VA - Vampisoul Goes To Africa: Afrobeat Nirvana (2008)

Drawing on Nigerian music recorded between the 1950s and 1980s, this compilation from the Vampisoul label covers a remarkable breadth of material in its hour or so of playback time, drawing on all the various elements that informed Nigeria's musical output during this particularly fertile period. Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and Africa 70 are the best known names on the collection, but the likes of Dr. Victor Olaiya and Opotopo make no less valid contributions, with the latter taking the sounds of highlife and Latin-influenced percussive routines while the former goes for a bit of a James Brown-styled approach to funk. The Tony Allen/Africa 70 recordings sound particularly progressive in their fusion of genres, taking on jazz and disco influences and knitting them into indigenous African rhythms. Another great Vampisoul compilation, and a particularly condensed overview of Nigerian music, making for a great entry point for newcomers to West African music.