Mandingo — Savage Rite
The album features ten tracks in all, and mostly the pace is kept fairly up-beat, dense & swirling. We find funk & wow-wow pined guitars going against a heady & camp brew of horn/brass work, buoyant yet sleazy African percussion, that are edged with groovy flute trails, woozy electronics, and the odd disco tinged touches. There are a few more slightly dramatic moments that sound like a sort blend of James Bound meet Shaft soundtrack out-takes with a sprinkling of ethic percussion- but mostly the whole thing is kept very up-beat, flare swaying, head bobbing, and platform shoe stepping groovy. At times it comes across as a more dumbed down version of Herbie Hancock’s Head-hunters period, or a long lost blacksploitation soundtrack, or even a cheesy funked-up 1970’s take on afro erotica; but sadly it also sometimes sounds like slightly bland funk tinged Pans People backing music too.
The interesting though rather short linear notes by Mojo journalist Dave Henderson tells us that behind the project was British easy listening composer and disco orchestra conductor Geoff Love- who worked with the likes of Max Bygraves, Ken Dod, Des O'Connor, ect.
On the whole “Savage Rite” is a campy & enjoyable enough trip back to late 1970’s, though none of the tracks here really stand out above retro party backing fodder. So if you’re planning a little 1970’s themed gathering, and need something a little quirky & conversation making this is worth a look; but if you after creative & skilled mixings of ethno rhythms, funk & brass/horn soundtracking.. you'd best look elsewhere.