FELA KUTI & CHIEF XCEL - THE UNDERGROUND SPIRITUAL GAME

I love Fela Kuti. I have for some years now. I also love Blackalicious, and thusly, Chief Xcel, who serves as one-half of the group. So, I was filled with much anticipation and intrigue when I heard that Xcel would be mixing an entire album of Fela\'s work.
Now, I have to admit, I was also a bit nervous about the disc. I mean, although they are closely related, we are talking about the quintessential Afrobeat musician mixed by one of the best hip-hop artists of our day. And you tend to also ask about the morals of the project. Fela has been dead now for almost eight years, and his music does stand alone. Does it even need to be fucked with?
Well, luckily, I had nothing to worry about, because the album, The Underground Spiritual Game (Quannum), is beautiful.
Xcel did a wonderful job with the disc. There is not one instance of heavy-handed production. Instead, Xcel\'s hand is slight and unobtrusive, and he lets Fela\'s music live and breathe. Tracks blend flawlessly together, and the timing and subtleties of the blends are something only a master like Xcel could achieve. The smooth and sexy \"Monkey Banana\" melts into \"Ariya\" so well that you\'d think it were one song. And \"Look And Laugh\" mixes in an interview clip with Fela himself talking about African music; a very appropriate homage to a great musician.
So, if you\'re a fan of either Fela\'s or Chief Xcel\'s work, pick this one up, because you\'re getting the best of both of them.