Best known for his musical collaborations with Finnish producer Jimi Tenor and Berlin-based West African band Kabu Kabu, here Ghanian percussionist and vocalist Ekow Alabi "Ekowmania" Savage steps out into the limelight. While we love our reissues and lost gems here at Flying Out, it's a treat to discover Ekowmania's Dr Afrodub, a rollicking ride through vintage roots reggae, dub, and Afro sounds, and into the future sounds of Africa. As the man says on the stonking second track, "twerk your mind!" - Flying Out
Seminal Afro-dub album "Dr. Afrodub" by Ghanaian Ekowmania aka Ekow Alabi Savage. The drummer, percussionist and singer who's played with Jimi Tenor & Kabukabu for more than 20 years explores the fields of classic Roots Reggae, Afro and Dub as well as uptempo modern African rhythms and ballads. This Jimi Tenor produced album is an expansion of Ekowmania's tribute song to Kwame Nkrumah (which is also released as 7" with different versions) and Tenor's electronic loops, which they developed into a full album in guitar player Lauri Kallio's country side studio in Kiikala, Finland. The album kicks off with a very heavy, club-ready and UK reggae-styled album mix of "Kwame Nkrumah", following up with 200% intensity on the voodooesque rhythm explosions of "Twerk Your Mind", then taking a 360 degree turn with the smoothness and laidback vibes of "Kiikala Reggae". Throughout its 9 cuts "Dr. Afrodub" always approach the balance of beautiful song writing and intensity in rhythm and melody, visiting the excellent and classically crafted 70's Roots tune "Dub Souljah", the upfront & tempo-fueled "Lagos Heavy" and ending with DJ Sotofett's mix of the albums ballad "Me Know".
Tracklist
- Kwame Nkrumah (Jimi Tenor Album Mix)
- Twerk Your Mind
- Kiikala Reggae
- Ekowmania Here I Come
- Marimbula Groove
- Lagos Heavy
- Dub Souljah
- Human Race
- Me Know (DJ Sotofett Mix)