William Onyeabor – Atomic Bomb – LP

William Onyeabor is a funk musician from Nigeria, born in 1945 or 1946.

Onyeabor’s songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, “Better Change Your Mind”, which appeared on Africa 100, World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love’s a Real Thing – The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa, and Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos, through labels such as Luaka Bop.

Mysterious to the point of genuine legend, ever since Luaka Bop rekindled William’s legacy flame in 2013 growing interest has developed in his work… To the point he’s granted an interview and, rather amazingly, hinted at new material in the future. For this particular rerelease we head back to one of his finest albums; his second LP that would spawn the name of his live band who are still active to this day. Shining with strong Caribbean influences on “Beautiful Baby” and “Shame”, stomping with strident Afrofunk twists and heavy studio techniques on “Atomic Bomb”, slinking and skanking with the feel good “I Need You All Life”, “Atomic Bomb” really is a work of beauty.

Luaka Bop

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