Africa Airways Five: Brace Brace Boogie 1976-1982

• Pressed on black vinyl LP
• Funky Afrobeat hits from Various Artists
• Released by Africa Seven
• Imported

It's that time again. The skies are calling and it's time to board our trusty jet for the 5th outing of Africa Seven's premiere class compilation Africa Airways. For volume 5, it's time to brace yourselves for 10 slices of Afro-boogie goodness.

We up the boogie time groove with The Black Bells Group (the first band of lead singer Sidney 'Patrick Duteil' who went on to become the godfather of French hip-hop and a well-known TV presenter. Here the groove is swinging... the perfect opener. Next up is German-based Cameroonian musician and cousin of Manu Dibango, Charly Kingson with this bass-synth boogie stomper. Big brass and jazzy trumpets add layers of sparkle too.

Next, it's time for some highlife-inspired boogie from Ghanian Gyedu Blay Amboley. Highlife fused with reggae, disco, boogie, and jazz just as the lyrics say.

Next, we pair up with Africa Seven friend Eko once more under his Dikalo guise. The Cameroonian master musician is in fine form with his heavy brass and deep percussion with a driving afro boogie groove. To round off Side A, it's off to Cameroon again to groove with Jean 'Mekongo President'. Think Bernard 'Chic' Edwards on the bass with some African style and you can see it's the bottom end groove and afrobeat drums that power this gem along.

We open the second side slowly and purposefully with the highly sought-after 'French Girl' from Fotso. Drippy bass synth grooves and a wondrous percussion and drum shuffle pair with piano riffs to make this a unique sounding track. Our friend Tala AM is next with the foot-stomping 'Sugar Lump'. JK Mandengue is next with most definitely the catchiest chorus you will hear today. Nigerian Jide Obe gets synth and clavinet rich with his doe to sensible dating advice 'Too Young'. We close off the album with a track from label good friend Jo Bisso under his Mulamba guise. Sounding like a long-lost TV theme from a late-night TV show circa 1977. Let's get down and boogie with the brand new dance in town folks... the Dashiki.

Until Volume Six takes flight it is time to unbuckle those seat belts folks.