The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Africa

The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa is a world music compilation album originally released in 2012 featuring 1960s and 1970s African popular music. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the album contains two discs: an overview of the genre on Disc One, and a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting Victor Uwaifo. Disc One features three Nigerian tracks, two Guinean, and one each from Benin, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Senegal, Ghana, and Mali. The compilation was compiled by Dominic Raymond-Barker and Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network.[1][2]

The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa
Compilation album by
Various artists
Released12 March 2012
GenreWorld, African pop, Psychedelic
Length108:23
LabelWorld Music Network
Full series chronology
The Rough Guide to African Roots Revival
(2012)
The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa
(2012)
The Rough Guide to Celtic Women
(2012)
Complete list

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Spin          [3]

The album was met with mixed to positive reviews, with criticism focusing on the title. Chris Nickson of AllMusic called the use of the term "psychedelia" "elastic".[4] Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote in the same vein, saying it was "more good-time dance music than freak-out,"[5] while Richard Gehr of Spin said it was "less Hendrix than 'Mystic Moods'".[3]

Track listing edit

Disc One edit

No.TitleArtist (Country)Length
1."Let Yourself Go"Victor Olaiya's All Stars Soul International  2:09
2."Obialu Be Onye Abiagbunia Okwukwe"Celestine Ukwu  6:17
3."Pardon"Orchestre Poly-Rythmo  3:43
4."Kadia Blues"Orchestre de la Paillote  5:00
5."Eruq Yalèshew"Alèmayèhu Eshètè  3:34
6."Fadakudu"Balla et ses Balladins  5:44
7."Taxi Driver"Mlimani Park Orchestra  6:24
8."Nijaay"Orchestra Baobab  7:14
9."Nga Nga"Ebo Taylor  5:25
10."Guitar Boy"Victor Uwaifo  5:43
11."Wale Numa Lombaliya"Rail Band  13:26

Disc Two edit

All tracks on Disc Two are performed by Victor Uwaifo.

No.TitleLength
1."Ekassa 28"5:21
2."Ekassa 34"6:43
3."Ekassa 31"3:59
4."Ekassa 32"3:23
5."Ekassa 25"2:31
6."Ekassa 38"5:08
7."Ekassa 24"4:01
8."Ekassa 26"5:45
9."Ekassa 35"3:47
10."Ekassa 29"3:06

References edit

  1. ^ World Music Network. "About Us - The WMN Story". Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  2. ^ Discogs. "Various – The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa". Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  3. ^ a b Gehr, Richard. "Various, 'The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Africa' (Sony Legacy)". Spin. Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  4. ^ a b Nickson, Chris. "The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Africa". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  5. ^ "Various: The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Africa – review". The Guardian. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2013-12-22.

External links edit