Tony Allen has been around for quite some time, and has built a career in the Afro-Beat sounds. This latest disc, his 10th, is a varied collection that still delivers the incessant and irresistible grooves of Africa, but there are many colors reflected this time around. The chiming guitars on “Moving On” have a lithe feel from the Eastern edge of the continent, while “Boat Journey” makes you feel that Jamaica isn’t too far away. Darker and more electronic sounds, not too far from Miles Davis’ twilight years, loom up on “Afo KunfFu Beat” and some sort of African hip hop is delivered by Kuku on “Tony Wood.” Through all the various milieu, Allen’s voice is earnest, rhythmic and delectably warm. He teams up well with Adunni and Nefretiti on the highly percussive and celebratory “Ire Omo” while Damon ALbarn adds some bluesy slithering grooves on “Go Back.” Nice sweaty session.
Harmonia Mundi