new: Antibalas
The leaders of the modern afrobeat movement, Antibalas has been deeply influenced not only by Fela Kuti's music but also his politics, embracing topics like militarism and globalization in its music. The group is led by saxophonist and chief writer Martin Antibalas. They were formed by fusing two bands that recorded on the retro funk label Desco, Daktaris and Soul Providers. With a comittment to raising consciousness, Antibalas embarked on a furious touring and recording schedule that allowed them to raise their profile, landing spots on the Oulele and Racubah compilations. Years of buzz led to Ninja Tune picking up their album for international release in 2001.