T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou Benin: Unité Africaine (Vinyl LP)

Two monumental full-side tracks from a pair of late 70s Orchestre Poly-Rythmo albums, Unité Africane isn’t exactly a compilation, more a combination of the standouts at a time when the band was at the peak of its powers. Originally released in 1977, the title track is an infectious Afro-Latin workout that is interwoven with driving horn stabs by master trumpet player Tidiani Kone. Unité Africaine was recorded over the Nigerian border at the state- of-the-art EMI Studios in Lagos, yielding majestic sonic results.

Mede Ma Gnin Messe is taken from the 1978 Special 30 Novembre, and this time Poly- Rythmo wore their Afro-funk hat to deliver almost sixteen minutes of dancefloor fire. Propelled by Poly-Rythmo’s super-tight beats and underpinned by a relentless keyboard refrain, the magic is the stellar horn parts that take this track to another level.