Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora, 1980-93

This compilation, the second in a Soundways series that started with 2009’s Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981, focuses on a phase of Ghanaian highlife when the dance bands that dominated national cultural life through the ‘golden age’ of the 1960s and 1970s were undermined by the political and technological changes of the 1980s. Established and aspiring Ghanaian musicians moved abroad and many found their way to Germany where ‘Burger Highlife’ (‘Bürger’ is German for ‘citizen’) was born through dialogue with the local trends and technologies. Pat Thomas, formerly a member of Ebo Taylor’s legendary highlife bands, found himself in Berlin. His entry in the compilation, ‘Gye Wani’ – released for this album on March 6, Ghanaian Independence day – displays only a subtle garnish from the Burger scene in the form of a muscular funk bass style. Other tracks on Ghana Special 2 are more radical fusions. ‘Pepper, Onion, Ginger & Salt’ by MC Mambo is a synth-powered strut over which MC Mambo delivers a proto-rap, bemoaning the girls who pass by ignoring his hot new grooves. Some of the eccentric stylistic and production choices provoke sympathy with MC Mambo’s disinterested passersby but the distinctive earworm guitar grooves remain compelling. Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora, 1980-93 is an illuminating exercise in cultural and music history.