Home Cooking by Tony Allen

03 Apr

Written by Mark Keresman
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Percussionist/singer Tony Allen - long an associate of Nigerian icon Fela Kuti and co-architect of his sound - has kept the fires of Afrobeat (a central African fusion style that takes in highlife, juju, funk, rock and hip-hip) burning bright. Allen has fashioned a varied platter full of sleek sounds, strong, punchy beats (provided by REAL drums, not the sampled variety), declamatory vocals, shimmering vibraphones, crackling keyboards and sensuous, romantic textures reminiscent of the later days of Thom Bell’s Philly Soul sound. Home Cooking is not for the "purist" - Allen’s music is anti-purist is the best sense of taking what he wants/needs from whatever genre without being "beholden" or restricted by any one. If Sly & The Family Stone at their 1969-71 peak had been from Nigeria in the "now", they might’ve made a record like this.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Tony Allen
CD Title: Home Cooking
Genre: World Music
Year Released: 2003
Record Label: Narada World
Musicians: T.A.: vocals, drums, percussion; Damon Albarn: bass, melodica, vocals; Eska, Mary Lee, Ty: vocals; Jean P. Dary: keyboards; others.
Label Website: http://www.narada.com
Rating: Four Stars