DOD

Mancunian Afrobeat: it's a long way from The Haçienda club, but why not indeed? This 11-piece outfit was named one of Band on the Wall's ‘ones to watch in 2019.’ They certainly do what they do very well, which is play their instruments with enough polish to create a convincing blend of Afrobeat and funk with a pinch of Ethio-jazz and psychedelic rock. Leader Jamie Stockbridge's compositions are socially responsible and fit for purpose. The five-piece horn section and driving percussion give the long title-track in particular suitable heft and what might be called Felacity. The Ethiopian twist to ‘The Remedy’ lends it a nice sombre and slightly disconcerting feel, while the rock elements work particularly well in the instrumental ‘Terra Firma’.

On the evidence of these three studio-recorded tracks and three numbers captured live at The Yard in Manchester, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to go and see them on stage. My principal reservation is that, with so much Afrobeat available these days, DOD (or ‘Death of Discourse’) doesn't yet have that spark of originality that really ignites the soul and fires up the feet. Agbeko are a likeable group who have created a likeable enough album, so maybe the fire next time.