Osibisa: Spirits Up Above and Rabiatu
From: Woyaya [MCA Records, 1971]
Apologies if today’s post is a little abrupt, I’m currently experiencing the joys of a spring cold and am feeling less than sociable. However, before we go any further with this post you have to promise me something. Promise me you won’t stop reading as soon as I refer to the following group as “World Music”. Believe me, that term tends to send shivers down my neck and invite uncontrollable retching due to bad childhood experiences with my parents record collection. So, ignoring stereotypes, while Osibisa may be generally classed as World Music, this isn’t some trendy fad music, oh no, this is proper soulful funk.
Composed of six highly talented musicians, the band formed in London at the end of the sixties but kept their Ghanaian and Caribbean roots tightly woven into the music they produced. Blending African rhythms with jazz, funk and rnb the guys were one of the first world music groups to gain international success and are still touring today. You can read more about them on their official website
Both songs are from their second release, Woyaya and showcase the versatility of the outfit. I absolutely adore Spirits Up Above, the way it takes a soulful intro with harmonies rising and falling over the trumpets and switches it up to an extremely funky jam session. Two songs for the price of one and both lovely.
Raibatu is a more African influenced piece, bass heavy percussion and flutes mixing with the piano and harmonies, slowly turning darker and more drum heavy as the song progresses, breaks for days.
World Music? Pah. It’s all about good music my friends, fuck the labels.
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That album cover is almost as hot as "Spirits Up Above." There is a lot of soul in this music.
you think "world music" is bad?
i once described them to a friend as "a shitty cymande" i know, theyre hardly shitty, but i really love cymande.
Yeah G, one of my favourite album covers – can't mess with a flying elephant.
Studentloner, no i don't think 'world music' is bad at all, what turns my stomach is that the term covers such a wide range of genres and styles that it's totally meaningless. It's also a pretty dismissive term to encapsulate about 60% of the music produced globally.
Cymande are awesome but I think Osibisa bring their own qualities to the table, particularly in their earlier releases.
Awesome tunes as always, but doesn't "Spirits Up Above" seem to cut off early? Any chance of a repost?
Yeah you're right Matt, seems it cut off due to server space. Have cleaned out the archives and uploaded it again – should be there in all it's seven minute glory now.
No kidding… I tried to get O-dub to post about them a long while ago. They are solid as hell. Flllllyyyyyy awaaaaay… that is my shit.