Led by a mysterious masked singer and saxophonist who gives the band their name, Nigeria"s Lagbaja mine not only the more traditional sounds of highlife and juju, but add plenty of Afrobeat and "80s funk to the mix. While the ghost of the late Fela Kuti looms large (he"s sampled on one track), Lagbaja show more homage to American acts like the Gap Band and Roger & Zapp--even borrowing their trademark vocoder vocal sound on "Gra Gra." But the Yoruba influence also speaks strongly, merging with gospel for the powerful and conscious "Prayer for the Youth." Culled from three Nigerian releases, this makes a fascinating crossover introduction to a powerful band, and the politically potent lyrical mix of Yoruba, pidgin, and English increase its accessibility to Western audiences. Think of Lagbaja as future funk, where today meets yesterday in celebration, and you can think and dance at the same time. --Chris Nickson