Remastered from original tapes
180g
Ebo Taylor is something of a music legend in Ghana which is no surprise as he has been around since the late 1950’s when dance bands were all the rage and in the early 60's he made it to London with The Black Star Highlife Band,even collaborating with another legend in the making Fela Anikulapo
Throughout the 70's and 80's his pan-African grooves proved very popular so to find a lost nugget of that era is a particularly revealing delight.There's nothing better than an old master tape gathering dust that gets unearthed and finally sees the light of day.Each song has a very different message, although it is the highlife feeling that stays with the listener.It's a snapshot of a golden period too as Ebo and band are on fire!
Palaver' kicks off proceedings with some mighty fine guitar picking and horns setting the mood for this captivating and unearthed gem.His delicate voice is soulful and touching a sound that draws the listener in. Next up 'Make You No Mind' resonates with that soft lilting guitar again over a three chord vamp interspersed with vibrant sax and trumpet solos, who by the way,make a fabulous horn section.
'Abebrese' with its catchy chorus is a strident two chord workout and a potential african dance floor filler.It's without doubt my personal fave with it's trembling farfisa organ and scratchy guitar.This is uplifting beyond measure finally coming to fruition a mere 40 years later!
'Help Africa' a war cry to stop Africa being ravaged from within sees Ebo on a socio political tip.His wobbly yet warm voice adds pathos to the cause as does the excellent horn arrangement.A gorgeous slice of afrobeat that would make his friend Fela Kuti nod assuringly.Taylor proves he has a winning combination by distilling a fusion of Afrobeat, jazz, soul and funk with traditional Ghanaian grooves,this is real find.
Emrys Baird/Blues & Soul