MUYEI POWER - Sierra Leone In 1970s USA

When the typically compilation-minded Soundway decides to focus its efforts on a single-group archival release, chances are it's worthy of a listen, and this anthology, putting together five tracks originally released on 45s recorded in California by this Sierra Leone band during the mid-'70s, while short on running time, more than makes up for it with the insistence and infectiousness of each 6-to-7-minute-long workout.

"Fusing elements of electric Congolese and Nigerian music with fast, syncopated, uptempo modernised arrangements of traditional songs, Muyei Power produced a series of unique single-only releases that have been unavailable for 35 years. The rare recordings featured here are a glimpse of a dynamic and powerful band at the very height of its powers. For the early part of the 1970s, the band toured extensively throughout Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire before making a handful of 45s in local TV and radio studios. The recordings featured here, however, come from a period of touring the college circuit in California during late 1975 and early 1976. Orchestre Muyei Power finally split up in 1979, leaving no proper album releases and only a handful of recordings for us to enjoy all these years later. The tracks have been licensed courtesy of ex lead-singer and bandleader Abou Whyte who now lives in New Jersey and performs as a solo artist." - Soundway Records