World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?

The title here is no joke. This slice of West African grooves from the late ‘70s to the early '80s is indeed psychedelia. But discovering the origin of the mysterious William Onyeabor is an honest plea from the Luaka Bop label, which got licensing from the Nigerian artist. But these days he’s a born-again Christian and won’t talk about himself or his music. What we’re left with is a nine-song compilation that must speak for itself. Tracks like “Love Is Blind” and “Let’s Fall in Love” sound like an alien fusion of African grooves with Kraftwerk’s mechanized beats and rudimentary synth tones. More seamless-sounding is “Something You Never Forget,” with call-and-response vocals and percolating live drums. On “Why Go to War,” things get more political. “Atomic Bomb” is more ambiguous; it nonetheless stands out as the collection's groove tour de force. Every once a while, an obscure vintage African funk album or collection captures our imagination; this one will be remembered as the one that did in 2013.