Benin's funk heroes: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo in Europe at last
Spectacular players and survivors to boot, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo have been going since 1968. But we've had to wait to see them make the trip to Europe
Last September Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou played to a packed house at the Barbican Centre in London. There's nothing unusual about a sold-out gig, but what was unusual was that this was Poly-Rythmo's first ever gig in Europe. One thing that may have helped is an extraordinary YouTube video of the band in action in the 1970s, which the Barbican put on its website. And indeed, the Barbican gig was spectacular – angular melodies, punchy horn lines, psychedelic guitar, an injection of funk and insistent, powerful percussion – beaten out on drums, gourds, bells and shakers. It's music you can't ignore. "We are now able to share our music with others," says bandleader Clément Mélomé, "and we believe in this adventure."
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