Description
The new album fr om Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
was recorded in New York City and produced by Victor Axelrod, aka Ticklah, a founding member of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and the Easy Star All Stars.Ticklah also recorded and performed with Amy Winehouse on her GRAMMY-winning Back to Black album. Radio Salone has a decidedly retro approach. Recorded entirely on vintage analog gear, the album is reminiscent of the classic funky 70s African sound popular with vinyl collectors and reissue labels.
Having persevered through the horrors of the Sierra Leonean civil war, band leader Reuben Koroma and the group continue to musically evolve in exciting ways, well past their jam sessions in the Guinean refugee camps and the rawness of their first recordings in their native capital of Freetown. The songs are infused with intricate dub elements not found in their earlier material and interludes are featured as part of the album flow for the first time.
While the band initially gained fame through the power of their story and message, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have since become one of Africa's most active touring bands, and the years of experience are reflected in the virtuosity of their performance on Radio Salone.
The likes of Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Joe Perry, Ice Cube and Angelina Jolie have sung their praises. From the ashes of war, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix to become one of the most lauded African bands in the world.
