{"product_id":"appia-kwa-bridge","title":"Appia Kwa Bridge","description":"Audio Mixer: Jochen Stroeh.\u003cbr\u003eRecording information: Lovelite Studio, Berlin (10\/2011).\u003cbr\u003ePhotographer: Jane Hahn.\u003cbr\u003eUnlike pop songs based on the Europe-derived rules of tonal music, Afro-beat doesn't typically move in a deliberate way from one place to another and then home again in a reasonably prescribed pattern of tension and release. Instead, it generally stays in a single place and dances there until it gets tired -- which can take anywhere from eight to 30 minutes. Nigerian legend Fela Kuti was the universally acknowledged Mozart of this approach: he would build a fearsome groove out of highly repetitive and mostly static harmonic materials, and then use it as an extended showcase for instrumental solos, wild dancing, and eye-poppingly bold political rants. Guitarist and songwriter Ebo Taylor, hailing from nearby Ghana, comes from the highlife tradition, which shares with Afro-beat a tendency toward funky, densely arranged, and harmonically static songs, but is also generally a bit lighter in terms of both groove and message. Recording here with the Berlin-based Afrobeat Academy band, Taylor gets deeper into his musical roots than he has on previous releases, creating a powerful set of songs that sound as if they could have been recorded in 1974: on tracks like \"Abonsam,\" the highlife standard \"Yaa Amponsah,\" and the effortlessly groovy title track, Taylor revives the old-school sounds with an energy and joy that belie his age. And on the album-closing \"Barrima,\" he pays sweet tribute to his late wife with a stripped-down vocal-and-guitar composition that will break your heart. It all adds up to an album of unusual emotional depth and resonance. ~ Rick Anderson","brand":"MovieMars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51696733946143,"sku":"730003308925","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/7833\/0399\/files\/d5bdf2ec4e45c5d8e22efacab00fd35e.jpg?v=1777859509","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemars.com\/products\/appia-kwa-bridge","provider":"MovieMars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}