Politik – Jeff & Gramacks, 1981

It was under the name Jeff & Gramacks that Politik was released in 1981. In case anyone hadn’t noticed, Jeff Joseph was the frontman… And there’s nothing to throw away on this militant opus, subtitled « Save Humanity ». The Gramacks’ fiery cadence/compass sets the pace from the opening track, before we plunge into the groovy – and irresistible – slow song Garder Débar. Then it’s on to Africa with the soukous Afro-cadence of Africa ‘We Love You’, followed by Doctor Soucou’s zouk, a foreshadowing of Jeff Joseph’s Volt-Face cover with Soukouyan. The rest is just as good, with even a few rock flashes in the guitar choruses. In short, this is a vintage Gramacks album that should not be ignored, even if reggae is absent for once!