Stalemate | Fear Not for Man (Reissue)

'Despite a massive attack by 1,000 armed Nigerian army men on his Kalakuta Republic compound on February 18, 1977, Fela Kuti, accompanied by his Africa '70, resumed his prolific musical output - which yielded in excess of half-a-dozen long-players a year since 1975. While the exact recording date is not documented, it could easily be surmised that Stalemate . . . was recorded prior to the incident . . . In keeping with tradition, the album Stalemate consists of two extended pieces. The title track has a mid-tempo trance groove that bends and yields to Kuti's call and response with Africa '70. After a lengthy instrumental introduction - thoroughly establishing the buoyant rhythm - Kuti begins his half-spoken/half-sung observations. His subject matter, as is often the case, deals with relationships between people and using logic to avoid conflict. One valuable lesson that can be derived from "Stalemate" is keeping one's opinions to one's self until all facts have been presented - thus, avoiding a stalemate. The B-side track contains an equally funk-driven piece, whose subject matter is steeped in native African tradition. The moral struggle between convention and invention collide on "Don't Worry About My Mouth O. . .". Kuti's rap explains the heritage and preference in the African "chewing stick" versus the toothbrush/toothpaste combination so popular in most of the world . . . He also makes a few clever analogies between the healthy mouth and the things that come out of it . . . Stalemate was reissued on CD coupled with another 1977 release, Fear Not for Man - which contains the rare instrumental "Palm Wine Sound."' - All Music Guide