Elikeh, better known as Washington DC’s cross-cultural Afropop party, has just released their latest album titled Between 2 Worlds.

Released on Aug. 23, 2012 on Azalea City Recordings, Elikeh focuses their vitality and in doing so generates trendy anthems that convey expressive messages and reflective criticisms on exploitation, ignorance and cultural negligence. They infuse African rhythms with American funk and blend in reggae and blues to form new pulsing beats and thought provoking melodies. Togolese bandleader/songwriter Massama Dogo gives the album its musical messages while Malian guitar whiz Vieux Farka Toure lends his guitar prowess to many tracks along with jam guitar master John Kadlecik bringing his talent as well.

The opening track titled “No Vision,” has a cool vibe as reggae beats flow as the male vocalist emotes such important questions in a light upbeat way with lines like, “How can you lead with no vision…Do as you’re told…How can you lead us to real freedom…How can you see the misery around you.”

“Know Who You Are” is the album’s second track and it starts off with catchy drums as the male vocalist asks listeners to think about their roots and where they come from with lyrics like, “Do you know where you come from? Do you know your history? You been out for a long long time. You should know who you are.” The reverberating organ and horns make this song danceable along with making listeners think.

The third track is titled “Alonye” and features Toure on guitar. The male vocalist sings in a foreign language but Kadlecik’s purring guitar work and drumming in the background could make listeners forget that and just concentrate on swaying to the beguiling rhythm.

“Fly to the Sky” is the album’s fifth track and begins slower than the previous tracks. It has an island feel to it and its lyrics scream anthem but the calm tempo of the song could cause listeners to miss its true meaning as the male vocalist sings such powerful lines as, “Fly to the sky, fly to the rainbow. No matter where you come from. You need to fly to the rainbow. I know it’s gonna be hard, I know so hard, but you need to try. You need to fly, fly to the rainbow. You’re gonna rise straight to the top. We are gonna fight, we’ll never back down, rain or shine, night and day. Lookin’ for the light, key to freedom. No time for failure…Fly to the rainbow.” With such an uplifting message, listeners could even apply it to any obstacle that seems insurmountable then they can just crank this song up for inspiration.

The sixth song on the album is titled “Foot Soldier.” It begins with Kadlecik’s specific guitar strumming with drums complementing his play as the male vocalist sings lyrics of a man having to become a soldier to help his country with lines like, “I know where the troubles are comin’ from…I can tell why the people are angry…I know what I have to do, fight for the future…Become a soldier for the revolution.”

“Let Them Talk” is the eighth track on the album and it's another anthem that listeners could apply to their everyday lives. The lyrics speak of how people gossip and the male vocalist challenges them to do so with lines like, “Whatever you do, people talk. Whatever you say, people talk…You gotta drink, cuz you’re happy…Let em’ talk!” Kadlecik’s swift guitar mixed with drums and percussion makes this a song listeners could blast at their next block party as loud as they like and the track’s lyrics will say the rest.

The ninth track is titled “Nye’n Mino Na Wo” and features Toure on guitar yet again. Kadlecik’s magical jam guitar gives the track a whimsical course then the drums in the background bring a jazzy vibe as the male vocalist sings lyrics like, “You cannot be my friend anymore…I cannot be your friend anymore…I don’t know where your heart has gone.” Listeners will be able to hear the vocalist’s heartbreak as chanting commences in between his vocals.

In closing, Elikeh’s Between 2 Worlds is indeed an apropos title for an album that unites rhythms from one end of the world to the other. Listeners will find it difficult to stop dancing as Elikeh’s Togolese roots bring scorching grooves and musical introspection to each song.