Funky Friday:Afro Rock

Posted over 2 years ago

Artist:

Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Album:

Darkest Light : Best Of
Track:
- PLAY
- QUEUE
Darkest Light

Following on from "this post":http://mog.com/Cody_B/blog_post/113355 which was inspired by "this post":http://mog.com/Kate/blog_post/112153 and by request from "Girlcrawl":http://mog.com/Girlcrawl I'm continuing on with some afro-rock posts.The members of the Lafayette Afro Rock Band were from Long Island,NY, but moved to and recorded the bulk of their music in France, under the direction of Pierre Jaubert (he also produced some Charles Mingus records).To my ears the whole of the afro rock movement was more of an afro centric idea (about paying tribute),than a take on an African style (like highlife), as these tracks will attest. Darkest Light has been sampled by many, most famously by Long Islander's Public Enemy (Show 'em What You Got) and Wreckx N Effect (Rumpshaker). Overall the LARB has a rock leaning Jazz Fusion sound, with some tough horns and percussion. Mostly instrumental, very funky, and rocking some of the best hairdo's depicted on vinyl, the LARB is a treat for persistent crate diggers. The best of and both the Malik and Soul Makossa albums have been re-issued on vinyl and CD.

Comments (9)

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Cody B says
- PLAY
- QUEUE
- PLAY
- QUEUE
Permalink posted 09/28/2007
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Kate says What a coincidence! I heard the Lafayette Afro Rock Band for the first time last night, courtesy a Dusty Fingers compilation I picked up. My first thought upon hearing "Darkest Light" was 'I must get more by them!' Great timing, Cody.

Permalink posted 09/28/2007
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Cody B says OOH, Dusty Fingers. Those are great comps. I finally watched that movie Scatch today. Seeing all those piles of vinyl Shadow was digging through brought back a lot of memories. Great flick it was.

Permalink posted 09/28/2007
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Mike the Knife says I'm flying over veldts and savannahs even as i write this!

Permalink posted 09/28/2007
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soulrocket says that is a must-have album, cody. cool selection. i first heard of them on the "africa funk" compilation released in the mid-90s.

Permalink posted 09/29/2007
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Girlcrawl says I am so diggin' these LARB tracks, and the hairdos! Knew nothing about this fabulous group of musicians, but what a treat. Love the horns, percussions, rhythm, and overall jammin' rock-jazz fusion. Smashing selections, and thanks for the mention. Very happy to hear that at least three albums have been re-issued on CD as I intend to acquire all in the near future. Excellent post as ever, and appreciate the introduction to LARB! Loving this afro-rock series Cody B. :-)

Permalink posted 09/29/2007
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TBoom says It always amazes me how many great bands that I have never heard of I find you posting about on your page. Thanks again.l

Permalink posted 09/30/2007
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Cody B says Thanks,T. All credit is due to the Dj's, crate diggers, and labels that champion this stuff. There's so much out there..

Permalink posted 09/30/2007
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Inna Soul says Hi Cody - just dropping by as Mult is tumbleweed country lately - I'm still feeling my way around this place but I was drawn to one of my favourite funk bands of all time and what I term powerfunk, wonderful post man. My first taste of LARB would have been about 1987, sampled on Public Enemy's 'Countdown to Armageddon' (I think) but it took until the Africafunk comps came out in the mid/late 90s to taste the real thing and then the digging began. Hihache is a cracker too.

Permalink posted 03/04/2008