Review: Adding to the Africa Seven canon of titles like Afro Exotique: Adventures In The Leftfield Africa 1972-82 and African Funk Experimentals 1975-1982 is an in depth look into the Cameroon-born, Congolese inspired sounds of Jo Bisso in what Africa Seven call African Disco Experimentals 1974-1978. Having transplanted to the US and immersing himself in the emerging disco sound of 1970s downtown New York, African Disco Experimentals 1974-1978 presents an overview of Jo Bisso's dedication to the underground club scene of the times. With rattling percussion concussions like "Love Beat" helping set a precedent of epic, raw and lo-fi instrumentation to make the walls sweat, highlights include 11-minute standout "Love Somebody", or the funky, sultry and sensual stringed disco of "Your Love". Amid a stream of dancey numbers in the likes of "Disco Madonna", the stripped back funk of "Flying To The Land Of Soul" to the fat bass, blaxploitation themes and breathy vocals of Bisso himself in "Lovers Concerto (vocal)" - it's Bisso's all time great "Play Me" that makes this compilation worth the wait.
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