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Description
**Antibalas' *Where the Gods are in Peace*** arrives in 2017 as a deliberate, deliberate-minded Afrobeat offering that refuses the usual commercial compromises. Founded in 1998 by Martín Perna, the Brooklyn-based collective has always looked back to Fela Kuti's African roots while forging a New York-centric sound. On this album, the group abandons conventional song structures in favor of three monumental compositions stretching between ten and fifteen minutes each, inviting the listener into a marathon journey through percussion-heavy rhythms and politically charged lyrics.
The album's sparse three-track format is a bold artistic statement, rejecting the modern album of endless filler in favor of depth and cohesion. Collaborators include alto saxophonist Morgan Price, backing vocals from Abena Koomson and Domenica Fossati, and the featured vocals of Zap Mama on "Tombstown, Pt. 1." The result is a cohesive, spiritually resonant listening experience that honors Afrobeat's political legacy while finding a modern, diasporic voice. As the Bandcamp page notes, the album pays respect to the forefathers of Afrobeat with its long-form compositions and traditional instrumentation.
Released via Daptone Records in September 2017, *Where the Gods are in Peace* functions as both a tribute and a continuation. It doesn't attempt to capture a mythical "peace" so much as it insists that peace is a hard-won, active pursuit, reflected in the album's title and lyrics. For vinyl collectors and Afrobeat purists, this remains an essential late-career statement from a group that has consistently challenged expectations, refusing to dilute its sound for crossover appeal. It's an uncompromising, expansive work that rewards patient listening.
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Sources:
1. [Where the Gods Are In Peace - Antibalas | Bandcamp](https://antibalas.bandcamp.com/album/where-the-gods-are-in-peace)
2. [Antibalas | Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibalas)
3. [Daily Bandcamp: Album of the Day: Antibalas, "Where the Gods Are At Peace"](https://daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/antibalas-where-the-gods-are-at-peace-review)
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