Party Beats

This is another re-release from the Tabansi vault of 80s African music. The late Nkono Teles, who is perhaps better known for his prolific work as a producer than for his solo career, is hailed as ‘a pioneer of electronics in African music.’ Before its reissue, original copies regularly sold for over £500, and the album's lease of life was most notable as exclusive vintage sampling material for DJs and producers alike. Despite some excellent beats, breaks and raw effects, as a full listening experience the album falls short; like much electronica from the era, what was a modernist approach to production at the time now sounds dated. For people who grew up with these songs, I'm sure their resurfacing will be a welcome throwback. But for first-time listeners, this album is significantly less captivating.

Sadly, Party Beats just doesn't translate as well for a new audience as a lot of BBE's Tabansi catalogue. However, this is the distilled work of an instrumental figure in 80s African popular music, and is worthy of its release even if just as a blueprint to help understand where the genre has gone from there.