Echos Hypnotiques, Vol. 2

Take some Benin tradition--namely the sato and sakpato rhythms--then add on heavy layers of electric soul and funk filtered through the prism of West Africa, and you have the sound of the Orchestre Poly Rythmo. The basis of each of the 15 tracks here is a groove so solid you could walk on it (though you'd be more likely to dance) topped with horns and some deliciously wild guitar--admittedly, not always in tune, but it doesn't matter, since the spirit of it shines long and loud. For the most part this is straight ahead funk, but on "Zizi" there's a detour into the kind of Cuban rhythms that were in vogue throughout West Africa for several decades. The real centrepieces, however, are "Gan Tche Kpo" and "Mede Ma Gnin Messe," both over nine minutes long, giving everyone time to stretch out. The first is simply barely contained madness that never stops, while the latter is a serious workout for the horn section, which makes the most of it, trading licks and roaring off into solos. The original recordings might have been made on fairly primitive equipment, but the sound is full and appealing.