Led by keyboardist and singer
Joni Haastrup
(himself a scion of Nigerian royalty), the band
MonoMono
was one of the most popular funk-rock acts in West Africa in the early '70s.
Give the Beggar a Chance
is the first of a set of three reissues from that decade, two by
and one by
Haastrup
as a solo artist. Although the sound quality is marginal at times (these CDs were mastered from audibly damaged vinyl records), the music itself is fascinating and sometimes deeply compelling. Of the band's two albums,
is the most consistently fun and interesting. This was a period when Afro-pop was coming into its maturity, and the endlessly repetitive grooves of
Fela Kuti
were starting to give way to influences from British and American traditions -- listen closely to the title track and you'll hear more than a hint of
Ray Manzarek
in
's organ playing, while "The World Might Fall Over" hints at a
Santana-esque
blues-rock and "Find Out" segues abruptly from a jaunty, swinging jazz-reggae groove to an even jauntier and sauntering 6/8 feel. It must be said that
is a good singer but not a great one; he often struggles to hit his high notes, which can distract from what are generally pretty good songs and ferocious grooves. But his arrangements are brilliant, dense, and busy without ever feeling ponderous. Surface noise notwithstanding, this album is a genuine gem that should be welcomed back to the commercial marketplace. ~ Rick Anderson