Album Review: African Scream Contest, Vol. 2 by Various Artists

The first African Scream Contest compilation, an electrifying set of obscure soul and funk tracks recorded in Benin and Togo during the '70s, originally appeared in 2008, and has remained one of the most popular releases on the Analog Africa label. Its sequel finally arrived a decade later, after musician Lokonon André managed to track down all the artists on cratedigger Samy Ben Redjeb's wish list and license their songs, and was well worth the wait. Like the first volume, this one focuses on heavy funk grooves laid down by supremely disciplined musicians, with styles ranging from the slightly jazzy pop of Ignace de Souza & the Melody Aces' "Asaw Fofor" to hypnotic shakers with call-and-response vocals, such as "Nounignon Ma Klon Midji" by Antoine Dougbé.

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