Radio Masoda

On this, his latest of 20 albums, the Paris-based guitarist and composer adds to his native Cameroonian music generous pinches of makossa, Afrobeat, Ghanaian highlife and Congolese rumba and soukous to create – with the help of guests such as Tony Allen and fellow Parisian, vocalist Sandre Nkaké – something joyful and, as Biyong suggests, “a tribute to the… golden age of African music.” Several tracks resonate with the spirit of his mentor, Manu Dibango: the glorious opener, ‘Kabasele Kingdom’, with its ringing guitars and riffing horns courtesy of Pat Thomas’ Kwashibu Area Band; ‘Mbopi Road’, sung by Mozambican Helio Vanimal, who sounds a dead ringer for the ‘Lion of Africa’; and the exuberant up-tempo ‘Elephant Rumble’, which would’ve been a great follow-up to Dibango’s ‘Big Blow’. Tony Allen guests on ‘Oladipo (feat Chief Udoh Essiet)’’s blend of soukous, highlife, Afrobeat and all things nice and funky. Franco’s ‘Liwa Ya Wech’ has been transformed from early Congolese rumba into something more sad and stately that echoes faintly Hugh Masekela’s immortal ‘Stimela’. ‘Lipanda (feat Mary May)’, with its apparent quote from Fela Kuti’s ‘Lady’, would put a smile on anyone’s face. Tune into Radio Masoda forthwith! It’s chock-full of variety and beautifully done.