Alostmen
★★★★ Kologo STRUT. CD/DL/LP
Stevo Atambire’s debut as bandleader, produced by former Afro Gypsy, Wanlov The Kubolor
ORIGINALLY recorded on tour in Uganda and released in Atambire’s Ghanaian homeland in 2017, but now “remixed for an international audience” with no audible ill-effects, Kologo threatens to do for the titular twostringed West African lute what Spokes Mashiyane did for the South African penny whistle. Atambire’s heavily rhythmic yet occasionally explosive playing finds muscular and virtuosic foils in singing fiddler Jo Ajusiwine, Nigerian talking drum specialist Aminu Amadu and percussion heavyweight Sowah. Lurking at the back end of the album, the “original Ghana mixes” of blatant Sunday-afternoonat-Green-Man bangers Teach Me and Minus Me also pack a colossal punch, the latter with a potent blend of horn section and Barry White-style disco voice.