Tony Allen - Secret Agent

Legendary Nigerian musician and activist Tony Allen's 2009 album, the raw and uncut 'Secret Agent', has all the ingredients that make Afrobeat so special - full-throated, hard-riffing horns; nagging tenor guitars; jazz- and funk-informed saxophone & trumpet workouts; effervescent chicken-shack keyboards; lyrics rich in folk metaphors and proverbs, some of which confront state corruption and oppression (co-conspirator Fela Kuti's most frequent targets); deep-soul call and response vocals; and, of course, Allen's majestic drumming.

Allen (1940 - 2020) has long been acknowledged as Africa's finest drummer and one of the continent's most influential musicians. Together with Fela Kuti (with whom he played for 15 years) Allen co-created Afrobeat - the hard-driving, horns-rich, funk-infused, politically insurrectionary style which became such a dominant force in African music and such an influence worldwide. His iconic drumming has since underpinned an extensive catalogue of solo works as well as collaborations with the likes of Damon Albarn (as part of The Good, The Bad and The Queen), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sebastien Tellier, Grace Jones, Malian superstar Oumou Sangaré, Jeff Mills and Hugh Masekela.

Heavyweight double vinyl remastered and produced by World Circuit in 2022. Gatefold sleeve with original sleeve notes and full sized booklet.

TRACKLISTING:

A1 Secret Agent
A2 Ijo
A3 Switch
B1 Celebrate
B2 Ayenlo
B3 Busybody
C1 Pariwo
C2 Nina Lowo
C3 Atuwaba
D1 Alutere
D2 Elewon Po