride«, »Break Through« and »Black Power«. If there is a time when this music will fall on open ears, it must be this one. Let’s hope, that it’s not forgotten this time.
Claire Rousay
The Bloody Lady
Viernulvier