New releases this week: All genres

Review: Originally released in 1976, this landmark outing from Nigeria’s Lijadu Sisters marked their first major international push — a radical soul-funk statement laced with political edge. Opening with the bass-heavy swagger of ‘Danger’, it immediately sets the tone: sharp vocals, warm analogue grit, and tight, hypnotic percussion from a mix of trap drums and traditional Yoruba rhythms. ‘Amebo’ carries sly social commentary over organ stabs and polyrhythms, while ‘Life’s Gone Down Low’ fuses soul’s gospel cadences with simmering Afrobeat grooves — the same track that would later be sampled by Nas. But it’s ‘Cashing In’ that cuts deepest: an indictment of exploitation and capitalist decay wrapped in funk guitar and layered harmony. Producer Biddy Wright’s fingerprints are everywhere — from the soft hand percussion to the open mixdown that lets the sisters’ vocals soar and slide in perfect unison. This reissue makes clear how far ahead of their time they were, offering an Afro-psychedelic protest record that still rings out with clarity.