Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen: Inspiration Information 4 (Strut)

 |   |  1 min read

Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen: Path to Wisdom
Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen: Inspiration Information 4 (Strut)

The Flight of the Conchords’ astute parodies have spoiled some music for us -- and the opener here where Jimi Tenor oozes darkly “lean against the wall, I want to do it dancehall style with you baby . . . I got my tightest pants on” sounds so close to a Jemaine sleazy rap you’ll laugh aloud.

That’s the intention, but hardly what you’d expect from legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen (of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s bands and more recently The Good The Bad and The Queen), here teamed with Finland’s Tenor (and his Kabu Kabu band) on another collaboration in the Strut label series. The previous one was the superb grouping of Ethiopian saxophonist Mulatu Astatke with London’s Sun Ra-influenced Heliocentrics.

Cheap laughs out of the way, Tenor (saxes, flute, homemade instruments) and Allen get down to Afrobeat business on Sinuhe, go falsetto funky on Selfish Gene and political like a more mild mannered Gil Scott Heron on Path to Wisdom which cynically pokes at Obama’s theme of change.

Darker Side of Night is another Afro-funk, horn-driven workout (about S&M culture) and Mama England humorously nails the British immigration system over busy percussion and juju guitar. Afrogroove drives the 13 minute improv Three Continents.

Funky fun and enjoyable for the mainmen, but nothing breaks new ground and in fact mostly retreads and recycles.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Barbara Carlotti: Les Lys Brises (4AD)

Barbara Carlotti: Les Lys Brises (4AD)

Sounding somewhere between a wide awake Claudine Longet (who was so whispery you often wondered if she was singing or snoozing) and the cool, indifferent tone of Nico, this 32-year old Parisian... > Read more

Various:Calypsoul 70 (Strut)

Various:Calypsoul 70 (Strut)

Although this compilation - subtitled Caribbean Soul and Calypso Crossover 1969-1979 - came out a few months back I thought I'd wait until the weather got better before posting it. It is that kind... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

LORDE: REISSUED ALREADY? (2018): Lorde's business is big business

LORDE: REISSUED ALREADY? (2018): Lorde's business is big business

Pop picking is a fast'n'furious business these days and, as Art Garfunkel memorably sang on his Graceland album, “Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts”. But just as... > Read more

Arushi Jain: Under the Lilac Sky (Leaving/digital outlets)

Arushi Jain: Under the Lilac Sky (Leaving/digital outlets)

Locating her music somewhere between the meditative sound of Laraaji in the early Eighties, ambient world music, mood-establishing electronica and the Hindustani vocal tradition, Arushi Jain... > Read more