Each week, World in Stereo examines classic and modern world music while striving for a greater appreciation of other cultures.
Rikki Ililonga & Music-O-Tunya: Dark Sunrise (Now-Again, 11/23/10)
Musi-O-Tunya: “Dark Sunrise”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/05-Track-5.mp3|titles=Musi-O-Tunya: “Dark Sunrise”]Gritty garage-rock grooves from mid-’70s Zambia comprise Now-Again Records’ latest release, Dark Sunrise, the double-disc (or three-LP box set), 31-track chronicle of Zambian “Zam Rock” godfather Rizketo Makyua “Rikki” Ililonga and his groundbreaking band Musi-O-Tunya.
The anthology fits Now-Again’s current obsession with Zambia’s 1970s music scene, whose landmark bands WITCH and Amanaz have seen record reissues from the specialized global funk label. But after one listen to the killer rock grooves from Dark Sunrise, with its furious fusion of US/UK/African rhythmic dynamics, fuzzed-out electric guitars, and hypnotic brass sections, audiences will come to understand why the obsession is exceptionally reasonable, if not completely necessary.