Alegranza and The Vodoun Effect

I have a deal with Chrz to exchange an album every quarter. In Q4 2008 I received “Alegranza”. A tropical pop album with lots of percussion released 2008 by a guy born at the Canary Island (close to the coast of Northwestern Africa). It took me about the 8 first tracks to comprehend the music, but on the last track I found my self dancing around the table as a native indian dancing around the totem pole.
Chrz did also receive an album in the “World”-genre in Q4. Just before The Wire had a theme on West African Psycedelia (Issue 298; december 2008), I heard about Analog Africa. “The Vodoun effect” by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou contains “funk and sato” from a period between 1972 and 1975. It’s an acid trip experienced on traditional African instruments. The repetition, the trance-like effect, is great and in many ways it requires attention and indulgence.
Both albums are absolutely worth listening to for every open minded musical interested persons.

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