Various Artists - Ghana Special (Soundway Records)

Think of music in the 70s and you probably think of the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Clash or Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie. But the social and cultural revolution that started in the 60s and continued through the following decade was not confined to America and Britain. Ghana became a teenager in 1970, having declared independence from Britain in 1957, and the music produced in the country during this decade is as chilled out and downright funky as anything flare-wearing Brits and Americans were listening to. 

This double album brings together tunes from the period 1968-1981, and despite boasting a total of 33 tracks it manages to be consistently smile-inducing despite the variety of styles on display. You can almost hear the collision of old and new as traditional sounds meet the more guitar-based music which was becoming more prevalent partly for cultural reasons and partly for economic reasons – as Ghana experienced increasing poverty, large dance and vocal groups made way for smaller guitar bands.

There is definitely an instant recognition with the sound of the 70s, but simultaneously these tracks sound like nothing you've ever heard before – particularly the truly weird likes of 'Enuanom Adofo' by Houghas Sorowonko. Other highlights include Christy Azuma & Uppers International making sweet, sweet afropop on 'Din Ya Sugri', and The Wellis Band's deep and groovy 'Bindiga'.

This album is well worth getting hold of for a taste of Ghana as it was, and with African influences finding their way into more and more contemporary pop via the likes of Vampire Weekend, it's a timely reminder that it wasn't just hippies and punks pushing music forward.

Even though Ghana is long out of it's teenage years, now celebrating 52 years of independence, as Ctrl.Alt.Shift's Mervin Martin found out recently, they still love to move.

Mervin was among Platform2 volunteers in Ghana like Sam Kilby, who wrote about his experiences for us here. Sway also introduced us to the contemporary Ghanian highlife back in Issue 2, which you can download here.

Words: Kevin E.G. Perry