Orchestre Super Borgou de Parakou The Bariba Sound 2lp

2lp
2012/1970-76
new
Parakou is a small town on the east side of Benin, in the north away from the coast. It's basically just a big railroad station with a market, a few hotels, & one nightclub. Small enough that one blacksmith who spent a few years in Ghana brought the style of highlife to town & gave lessons on how to play it to every musician in the area. The blacksmith's son, Moussa Mama, was the guitarist & leader of Super Borgou. He'd heard congolese rumba, somehow found an electric organ, & supposedly was able to play the guitar the minute he touched one during a local holiday celebration. Their music came out on a local label that pressed everything in Lagos but was run by a guy who sold records out of the back of his van- driving from town to town around north Benin & even doing home deliveries. Super Borgou toured on the finance power of the guitar lessons that Mama gave in his hometown, and they got as far as opening for Fela in Nigeria. When they play afrobeat, the organ breakdowns are stark & when they play highlife, it's more rolling than clipped. Tracklisting: Gandigui, Wegne Nda M Banda, Me Ton Le Gbe, Abakpe, Guessi Guere Guessi, Sembe Sembe Boudou, A Na Gan Garo Ka Nam, Bori Yo Se Mon Baani, Aske, Ko Guere, Abeke Klouklou, Dadon Gabou Yo Sa Be No. 2, Hanoubian Gabou, Binin Hounnin, Adiza Claire.