Fela Kuti - Confusion + Gentleman '2000

Tracks list

This, another installment from MCAs superb recollecting of Felas original
albums, includes two of the most notable albums from the mid-70s. Gentleman is
primarily a verbal battering of the post-colonial mentality of his fellow
Africans (also abused elsewhere in other albums). It is a relatively humorous
episode this time through, as he mocks the gentleman for wearing numerous layers
of clothing in the ridiculously hot African sun (where Fela was wont to wear a
pair of shorts alone). Among the most scathing lyrics here: He unknowingly piss
on himself. This isnt the full-blooded political anger that would come about
stronger in times to come, but its a gentle step in that direction. It also
marks the first album featuring tenor sax work by Fela himself, after Igo Chico
had quit the band. Fefe Naa Efe and Igbe are both noteworthy dance grooves.
Confusion, a single-track album two years after Gentleman, stands as a
commentary of the state of affairs in downtown Lagos. Starting out with a spacy
free jazz-like encounter between Fela on sax and drummer Tony Allen, it moves
eventually into a thicker groove laden with horns. It is a brilliant showcase of
his code-mixing abilities and lyrical skill, as he makes use of three languages
while describing the confusion inherent in the marketplace of Lagos Ojuelegba
area. These albums are both classics in the Fela catalog, and this double album
is thereby an outstanding choice for anyone looking to start or increase a Fela
collection.


Tracks:

Gentlemen - 1973
01 - Confusion (Parts 1 & 2) 25:37

Confusion - 1975
02 - Gentleman 14:41
03 - Fefe Naa Efe 08:12
04 - Igbe 08:08

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