Make It Fast, Make It Slow

The title-track of this album was one of the many fascinating discoveries on Ghana Soundz, the first release from the splendid crate-digging Soundway label a decade ago. That album helped kick off the cottage industry now dedicated to rescuing obscure 1970s vinyl releases that never found their way outside West Africa. ROB's track on that comp was a horn-heavy slice of Afro-funk, influenced not only by Fela Kuti and James Brown but by the Wailers’ breakthrough album Catch a Fire. The track was particularly notable for ROB's orgasmic sound effects. ROB (Rob ‘Roy’ Raindorf) was born in Accra in 1949 but educated in Benin. He later returned to Ghana and in 1977 recruited Mag-2, the army band of Ghana's second battalion founded by the guitarist Amponsah Rockson. Funky Rob Way, his 1977 debut, was reissued by Analog Africa last year.

Make It Fast, Make It Slow was his second release, recorded that same year, and is a stranger, off-kilter record, the blatant sexuality of the title-track being jarringly counterposed against songs such as ‘I've Got to See You Again Lord’ and ‘He Shall Live in You’. Rockson's echoing guitar, spooked Yamaha keyboards and Mag-2's huge horn section float over the skewed, slowed-down rhythms to create a brooding darkness that is a long way from the feelgood funk of 1970s Afro-beat. But its oddity only enhances its appeal.