William Onyeabor GRAIL Nigeria techno funk LP Listen!

Wiliam Onyeabor - Anything you sow Wilfilms WLP033 Nigeria 1985
Detroit techno / electro recorded in Nigeria in the mid 1980's on analog synths? Sounding like it comes straight off the latest M.I.A. record? Yes that's what this is all about... add in some sweet female singer choruses and the moralistic lyrics of mr Onyeabor, and you got an essential record that is waiting to be rediscovered and compiled! 
You may know William Onyeabor from his tracks on afro funk compilations such as the great jam 'Better change your mind' which appeared on Nigeria 70 and on 'World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing'. The original album 'Atomic bomb' is a popular and expensive item on Ebay. His lp's are hard to find as he released them on his own record label, Wilfilms. Another of his records that shows up sometimes is 'Tomorrow'. Both albums are heavy afro disco boogie bombs.
William Onyeabor has released at least one more record though, and it's so obscure that I haven't found any references in google or previous Ebay sales. 'Atomic bomb' was already an experimental album on which Onyeabor plays around with his collection of synths. But on 'Anything you sow' he really goes all-out to create a musical landscape that proved to be far ahead of its time.
The album cover (which looks more like mid 70s) shows Onyeabor behind a huge collection of synths and other hardware, including the Moog which was an expensive gear at the time. On this album, the music is all produced with analog synths, even percussion.
The effect is mind blowing... 20 years down the line its clear that Onyeabor was way ahead of his time, the sounds he created here are unlike anything else I have heard coming from Africa. It's more closely related to Detroit techno or electro but in reality he may just have been influenced by Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra and the like. The slight 'out of this world' sound of the fragile synth (Moog, Elka etc) melodies are accentuated by the sweet chants of William and his background singers. This piece of vinyl is just waiting to be sampled or re-edited, it would fit nicely on a Moodymann or Theo Parrish re-edit 12 inch. Three out of four tracks are in this style, the fourth is a ballad which is less interesting. Just check out the audio samples below. 
Side A 1     When The Going Is Smooth & Good   2  This Kind Of World
Side B 1  Anything You Sow 2  Everyday 
LISTEN (mp3, snippets recorded from the copy on sale): Snippet 1
Snippet 2
Snippet 3
Snippet 4

Grading: Vinyl: VG- to VG (plays as good as it gets with Onyeabor lps, some crackle/hiss in silent parts but the album is a loud press, check out the snippets) Sleeve: VG (some wear/dirt/tape stains and name written on front and back, see pics)
Disclaimer on condition: This record is part of a box of vinyl that has spent the past three decades in the humid and hot climate of Nigeria, and storage for many of these records typically has been less than careful. To find a mint condition Nigerian record is very hard, VG+ is often the best grade, and for the rarest copies we may be lucky to even find a VG- copy. To be sure that you're fine with the condition of the album, make sure you listen to the snippets.
Payment: Buyer is expected to pay through Paypal within seven days after auction is over, or I will have to cancel the sale and report to Ebay.
ATTENTION PLEASE - SHIPPING COSTS ARE AS FOLLOWS; The shipping of this record to the USA is NOT 4 U$ (which is merely a Ebay default that doesn't take into account sellers from abroad) since I am shipping from the Netherlands. If you bid on this record, please be ready to pay for the actual postage cost as described below. All items are shipped in heavy duty cardboard mailers.
Priority Shipping: Europe 10 U$, international (including USA) 16 U$, Netherlands 8 U$ Registered mail: If the record sells for over 100 U$ I only ship through registered mail / insured where available; (Europe 18 U$, world 23 U$)
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Browse my other items and look for a fat stack of West African / Nigerian / Ghanaian disco / boogie / funk / modern soul albums which I am posting this week... think Charles Amoah, William Onyeabor, Pat Thomas and other relatives of Oby Onyioah, Veno, Brakes, Xtasy, you know the drill.


Please wait for me to send an invoice with the total amount for your order. US bidders make sure you don't check out with the U$4 shipping option because shipping to US is more expensive.
 417 (GS 6.0.5 (417))