AMG Review of Never Expect Power Always

Adam Greenberg
All Music Guide

Never Expect Power Always (aka N.E.P.A.) is largely a biting criticism and mocking of the Nigerian Electrical Power Authority, rife with corruption and poor service. It starts out with the title track, with a definite Afro-beat punch and a tighter arrangement than would normally be expected from Fela. Electro-claps stand as part of the percussion line, adding to a more modern look at what Afro-beat was becoming. This is followed by an even further modernized piece of Afro-beat, as the title track is given a dub mix. "When One Road Close" has a similar pace, and is similarly followed by a dub remix, complete with the necessary space-effects reverb. This is the peak of electronic Afro-beat, before it returned to some degree of its original James Brown-inspired roots. If you didn't pick the album up the first time around, this is a good time to get it.