Soundway Records

Arguably West Africa’s best-kept musical secret, Orchestre Poly Rythmo are from the Republic of Benin in West Africa and are a household name in their home country. This collection reflects their many poly-rhythmic styles including hard afro-funk, driving afrobeat, deep Afro-latin and Cuban grooves – this fusion is the product of combining the sounds they had heard in Lagos with two traditional Vodun rhythms: Sato and Sakpata.

Being such a small country, Benin has had little in the way of musical exposure over the years and many people have had no idea to it’s exact location sandwiched alongside Togo between Ghana and Nigeria. In 2009 the band reformed and embarked on their first European tour putting Benin firmly on the map. This compilation earmarks the cream of their recording output and sounds as fresh today as it did then.

REVIEWS “Hot afro licks with a magical and hypnotic quality” MOJO

“Now is the time to savour in full the many delights of these kings of Benin” BEAT (USA)