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$17.99 CD
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L'ORCHESTRE KANAGA DE MOPTI
Kanaga De Mopti
(Kindred Spirits)
 "Kulukutu"
"Sare Mabo"
I have waited YEARS for this record to see a proper reissue, and holy shit, Kindred Spirits have really outdone themselves with this one. L'Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti were one of the best of Mali's eight regional orchestras, state-sponsored bands featuring the best musicians in a respective area of the nation. These groups performed at both state and private functions, and as a result often had two names -- one name was used when performing for state officials, the other was used for private events. The Orchestre Régional De Mopti began performing under the guise Kanaga De Mopti in 1976; this musical alter ego replaced the gorgeous slow-moving, droning harmonies of their proper "Régional" activities (documented on an LP recently reissued by Mississippi Records) with an intense, frenetic Afro-futurism that blended the popular dance band styles then prevalent in Mali with the heavy influence and fusion of Malian Dogon traditions (as displayed in the ceremonial Dogon masks worn on the album's cover). The group made innovations with their increased use of synthesizers in a dance band setting, then highly uncommon. They stepped into Radio Mali in 1977 to lay down this set, their only LP under the Kanaga name, and it remains one of the most unique, uplifting, and cosmic recordings of dance band music from not only Mali, but 1970s Africa as a whole. Two tracks from this album ended up providing highlights on the excellent African Pearls: Mali 70 comp from a few years back, but now we're treated to the album in its entirety for the first time since its initial release.
Overflowing with frenetic, polyrhythmic percussion grooves, robust horn work, psychedelic finger-picked guitar lines, and vocal chants and synth parts run through assorted echo/delay units, the album blasts off into space from opener "Kulukutu" and never returns, displaying the same primitive/futurist aesthetic dichotomy heavily practiced by the likes of Sun Ra's Arkestra, while displaying aesthetic similarities to the lysergic explorations of Pink Floyd (the group was allegedly referred to as "The Malian Pink Floyd" because of their pioneering synth usage) and the melodic electronic pointillism of early Terry Riley. These six tracks are overflowing with pure joy, which comes through in the vocal chants, sung in harmony by various members of the band, not to mention impressive, complex rhythmic and harmonic counterpoint, as displayed in the latticework woven by the keyboards, balafon, and stuttering brass. Tracks like "Sare Mabo," "Sory Bamba," and "Gambari" usher in slinky grooves, yet never sacrifice the complex instrumental arrangements, while the staccato funk of "N'do N'do" shows the band could get down'n'dirty in a more Ghanian style. It's the album centerpiece and tribute to Dogon ceremonial mask dances, "Kanaga," that really shows what the group was capable of, though, with the freneticism of opener "Kulukutu" flipped inside out, as band members shout through delay units into a dub space that'd make King Tubby green with envy, and flip organ, synth, and sax blips into interstellar overdrive through the mix with hypnotic, dizzying results.
If you've ever displayed an interest in Malian music in general, in African dance band sounds, or have grooved to Sun Ra or Larry Young's Lawrence of Newark, you'll want to add this to your collection, ASAP. This is sitting at the top of my list of best reissues of 2011, and comes with my absolute highest recommendation. Afro-Jam of the Year, folks. You've never heard sounds quite like this. [IQ]
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Heresy of the Free Spirit 
