Julius Orlando

When Nigerian afrobeat comes to mind, the name that typically appears is Fela Kuti. But for true enthusiasts of the genre, composer and band leader Orlando Julius is held in the same regard as his more famous colleague. By the mid-60s, Julius had already established himself as a bona fide star in Nigeria, becoming highly popular for his ability to marry traditional African rhythms with the bold arrangements and highly melodic sounds of American pop, soul, funk and R&B. ‘Orlando Julius And The Afro Sounders’, recorded between 1970 and 1973 in Ginger Baker’s studio in Lagos, represents Julius working as a composer and producer with more creative freedom than his earlier recordings, laying down 24 tracks (of which six appear here) with a close-knit group of musicians,. The result is an album that stands as a testament to Orlando’s genius, and one that sounds just as good now as the day it was recorded. Voodoo Funk now presents ‘Orlando Julius And The Afro Sounders’ in a newly revived edition, with audio remastered from the original analogue tapes and packaged in a hardback case book with extensive liner notes by Orlando Julius himself and vintage photography.