From Africa with fury : rise

In the Kuti family, here is the heir. The second album by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 seems to dedicate one of the sons of the immense Fela as the recipient of the initial fever and swagger. Especially since Seun Kuti, considering himself more as an educator than a mere musician, is a visionary drawing many analogies between Africa in the 1960s and the current situation on the continent, and facing the same troubles from the authorities as his legendary father, seems ready to don the libertarian and militant garb of his progenitor. For all the above and after recalling that the musicians of Egypt 80 were generally in support of Fela, the singer and alto saxophonist did not embark on the adventure without provisions: one of the co-producers, John Reynolds, has been seen previously alongside none other than U2. As for the second sound engineer, it is none other than Brian Eno. If we add to this lineup, already conducive to definitively establishing African music on the international stage, the names of Godwin Logie - a dub specialist in charge of additional music - and conductor and keyboardist Lekan Animashaun, evidently now inaugurated as the hub of an orchestra of more than fifteen stands, we better understand that Seun Kuti is convincingly at the head of one of the preeminent formations of the genre. A few international guest artists (such as guitarist Justin Adams, a regular companion of Robert Plant) further confirm the feeling of an announced triumph. And that is exactly what it is about: vigorous and hypnotic funk at all levels, tightly arranged tempo supported by triumphant brass, and dance naturally joins in as well. Surrounded by Nigerian stars and international celebrities, Seun Kuti seems here to free himself from a Commander's statue, which until now had hindered the harmonious development of his career. Between political discourse and furious saxophone choruses, it appears that the offspring is now positioning himself on the path to liberation.