A New Mix on Afrobeat Grooves

Afrobeat, a danceable blend of James Brown-influenced funk, traditional African styles, jazz and soul, is usually credited to the late, iconic Nigerian bandleader Fela Kuti. But the architect of that ‘60s-born style was actually Kuti’s longtime drummer and musical director, Tony Allen, whose own new group, Psyco on Da Bus, offered an updated twist on that sound at the Knitting Factory Thursday.

Rather than a full-tilt, sweat-till-you-drop fest, the 61-year-old Allen, sampler and turntablist Doctor L (a.k.a. Liam Farrell), bassist Cesar Anot and keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary crafted journey-to-inner-space grooves that amounted to a head trip for your body.

The band formed a tight group on stage, allowing the players to easily cue off Allen throughout the 90-minute set. This configuration also reflected the introverted nature of the percussive tunes, which ranged from celebratory to pensive. They bore heavier jazz and dub flavors than Kuti’s work, but often were just as sprawling and hypnotic.

Thanks to Doctor L, a solo artist and producer in his own right, the music had a techno-delic intensity while also incorporating more genteel electronica styles such as trip-hop and ambient groove. Indeed, although such selections from the group’s self-titled 2001 debut as “Afropusherman” did at times evoke Kuti in their straight-ahead polyrhythmic funkiness, the insular vibe of it all wouldn’t have been out of place at a rave.

In fact, the show had the feeling of live mixology, like a DJ set with instruments.