Gasper Lawal - Ajomasé (2025) [Hi-Res]

Ajomasé is the groundbreaking 1980 debut album by Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal, which has been reissued by Strut. Prior to the album, Lawal had collaborated for decades with artists like Stephen Stills, Barbra Streisand, Funkadelic, and Vangelis. Dissatisfied with commercial and genre constraints, Lawal meticulously self-produced, composed, and recorded Ajomasé in London over four years starting in 1976, utilizing studios including Vangelis' own and Surrey Sound, working during downtime between The Police's sessions. The recording featured an elite line-up of Nigerian and UK musicians and utilized hand-built instruments, including a unique Nigerian drum. The album, which Lawal himself describes as "nurturing and meditative" music to be "felt," was initially difficult to categorize but gained traction with UK radio play from John Peel and Janice Long, and distribution through Rough Trade, leading to international success. In 1982, Peter Gabriel invited Lawal to perform at the first WOMAD Festival. Despite its impact, Ajomasé had long been out of print, and this new edition, remastered from the original tapes, brings the rhythmically rich and genre-defying work to a new generation.

Tracklist:
1-1 Gasper Lawal - Jeka José [3:42]
1-2 Gasper Lawal - Kita-Kita [6:01]
1-3 Gasper Lawal - Eronu [5:47]
1-4 Gasper Lawal - Ajomasé [6:31]
1-5 Gasper Lawal - Awon-Ojise-Oluwa [6:20]
1-6 Gasper Lawal - Oro-Moro [5:10]
1-7 Gasper Lawal - Saikoskro [0:59]