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Funky and trippy at the same time – a wonderful batch of grooves from Super Borgou De Parakou – an overlooked group from Benin with a very unique sound! The rhythms are tight, and production often has these crispy little edges that make for some nice touches of fuzz where you might not normally expect – almost like psychedelic elements that creep into the music in the way the guitars and vocals are recorded! The approach is almost a garage take on Afro Funk, with some sweet 60s undercurrent that no doubt come from the production on the tunes – and which really serves to help this set stand out from the pack. As with other excellent sets on the Analog Africa label, this one's filled with rich notes on the group – helping you locate their wonderful music in a deeper cultural and historical framework – and also as usual for the label, you get plenty of music for your money – 15 tracks that include "Gandigui", "Me Ton Le Gbe", "Bori Yo Se Mon Baani", "Aske", "Ko Guere", "Dadon Gabou Yo Sa Be No 2", "Binin Hounnin", and "Sembe Sembe Boudou".

Funky and trippy at the same time – a wonderful batch of grooves from Super Borgou De Parakou – an overlooked group from Benin with a very unique sound! The rhythms are tight, and production often has these crispy little edges that make for some nice touches of fuzz where you might not normally expect – almost like psychedelic elements that creep into the music in the way the guitars and vocals are recorded! The approach is almost a garage take on Afro Funk, with some sweet 60s undercurrent that no doubt come from the production on the tunes – and which really serves to help this set stand out from the pack. As with other excellent sets on the Analog Africa label, this one's filled with rich notes on the group – helping you locate their wonderful music in a deeper cultural and historical framework – and also as usual for the label, you get plenty of music for your money – 15 tracks that include "Gandigui", "Me Ton Le Gbe", "Bori Yo Se Mon Baani", "Aske", "Ko Guere", "Dadon Gabou Yo Sa Be No 2", "Binin Hounnin", and "Sembe Sembe Boudou".

A real classic from Swedish pianist Jan Johansson – and a key effort to link the modernism of his nation's postwar years with their rich centuries of cultural traditions! The tunes here are mostly from folk sources, but they're recast by Johansson in a moody modern jazz mode – often handled very sparely, with just bass accompaniment from Georg Riedel – who seems wonderfully suited to the project at hand! The melodies are incredibly evocative – and Johansson's playing is really set free amidst these familiar frameworks – never too outside, but deeply exploratory, and with a surprising depth of feeling. Titles include "Visa Fran Utanmyra", "Emigrantvisa", "Gammal Brollopsmarsch", "Brudmarsch Efter Larshoga Jonke", "Leksands Skanklat", and "Visa Fran Jarna". CD features 4 bonus alternate takes – plus, the CD also features bonus CD-rom material – including all the session recordings that were originally done!