Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Alhaji K. Frimpong - Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu (197x)

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This appears to be a collection of Frimpong's work as recordings are clearly from different periods over the 1970s and probably early '80s. The title track is a mind blowing tour de force (sampled below) and was a huge hit in Ghana and West Africa in the 1970s. The haunting organ and unusual, infectious drum patterns will destroy your soul (apparently the drummer is a legend by the name of Kwaku Kung Fu). It's a timeless, indestructible piece of music. Frimpong's "Hwehe Mu" receives attention on the spectacular Ghana Soundz collection, where I and probably many others were first introduced to him.





K. Frimpong was a Ghanian Highlife musician who occasionally crossed over into Afrobeat and Afro-Cuban territory. The album--and this one is obviously from a cassette tape--has got to be one of the worst all-time in cover art. Hopefully one day when this record gets a proper release in tune with the times and funkiness of the music, it'll get a fitting jacket like the one below to a totally separate album. One day I might share it, but for now I offer it as something more representative of the spirit of the tunes.



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