By definition, 'Africanism' could be derogatory: perhaps exhibiting a negative prejudice or discriminating against something or someone (all things African in this instance).
But what if that prejudice was reclaimed and made to work in a positive way? What if the sole premise of our 'ism' was to celebrate that prejudice in as many ways as possible. Enter 'Africanism' - stage right.
Any record label slut will be pleased to read that 'Africanism' isn't just some noodly attempt at making fake Fela sounding opuses for fur rugged ethnic restaurant selections.
Oh no, the Africanism agenda to percussively excite and soulfully relate its house music oriented message should happily appeal to Subliminal, Defected and Masters at Work junkies (Mafikozolo's 'Loot' is a scene stealer) and even tips a sly wink at the houses of Ibadan, Chez, Naked and Wave Music for good measure.
There is truly something for everybody here.
Released as a double CD set and mixed live by two of the house Yellow DJs - namely DJ Gregory on CD1 and Bob Sinclar on CD2 - 'Africanism' takes you on an afro centric musical safari as seen through a Portuguese (as in DJ Gregory's club classic 'Tourment D'Amour'), Spanish (as in DJ Pippi's 'Pasion Flamenca'), African-American (MAW feat Wunmi's 'The Time Is Now'), Dutch / Middle Eastern (Martin Solveig's 'Edony') or French lens (pretty much everything else).
There's an old African saying: 'You have the watches, but we have the time' and throughout, it's the syncopated time kept by the beats that provides the common thread, whilst the bass lines double-hand stitch it into a rich, musical seam decorated by diamond bright trumpet or sax solos and searing vocals which can be mined deeper with each repeat play.
Nor is it just concerned with 'Africanism's ethnic or rustic interpretations, it's also about fiercely tribal, tough club fare a la Eddie Amador vs. Bob Sinclar's 'Do It' or Bob Sinclar's 'My Beat', delicious disco cut ups like Liquid People's 'Love Is The Answer' and top shelf deep house from Julien Jabre and the Pepe Braddock reminiscent 'Our Music' by the Trackheadz.
If this compilation were a mountain range it would have to be the Pyrenees: I counted eight quite vertiginous peaks on CD1 and ten on CD2 at the first loose round up. There are many more.
Check it out for yourself: you'll realise that a world as incredibly far away as Africa can suddenly become terribly close to you, and becomes all the better for it.
