African Head Charge | Artist

African Head Charge is an English Psych/Dub group which first recorded in 1981 on Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound label. The band's sound is based on the Nyahbinghi custom of rhythmic hand-drumming and vocal chanting performed at Rastafarian ceremonies, with added electronic effects by dub production maestro Adrian Sherwood. The group was formed by percussionist Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah, and featured a revolving cast of members, including Prisoner, Crocodile, Junior Moses, Sunny Akpan, Skip McDonald and Jah Wobble. Sherwood conceived the idea for the band after reading Brian Eno's comment about his vision for a "psychedelic Africa". Sonically, the band delivers a dense atmosphere of haunting background chanting, heavy dub bass and clickety percussion with waves of surging psychedelic guitar, which one reviewer likened to "Lee Scratch Perry meets H. P. Lovecraft and holds a seance on a boat on the river Congo". In the studio, Sherwood and the band have produced 11 albums, including a collaboration with Adrian Shortman aka Professor Stretch. Standout albums include My Life in a Hole in the Ground (1981), Environmental Studies (1982), Drastic Season (1983), Off the Beaten Track (1986) and Songs of Praise (1990).

Artist Website: africanheadcharge.bandcamp.com

Featured Albums: African Head Charge

Related Artists: Adrian Sherwood, Jah Wobble, Creation Rebel