Where We Are

This second album by Bristolian Afrobeat specialists No Go Stop benefits from a powerful production, the 12-piece band tightly arranged throughout. Each song democratically features spotlit solos from various players, including baritone saxophone, trumpet and guitar along with prominent roles for organ and tama (talking drum).

Paired guitars spout interweaving lines in each ear. Most of the tracks hit the six-to-eight-minute mark, so there’s a good chunk of time available to build the grooves. Marie Lister chooses to sing in a conventional soul style, which sounds somewhat incongruous when fronting such a determinedly Afrobeat punchiness. The lyrics tackle varied global and societal problems, but lack originality and bite. Fela Kuti’s cutting critiques unavoidably provide the highest comparison when judging Afrobeat, inevitably becoming the leading governor when listening to all of his descendants. It’s a tough standard to match, even if only on an attitudinal level.