'Who Is William Onyeabor?': A Hypnotic Sermon Of Synth
A listen to the immaculate collection of tracks that is Who is William Onyeabor?— a five year undertaking on the part of the New York-basedLuaka Bop label — has just as many faces as the stories of its mysterious maker, Nigerian electro-funk originator William Onyeabor. Dance floor urges predominate for a whole 73 minutes of instinctive funk— a feel it deep inside yet rattle your bones kind of synth.
An intergalactic welcoming on opener "Body and Soul" introduces listeners to fresh sounds thirty years after the fact. Onyeabor is a welcomed paradox of unexplored territory for young ears from a musical front, yet still very much a historical document lyric-wise. "Why go to war when you know there should be peace?" are words that first come to mind when placing Onyeabor's music in the context of the 1970s, not just in Nigeria but also international relations at large. NPR already touched on the cold war sexual metaphors inherent on "Atomic Bomb."
But body moving and politics aside, it's the hypnotic undertones behind each track that account for why William Onyeabor's is a music that could easily remain on repeat hours on end, a subconscious spirituality through divinely smooth sounds and call-and-response hooks, a sermon of synth. Perhaps Mr. Onyeabor has crafted an entire religion separate from the one he's devoted his life to.
Listen to Who Is William Onyeabor via NPR 'First Listen' before it drops next Tuesday, October 29th. Head to the Okayplayer shop to pre-order in either CD or vinyl format. Join us and Luaka Bop in celebrating William Onyeabor Week! worldwide beginning this Thursday, October 24th with a smooth and good time circuit which will include ten cities, almost 20 parties, and nearly 50 artists involved. RSVP here for the dates listed below.
>>>LISTEN TO WHO IS WILLIAM ONYEABOR? NOW VIA NPR 'FIRST LISTEN'
>>>PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM IN THE OKAYPLAYER SHOP
William Onyeabor Week! Party Dates
10/24 PARIS – Le Comptoir General
With; Sofrito, Joakim, Superfly, Pilooski, Secousse
10/24 STOCKHOLM – Sodra Bar
With; Peter Morén’s Onyeaborians, Ok Star Orchestra, Tight Silk, Miriam Pemberton (Holodisc), Karl Jonas Winqvist (First Floor Power), & Gavin Maycroft (Oma333) in collaboration with Mother
10/25 LONDON – Rough Trade & After party at Ridley Road Market Bar
With; Thris & Nic (Boiler Room), DJ Fitz, Duncan Brooker (Strut, Nigeria 70), Barry’s Lounge
10/26 NEW YORK – Buka Nigerian Restaurant & After party at Doris (Brooklyn)
With; Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Lizzi Bougatsos (Gang Gang Dance), Tim Koh (Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti)
10/26 BERLIN – Oye Records & Humboldthain Club
With; Auntie Flo, Lee Douglas, Eli Pavel, Nomad & Vulkandance Berlin, Kalakuta Soul Soundsystem
10/29 – LOS ANGELES – No Vacancy
With; Peaking Lights, Turquoise Wisdom, Mathieu Schreyer, Hunee, Lovefingers, Secret Circuit in collaboration with Ana Calderon
10/30 TOKYO – Forestlimit
With; Daedelus, Oorutaichi, Masaaki Hara, Frosty in collboraton with Dublab.jp
10/31 OSLO – Studio Two
With; Rune Lindbaek, VJ Arminwerx, Selectah X, Fred B
11/1 MANCHESTER – Piccadilly Records
With; Illum Sphere, Jon K in collaboration with Hoya Hoya
11/16 LAGOS– Bogobiri House
With; IKON (SDC) & Ade Fakile (Plastic People, London)