VA - The Bristol Meets Africa Sound (2026) [Hi-Res]

The entwined timelines of Bristol, Africa, and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD festival and Real World label, manifest across eight previously unreleased, early ’80s jams by a mix of West African, Jamaican and Avon-based musicians, at best in the polyrhythmic groovers by Ben Baddoo International, and an unusual sort of proto-trip hop fusion by Bhundu Boys frontman, Biggie Tembo, with Startled Insects, who would go on to key work with Massive Attack and Madonna...

“It’s more than a special moment when you discover music you’ve never heard (of) before or ever knew existed. 1982 was a critical spark for the development of wider (world) musical styles, both in Bristol and the UK at large. The central event from that year was the first WOMAD festival, held in the unlikely surroundings of the agricultural themed Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet in Somerset.

One common thread in Bristol to all of these discoveries was the Ekome Dance Company and most notably Artistic Director, Barrington ‘Barry’ Anderson. Barry had also recruited musicians from African countries such as Cameroon and Ghana, from Jamaica and others from the Bristol area. This was to form the Ekome Arts Band which would offer music with either a specific African or Caribbean focus.

This kickstarted a process and practice in the West Country city where musicians brought over from African countries would collaborate with those from the locality. It is those activities - a sound clash and culture clash, producing material of real depth - that constitute the three different combinations, along with one connection originating in London, that make up material on the first The Bristol Meets Africa Music Sound album, released on Bristol Archive Records.”