Artist.......: Fanga
Album........: Sira Ba
Label........: Underdog Records
Genre........: Ethnic
Catnr........: UR 000 481
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: Dec-22-2009
str.date.....: Nov.-16-2009
quality......: VBR/44,1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: www.afrofanga.ccom
track title time
01. DOUNIA PART 1 12:33
02. YΘLΘKO 06:58
03. BASSI TΘ 05:55
04. FOLLOW ME 04:38
05. CORRUPTION 08:12
06. ILLUMINATION 01:33
07. I GO ON WITHOUT YOU Feat WINSTON MCANNUF 05:18
08. TIOGHO TIOGHO 06:26
09. NI YA WOUELE 03:59
10. DOUNIA PART 2 Feat THE TOGO ALL STARS 07:04
Runtime 62:36 min
Size 85,5 MB
Release Notes:
2010Æs revelation could well come from Montpellier.
For the last ten years or so, the collective
æFangaÆ has been on the up, blending afrobeat, jazz
and funk and playing a music that is eminently
spiritual. Fanga means æstrength of convictionÆ in
Dioula and the commitment of the group is
emblematic of its name.
An alliance of complementary personalities and
cosmopolitan energies, Fanga first took form in
1998. Returning from Africa, Serge Amiano brings
back a few vinyls of the likes of Fela, CS Crew and
CK Mann that he plays to the Burkinabese rapper
Korbo. Amiano being a hip-hop producer naturally
takes on the role of the groupÆs artistic director
right from the start.
The discovery of this urban African music of the
1970s quickly forms the basis of a shared passion.
In 2000 the album æBlack VoicesÆ by Tony Allen
definitively seals FangaÆs birth and its afrobeat
foundations with an obvious orientation towards
dance and the solid relationship between the eight
members of the group.
Fanga brings out its first six tracks in 2001 with
a minimal rhythm section. Joined by the bass player
Rajaneesh Dwivedi and the drummer Samuel
Devauchelle, the group records æAfrokalyptikÆ in
2003, its first album. The following album æNatural
JuiceÆ comes out in 2007, warmly received and with
much acclaim. Fanga is not only highly praised by
Gilles Peterson but also the New York magazine Wax
Poetics.
Having played with Antibalas, Seun Kuti and Kokolo,
Fanga has nurtured solid relationships within the
international afrobeat community. In the studio,
the groupÆs path crosses that of Tony Allen and the
sadly demised Segun Demisa, both pillars of Fela
KutiÆs Africa 70, as well as that of the
iconoclastic rapper Mike Ladd. Fanga launches its
live project on stages around England, Holland,
Spain and Italy.
Despite being firmly rooted in certain Nigerian and
Ghanean musical traditions (those of the 1970sÆ
afro-beat and high-life) Fanga is equally at home
to musical concoction, as demonstrated by the
samples and other hip-hop and electronic
ingredients, not to mention the vocals in Dioula,
English and French. The gritty horns and earthy
analogue keyboards shape the groupÆs sound whilst
Korbo has no hesitation in embracing his Mandingue
roots.
Flowing without restraint, Fanga exudes both
spirituality and an intense persuasive power. It is
home to an iron fist, characteristic of the most
proud and organic of black musics. Melodious and
hypnotic, the pieces developed by the group not
only strive towards a groove conducive to a state
of trance but is also equally appealing to the
mind.
Whilst avoiding lengthy discourses, revolutionary
messages and the pretension of offering answers to
the problems of the world, Korbo nonetheless poses
serious lines of reflection, in particular,
defending the right to be different as well as
nurturing a deeper harmony between humankind and
nature. He denounces the social injustice arising
from the pyramidal economic structures that have
become uncontrollable and egotistical. Newspaper
headlines often inspire FangaÆs songs.
Brought up on the raw energy of hip-hop, the group
reposes equally on certain values that even today
can only be found in Africa, a sort of candour and
instinctive sense of rhythm which lends such
freshness to Fanga. This urge to respond when faced
with a base emotion, however fleeting, has governed
their musical progression since the beginning of
the 2000s.
Empassioned and passionate, their music contains
alluring promise. Fanga takes on an entire
dimension on stage. Those whoÆve had the chance of
seeing the group live can only agree. Under the
ongoing artistic direction of Serge Amiano, Fanga
has recorded its third album in spring 2009 in
Montpellier, entitled æSira BaÆ (The Long Road).
Over the course of nine pieces, the collective
Fanga offers a look at the past through the eyes of
the present and the future. The Jamaican singer
Winston McAnuff infuses a reggae accent in I Go On
Without You, whereas the Togo All Stars orchestra
shines out like a thousand fires on Dounya, one of
the strongest and most jubilant of the album,
resonating in the afro-funk echos of Moussa Doumbia
and Amadou BallakΘ.
Alternating drawn-out lyrical climaxes, explosive
brass passages, killer riffs and melodic ease,
æSira BaÆ displays a powerful force of conviction,
reflecting an uncompromised musical complicity and
an impressive flow of energy. Julien RauletÆs
guitar work reacts perfectly with the keyboards of
David Rekkab and the percussion of Eric Durand.
Martial ReverdyÆs baritone reinforces the energy
and persuasive power exuded by Fanga, along with
the lyrics that take us straight back to the most
glorious hour of the golden age of afrobeat, laced
with the influences of that ægreat black musicÆ.
Once fallen under the spell of this strength of
conviction, all that remains is to dance.