| Band Members | 
"The riches of Vodoun rhythms are of such magnitude that one would never get to the bottom of it - we've tried"
Vincent Ahehehinnou - Lead Singer
Four years in the making, Analog Africa finally presents the second volume of Africa's funkiest band, the mythical Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. What had started as a children entertainment group became one of the greatest bands of their era. Volume One was a collection of amazing LO-Fi recordings produced for various labels around Benin. Volume Two showcases superbly recorded tracks, courtesy of the EMI studios in Lagos, one of the best studios in the region. All tracks here were recorded for the mighty Albarika Store label and its enigmatic producer, Adissa Seidou.
The idea for this compilation was born 5 years ago when Samy Ben Redjeb, Analog Africa's founder and compiler, received the addictive funk track Malin Kpon O released in 1975 on the Albarika Store Label. That discovery triggered the compiler's curiosity and what followed was a long journey through the musical history of Benin and the history of its most important ambassador, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.
The 4 year journey involved criss-crossing Benin, Togo and Niger trying to lay hand on the bands recording output which were found in record stocks which had laid untouched for a quarter of a century, reviewing reels and master tapes at the headquarters of Albarika Store, conducting interviews with all the living members of the band, searching for pictures of the Orchestra and licensing the music from the composers and producer. The result: approximately 100 pictures, 120 master tapes, 20 hours of intetviews and few hundred Orchestre Poly-Rythmo vinyl records - 500 songs in total - some of which previously unreleased.
Almost half of those tunes were recorded for Benin's No.1 label - Albarika Store.
15 out of 200 tracks were carefully selected for this compilation which comes with a massive 44 pages booklet stuffed with amazing pictures of the band and its members, a complete discography and a biography tracing the bands from its foundation as Groupe Meloclem in 1964 Via Sunny Blacks band (1965), Orchestre Poly-Disco (1966), El Ritmo (1967) and finally Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou in 1968.
During the period presented here - 1969 to 1979 - the mighty Orchestra was without any doubt one of Africa's most innovative group. Capable of playing any style of music, the band moved from Traditional Vodoun Rhythms to Funk, Salsa or Afro-beat seamlessly and quickly became the powerhouse of Benin's music scene, backing most of Africa's stars touring the country such Manu Dibango, Ernesto Djedje, Bella Bellow as well as supporting an array of local composers such as Honore Avolonto, Antoine Dougbé and Danialou Sagbohan.
Given the size of the tiny country one could think that Poly-Rythmo must have been too big a fish for such a small pond, but the more one understand Benin's culture and traditions the more it appears that a phenomenon such as Orchestre Poly-Rythmo couldn't have happened anywhere else. Some of the planet's most exciting rhythms are related to the complex Vodoun Religion born in Benin. Those rhythms, supported by chants and dances, have been transmitted from generation to generation and are still being performed to this date - a few hundred years after they were created. The composers and arrangers of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo understood that they were surrounded by a gold mine of inspirational sounds which, if modernised and mixed in with whatever was in fashion at that particular moment, could have a strong impact on the urban population.
Those astonishing combinations can be heard here: Afro-Beat, Sato, Funk, Sakpata, Psychedelia and Latin sounds all mixed into a heavy hypnotic Sound - Les Echos Hypnotiques.
"Drums, bells and horns are the fundamental instruments used during our traditional Vodoun rituals - we added guitars and Organs - we modernised those ancients rhythms and combined them with western genres that were on vogue at that time".
Melome Clement - Founder of Orchestre of Poly-Rythmo
1. Se Ba Ho
2. Mi Ve Wa Se
3. Azon De Ma Gnin Kpevi
4. Noude Ma Gnin Tche De Me
5. Ahouli Vou Yelli
6. Gan Tche Kpo
7. Malin Kpon O
8. Mede Ma Gnin Messe
9. Agnon Dekpe
10. Zizi
11. Ma Dou Sou Nou Mio
12. Koutome
13. Houe Djein Nada
14. Minkou E So Non Moin
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED
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ANALOG AFRICA No.5 - LEGENDS OF BENIN
"Afro-Beat, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Funk" 1969-1981
14 track compilation on CD and double vinyl
(Release Date May 15th, 2009)
A collection of super rare and highly danceable masterpieces recorded between 1969 -1981 by four legendary composers from Benin: ANTOINE DOUGBÉ, EL REGO, HONORÉ AVOLONTO and GNONNAS PEDRO
each one of them with their own distinctive sound. This compilation comes with a 40 page full colour booklet with ultra rare pictures and biographies. Fasten your seat belt and enjoy the mind-blowing sound of Benin.
(more details in the days to come)
1. Dadje Von O Von Non - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band
2. Feeling You Got - El Rego et Ses Commandos
3. Honton Soukpo Gnon - Antoine Dougbé
4. E Nan Mian Nuku - El Rego et Ses Commandos
5. Tin Lin Non - Honoré Avolonto & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
6. Okpo Videa Bassouo - Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Panchos
7. Ya Mi Ton Gbo - Antoine Dougbe & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
8. Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio - Antoine Dougbé
9. Djobime - El Rego et Ses Commandos
10. Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu - Honoré Avolonto
11. Vimado Wingnan - El Rego et Ses Commandos
12. Dou Dagbé Wé - Honoré Avolonto & Black Santiago
13. Kovito Gbe De Towe - Antoine Dougbé
14. La musica en Verité - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED
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ANALOG AFRICA No.4 - ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU
"The Vodoun Effect" Funk $ Sato from Benins Obscure Labels
14 track compilation on CD and double vinyl
(Release Date November 2008)
In the 44-page booklet, full of rare photographs and record covers, Analog Africa introduces three important producers who were collectively responsible for some of the most amazing music released in Benin: Gratien K. Aissy of the Echos Sonores du Dahomey label, Bernard Dohounzo of Disques Tropiques, Lawani Affissoulayi of Aux Ecoutes, the label behind El Rego & Ses Commandos’s fame, as well as en encounter in Niamey with Honliasso Barnabé, Poly-Rythmo..s Producer in Niger. I also interviewed Vincent Ahehehinnou, the man responsible for composing some of the funkiest stuff ever to come out of Benin, and Kineffo Michel, the sound engineer of Poly-Rythmo’s legendary Nagra "home" recordings.None of these tracks (except one – Mawa Mon Nou Mio) has been distributed outside Benin before. These obscure coastal labels had a small distribution range, that barely reached beyond the outskirts of Cotonou or Porto Novo. Because of financial considerations most, if not all, of these recordings had very limited pressings that rarely exceeded one thousand copies total and many labels rarely produced more than 500 copies of any given record.
The music in this compilation is not only extremely rare, but illustrates how Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo with the support of a number of local record labels, thrived by mixing the coolest parts of funk, soul, latin and vodun rhythms into a new sound that not only reflected the musical culture and heritage of Benin, but also transformed it and turned the small country into such an incredible musical melting pot. **This fourth Analog Africa release of forgotten musical gems from 70s Africa was once again lovingly compiled by label boss and vinyl collector Samy Ben Redjeb, driven by the wish to keep this extraordinary music alive**
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED.
You can Listen to Soundfiles HERE:
1. Mi Homlan Dadalé
2. Assibavi
3. Se We Non Nan
4. Ako Ba Ho
5. Mi Ni Non Kpo
6. Se Tche We Djo Mon
7. Dis Moi La Verité
8. Nouessename
9. Iya Me Dji Ki Bi Ni
10. Akoue Tche We Gni Medjome
11. Nou De Ma Do Vo
12. Koutoulie
13. Kourougninda Wende
14. Mawa Mon Nou Mio
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Analog Africa DJ Set Series - Vincent Ahehehinnou & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey
4 tracks LP (Vinyl-AADS 01) (Release Date May 2008)
This is Orchestre Poly-Rythmos first LP, recorded in Nigeria in 1973 and released on Albarika Store as ALS 005. The 4 tracks on this album have been recorded on two occasions. Adissa Seidou, Albarika store Owner, rejected the first recording session (too much feedback noise from a naughty Organ amplifier is my guess) and as a consequence the whole thing was re-recorded, this time in Mono(?). The second session is the one which made it on Vinyl in Africa. Luckily Sean Uppal, DJ extraordinary from Toronto, found the test pressing of the rejected recording and unselfishly forwarded it to me. Ive selected two tracks from each session, basically two of the tracks are released here for the first time on Analog Africa...still can't believe it myself!! This is one of Benin Rarest record and one of the very best. All tracks composed by Benins No.1 Afrobeat composer, Vincent Ahehehinnou.
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED FROM VINCENT AHEHEHINNOU.
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ANALOG AFRICA No.3 - AFRICAN SCREAM CONTEST
14 track compilation on CD and double vinyl (Release Date February 2008)
30 Months in the making, Contains 40 pages booklet-Full liners notes with many super rare photographs handed to us by the musicians. 16 interviews conducted in various cities in Benin & Togo with artists and producers, reconstructing the history of the 70s music scene. ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED.
1.Lokonon André & Les Volcans - Mi kple Dogbekpo
2.Picoby Band D..abomey - Mi Ma Kpe Dji
3.Gabo Brown & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Its a Vanity
4.El Rego et ses commandos - Se Na Min
5.Napo de Mi Amor Et Ses Black Devil..s - Leki Santchi
6.Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Gbeti Madjro
7.Roger Damawuzan - Wait For Me
8.Ouinsou Corneille & Black Santiagos - Vinon so
Minsou
9.Orchestre Super Jheevs des Paillotes - Ye Nan Lon An
10.Tidjiani Kone - Djanfi Magni
11.Discafric Band - Houiou Djin Nan Zon Aklumon
12.Le Super Borgou de Parakou - Congolaise Benin Ye
13.Vincent Ahehehinnou-Ou c..est Lui Ou C..est Moi
14.Les Volcans De la Capital - Oya Ka Jojo
"One of the party albums of the year ... extraordinary
music that mostly never heard in the west." The
Guardian ****
"One of the most satisfying and exciting records of
the year so far." Music Week
"An explosive afro-funk collection dripping in the
feel of hot nights in crumbling mud-brick nightclubs."
The Daily Telegraph
"Samy Ben Redjeb has struck black gold here." Time Out
*****
I can't think of a more invigorating way to start the
day than with this wriggling bag of jagged, ragged 70s
funk." Songlines ****
"The rawest funk, roughest guitars and squawkingest
saxes." Mojo ****
"The music lives up to the title: funky electric
guitars, honking saxophones and voodoo rhythms, with
strong influences from soul, highlife and Latin
music." Evening Standard ****
"Wonderfully eccentric arrangement and tuning ...
Browntastic." The Wire
"An exuberant blend of Cuban, Congolese and high-life
strains, streaked with slithery psychedelic guitar
fills." The Independent (Independent Music supplement)
"When New York slicksters thought they were at the
centre of the universe - Studio 54, say – these bands
were taking the coolest parts of funk, soul and disco,
reinventing it and, at the same time, transforming
their own music and culture... A lot of the reaction
to West African blues has focused on origins and a
going-back-to-roots, but the groove in Benin and Togo
was far deeper and far more inventive than that." BBC
Music Online
"One funky freak-out of a history lesson." Straight No
Chaser
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