Secret Agent, Tony Allen's World Circuit / Nonesuch debut, is a "brilliant" and "splendid album," says a new review in PopMatters, which rates it a 9 out of 10.

Given his seminal role, with Fela Kuti, in the creation of Afrobeat, Allen "is a deservedly legendary figure in popular music history," writes reviewer Richard Elliott. "However, Allen is very much a figure of the present, as he continues to prove via recordings released under his own name and with the group responsible for The Good, The Bad & The Queen—featuring Allen, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, and Simon Tong."

Secret Agent, his latest project, "showcases Allen’s distinctive drumming style and represents his considerable skills as a producer and arranger," says Elliott. "The opening title track sets up an immediately infectious groove via the use of funk guitar and keyboards." You can watch the music video for that track and a short documentary on the making of the album at nonesuch.com/media.

Citing the political roots of Afrobeat and the ongoing struggles in Allen's home country of Nigeria, Elliott suggests that its message will remain relevant for some time to come. What's more, the music itself remains strong. "Aesthetically, it is hard to see it ever ceasing to matter; rarely has a music of resistance been so musically irresistible," he writes. "In more hopeful moments, such as those felt on hearing Secret Agent, one can imagine an end to the political project. But who would want the aesthetic one to end?"

Read the complete album review at popmatters.com.