The Albarika Story, by Albarika Store

The Albarika Story

by Albarika Store

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

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£10 GBP or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Wide-spine 2LP with printed inner, extended sleeve notes and photographs.

Includes unlimited streaming of The Albarika Story via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.

ships out within 3 days

Purchasable with gift card

£28 GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Softpack CD with gate-fold layout, booklet insert with sleeve notes and photographs.

Includes unlimited streaming of The Albarika Story via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.

ships out within 3 days

Purchasable with gift card

£12 GBP or more

1.	Segla 06:56	buy track
2.	Get The Music Now 04:20	buy track
3.	E Sa F'Aiye 03:14	buy track
4.	Aiha Ni Kpe We 05:29	buy track
5.	Ego-Ibo 06:57	buy track
6.	Gbeti Ma Djro 02:57	buy track
7.	Oya Ka Jojo 06:20	buy track
8.	It's A Vanity 04:20	buy track
9.	Bakassine Gabou 05:38	buy track
10.	Nan Man Nan 05:59	buy track
11.	Gbe We Gnin Wa Bio 05:45	buy track
12.	Kpede Do Gbe Houenou 04:34	buy track

about

Founded in the late 1960s by record store owner Seidou Adissa, Albarika Store is one of the most important independent record labels on the African continent. That it was founded in the relatively small ex-French colony of Benin (then still called Dahomey), is a testament to its founder’s musical taste and vision for what the local musical scene had to offer.

This September, Acid Jazz releases the first ever vinyl and CD overview of the label and its music (accompanied by a digital release) - ‘The Albarika Story'. It was compiled by David Hill of Soul Revivers and West African musical expert Florent Mazzoleni, who also wrote the in-depth sleeve notes.

The compilation provides a look into what was a developing and then thriving post-colonial music scene. It focuses on the label’s biggest and most prolific act Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo and its founder Melome Clement – who released under a variety of names, often spotlighting on the musicians key to their sound. It also looks at the other established artists on the label such as the incendiary Les Sympathics De Porto Novo and Les Volcans. All of these artists create a unique mix of Westernised Funk, Soul and Latin sounds, cross-pollinated with the traditional music of the region.

Elsewhere, we hear the music as it is consumed further by funk and disco, with tracks from the ultra-obscure, and exceptionally danceable tracks by Ipa Boogie and Ogassa – the latter sounding like they have been adding psychedelic rock to their funky brew. The record is a story of local music, and they way that it was cross-pollinated by both the West and the wider regional scene in neighbouring Nigeria. Adissa would often head to EMI’s state of the art Lagos studio to record his acts, contributing to the exceptional sonic quality of the recordings, and it is no surprise that the influence of Fela Kuti and Afro Beat is writ large.

The double album is housed in a beautiful wide-spine sleeve designed by the Unknown, and the printed inners have the extended essay by Mazzoleni, and plentiful illustrations of the original LPs and 45s from which the records originate. The CD is equally classy, as its card sleeve mimics the vinyl design, complete with those notes and images.

credits

released November 1, 2024

A1. SEGLA ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU-REP. POP DU BENIN

A2. GET THE MUSIC NOW (EDIT) IPA BOOGIE

A3. E SA F’AIYE ORCHESTRE BLACK DRAGONS DE PORTO-NOVO DAHOMEY

B1. AIHA NI KPE WE (EDIT) T.P. ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU

B2. EGO-IBO LES SYMPATHICS DE PORTO-NOVO BENIN

B3. GBETI MA DJRO ORCHESTRE-POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU DAHOMEY

C1. OYA KA JOJO (EDIT) ORCHESTRE LES VOLCANS DU BENIN

C2. IT’S A VANITY T.P. ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO

C3. BAKASSINE GABOU ORCHESTRE ANASSOUA-JAZZ DE PARAKOU

D1. NAN MAN NAN ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU REP. POP DU BENIN

D2. GBE WE GNIN WA BIO (EDIT) OGASSA

D3. KPEDE DO GBE HOUENOU T.P. ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU

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about

Albarika Store Benin

Albarika Store is home to many rare recordings, from more traditional folkloric and Sato styles, to the funk, blues and psych inspired workouts of the All Mighty Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou, as they referred to themselves. Many of the original records are sought after by DJs and collectors as prime examples of Afro-funk, Afro-Latin and Afro-psych sounds. ... more