Soundway
's first
Ghana Special
compilation focused on rock- and funk-influenced songs recorded between 1968 and 1981, often originally released as 45 RPM singles. The second volume moves on to a different time period, documenting an era in which the country's music was heavily influenced by post-disco and boogie, new wave, and Caribbean sounds such as zouk and soca. Many of these tracks originally appeared on the less time-restricted formats of cassette or LP, allowing the dance grooves to stretch out for longer durations. While there are plenty of full-band arrangements here, including the effortlessly cool "Gye Wani" by highlife veterans
Ebo Taylor
and
Pat Thomas
, much of the music from this era reflects the increased availability of electronic instrumentation. Since it was often more economically feasible to create and perform music using keyboards and drum machines, due to a combination of increased taxes on instruments and shifting musical tastes, DJs and electronic artists often replaced live bands, many of whom relocated to Europe or North America. This led to the development of hybrid styles such as burger highlife, named after the German word for citizen. "Mumude" by
Nan Mayen
was recorded in Germany, and it's a cross between rousing highlife and European art-pop.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
's "Apple" has boisterous,
Fela
-like vocals over a synth-funk rhythm that the Afrobeat pioneer never would have touched. "M.C. Mambo" by
Pepper, Onion, Ginger & Salt
sports a rap-influenced vocal cadence along with a midtempo drum machine rhythm, brassy synths, and heavy hand percussion.
Andy Vans
' "Adjoa Amisa" bounces along to a housey kick drum, and
George Darko
's "Kaakyire Nua" has a heavy, clap-along boogie groove. "Asafo" by
Jon K
has much more sophisticated '80s pop-rock production and a wailing guitar solo. The lyrics of
Dadadi
's carnival-ready "Jigi Jigi" acknowledge the sounds of several disparate lands, and
Nana Budjei
's "Asobrachie" has a strong digital reggae rhythm. Best of all is "Barima Nsu" by
Kwasi Afari Minta
, an equally hypnotic and haunting ten-minute whirlwind that instantly feels like a lost classic. ~ Paul Simpson