While usually filed under reggae or dub for convenience's sake,
African Head Charge have always existed outside of simple categorical boundaries. Their expansive, influential body of work, dating back to 1981's
My Life in a Hole in the Ground, is united in its pursuit of expressing a vision of a psychedelic Africa, in reference to a
Brian Eno quote. The collective's 11th studio album,
A Trip to Bolgatanga, is named after the town in northern Ghana where group leader
Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah resides. Though he typically spends more time at home with his family, he still frequently performs and creates music. The first
African Head Charge album in 12 years was produced by longtime associate
Adrian Sherwood and features fellow
On-U Sound regulars like
Skip McDonald and
Doug Wimbish, along with guest appearances by Ghanaian kologo master and singer
King Ayisoba. It kicks off with friendly words of advice ("A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you can't go anywhere until you change it!") and retains this sense of encouragement and optimism throughout. "Accra Electronica" threads rootsy string melodies and woodwinds into a thumping disco house beat. "Push Me Pull You" is a hazy slice of flute-laced heavy dub flashing back to the bewildering experimentation of the group's output from the early '80s, but with the type of booming sub-bass more common during the dubstep era. "I Chant You" blends rainy synths and galloping hand drums with falsetto vocal cries, bringing to mind the devotional dub of 1990's
Songs of Praise. "Asalatua" builds up an exuberant group chant over gleeful drumming and an effects-tweaked techno rhythm. The musicians celebrate victory and persistence with the whimsical "I'm a Winner," throwing Auto-Tune-smeared vocals over jumpy synth melodies and reggae riffs. The
Ayisoba-featuring "Never Regret a Day" is another rootsy, uplifting tune which reminds the listener that every day of one's life is important, even the bad ones, because one can gain experience and learn from them.
A Trip to Bolgatanga gets as sunny and upbeat as
African Head Charge's live performances or their more polished studio efforts from the mid-'90s, but it maintains the spirit of experimentation and love of speaker-crushing bass they've had since the beginning. ~ Paul Simpson
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