Femi Kuti - Live At The Shrine (DVD/CD set)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: B-     Concert: B-     CD: B-

 

 

The Afrobeat movement has been more influential than you would know and it turns out one of the key artists in the movement is Femi Kuti, because of a combination of talent and politics.  His father Fela Kuti created the movement, so his son is carrying the torch, much to the dismay of the problematic Nigerian government.  That he has talent, a following and the music is good just compounds their fears and problems.  After watching the new Live At The Shrine documentary concert and listening to the music, more American musicians should take note.

 

Though the concert is good, the pieces in between offering interviews from Kuti and his colleagues talking about the music and their country remind one of the better Rockumentaries of the 1960s and 1970s.  That there can be hope in such a corrupt third-world country is a terrific thing, and Kuti’s uncompromising view of reality and his honesty give the music a great synergy of lyrics and rhythm make him quite prolific.  Anyone serious about music that is about something should get their hands on this set.  The main program runs about 90 minutes.

 

The letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image was shot on what looks like low-definition digital video and has detail limits, but is passable for what is presented.  Too bad some of the music moments were not filmed.  The option of English audio with or without English subtitles is misleading, whether you play the DVD back in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo or better PCM 16Bit/48kHz 2.0 Stereo.  The CD is fuller sounding at the same 16 bits, yet you can hear slight limits from the 44.1kHz ceiling CD has.  Extras include three bonus song clips, an interview, booklet inside the DVD case with lyrics to all the songs and the CD of the music.  Once again, Palm delivers a fine music set that can only expand one’s horizons.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo