You have to be careful with puns, so as not to scare your audience away with the wordplay. With this compilation by Italian label Four Flies Records, though, they’ve done a good job: The title »Africamore« piques your curiosity, you stumble over it a bit, but when you think about it, it makes sense. After all, this selection of Afro-Funk tracks from the five years between 1973 and 1978 is all about the love affair between Italian music and the African continent. Even though there were various approaches to funk during this time, especially from famous film composers like Ennio Morricone or Piero Umiliani, this selection focuses on lesser-known names. Walter Rizzati, who wrote the soundtrack to Lucio Fulci’s horror classic, »The House by the Cemetery«, kicks things off. Hammond organ, flute and flanger call the shots in his music. The biggest hit is Manu Dibango’s »Soul Makossa«, performed in a solid, energetic interpretation by a project called African Revival. »Contrabbando di Fagioli« by percussionist Ramasandiran Somusundara is another great track. It’s got a driving groove and echo effects on the cymbals. Horns are pretty much standard equipment for the assembled artists, and as was common in the seventies, synthesisers are added, albeit far less dominantly. The record ends on a beautiful note with »M.A.A.G.O.« by the duo Prognosi Riservata, which fades out slightly melancholically.
Lord Spikeheart
The Adept
Haekalu