Original:
Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor – ‘Ene Nyame Nam ‘A’ Mensuro’
A product of a late-1970s collaboration between two of Ghana’s most famous musicians, ‘Ene Nyame Nam ‘A’ Mensuro’ goes down as a Highlife classic. The guitar groove that runs through out lends an infectious backing track to Pat Thomas’ melancholic vocals. Thomas and his accompaniment sing with a sense of nostalgia mirrored in the longing phrases of the horns, no more so when a lonely trumpet breaks from the pack to howl it’s message to the moon and sound out an understated yet beautiful solo. It’s hard not to be lulled into a state of hypnosis when listening to this yearning Ghanaian funk bomb.
Release Details:
‘Sweeter Than Honey Calypso ‘Mahuno’ and High Life’s Celebration’, Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor, Pan African Records, 1980
‘Life Stories’, Ebo Taylor, Strut Records, 2011
Remix:
Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor – ‘Ene Nyame Nam ‘A’ Mensuro’ (Henrik Schwarz Blend)
Giving ‘Ene Nyame Nam ‘A’ Mensuro’ a techno makeover and successfully reproducing the track without doing the original a disservice is a tough ask. Yet Henrik Schwarz (the remixing wizard that he is) extracts the song’s principal elements and reshuffles them into something that is dark and thumping, yet equally hypnotic. He hardwires the original groove into a twisted blend of synths, forming a bass line that gradually intensifies as it rides a train of syncopated hi hats. Gently easing in the trumpet refrain, kick drum, and finally Thomas’ enchanted vocals, the track builds towards a euphoric climax filled with futuristic beeps and blasts. This one is a late-night dancefloor belter.
Release Details:
EP on Strut Records, 2015
You can catch Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor’s original track on our recent radio show.