CD Review

“What is frustrating, and a lot of it is our fault, is we need to record more, because a lot of people are basing their writing on what we recorded and not the actual [live] music we are making. It’s very festive music and it needs to be experienced live, so when you write about the CD or something it’s like to trying to write about the subject of sex, but you’re only experience is having seen a porno film. It’s very derivative, you’re not actually there participating.” At least that's what Antibalas’ Martin Perna told Glide recently when asked about their constant comparison to Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.

Martin, I’ve seen you live, but my assignment was to review the record my friend.

No one in The Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra served as keynote speaker at the recent RNC in the group’s hometown of NYC. They weren’t the featured act at the official Madison Square Garden after parties, or on the checklist of sanctioned entertainment options for any of the delegates. Could it be perhaps that there were too many in the Orchestra (different accounts suggest between 12-20 members) to fit on the Republicans narrow and ridiculous platform? Or perhaps it was Antibalas diverse line-up, a veritable United Nations of sorts, with varying shades of dark and darker that discouraged the invite. Maybe neither reason alone warranted the guest list omission. But without a doubt the fact that so many high profile Administration cronies, including Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, were called out on the group’s latest record Who is this America (ropeadope) on the appropriately entitled track “Indictment”, likely ensured that Antibalas need not RSVP. No worries, this impressive record crashes that lame Party.

Who were the credential bearers then in the halls and on the floor at the convention that nominated one half of our Presidential options? If not New York’s premiere socially conscious world beat drum circle, then who? Almost certainly, not a single loyal admirer of the legendary Nigerian visionary, political everyman activist and Antibalas inspiration, musician Fela Kuti was in attendance. Go back to America for the answer to the question of who was mingling with like (closed) minded flag wavers, revealed on “Big Man”. The song illustrates the prescribed greed and oppression hierarchy machine that preserves the uncomfortable status quo. It was this corporate monster, heartless, block bully mentality lurking around every corner of the convention, admiring themselves while interviewing themselves repeating themselves on Fox, fair and balanced like a roadside sobriety test off [insert notorious speed trap / road-block in your town] Avenue.

Most of us avoid music that force-feeds a political agenda- suggesting instead that folks with passionate views and sound ideologies take it to the campaign trail rather than the [insert your favorite locale venue]. But if one can expect to dance their ass off and receive cultural doses while listening to the likes of “Obanla’e” and “Elephant” then rest assured the political and social commentary will be delivered in a much more pleasant package, than say, those of wannabe revolutionaries in the vein of those Rage Against the Machine types.