Take to the Streets

Afrobeat creeps into so many heterogeneous mixes today that it’s refreshing to hear an unadulterated version. Conceived during the destabilising upheaval of lockdown and taking their name from a number recorded ‘by the late, great Tony Allen’ – to whose brand of Afrobeat this album pays evident homage – Eparapo means ‘join forces’ in Yoruba. Featuring numbers like ‘Follow the Money’, ‘Black Lives Matter (feat Dele Sosimi)’ and ‘Take to the Streets’, this punchy, exuberant release reflects the urgent words of the group’s principal creative force: bassist, composer and producer Suman Joshi. It is ‘an expression of frustration and anger at what our nation has become. It’s saying that enough is enough, it’s time to join forces and make our voices heard.’ The voice of the UK’s ‘Afrobeat Ambassador,’ Dele Sosimi, is heard emphatically on the singles ‘From London to Lagos’, ‘Who Invented Black and White?’ and the aforementioned ‘Black Lives Matter’. Ghanaian percussionist Afla Sackey’s voice graces the slowly burning ‘My Beautiful City’, which also highlights the strength of a collective featuring UK musicians of the calibre of trumpeter Graeme Flowers, saxophonist Tamar Osborn and Sons of Kemet drummer Eddie Wakili Hick. A righteous, compelling debut that recalls prime-time Tony Allen.