ASIKO ROCK GROUP Asiko Rock Group LP (Superfly)

Asiko were a funk-rock band from Nigeria who cut one lone album in the mid-1970s that has become a much sought-after slice of wax amongst aficionados of obscure international grooves, and with good reason-- this album straight-up KICKS. Some of you may be familiar with a few cuts thanks to their being compiled on recent collections like Lagos Disco Inferno and Nigeria Disco Funk Special; for those in the know, those cuts burned, but the good news is that the entire LP is a wild, wooly blend of burning funk and disco grooves, fuzzed-out guitar licks, robust horn sections, squelching synth burbles, and impassioned vocals that make for one of the best reissues we've heard in a while from both the International AND Funk/Soul sections of the shop. Fans of everything from the aforementioned collections, not to mention burners like Brand New Wayo and the weirdo underground soul of the Personal Space collection will find much to love here. This is a beautiful, high-quality repress on 180-gram vinyl with tip-on covers made in Japan, limited to 1000 copies for the world. If this one tickles your fancy, don't sleep... it's a killer.

-Mikey IQ Jones (February 10, 2013)