WOYAYA

This album and Osibisa is for me one of the major discoveries of the year. The art-work itself just prepares me for something special. And something special, it is. Mind expanding, no less.

The album opens with a cracking song full of flute and African drums in the fusion vein. Their use of flute reminds me of FOCUS. It is a mix of Netherlands, Ghana, Caribeen and Canterbury. The rest of the album continues down the same path. Always very interesting. Never boring. The music is very soulful at songs like Spirits Up Above and very playful at Move On. Some of the music on this album reminds me about CARAVAN and their mates at the shadows of the Canterbury Cathedral. This is perhaps why I really enjoy this album. This despite of Osibisa's music being firmly rooted in the African and the Latin-American tradition. SANTANA is a good reference too with the use of solo-guitars and brass. But Osibisa use alot more drums and rhythms than any other prog/fusion band I have ever heard. This is perhaps because African music is more based on beat than the European music scene. Which makes this album a bit of a revelation and a shock for a narrow- minded European like myself.

The quality of the music is in my view undisputed good. The opening track is excellent. So is the jazz improvisation Move On. The title track too is excellent. There is nothing here I do not like. Osibisa's brand of fusion has given my life more colours and joy. In particular, I love Osibisa's use of keyboards which I think is excellent. This is an excellent album.

4 stars.