Okapi Guitars - Live @ Cutsnake

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You have to admire these guys for their sheer tenacity and total dedication to their chosen musical form – for 20 years these two Sydney-based guitarists (Bernhard Huber and John Laidler) have been quietly persisting with their DIY brand of African-styled grooves, charting their circuitous progress with various independent CDs and cassettes. Within the parameters of layered guitar-focused music, they have combined Western rock sensibilities, politically-aware lyrics and a home-grown inventiveness while remaining always true to an authentic East African sound.

Which brings us to album number nine – a live studio album of favourite originals and African pop covers. This is an excellent slice of music that deserves to be on every party turntable. Whereas the previous release (Haram Homebrew) was essentially Bernhard and John and lots of overdubs, here the sound is definitely alive: immediate, vibrant, punchy and tight. The new line-up of Chris Bright on drums and Sigi Huber on bass keeps the vibe driving and bubbling, while the twin guitars of Huber and Laidler shimmer, sparkle and percolate over the top. The vocal harmonies on the African covers are particularly strong, sailing rhythmically over the other intricately woven layers and lifting the energy of the music even higher.

The style of material, including the originals, is pretty much straight-ahead African pop except the cover of Paul Kelly’s “From Little Things”, their third recording of this song and definitely the punchiest. Musically though it still fits with the rest of the album and doesn’t interrupt the overall flow.

This album sits right alongside any recordings from Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the like, in musicianship and energy. It is clearly a celebration of the joyous spirit of this musical style and the culture that originally produced it. It is a great testament to the hard yards the Okapis have put in, and as a friend commented: “This time they’ve really nailed it!”

I defy you not to dance! - review by Bradfield Dumpleton 2009

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