Search - T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou :: Poly-Rythmo (Reminiscin' in Tempo / African Dancefloor Classics)

Not funky but good

Saint Kole | Mt V, NY | 07/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD preceeds Soundway's The Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80 and Analog Africa's two volumes The Vodoun Effect: Funk and Sato from Benin's Obscure Label and Echos Hypnotiques, Vol. 2. The material on this CD is quite a bit different from those CDs. All of the songs on this CD come from three Benin LP releases by Poly-Rythmo (two on Albarika Store, the other on Disc Orient). It is a chance to hear a different side of the versatile Poly-Rythmo.

These seven songs span 77 minutes and don't have much of a funk influence unlike these other compilations. The first five tracks are in the Congolese-rumba/soukous style while the final two tracks have a latin influence. The 16 minute Cheri Coco was a big hit for the band in West Africa and is in the "two-part" rumba style with a third part taking over for the last 5 minutes. Dety Motema sounds a lot like early Zaiko Langa Langa and wouldn't be too out of place on their fabulous Zaire-Ghana album.

This CD has some of the group's longer songs--tracks 4 and 5 together were a complete album--and Papillon's guitar work shines as always. It is the drum work that is not as interesting here. Like most Congolese rumba songs, the drummer either plays mainly on the hi-hat or on the snare. It is not until the final two latin-flavored tracks that Yehouessi Leopold and the rest of the percussion section get to break out a little. One of those tracks, Yao-Yao, made it on to Miles Cleret's Poly-Rythmo mix on the Soundways Record site."