The Budos Band

Daptone strikes again! The label is a mark of quality every time out. The Budos Band represent Staten Island, NY and sound much like the other bands associated with the label and studio. They blend the Afrofunk of both the Nigerian and Ethiopian varieties with straight-up breaks while the jazz content is limited to cool horn charts and efficient solos. It’s all instrumental, and there doesn’t seem to be much more of an agenda beyond creating stone cold dance grooves. The most interesting part of the disc is their Ethiopian mini-set punctuated by the best song on the disc, a cover of "Aynotchesh Yererfu” from Ethiopiques 8. Do the Budos Band rank with Sharon Jones and Antibalas? Each of those acts have a greater central focus, but the quality of the Budos’ grooves is certainly on the level. There’s not much to recommend above and beyond other Daptone product, but it’s still a funky good time.