Orchestre Poly-Rythmo is a national institution in Benin, West Africa. Formed during the late 1960s, they soundtracked the years following Benin’s independence under Kerekou’s Marxist-Leninist regime, whipping up a groundbreaking fusion of traditional highlife, Afrobeat, soul, funk and the indigenous styles and voodoo-led traditions of their homeland.
Their songs touched on all of their national languages – the mina French dialect, Fon and Yoruba – and confidently referenced a broad range of international music from James Brown to Johnny Halliday. As well as forging their own success, they were the first port of call to back many of West Africa’s greatest artists, from Gnonnas Pedro to Manu Dibango and Bembeya Jazz.
During the 1969 to 1979 period, the mighty Orchestre was without any doubt one of Africa’s most innovative group. Capable of playing any style of music, the band moved from traditional Vodun rhythms to Funk, Salsa or Afro-beat seamlessly and quickly became the powerhouse of Benin’s music scene, backing most of Africa’s stars touring the country, such Manu Dibango, Ernesto Djedje, Bella Bellow, as well as supporting an array of local composers, such as Honore Avolonto, Antoine Dougbé and Danialou Sagbohan.
The band’s reputation began spreading to Western audiences in 2004 through a Soundway compilation of archive classics and rarities followed by two collections on Analog Africa. Around the same time, French radio producer Elodie Maillot (Radio France, Vibrations, Mondomix) began seeking out the original band members in Benin. After a memorable radio interview, the musicians asked her to help them achieve their dream – to play once in a lifetime outside of Africa.
Since then, the band has reformed, now a 10-piece featuring five original members from the very first ‘60s incarnation, two from the mid-‘70s line-up and three new members. They have played many high profile concerts, bringing the infectious Poly-Rythmo sonic melting pot to a whole new generation of fans, from the African Soul Rebels tour of major UK arts centers and the WOMAD festival to Lincoln Center in New York.
Analog Africa released two Orchestre Poly-Rythmo compilations: Volume One (The Vodoun Effect – Funk & Sato from Benin’s Obscure Labels, 1973 – 1975) in 2008 and “Echos Hypnotiques” From the vaults of Albarika Store 1969-1979” in 2009. Volume Two showcases superbly recorded tracks, courtesy of the EMI studios in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the best studios in the region. All tracks here were recorded for the Albarika Store label and its enigmatic producer, Adissa Seidou.
Fifteen out of 200 tracks were carefully selected for the “Echos Hypnotiques” compilation which came with a massive 44-page booklet filled with amazing pictures of the band, a complete discography and a biography tracing the band from its foundation as Groupe Meloclem in 1964 via Sunny Blacks band (1965), Orchestre Poly-Disco (1966), El Ritmo (1967) and finally Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou in 1968.
“Drums, bells and horns are the fundamental instruments used during our traditional Vodun rituals. We added guitars and organs – we modernized those ancients rhythms and combined them with Western genres that were in vogue at that time,” said Melome Clement, founder and bandleader of Orchestre of Poly-Rythmo.
Recorded in Paris and produced by Maillot, Cotonou Club, released in 2011, was the band’s first new album in over 20 years, a celebration of the Poly-Rythmo sound with new versions of the band’s classics, including the West African hit ‘Gbeti Madjro’, and a host of new compositions. Guest appearances include African superstar Angelique Kidjo, Fatoumata Diawara and Paul Thomson and Nick McCarthy from indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, both huge fans of the group.
Discography:
1st Album (1973, reissued by Analog Africa in 2011)
Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80 (Soundway, 2004)
Rhythmo De Cotonou 1: Vodoun Effect – Funk & Sato (Analog Africa, 2008)
Echos Hypnotiques 2 (Analog Africa, 2009)
Cotonou Club (Strut Records, 2011)
Skeletal Essences of Afro Funk 3: 1969-1980 (Analog Africa, 2013)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.