When it comes to afrobeat icons still gracing this earth, Dele Sosimi is up their with Tony Allen for his services to the movement. Keyboard player in Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and Positive Force bands, he went on to release two critically acclaimed albums – Turbulent Times and Identity – a continues to spearhead Fela’s legacy to this day from his new home in London.
After working on an album together this year, Wah Wah 45s have commissioned a series of remixes for You No Fit Touch Am, to capture the spirit of Dele Sosimi’s first studio release in a decade. The 12” features reworks from Tru-Thoughts signing Titeknots (taking on ‘Sanctuary’), Modified Man (taking on ‘You No Fit Touch Am’) and our favourite Polish duo Ptaki (taking on ‘We Siddon We Dey Look (Straigh Molin’).
Our pick of the bunch comes from Medlar, which we premiere exclusively here. For ‘You No Fit Touch Am’, he returns back to basics with a nostalgic disco rework, reminiscent of highlife’s hey day when Dele’s first began his career. Utilising the vast afrobeat orchestral rhythm, Medlar adds his distinguished house flare with a punchy groove and clamorous but softened analogue synths, transporting us to a Lagos beach in the 80s sipping on a Supermalt.
You No Fit Touch Am Retouched is out 20th November on Wah Wah 45s. Pre-order now from Bandcamp.
