This would be a hansom release whatever the circumstances. One album of funk, pop and jazz afrobeat curios from the 60s and 70s plus a mirror album of slinky remixes from the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Adam Freeland, Way Out West, Quantic, The Jinks, Radio Slave, Fink, Bonobo and Zero P:M; a blast from the past and a free funky poke at the future. Collated and sourced by three of the UK’s leading afrobeat labels: Kona, Sound Way and Eckostar, the ten original tracks donated for use on the album were written and produced by some of most accomplished Afrobeat artists to have wiggled onto the world music scene and are a good indication of the breadth of styles heaped into the afro melting pot from Ghana and Nigeria alike, and broadened that little bit further by the house, techno and downtempo carbon takes to be found on disc two. A fair trade of talents if ever there was one.
Talking of fair trade, ‘Sound Affects Malmaison’ is being funded and promoted by the UK’s leading lifestyle hotel group, Malmasion and the dynamic UK charity, Bottleneck whose mission it is to harness the energy of youth culture and update poorly informed Neanderthals like me and thee. Championing causes and concerns worldwide, the charity operates with the message ‘empowerment through education’ – advocating a unique approach to charity whereby music is combined with fashion in the form of practical, saleable products manufactured by local people, providing a viable trading channel in areas where it’s needed most. This time it’s the turn of bags, radios, I-pos cases t-shirts. Next time, who knows, uranium. All profits of the sales will be donated to the charity.
A good album. A worthy cause. Everybody’s happy….