Various Artists, This is Zologo Beat, Netherlands, Makkum Records, MR 35, CD digipak / vinyl LP (2023)
Dutch label Makkum Records has long had an interest in the music of the Upper East Region in northeastern Ghana near the border with Burkina Faso, and “This is Zologo Beat” is a ten-track collection of music revolving around multi-instrumentalist / producer Francis Ayamga and his Top Link Studios in Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East. The music on this album is a blend of melodies played on traditional instruments of the region and loops (courtesy of Fruity Loops digital workstation) and production (from Cubase software) added by Ayamga, topped by lyrics sung or spoken by young people wanting to work with Ayamga. The result of this mixture is minimally styled music that is energetic and urgent, full of passion and emotion, and dominated by some remarkable vocal rapping gymnastics over sharp glitchy electro beat loops and melodies. Several songs are sung in the Farefare (sometimes also called Frafra) language which is the main language in Ghana’s Upper East and southern Burkina Faso, though a few like Prince Buju’s “Life is a Mission” are sung in English.
Nearly all tracks serve to deliver a message or story, and so the music plays a support role with the consequence that it is usually repetitive with not a great deal of variation within tracks. Sometimes the vocals can be so overwhelming that the already minimal music ends up quite skeletal, as on Ramond’s “Agana Sela Tufu Malla”. The most distinctive track, in its use of electronics, is Fcl’s “Zom Koom” with its treated chorus of voices and its delicate melodies and effects.
While the music can be sparse to the point of sounding frail, especially when paired with a rapper with a strong set of lungs, and coming across as very repetitive as well, it does have a distinct sound and the combination of traditional folk instruments in an area of Ghana far from the capital Accra with Ayamga’s skilful use of digital music making and production software is very deft, resulting in music of power, emotion and vigour.