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So what else has he been up to? Joe Davis at Far Out Records is clearly a man who can spot an opportunity. The next 12" release by Grupo Batuque is called 'Afro Black', so was there a better choice than former Fela Kuti's drummer for the remix?

Grupo Batuque is a side project of Ivan "Mamão" Conti (stickman of Azymuth). Previous albums have included Samba De Rua, Samba de Futbol and Africa Brazil whilst the remix album, Rhythmix: Reluque Batuque included versions by the likes of Kenny Dope, Osunlade, 4 Hero, Da Lata, Fauna Flash. Enough said on the heritage of the source material.

The new 'Afro Black' 12" includes the 'Tony Allen Remix' and the 'Tony Allen Instrumental' and in many ways they speak for themselves as Tony adds the Afro-beat drums mixing up the Rio/Lagos sound. The b-side contains the version that is going to appear on the new Grupo Batuque album called, O Tempo Do Samba and is similar in feel to the samba tracks on the last Azymuth album.

The b-side also includes a 'Percussion Groove' that is a great workout for drumming circle/DJ tool types. There's a short 'ambient groove' without any percussion to finish it off; perhaps this could have been explored further with the Big Chill festival on the horizon?

Anyway, the a-side is the one with its Afro-samba shuffle, Azymuth style key'n'synth riffs, happy horn section and groovy bass. I slightly favour the Instrumental version but both are as good as you would expect from these seasoned professionals.

It makes you wonder what Tony was doing twenty years ago? Well it did me as I've recently purchased the album entitled N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) with his Afrobeat 2000 group. He'd been perfecting Afrobeat since 1964 and spent 14 years with Fela Kuti's band before this was released as his first 'British' album. N.E.P.A. is an acronym for The Nigerian Electric Power Authority and at the time of release, the lyrics were drawing attention to the frequent power cuts and blackouts, "A telephone is just a piece of decoration" he sings. The B-side is a funky Afro jazzer and has a positive vibe reflecting the title, 'When One Road Close (Another One Go Open)'. The album is completed by two dub versions of both tracks, no doubt inspired by the recording in London's Addis-Ababa Studio.

A timely reminder of a powerful album from the past and something new for this year.

Reviewed: Grupo Batuque - Afro Black - Tony Allen Remixes (Far Out Recordings) Cat. No. FARO095 12" Release 6th June 2005
Tracklisting:
A1 Afro Black (Tony Allen Remix)
A2 Afro Black (Tony Allen Instrumental)
B1 Afro Black (LP Mix)
B2 Afro Black (Percussion Rub)
B3 Afro Black (Ambient Groove)

Links:
Far Out Recordings
Grupo Batuque
N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) Cat. No. MWKS 3001 label: Earthworks [1984]
The Nigerian Electric Power Authority
L'Etage www.letage.fr Paris