The mid to late 60s was a time of renewal in Ghana.They had already Radio Ghana run by the government where people could request songs.
And then we had many student pop bands influenced by British pop and psych, next to the circuit of local music or Highlife bands.
This included hotel resident bands, a bands for the army, for the police force and for the workers' brigade.
All bands learned to play on cheap equipment.
Only during the performances they could borrow decent equipment.
Bands were still associated with caution at first because night-life was still associated with drinking, pot or womanising.
The Aliens were formed in 1968 at the weekend club of the Lebanese community centre.
Their name was chosen appropriately for it included members of mixed heritage of Ghanian with Lebanese/Indian or French natives.
Having started with mixed style covers, their own songs were so much appreciated, they built up a repertoire and reputation with which they got gigs at many clubs, often paired with a popular Highlife band.
They also shared stage with Geraldo Pino's The Heartbeats, a band under influence of James Brown.
After a while they were able to buy their own equipment which included a Vox Continental organ for which they were able to purchase additional wah-wah and fuzz pedals.
Under the influence of the first Hendrix album the band developed their style to something more psychedelic, thus changing their name to “The Psychedelic Aliens”.
A growing success led to a three month tour in Nigeria meeting Fela occasionally and jamming with him at the hotel, developing further their ideas with him.
After that they were able to record this on a Polydor EP.
The band continued to improve their experiences through similar experiences which resulted in two more EPs.
The first track has an R&B influence with beautiful moody organ use, pushed by electric bass and drums.
This was indeed a mixed style of a western psych blues instrumental with a still recognisable Afro vision (their first EP was subtitles “Psycho African Beat”).
“Hijacking” uses the beautiful sound of the organ, slowly penetrating, the guitars show a slight funky touch and wah-wah effects, grooving with a smooth bluesy vibe.
“We're Laughing” uses even more wah-wah, the first song of the EP.
A mixture of Brown funk with psychedelic associations and some repetitive band.
The band surely knows to groove with this relative simple core of ideas.
The influence of Hendrix mixed with a far soul-funk background of James Brown can be noticed very clearly on their second single on “Gbe Keke Wo Taoc”, in the singing approach, electric bass and electric guitar.
On the next track the organ returns rhythmically, the singing is more African, shouting and responding, the electric guitar solos are definitely psychedelic.
The song has interesting evolution in accents on the rhythms, and loudness of certain instruments or vocals.
“Homowo” is afro-funk with psychedelic associations.
The band clearly developed their sound musically compared to the already great first EP.
The song rhythmic tensions from this period changes a lot during a short time.
The drumming in this part shows also a very attractive poly-rhythmic complexity.
Also the last track is a high qualitative groovy afro-psych instrumental.
Highly recommended.
One of the fairest proofs there has been great psychedelic music in Africa. (by progressive.homestead.com)
Track List :
01.Blofonyobi Wo Atale
02.Hijacking
03.We're Laughing
04.Extraordinary Woman
05.Gbe Keke Wo Taoc
06.Gbomei Adesai
07.Homowo
08.Okponmo Ni Tsitsi Emo Le
Personnel :
*Carl Ricky Telfer - lead guitar
*Reyad (Rudy Marshall) Couri - rhythm guitar
*Malek (Macky Devon) Crayem - organ
*Cliff Buckman & Lash (Amartey Hedjoleh) Laryea- bass
*Smart (Pozo) Thompson - drums
*Nadim Tabica - vocals
*Roberto Huchinson - vocals
[ Rip and Scans by DR BELL OTUS ]
CODE: 51528
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