MUSICAL TIME-TRAVEL REVIEW: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley — SiMiGWA

Last night, My musical time-travel machine was zipping through my cosmic playlist and endless timelines. Sweetly, I came across an uber-energetic album from another era which had been resting in my playlist for years. Follow me: let’s embark on an insanely funky-journey back into time. 

Artist: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Album: SIMIGWA

Release date: 1975

Label: Essiebons

Genre: Highlife, Afro-funk

Country: Ghana 🇬🇭

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife and Afro-funk legend. “SIMIGWA” was released in 1975, 15 years before I was born — and it’s interesting how it sounds impressively fresh. “SIMIGWA” was co-produced with another highlife giant, Ebo Taylor. This album is a 6 song album with a theme of highlife, funky grooves and refined edges that glides between bluesy-rock and Jazzy sprinklings, creating an intricate, unique and super funky soundscape for the dance floor. Gyedu-Blau Ambolley is a fusionist and powerhouse of a man that not only creates energetic and intricate song structures, but he’s a real show man. His carefree persona is so infectious . He has a penchant for creating some of the most head bobbing funk injections that you’ll find from his era. The album cover is so refreshing! Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is more of an orator than a singer. 

The album’s total runtime is 30:26 — it’s more of an EP, rather than an LP. The briefness of the album is compensated by a really crisp and spectacular music production.There are plenty upbeat grooves that will have you dancing. The highly charismatic vocal delivery is plagued with interesting lyrics. The lyrics are in Fante and English, creating an amazing tapestry of words. The record is quality from start to finish. I love the smooth blend of energetic vocal delivery, sophisticated percussion, slick horn flows, amazing guitar licks, vibrant drum heats, breathtaking arrangements and production. 

If you truly need a funk fix, I recommend this album because it’s a sizzling slice of the rich Ghanaian musical history.

Click the link below to listen to the “SIMIGWA” album:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=US4bblqN1y0