Manu Dibango: Soul Makossa (Atlantic)
Dan Nooger, Phonograph Record, September 1973
THIS IS the best soul dance record in years. It cuts directly against the grain of most black music today, which strives for that sophisticated, orchestral feel, opting instead for a combination of basic, spare instrumentation and archly slick production. It's the culmination of the Motown Moderne wah-wah move, with all the artsy self-consciousness stripped away from the grits and gravy.
Total word count of piece: 294
