Pax Nicholas And The Nettey Family — Na Teef Know De Road Of Teef

In an age when everything old is new again, it's nice to know some of those albums 99.9 per cent of the public never had the chance to hear originally are being released again in hopes of finding a new, more appreciative audience.

Daptone has followed in the footsteps of labels like Light In The Attic, Strut and VampiSoul and uncovered an amazing afro-beat album from the percussionist of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's Africa 70 band. Nicholas Addo-Nettey (a.k.a. Pax Nicholas) obviously learned from Kuti, having performed with him during Kuti's most creative period (1971-78).

Na Teef Know De Road Of Teef is the second of two solo albums from Pax Nicholas recorded originally in 1973 for the Nigerian-based Tabansi label. The lengthy four tracks are pure African-tinged funk and soul featuring lengthy jams that swirl hypnotically out of even the smallest of speakers.

The 12-minute title track features typical high-necked guitar plucking mixed with an melange of African percussion, drums, bongos, congas, tight brass riffs and a searing vintage organ. It takes five minutes before Pax and his back-up vocalists to enter stage left. This brilliant opening transports the listener back in time to the early '70s Lagos club scene. As you listen, you can feel the beads of perspiration rolling off the many Nigerian club dancers collectively hypnotized by this powerful ensemble.

"Ataa Onukpa" introduces another of the influences on Pax Nicholas, James Brown. Vocally, Pax successfully integrates the vocal styling of the hardest working man in show business with the physically exhausting pace of Afro-beat. "Na Six Feet" puts the crisp, brilliant horn section up front along with some sly cowbell, while the album's closer, "You," adds some American soul.

This album is a pure slice of classic '70s Afro-beat and belongs in the musical collection of anyone enamoured by the recent Nigeria 70 releases.

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