Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou Dahomey

★★★★ Le ‘Sato’ ACID JAZZ. DL/LP

Prime voodoo funk, direct from the source.

Originally released in 1974, the fifth album in Acid Jazz’s exemplary Albarika Store label reissue programme catches ‘Prince’ Mêlomê Clément’s band paying tribute to the vodun (the traditional spiritual beliefs of their part of West Africa) that surrounded them as young men: the sato is the drum upon which the voodoo rhythms are played. The four tracks are less frantic and complex than much of what would come later: My Love is clearly a lament (there’s no obvious reason for the English title, it’s sung in Fon), but Gnonnou Ho features a lacerating guitar solo (presumably by Clément). Licensed from the band and mastered from the original tapes, this could turn into a shelf-filling campaign: the original Poly-Rythmo issued around 20 LPs before vocalist Vincent Ahéhéhinnou quit in 1978, but there were more than 200 45s too. Your bank manager will understand.