Various Artists: Funk Aid for Africa

Various Artists
Funk Aid for Africa
DubSpot
2009-03-31

This is a smart idea. Musicians have donated tracks to a charity album, but rather than leave each song to jumble along next to one another, DJ Obah has remixed everything so that each song transitions into the next, turning Funk Aid for Africa into one long piece of music with different-flavored movements. The proceedings eventually tire some by the end, but overall it works. The music is a mixture of Afrobeat, funk, Afro-Brazil and similar ideas, embracing groups with names like Amayo’s Funk-Arkist-Ra and tracks with titles like “Latin Freak” and “Electric Santeria”. A touch of idealistic polemic punctuates “Fist of Flowers”. Keyboard chills here and there. Bits of lush guitar get set off against teasing brass. Good times. Although none of the music included here is South African, proceeds are donated to a South African charity dedicated to children orphaned by AIDS.

RATING 8 / 10