Mister Funkee

Harry Mosco - Peace & Harmony [ISLELP 004 AUS 2019 24-Bit FLAC]

Originally released as a rare vinyl album on Nigerian label Samba Records (SAM 001) in 1979, this cracking 2019 repress is really something special, mixing afro-funk, disco and dub reggae into six chunks of Peace & Harmony. The accompanying blurb says....

Harry Mosco is best known as the founder of  1970s Nigerian Afro-Funk band The Funkees. Originating as an Army band after the Nigerian Civil War they lead the wave of upbeat music produced by young artists in Nigeria in response to the darkness of the recently concluded civil conflict. Following a notable hit single Akula Owu Onyeara the band split in 1977 and Harry pursued a solo career.

Peace & Harmony was Harry’s third LP continuing the rich vein of form found in previous albums Country Boy and Funkees (For You Specially). He was a visionary who wrote, arranged and produced each song on the LP assisted by Mark Lusari on engineering duties (P.I.L, Jah Wobble & Prince I), whose reggae and dub influence can be felt on title track Peace & Harmony and Peaceful Dub. The LP contains two certified floorfillers of Studio 54 era Disco Funk in the shape of Sexy Dancer and Step On and two slow jams, the soulful ballad She’s Gone and horn lead album closer Do It Together. Mr Funkees was printed on the cover to help record buyers make the connection between Mosco and his former band.

A1 Sexy Dancer
A2 Step On
A3 She's Gone
B1 Peace And Harmony
B2 Peaceful Dub
B3 Do It Together