Shrine: Afrodigital Future Sounds From [Audio CD] Various Artists

Afro-Digital--The Future Sound of the Motherland is a 13-track compilation from Shrine DJs, Nikki Lucas, Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt. Inspired, of course by Fela Anikulapo Kuti's legendary Lagos club, the trio have selected tracks that best exemplify modern African music. As the representative tracks are culled from well-known and not so well-known artists from South Africa, Algeria, Cote D'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria, there's no defining style. The connecting factor is a deep appreciation of funk and flux. Tony Allen, Kuti's chief arranger and drummer kicks off the album with "Ariya", an afro-beat excursion full of fat Fender Rhodes licks, great drum beats and a wonderful scat vocal from the man himself. Thereafter the "Afro-Digital" journey manages to give us a little Wassolou diva business from Mali singer, Mamou Sidible, a deep hip-hop nodder from Senegalese group, Kantiolis and a jump-up house remix of Femi Kuti's "Sorry, Sorry" from French master, Francois K. Although names such as Algerian Rai purveyor, Cheikha Rimitti ("Nakhla") South African disco king, Chicco and Cesaria Evora (in a great Body and Soul mix of "Carnaval De Sao Vicente") appear, it's new names such as Viviane N'Dour and Dantai who really make this album swing. N'Dour' wonderful "Goor Fit" was apparently inspired by R&B singer Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody", and the Destiny's Child style soul of Dantai's "Leaving" shows why South African kwaito became the byword for cool in the late 90s. --Maxine Kabuubi