Rolling Stone - 4/25/02, pp.79-80
3 stars out of 5 - "...Showcases a keen understanding of Fela and his idiosyncratic world - a beautiful utopia of his liberal ideals and orgiastic funk cookouts that fueled body and soul in equal measure..."
Spin - 4/02, p.120
7 out of 10 - "...The biggest musical difference between this album and vintage Fela Kuti is that Antibalas dispatch 7 songs in the time it would've taken th elate master to finish one and start a second....The master would move his 'yansh', too."
Q - 3/02, p.114
3 stars out of 5 - "...The music is irresistible..."
Alternative Press - June 2002, p.71
9 out of 10 - "...[Antibalas] maintain [a] fiery, Fela Kuti-esque Afro-Latin fusion...coating political criticisms with an ass-shaking funkiness..."
CMJ - 3/18/02, p.10
"...Unloads more dense African grooves, righteous horn charts and extended keyboard jams...Latin, jazz and soul influences keeps the sound of TALKATIF current, if not evolutionary..."
NAPRA Review - 07-08/02, p.58
"...Tight melodies, arrangements, and solos create a feisty, undeniably today/tomorrow mix that speaks up, speaks out, keeps the beat going, and is good to dance to..."
Mojo (Publisher) - 6/02, p.118
"...Great..."
Antibalas: Duke Amayo (vocals, congas, percussion); Gabriel Roth, Luke O'Malley (guitar); Stuart Bogie (alto saxophone); Micheal Herbst (tenor saxophone); Martin Perna (baritone saxophone); Jordan McLean, Anda Szilagy, Todd Simon (trumpet); Aaron Johnson, Mike Wagner (trombone); Victor Axelrod (keyboards); Phil Ballman (drums); Dylan Fusillo (drums, sticks, percussion); Fernando Velez (congas, percussion); Ernesto Abreau (congas); Giancarlo Luiggi (shekere).
Personnel: Duke Amayo (vocals, congas, percussion); Gabriel Roth (guitar); Stuart Bogie (alto saxophone); Michael Herbst (tenor saxophone); Martin Perna (baritone saxophone); Anda Szilagyi, Jordan McLean, Todd M. Simon (trumpet); Aaron Johnson , Mike Wagner (trombone); Victor Axelrod (keyboards); Phil Ballman (drums); Fernando Velez (congas, percussion); Giancarlo Luiggi (shekere).
Audio Mixer: Gabriel Roth.
Photographers: Ghariokwu Lemi; Babe.
Unknown Contributor Role: Ernesto Abreau.
Brooklyn's Antibalas takes its cue from Fela Kuti's classic 1970s Afrobeat, serving up funky, politically charged, polyrhythmic grooves. The follow-up to the band's stunning 2001 debut LIBERATION AFRO BEAT VOL. 1, TALKATIF proved that their opening salvo was no fluke. With all 17 members providing a battery of percussion, horns, bass, and guitar, TALKATIF is a full-frontal sonic assault, with each of its seven tracks pulsing with passion and power. But as cuts like "Gabe's New Joint" and "World Without Fear" demonstrate, TALKATIF's real strength is its ability to move bodies on the dance floor.
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