African Head Charge - 'Elastic Dance'

Ok so about 15 minutes ago I was idly skimming through my old folder of bookmarked music blogs, not especially interested and very much on my way to bed. Then I see a kinda semi-interesting reference to 'Elastic Dance' by African Head Charge and give it a spur-of-the-moment youtubing. Quarter of an hour later and I still haven't been able to tear myself away from this total fucking jam. I've had a very very long day including a trip to the gym and up until I heard this song my body had all but given out. But goddamned if I'm not flailing about my room now like a pilled-up Peter Crouch at a Liquid Liquid gig.

So my question is twofold: which of you fine folk can tell me a little bit more about this band, and why have I never heard of them before? AND if I finally talk myself into turning this song off and reaching for the rest of the catalogue, will it all make me want to stay up and gyrate about until the early hours as much as this one does? Cause that really is looking like an offer I can't refuse right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-8l81tqlOg

ummmm ..

hello.

lots of on-u/adrian sherwood love here :

Adrian Sherwood - C/D, S & D?

Ah shit sorry. Did do a dig for African Head Charge but not a lot showed up, was too busy getting excited to do my homework properly.

thx for that btw

no worries ..

the new AHC album is brilliant, and one of the best on-u releases ever ...

Is that Voodoo of the Godsent? Just listening to "In I Head" on youtube now, it's delicious. Would that be your recommendation for a good starting point then? Cursory bit of research had left me hoping to find Great Vintages Volumes on itunes but it's not there, so I'm not sure what to plump for now.

New album????

Songs Of Praise is great, search that.

first heard Songs Of Praise pre-release at a Tackhead show at the Roxy in New York c.1990. the opening act was Kid Rock at his earliest, and between sets before Tackhead came on, Adrian Sherwood ran Songs Of Praise through the board and FUCKED WITH IT - LIVE EQing and effects - HOLY SHIT WAS THAT AMAZING!

Is that Voodoo of the Godsent?

yup.

in on-u terms 2011 is new !

Cheer for the recommendations guys, got a three hour train journey tomorrow so think I'll get both of these and give them a whirl. New album being recorded atm according to some blurb on the website, but I'm not sure how recent that info is. One to keep an eye on anyway.

Never really ventured into on-u sound territory, perhaps this could give me some impetus.

You should venture

So of the four new reissues--My Life In A Hole In The Ground, Environmental Studies, Drastic Season, and Off The Beaten Track--which would the ILX massive recommend to one who was only feeling saucy enough to purchase one?

Background: I like Singers & Players a whole lot, and much of the African Head Charge I have heard on On-U Sound comps and such. I've also heard a few AHC things in passing that sounded really dated.

oddly i think the albums after these ones sound more dated than any of these. it's a tough call but if i had to go for one i'd go for "my life in a hole in the ground". hopefully you will like it enough that you'll want to get more as all four rule.

they all seem kinda interchangeably great to me, but yeah the first one like stir said or go with Off The Beaten Track

Decent review up here

http://testpressing.org/2015/12/african-head-charge-vinyl-reissues-on-u-sound/

New album sounding good so far, I'm just a sucker for this sound palette

https://africanheadcharge.bandcamp.com/album/a-trip-to-bolgatanga

yes indeed. i think it's the probably the release i've liked most on on u sound this millenium.

I had covid a couple of months ago and sequestered myself in the bedroom with a boombox and both of the AHC box sets, plus the new one. It all kinda blends together but man, what a catalog.

Has anybody bothered with the non-Sherwood productions?

Yeah, this new one is really good. Would love to hear it on a gigantic fuck all system somewhere.