Artist : King Sunny Ade
CD : Odù
Label : WEA/Atlantic 1998

Rasha's disc has been joined atop my stereo recently by King Sunny Ade's newest, Odù (Atlantic/Mesa 92796-6), which is by far the best recording I have heard from the juju king since the 80s.

Unlike his previous effort for Mesa, Odù avoids artificially short, "radio friendly" tracks, and instead its songs average nearly seven minutes, including one 13-minute and two 9-minute songs more typical of Ade's Nigerian releases.

Before I listened to this album a friend who had it said, "It's a King Sunny Ade album," in response to my query of her opinion.

There is no mistaking Sunny Ade, and Odù is certainly "a King Sunny Ade album," but it is a very good one.

The talking drums are awesome and recorded in outstanding detail, the slide guitar is as deliciously languid as Ade's vocal delivery, and the keyboards behave themselves (unlike in his previous Mesa release).

I love the song title "Easy Motion Tourist," and the cut is my favorite groove on the cd, but I also enjoy and appreciate the extended, almost-symphonic workouts. You won't be able to miss the classy packaging in your local: Grab it!