Robo Arigo & His Konastone Majesty - Sexy Thing (1982) [Reissue 2017]

Robo Arigo is an extraordinary multi-instrumentalist from Nigeria's Ogun State. A founding member of Pogo Ltd, he played bass, guitar and organ on both their albums and plays all kinds of instruments, including cowbell, on Sexy Thing too. One listen to the record, however, (and a quick look at the back of the cover), and it's pretty clear that playing bass is where Robo's heart lay. Especially when he gets to slap it. The slapping starts early on 'Konastone Ponk', a dippy, funky track where Robo implores that if his music 'touches your soul, get up and dance.' The interplay between bass and guitar is magic – it's clear that Eno Louis is Nile Rodgers to Robo's Rick James, with a bit of Prince and Parliament thrown in for good measure. The funk feels dark and dangerous on 'Girls Reservation' and gets seriously slinky on 'Sexy Thing'. I can't over emphasis what a truly great album this is. The sound is clean and the production is stripped back and funky, a sound Robo would finesse as a producer with his Robbosoneex Music Company in Benin. Listen to the audacious cover of 'Get Up, Stand Up', and tell me that you're not convinced that very Bob Marley songs needs a slap bass break in the middle. You need this record in your life. - Peter Moore