Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey: Echos Hypnotiques, Vol. 2

Label: Analog Africa

The second volume of Analog Africa’s OPRC reissues is subtitled From the Vaults of Albarika Store 1969-1979. This disc sounds much better than the fine but motley volume 1, for the material here was recorded for the Albarika Store label at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria. While this legendary Benin band had some some Western influences, this is less derivative than a lot of the ’70s stuff that’s been the target of compilers, more African thanks to the complex Vodoun polyrhythms that the band’s name boasts of. Funky highlights include “Malin Kpon O” and – oh heck, every darn track is a highlight, as this 14-song set was boiled down from 200 or so and represents the very best work of one of the greatest African bands of the ’70s, and if you know anything about ’70s African music you know that’s really saying something. (Steve)