Third World (2) – Aiye-Keta

World music these days is immensely popular, with the likes of Baba Maal shifting serious numbers of units. However, in the seventies it was a very different story, as world music was another branch of the dreaded easy-listening canon. The middle classes snaffled up these generic Ipi Tombi and Indian Ragas, Hawaiian ukeleles and Cypriot sounds in their millions. Any charity shop will provide testament to numerous examples for less than the cost of a cup of tea (although tea seems to have shot up in price since the rise of grim American coffee bars).
Apart from Jamaican singers, few reputable artists made an impact on the record buying public. Assangai and Osibisa were fairly well known, but someone of the stature of Fela Kuti was practically unheard of in the UK. Information on The Third World's only record, Aiye-Keta, is sketchy, as even fount of all knowledge wikipedia is silent on the album. This group comprises Remi Kabaka from Ginger Baker's Airforce, Abdul Lasisi Amao from Osibisa and the pasty faced rock god Steve Winwood. This unlikely combo produced this piece of Afro-jazz-rock fusion in 1973. Everyone seems to do a bit of everything as these three multi-instrumentalists plough their way through five lengthy jams. Happy Vibes is a jazzy Traffic meets Osibisa toe-tapper, Irin Ajo is the soundtrack to a blaxploitation pic that never made it to pre-production, all wah-wah pedals and brooding atmosphere. While Black Beauty returns to the vibe of the opening track, side two begins with Afro-Super, returning to soundtrack mode, this time for a swinging London film sequel to Blow Up. Shango moves into a dark jazzy place in a bad neighbourhood, tailed with some fine Niceish hammond work which is as far as it gets from a Traffic sound. The cover has three lads in some form of tribal costume, unfortunately drawing comparisons with Cousin It. This is quite rare but not really sought after, despite the presence of Winwood, so can be picked up fairly cheaply. Once again market forces have proved an unreliable measure of talent.

great stuff here....these 3 guys make some great music together.
i am a big winwood fan and this album (cd) kicks butt!!!
no wonder why steve winwood was chosen for Island Records