Dub Bazaar

African Head Charge made a triumphant return in July with A Trip To Boltatanga, their first album in twelve years and also marking a return to the On-U Sound label.

Initially an experimental project for Adrian Sherwood, the involvement of Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah from the outset gained increasing significance to the extent that African Head Charge is Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah, with a (r)evolving cast of musicians.

After 12 years working with Adrian Sherwood, Noah stepped away from On-U Sound after 1993's In Pursuit Of Shashamane Land for a few self-produced albums. Following a brief return to On-U in 1998 for a collaborative album with Professor Stretch, Noah and Sherwood were reunited fully for 2005's Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa. That partnership has continued to the present day.

 

A Trip To Boltatanga is an astonishing album, containing all of the elements that define African Head Charge's signature sound, not least Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah's superlative hand drumming, as mesmerising now as when I first heard African Head Charge in the late 1980s. At the same time, it's a very contemporary sounding record, with songs and rhythms that could very easily sit on an electronica compilation, Asalatua, the title track and closer Microdosing being cases in point.

An essential purchase, in other words, and available on vinyl, CD and digital formats to suit your taste.

 

On-U Sound has also made several African Head Charge albums and compilations of rarities and unused music available via Bandcamp. To be honest, I'd recommend them all but here's a selection of African Head Charge songs spanning 1981 to 2011 to give you a flavour, split into two vinyl facsimile sides. 

 

If this is your first exposure to Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah's brilliance, there's an enjoyable interview with Dangerous Minds from earlier this year where Noah (born Burnell Ralston Anderson) talks about his upbringing in Jamaica, his move to England and subsequent relocation to Ghana in the 1990s and how the latter has furthered his own musical journey and education. A fascinating read.

Side One

1) Ready You Ready Part 2 (Album Version) (2005)

2) Who Are You? (Version) (2003) 

3) Heading To Glory (Album Version) (1993)

4) Dervish Dub (1990)

5) Far Away Chant (ft. Prince Far-I) (1981)

Side Two

1) Dinosaur's Lament (1982)

2) The Best Way (2011)

3) Fullness (1994)

4) Some Bizarre (1986)

5) Ethiopian Praises (1990)

1981: My Life In A Hole In The Ground: A5

1982: Environmental Studies: B1

1986: Off The Beaten Track: B4

1990: Songs Of Praise: B5

1993: In Pursuit Of Shashamane Land: A3

1994: Touch I EP: B3

2003: Shrunken Head: A2

2005: Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa: A1

2011: Voodoo Of The Godsent: B2

2020: Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi: A4

Side One (20:56) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two (21:42) (KF) (Mega)