Although performed by former members of the Los Angeles doo wop group
the Valiants, produced by
Lou Adler and titled in response to
the Band's classic
Music from Big Pink, Africa's
Music from "Lil Brown" defies its pedigree by delivering Latin-tinged psychedelic soul covers of some of the era's biggest pop hits. Credit all involved with pushing and pulling these familiar songs to their breaking points. Africa's instrumental renditions of
the Rolling Stones' "Paint It, Black" and
the Doors' "Light My Fire" significantly expand upon the psychedelic elements of the originals, and even more unlikely fare like "Louie, Louie" and "Ode to Billie Joe" also proves surprisingly ripe for lysergic interpretation. Equally noteworthy is the relentless conga drumming that galvanizes virtually every cut -- excellent, imaginative stuff. ~ Jason Ankeny