WOMAD

Antibalas

From United States

They used to be billed as the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra but, fear not, there's not a cello or viola in sight when slim-of-name Antibalas take to the stage - instead, it's largely brass and percussion as this multi-legged outfit draw heavily from the deep inspirational well that was Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Yup, it's muscular, heavy Afrobeat all the way, the irresistible brew of funk, highlife, jazz and West African rhythms that's usually laced with a shot or four of sharp political comment. Sharing the same zip code as the equally funktastic Sugarman Three and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Antibalas keep things faithfully - and funkily - authentic. But, taking their name from Spanish (it means 'bulletproof'), there's also a discernible Latin kick things, no more so than on their block-rocking version of the salsa classic Che Che Cole. Contributors to the much-celebrated Fela tribute Red, Hot & Riot, Antibalas have recently unleashed another stonking album (the incendiary Security), further proof of this collective's ability to move both limbs and minds.