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It’s the man that Nascente asked to compile this whoppin’ 3 CD box set, the unstoppable reviewer for Straight No Chaser, Dom ‘Wah Wah 45s’ Servini. He’s gone and picked 30 big crossover Afro-themed tracks.

CD1 includes one of the best ever tracks, Da Lata’s remix of Femi Kuti’s ‘Beng, Beng, Beng’. Always a close call this one with the alternative Ashley Beedle on the remix (see links below) as on Afrobeat Sessions.

No question about Will Quantic’s Afro-roots with the Big Band (with Ms. Russell as good as ever) and one of his remixes. And check Ms. Russell on the funky soul afrobeat of ‘Munkaroo’ on CD3.

David Taylor is Solid Groove and is one of the most reliable purveyors of the remix (certainly one of the most popular) and ‘Flookin” represents him here. I’m certainly on the hunt now for the original 12” with remixes by Trevor Loveys, Domu and Kenny Dope.

CD1 ends with one of the biggest tunes of last year, Recloose’s ‘Dust’ and this Rocque Wun remix is a fresh look at it.

CD2 starts with some afro-funkconstruction-reggae (feelin’ the Funky Lowlives track) and moves on to feature Raw Deal’s mighty ‘Afro Rainbow’ and Blaze. Other big tunes to look out for are the timeless Master At Work, the classic S.U.M.O. remix ‘Spirit Of Drums’ and the jazzy compilers favourites, ‘Moodorama’.

CD3 — what a treat this is. ‘African Seed’ by Gerardo Frisina is possible his best to date. So cool as a rework of Sabu Martinez and Sahib Shihab, the original 12” has ‘Latin Seed’ on the reverse. Just brilliant if not astounding!

If you are thinking this isn’t very African, try Les Barons and the ‘remixed’ giants, Baaba Maal and Salif Keita. The set is finished off with Jazztronik’s ‘Muddy Muddy’ and as predicted, this is one that’s well worth returning to.

The best thing about this type of boxset is that they open your ears to music that you’ve missed first time round or wouldn’t have thought of in the first place. As Dom’s choices cover every possible hue of Afrobeat on this collection, it’s impossible to fault Mr. Servini’s ‘no fillers’ policy. Over 3 CDs, that’s quite an achievement. Excellent work Mr. Servini and I trust you’re now working on our further education with plans for the Intermediate’s Guide to Afro Lounge and Expert’s Guide to Afro Lounge. In the meantime, there’s enough here to Afro lounge all night long.

Various - Beginner’s Guide To Afro Lounge (Nascente) Cat. No. NSBOX 019 3xCD Release date: Jan 2006
Tracklisting:
CD1-01 Ramses Revolution — In Control (7:38)
CD1-02 The Quantic Soul Orchestra — Take Your Time, Change Your Mind (Faze Action Remix) (6:49)
CD1-03 Femi Kuti — Beng Beng Beng (6:03)
CD1-04 GB — A Funky Afro-Rican Weekend (6:17)
CD1-05 The Awa Band — Bababatteur (Quantic Remix) (6:37)
CD1-06 Kokolo — Mama Don’t Want No Gun (Beatfanatic Remix)
CD1-07 Afrodizz — No Time (Moonstar Remix) (6:10)
CD1-08 Solid Groove — Flookin’ (6:27)
CD1-09 The Ju Ju Orchestra — Funky Nassau (5:23)
CD1-10 Recloose — Dust (Rocque Wun Remix) (4:33) feat. Joe Dukie
CD2-01 The Funky Lowlives — Funkconstruction (5:12)
CD2-02 Moodorama — The Bushoong (5:88)
CD2-03 Intuit — Peace Of Mind (Raw Deal Remix) (5:13) feat. Cecile Verny
CD2-04 Blaze — Season Of Love (Blaze Club Mix) (7:08)
CD2-05 Raw Deal — Afro Rainbow (8:04)
CD2-06 Blaze — Wonderful Place (Bobby & Steve & James Ratcliff Afro Remix) (7:43)
CD2-07 Lonesome Echo Productions — Spirit Of Drums (S.U.M.O. Rebounce) (6:44) Feat Matabaruka
CD2-08 Sin Palabras — Yemaya (John Beltran Remix) (10:26)
CD2-09 Fertile Ground — Let The Wind Blow (Oneness Of Two Remix) (5:35)
CD2-10 Masters At Work — The TIme Is Now (8:25) feat. Wunmi
CD3-01 Filfin — Sondila (Blench Remix) (5:28)
CD3-02 Gerardo Frisina — African Seed (6:47)
CD3-03 Les Barons — Lagos Soundsystem (6:13)
CD3-04 Alice Russell — Munkaroo (4:39)
CD3-05 Beanfield — The Season (6:43)
CD3-06 Baaba Maal — Souka Nayo (Thievery Corporation Remix) (4:34)
CD3-07 Future Loop Foundation — Freetown (6:09)
CD3-08 Salif Keita — Moussloulou (Yoruba Soul Remix) (6:02)
CD3-09 The Mothers & Zero 7 — You (Likufanele) (5:53)
CD3-10 Jazztronik — Muddy Muddy (6:37)

Links:
Nascente
www.wahwah45s.com
www.quantic.org
www.femikutimusic.com
www.recloose.comwww.freestylerecords.co.uk
www.moodorama.de
Hectic N-E-X-T-W-O-R-L-D #2 mp3 at waxdj.com “it was going to include Ashley Beedle’s Afrikans On Marz remix of ‘Beng, Beng, Beng’ but Da Lata got the nod.. and we end up with current fav labels Wah Wah 45s and Altered Vibes”.
Tracklisting
N-E-X-T-W-O-R-L-D (Intro)
Craig Armstrong vs. BBC German Pronunciation Practice - ‘Waltz’ (Hectic Achtung! Re-Style) (Melankolik/BBC) [2002/?]
Natural Self - ‘Solomon’ (Nostalgia77 Mix) (Tru Thoughts) [2002]
Beyonce vs. Lil Kim - ‘Crazy’ (White) [?]
Natural Self - ‘The Calling’ (Breakin Bread) [2006]
Youngblood Brass Band - ‘Nuclear Summer’ (Radio-Friendly) (All City Music) [2006]
Amadou & Mariam - ‘Coulibaly’ (Ashley Beedles Afrikans On Marz Vocal) (Because) [2005]
Femi Kuti - ‘Beng Beng Beng’ (Da Lata Remix) (Talkin Loud) [1999]
Gum Drop Last - ‘Chance’ (Altered Vibes) [2006]
www.myspace.com/gerryhectic