• Incredible Afrobeat

  Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

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  Nigeria is known as ‘The Giant of Africa’. It's the most populated country in Africa with more then 250 ethnic groups and many different languages and dialects that gives
  the country a rich diversity. This diversity also affects music - which plays an important role in every aspect of social life.
  
  We at DTW's stable are happy to announce the reissue of "Narg Funk Machine", an explosive Nigerian "black beat" disco originally released on Coconut in 1979. If you are looking for something weird, you've found it. Basically, these four tracks well represent the tangle of richness of Nigerian music from that era. They are a melting pot of styles and sounds: afrobeat, funk, highlife, juju, and psych rock are mixed together in a cozy and captivating sound, ready to bring some warmth and hypnotic sound to dance
  floors around the world.
  
  Adenrele Jolaosho was born in 1947 in Jos, Plateau State (Northern Nigeria). He attended Primary and Secondary School between Jos and Mokoloki in Ogun State. There, he started his musical education and after few years became the band leader of a local school band, Grammarians Eight. In 1968 after the end of Secondary School he joined a group of young musicians in Lagos called Clusters International and released the single "The Choke/She Is Our Friend". By 1969 he had enlisted the Army (during the Biafran War,) but he kept studying music theory and became a Clarinet player for the Army Groups.
  During that period the musical situation in Nigeria was very active. Even though Highlife was still prominent a lot of groups were starting to experiment by mixing it with R&B, Rock and Funk. Fela, Ojo Okeji, Segun Bucknor and Joni Haastrup were coming up with a brand new genre called AFROBEAT. Adenrele Joloasho formed an Army Band with his good friend Shittu, named NARG (Nigerian Army Rhythm Group) FUNK. They used to call themselves a Dance Band and not a Parade Band because as they performed they danced through some crazy choreographed moves.
  Their first release was a 45rpm for Philips. Luckily they already had connections with some studios as they were often there as session musicians for other groups. One side of the 45 was a chantel, where someone sings and the group choruses, Ebawa Se - a local traditional social song performed during celebratory. The other side was Akiti the Wrester's Song, an adaption of a traditional song rendered during wrestling competition in his village. It goes like this:
  
  Akiti Lo Le Ja O , Ija Lole Ja
  Ogbe Para O Fida , Ija Lole Ja
  Oroki Bi Ibon , Ija Lole Ja
  Alapa Nto Kuta , Ija Lolo Ja
  
  A couple more singles on Polydor followed, then in 1976 finally came an LP Album on Coconut. The now late Shittu at the time lead the group and also played alto sax while Adenrele Joloasho arranged the music and directed the musicians while singing and playing guitar. The Album consists of a new arrangement of the hit Akiti and new songs in line with the musical trend of that time, Afro-Beat!
  Shortly after the recording of the LP, Adenrele Joloasho left for Trinidad to follow some courses and when he returned to Nigeria he founded the first African Steel Band Orchestra. He is still involved in music, though less directly, today through his help an advice to numerous young musicians.
  
  In his words: “I cannot express my joy at this laudable project. When I was contacted by the Dig This Way records team I couldn't believe it. How is it possible that some Italian guys knew my music? After some conversations I understood that I easily could count on these guys who demonstrated a wide and deep knowledge of music, culture and social life of Nigeria. And here's how after more then forty years my Album comes back to light. I hope it will reach a large audience of music lovers. Thanks a million times for your efforts in promoting African evergreens. More grease to your elbow.'
  
  
  Release Date 26.05.2023
  
  Official Dig This Way Records Release
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of Narg Funk Machine - Black Beat Disco via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more
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• Digital Album

  Streaming + Download

  Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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• Full Digital Discography

  37

  releases

  Get all 37 Dig This Way Records releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

  Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Alphonsus Idigo - Search, Dawchy - Bayè, Allo & Shanthi meet The Royal Horses - Call It Life, Narg Funk Machine - Black Beat Disco, Clive Matthews - Mama Afrika, Helen Nkume and Her Young Timers Band, BG & FIBRE - Roots Connection Special, Prince Bolingo Akaba & His Obubu Sound of Uokha - Airende, and 29 more. , and , .

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  Buy Digital Discography   €165 EUR or more (25% OFF)

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