Originally marketed on the albums rear as: "Hard afro pop featuring large percussive rhythm section and front line," "Afro Rock" is way deeper than the relatively bland description espouses. Recorded at Morgan Studios in London by John Cameron and Alan Parker in 1973, "Afro Rock" features a collection of stripped-down African rhythms, virtuoso jazz instrumentation, fuzzy wah-wah guitars and nasty spaced-out library breaks. As Cameron himself described it in Unusual Sounds, this is “heavy duty drum-and-bass salsa music”. The album is one of the best loved records in the KPM catalog, and one of the most sought after within the "KPM 1000 Series" canon (originals currently are going for $300+ on the second hand market). Check the songs "Heat Haze," "Frozen Stream," "Safari So Good," "Swamp Fever" (which sounds a bit like The Budos Band), and "Black Light" (oo those keys!) for a blistering taste of sampler-heaven. As always, Be With went the extra mile on these KPM 1000 Series reissues, remastering the original analogue tapes to get the highest quality product, and it doesn't disappoint! As with all these KPM records, don't snooze! Highly recommended from the Suede.

• remastered from the original analogue tapes
• 180g vinyl pressing
• music label: Be With Records 2019

reviewed by Remington Suede 6/2019