Matata

• DELUXE 180 GRAM LP EDITION

• LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES

Matata (which means “trouble” in Swahili) was an African funk band who took nightclubs by storm and jammed with some of the biggest giants in soul, jazz and Latin music. The band had its roots in the Congo although it formed in Kenya in the mid-sixties. Matata was based around the famous ‘Starlight Club’ in Nairobi. The group retained elements of traditional music by incorporating instruments such as the ‘ngoma’ (a large drum) and an eight stringed guitar-harp called the ‘nyatiti’…this brought something different to their style and made for a unique sound. Each of the songwriters sang lead in their native tongues and this meant they used vocals in three African languages (next to the songs sung in English). As the sixties drew to an end Matata (sometimes also known as ‘Air Fiesta Matata’) were regulars on Kenyan television and enjoyed a national following.

The album we are presenting you today (Independence from 1974) comes swinging right out the gate with a set of no less than TWELVE monster tunes. It’s a musical gumbo full of irresistible rhythms, punchy blasts, snappy vocal hooks, reverb-laden ‘Santana’ guitar solos, a little reggae and Afrobeat filled horn arrangements, plus everything else needed to get dancers working overtime. On ‘Independence’ the group leaned mightily on James Brown for their groove, and laid out a heavy, rock solid variation on JBs funk with an African percussion base of fluid congas and bongos at the core.

Independence is a quintessential record that every serious collector or fan needs to have in his/her collection. Matata’s marriage of percolating African rhythms delivered one butt-shaking, finger-popping club hit after another that can still fill a dance floor to this day. Hard funky soul with an Afrobeat backbone…it’s all about the grooves here!

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Return To You
• A2. Good Good Understanding
• A3. Gettin' Together
• A4. I Believed Her
• A5. Good Samaritan
• A6. I Feel Funky

• SIDE B
• B1. I Don't Have To Worry
• B2. Something In Mind
• B3. I Want You
• B4. Love Is The Only Way
• B5. Gimme Some Lovin'
• B6. Talkin' Talkin'