OSIBISA: "Woyaya"

Original released on LP Decca DL7-5327

(US, 1971)

After an evocative, free-form intro of thunder storm sounds, flute and percussion, “Beautiful Seven” slowly builds-up submerged in the spirit of Africa into  a chanted & spoken word swinging declaration of intentions, ”We’ll give you our treasure-Be Happy!”,  followed by a percussion driven, flute lead Rock-Jazz instrumental, filled with keyboards, guitar and horns. The group’s sound improved  since "Osibisa"  and the circular, built around a pedal tone theme of “Y Sharp” , mixes Chicago like horns, Santana like percussions and backing vocals motifs, wah-patterns and blistering lead guitar, Jazzy electric piano and sax work and a strong dose of Fela Kuti like Afro feel-good vibes flowing to a climaxing finale. The underlying spirituality, shines on the Gospel-ish “Spirits up Above” slow pace intro, they don’t delve too long into, moving to an accelerated piano driven/lead groove, with a muscled percussive power and both sensual and wild guitar work stimulated by the horns, before a short resume of the initial vocal theme. With songwriting credits now shared by more, it’s diversity that wins: “Survival” opening in a tribal mood with percussion and percussive vocalizations by Loughty Amao, before a wordless choir spreads all over an infectious bass pattern driven groove, those singing horn lines the band excels at, an amazing tenor solo and a final a-capella Osibisa chant supported by congas and bongos, the Funky “Move On” preaching a message bolstered by Soulful horns, Jazzy keys and soaring guitar work and “Rabiatu” with an “in-your-face” Afro melody and energy, fuelled by an Earth-shaking bass, Santana like guitar leads and blaring horns before a sudden change allows the groove to re-start slowly building from naked percussions up, into an instrumental climax where Tontoh’s trumpet marks points. Joyful and supporting a “proselytical” message, the title track almost childish melodies are a concession to commercial, instant-pleasing material, and closes the album on a minus note that does not really affect the stunning level of what was accomplished before. (in RateYourMusic)