After the release of 1993’s In Pursuit Of Shashamane Land, African Head Charge flew the roost of their On-U Sound label. While the Professor Stretch collaboration Drums of Defiance emerged via On-U in 1998, the band otherwise spent the late 90s and early 2000s releasing their LPs on labels like Acid Jazz and their own Bonjo I imprint. However, in 2005 the group returned to On-U to drop their LP Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa.
On this record we find the duo of Adrian Sherwood and Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah doubling down on the challenging dubwise sonics that have defined African Head Charge ever since the project emerged in the early 80s. This is highly psychedelic work, often challenging and disorientating the listener with its rich tapestry of studio effects, thick sub bass and skittering percussion. The contributions of Tackhead and The Maffia (Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc) only serve to heighten the album’s potency. From Prince Jammy to Scientist, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to Brian Eno, there are whole worlds bound up in this record.
This new edition of Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa is the first release for the album in over a decade and also represents the first time that these tracks have been pressed to wax. As with the other reissues in On-U Sound’s deluxe African Head Charge re-release series, vinyl copies are accompanied by a 24” x 12” poster, photographs of the group and an excerpt from a five-part interview with Noah. Two bonus tracks are also included.
On-U Sound favourites African Head Charge came home on 2005’s Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa.
