Electric Highlife: Sessions From the Bokoor Studios

by ELECTRIC HIGHLIFE / VARIOUS

Overview

Highlife is Ghana. For a century it's developed, mutated, and changed, played in many ways and styles by bands with any combination of instruments. This CD focuses on the 1980s and the output of one particular studio. So while it's not exactly a broad survey, it does offer a little slice of music, with the emphasis very firmly on electric guitars, whether the frantic rhythms of the Happy Boys or the more laid-back approach of the wonderfully named Beach Scorpions or George Adu's "Obina Mma Obi Kyere No," where saxophone weaves in and out of the lines -- not jazz, but some organic hybrid of music. With eight different acts, the compilation does offer a fair amount of variety, the wonky guitars of Guyoyo creating a particular affection on "Osikuni Atamio" with a garage amateurishness that's actually very professional if you listen a little more closely. The glorious thing about highlife is how inclusive it is, ranging from the soul/jazz inflections of "Niawu Be Ye" to the more formal "Ensuah Nzema Kotoko." So while hardly a complete look at highlife in any era, this remains a thoroughly enjoyable little bit of Ghana on your stereo. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/16/2002
Label:	Naxos World / Naxos
UPC:	0636943703021
Rank:	144453

Tracks

1. Ensuah Nzema Kotoko  - F. Kenya
2. Osikuni Atamfo  -  Guyoyo  -  Guyoyo
3. Tsatsu Tsosemo  -  King Bruce  -  King Bruce & Black Beats
4. Mewu Mo Dzi  - Eddie Ansah
5. Memia  - F. Kenya
6. Obia Ba Nnye  - George Adu
7. Madame Zehae Ala  - F. Kenya
8. Obina Mma Obi Kyere No  - George Adu
9. Yaka Duru  -  Bokoor Band
10. Sosu Sei Me  -  Happay Stars  -  Happy Boys
11. Friends Today, Enemies Tomorrow  -  Beach Scorpions
12. Niawu Beye  -  Happay Stars  -  Happy Boys
13. Jealousy  -  Beach Scorpions

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Guyoyo   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
F. Kenya   Primary Artist
Eddie Ansah   Primary Artist
Bokoor Band   Primary Artist
Beach Scorpions   Primary Artist
George Adu   Primary Artist
Happay Stars   Primary Artist
Black Beats   Primary Artist
King Bruce   Primary Artist
The Happy Boys   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Dolores Canavan   Executive Producer