Matata - Feelin´ Funky

Hard funky soul with an Afrobeat backbone from Matata,who arrived on the London scene (via Kenya)in the mid 70s! Matata leaned mightily on the JBs for their groove, and laid out a heavy, rock solid variation on JBs funk with an African percussion base of congas and bongos at the core. The horns take a more Afrobeat tack, too, with punchy blasts and solos peppering the numbers.

Matata leaned mightily on the JBs for their groove, and laid out a heavy, rock solid variation on JBs funk with an African percussion base of congas and bongos at the core. The horns take a more Afrobeat tack, too, with punchy blasts and solos peppering the numbers. The band had obviously tried to make a move to acroos to some of the sounds coming out of America at the time. As another reviewer has said, the JB's are a clear influence on them. But they maintain an African feel particularly with Percussion which has more in commone with Fela Kuti in places, and also some of the guitar work. Abrupt and loud, but harmonius guitar riffs.

Source

Reviews@Amazon

Fantastic African funk. This is Matata's second album, where they really play to their strengths. You might have seen some of their stuff on the Africa Funk albums a few years back. If you haven't, this is horn and guitar-driven JB-style funk by an African (Kenyan if I remember rightly) group. JB is an obvious influence and they are extremely tight. Just about every track wouldn't be out of place on a JB's album. There are so many strong cuts here you'd think it was a compilation.

This is such a good album. The band had obviously tried to make a move to acroos to some of the sounds coming out of America at the time. As another reviewer has said, the JB's are a clear influence on them. But they maintain an African feel particularly with Percussion which has more in commone with Fela Kuti in places, and also some of the guitar work. Abrupt and loud, but harmonius guitar riffs. Also seen in some of Cymande's work. Shouldn't dissapoint any funk fan, a worthy purchase.





Tracklist

01. Wanna Do My Thing
02. Return To You
03. Good Good Understanding
04. Gettin' Together
05. I Believed Her
06. Good Samaritan
07. I Feel Funky
08. I Don't Have To Worry
09. Something in Mind
10. I Want You
11. Love Is The Only Way
12. Gimme Some Lovin'
13. Talkin' Talkin'