The story of The Daktaris and their one and only LP revolves around New York-based Desco Records founded by Gabriel Roth (now Daptone Records) and Philippe Lehman (now Truth & Soul), which terminated its operations in 2000

Inspired by the music of Fela Kuti, James Brown and Wallias Band feat. legendary Mulatu Astatke, a group of Brooklyn musicians got together to record 10 daring afro-funk/afrobeat tracks, that were released in 1998 as Soul Explosion, and started off a massive afrobeat revival movement shortly afterwards!

I think I got to know them through Antibalas if I remember right - which were founded right after Soul Explosion was released - but I was sold straight away. African harmonies, pumping bass, tight horn section and a heavy funk clout hanging over these tracks made me an instant believer!

They put down a couple of covers too on their album, but they're absolutely perfect like the opener Musicawi Silt or the closing track, Upside Down, which are probably also the craziest and gutsiest here, and they're as good as it gets in this genre!