Africa Airways Four (Disco Funk Touchdown - 1976 - 1983)

Africa Airways Four (Disco Funk Touchdown - 1976 - 1983)

Africa 7

The ever-impressive Africa 7 are regulars to this blog for good reason. The very finest sounds from Africa reissued, licensed and collected in exciting, relevant compilations is always likely to score big points over here.

The fourth installment of their Africa Airways series amps up the Disco-Funk at the expense of the Psych nuggest in episode 3, and hosts luminous figures like Tala AM, Manu Dibango and Charly Kingson alongside names less internationally known but no less exceptional if this comp is anything to go by!

Available at all good stockists - Juno here or Bandcamp here

Mr Bongo Record Club - Volume 2

Mr Bongo Record Club - Volume 2

Mr Bongo

As far as feverishly anticipated follow ups go, Mr Bongo's sophomore Record Club release is up there with Stranger Things, Blade Runner and the next round of charges to be levelled at the Drumpf administration.

Speaking of feverish, what better word to describe Elbernita 'Zwinkie' Star's Awake O Zion, an Afro-tinged Disco juggernaut that sets the tone for a right old party. That's just what is in store here, 14 tracks (or 18 if you cop the CD version) of infectious African and Latin grooves and rump-rattling rumpus, all influenced by the global Disco phenomenon that swept the globe around the time of these recordings.

Volume One sold out in minutes and was picked by Lauren Laverne as her album of the day on 6 Music. This time round, we've got even more Disco and Soul in favour of a few more traditional sounds, which is marvellous news for anyone throwing a dancing party. 

Highlights are many but Kiru Stars (Julius Kang’ethe) by Family Planning is sublime, while Dee Edwards' Put Your Love On the Line stands out, not only as the only American track featured, but as a bona fide stomper. Elias Rahbani And His Orchestra's Liza… Liza is also particularly curious - is it Bollywood? Genuinely not sure. Anyway, it's all bloody brilliant, go buy.

TRACKLIST (VINYL 2-LP): A1. Elbernita ‘twinkie’ Clark – Awake O Zion (full length, original version) / A2. Dee Edwards – Put Your Love On The Line / A3. Anubis – Ecology / B1. Guy Cuevas – Ebony Game / B2. Kiru Stars (Julius Kang’ethe) – Family Planning / B3. Teaspoon & The Waves – Oh Yeh Soweto / C1. Leny Andrade – Não Adianta / C2. Rosa Maria – Samba Maneiro / C3. Tom & Dito – Obrigado Corcovado / C4. Inezita Barroso – Maracatu Elegante / C5. Joao Diaz – Capoeira / C6. The Equatics – Merry Go Round / D1. Elias Rahbani And His Orchestra – Liza… Liza / D2. The Beaters – Harari

TRACKLIST, (CD): 1. Luiz Henrique – Mas Que Nada / 2. Elbernita ‘twinkie’ Clark – Awake O Zion / 3. Guy Cuevas – Ebony Game / 4. Kiru Stars (Julius Kang’ethe) – Family Planning / 5. Kelenkye Band – Jungle Music / 6. Effi Duke & The Love Family – The Time Is Come / 7. Anubis – Ecology / 8. Dee Edwards – Put Your Love On The Line / 9. Teaspoon & The Waves – Oh Yeh Soweto / 10. Oby Onyioha – Enjoy Your Life / 11. Leny Andrade – Não Adianta / 12. Rosa Maria – Samba Maneiro / 13. Tom & Dito – Obrigado Corcovado / 14. Inezita Barroso – Maracatu Elegante / 15. Joao Diaz – Capoeira / 16. Elias Rahbani And His Orchestra – Liza… Liza / 17. The Beaters – Harari / 18. The Equatics – Merry Go Round

Los Camaroes - Resurrection (Analog Africa Records)

Los Camaroes - Resurrection
Analog Africa 

Brand new on Analog Africa... Los Camaroes were huge stars in their native Cameroon in the 70s. This album was lovingly remastered and licensed for reissue and is an infectiously happy, delightful slice of music history. Analog Africa have applied a customarily thorough description which I can't really add to, so have a listen and enjoy the liner notes below:

* The electrifying final album from Cameroon's legendary Los Camaroes, available on LP for the first time since 1979. 

* Recorded live to two track at the Mango Bar in Yaoundé, Resurrection Los was the last collaboration between bandleader Jean Gabari and groundbreaking guitarist Messi Martin. 

* Deluxe LP reissue features notes on the history of the band by original keyboardist Mbambo "Johnny Cosmos" Simon, plus all new interviews with producer Nicolas Mongué and engineer Emmanuel Guyssot. 

Cameroon, 1978: it's like any good western movie. A man drifts through the plains at the furthest edge of the country in search of two former gunslingers, hoping to coax them out of retirement for one last showdown. Except this time, the weapons are guitars and the gunslingers are Jean Gabari and Messi Martin – the calm sheriff and his hot-headed deputy – who had led the band Los Camaroes to superstardom at the beginning of the decade. 

Los Camaroes emerged at the end of the 1960s from the town of Maroua in the northern, predominantly Islamic area of Cameroon. After changes in name, in lineup and in management, they worked their way south to the capital to make a name for themselves; in the span of only a few years they changed Cameroon's music scene forever, leaving a trail of sold-out nightclubs and monster radio hits in their wake. Then, at the height of their popularity, they broke up. 

The band had been led from the beginning by Jean Gabari, whose level-headedness and even-handedness inspired the respect and devotion of his musicians. But it was Gabari's alchemical collaborations with guitarist Messi Martin that drove the band to its greatest heights. Martin had developed an innovation that would earn him fame throughout Cameroon as the "king of Bikutsi", as Johnny Cosmos explains: 

"The primary instrument in Bikutsi is the balafon, and Messi came up with a trick that consisted of chewing small pieces of paper until they reached the right consistency and then stuck them between the strings of the guitar. This trick, which made a guitar sound like a balafon, catapulted him to stardom and turned him into the founder of Modern Bikutsi." (Check the song "Bezimbi" to hear Messi Martin´s wizardry on a Bikutsi tune) 

Martin's extraordinary talents were matched by a character of great unpredictability. He had been lured away from the band before by the promise of success and, in 1975, when Los Camaroes were at the peak of their power, he left them once again. Gabari tried to keep the band going, but his own longstanding battles with ill health eventually forced him to return to his hometown. With Gabari and Martin gone, the rest of the musicians drifted away in search of other gigs. By 1978, Los Camaroes were no more than a rapidly fading memory. 

But then came the resurrection. 

From out of nowhere, a businessman named Atangana Joseph appeared in northern Cameroon. His goal: to track down the original members of Los Camaroes and get them back together for their one final shot at immortality. The musicians reconvened at the legendary Mango Bar in the capital city of Yaoundé, the very place where, years earlier, they had established their reputation as one of Cameroon's most fearsome live bands. 

Producer Nicolas Mongué and engineer Emmanuel Guyssot were called in from Douala to record what was being billed as a comeback album. There was talk of going into a studio, but Los Camaroes had always thrived on the energy of the nightclub scene; they decided instead to record it live to two-track in the Mango Bar. 

The six tracks on the album were performed by a mixture of new recruits and veterans from the original Camaroes lineup – including Mpouli "Dodo" Emmanuel on Guitars, Boloko Michel on Bass, Eyango Claude on Organ, the percussion duo of Ndi Bellui and Enama Leon, and vocal contributions from Sala Bekono Joseph and Ngoebang Jean Marie – but the urgent rhythms and shimmering guitars sound like a band who simply picked up where they had left off. It seemed that everyone on the record was inspired by the exhuberant reunion between Martin and Gabari, the two magicians from which Los Camaroes had been born and born again 

The album, Resurrection Los Vol. 1, was completed in only a few days. There would be no Volume 2. The music that emerged during the Mango Bar sessions was the culmination of a fifteen year musical bond between Gabari and Martin, and what was supposed to be a comeback album ended up being a last testament — Gabari would die only a few years later and Martin, without his foil, would never find the same level of musical success. Even at the time, these two titans of Cameroon's music scene seemed to realise it would be the last time they would ever work together. The resurrection of Los Camaroes was short-lived … but it produced a masterpiece. 

The Analog Africa Dance Edition reissue of "Resurrection Los" was designed by Kathrin Remest and remastered by Frank Merritt at the Carvery and comes with a wonderful poster housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve featuring the story of the band as told by original keyboardist Mbambo "Johnny Cosmos" Simon, as well as new interviews with the production team who supervised the now legendary Mango Bar sessions. This essential slab of Cameroon's musical history, previously unreleased outside of Africa, is available on LP for the first time since 1979. 

Antonio Adolfo - Viralata (Reissue)

Antonio Adolfo                                                       

Viralata [1979] (Mr Bongo)                         

A seriously tasty Brazilian classic lovingly repressed by Mr Bongo. Fans of Deodato, Roy Ayers and decent Bossa Nova will love it.

Far Out reissue of this all-time classic from Antonio Adolfo. An essential Brazilian LP touching on jazz, soul, fusion and Samba. The opening track 'Cascavel', is a song that we have hammered over the years – a 'London Jazz Classic' and a favourite from Saturday night sessions at Plastic People.

SIDE A – 1.Cascavel / 2. Paraiba Do Sul / 3. Brincadeira Em Ré / 4. Brincadeira Em Mi Bemol / 5. Caminhada / 6. Vermelhinho // SIDE B – 1. Nordeste / 2. Alegria De Carnaval / 3. Diana E Paulo / 4. Vira-lata / 5. Assanhada / 6. A Marcha 

Out September 9th from Mr Bongo https://www.mrbongo.com/products/antonio-adolfo-viralata-1979-vinyl-lp

The Eminent Stars - Bar Shift

Release date: 1 September 2017

Genre: Funk / Soul / R&B

Label: Tramp Records

Format(s): 7" EP / Digital

Cat #: TR1043

The Eminent Stars were founded by saxophonist Ben Mendes and drummer Toon Oomen. They both share the love for the great music emerging from cities like New Orleans in the ‘60s and ‘70s: Dr. John, Freddie King, The Meters and many more! Just mix up some soul, rhythm & blues, funk and blues and there you have it: a sound that consists of authentic elements: danceable, intriguing, vibrant and fresh!

Their debut Sittin' In With was released in February 2014, accompanied by a single. In the past three years The Eminent Stars heavily toured in their home country Netherlands and in Europe. They kept writing new songs and here we go with two new, fresh cuts. “Bar Shift” features guest vocalist Bruce James while “Brown Thang” is a smokin' blues-funk instrumental. These two sides give you an excellent foretaste of their second full-length album, scheduled for release in early 2018.

Check out this awesome live performance on video 

 

Pre-order now available from the Tramp Bandcamp store
https://tramprecords.bandcamp.com/album/pre-order-bar-shift-b-w-brown-thang

Charity Shop Gem of the Week 10 - The Neutrons - Black Hole Star

Not to be confused with Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun, I stumbled across The Neutron's Black Hole Star on a recent flea-market rummage, and mainly bought it because tyhe cover is all silvery and spacey. Current obsession with space-pop and synthy-psychedlia meant I was compelled.
What actually comes out of the speakers when needle hits groove is quite unexpected. Where I expected to hear Moogs and Mellotrons I basically get traditional Prog Rock arrangements. Which is fine, and some of the songs are really good. But I was a bit disappointed.
It is, nevertheless, a gem... the album works as an opus, each song leading into the next in a really pleasant way, and there are some lovely changes of pace. It's not John Keating, but it is rather good. Plus it's got a song called Dance of the Psychedelic Lounge Lizards. Which can't not be a good thing.
Best track: Mermaid and Chips

Pick up a copy yourself here

Baballah Loves Turkey

An excellent mix for your ears here, from a chap known as Baballah.
Here's what he has to say about it:

"Since I started to try and collect vinyl records from a large array of cultural spaces around the globe, I've had a couple of big surprises. The music of Turkey's 70's has been one of the biggest ones. So modern, so funky, so psychedelic and yet sofaithfull to its roots!! As usual the tracks you will discover in this selection are not taken on compilations or re-edits, although I am sure that some of the tracks here have been reedits by labels doing a wonderfull job... Electric Saz, Mad darbukas, sometimes Davul or Zurna, Big Breaks, sick Hiphop samples...the list of the discoveries is long for the ones who do not know yet how it's like to listen to Turkish Psych. For the others, I hope the selection will be good enough to please the good connoisseurs. Enjoy!!"

We think the selection is very much good enough and entreat you to give it a listen. 

Babaliah Loves Turkey by Babaliah on Mixcloud

If you check out Baballah on Mixcloud you'll find many more wonderful mixes. This guy knows his records!

17.Akla karayi sectim

byErsen ve Dadaslar

Kojak - 2 Exciting Stories! (Charity Shop Gem of the Week)

Now we're talking... a great example of the kind of bonkers but undeniably cool records that can be found in bargain buckets if you keep your eyes peeled.

This is one of many storybook/record sets I've picked up over the years (almost all without the book)

Littered with great quotes, sound effects and soundbites, all in an ultra-cool New York drawl, with some ridiculous characters and plots that just about make sense... what's not to like?

Tullio De Piscopo - Suonando La Batteria Moderna

I wasn't sure whether to put this in 'Reissue of the Week' but Dan says he's got a jaffer so I'll leave that one to him and stick it here... 

This one is just essential for any producers or percussion enthusiasts... a high quality reissue of a 'holy grail' drum break compilation. I've got a fair few of these Drum Library type records and I've got to be honest, this one is the best by far. The recordings are quality yet rugged and rough, while the rhythms are explosive and super, super funky throughout. It's a touch expensive at £29.99, but I can't wait to get these breaks into the sampler and start enhancing my beats. 

Want it? Buy it from Juno Records here

Philly Re-Grooved: The Tom Moulton Remixes: Special Vinyl Edition - Great Deal!

Well, what do we have here? The inaugural, debut, first ever CMFCP post, that's what. POW, better make it a goodie.

Hopefully this is just that - I've picked up a rather beautiful looking box set collection of legendary Philly Remixer Tom Moulton's finest mixes. Now, for those who don't know, Tom Moulton is the inventor of the remix. Yes, I know, it seems implausible that one guy could invent something that is so embedded in our musical landscape, but that's exactly what he did.

Using reel to reel tapes he manually chopped and spliced disco hits of the time to get them just right for the dancefloor... and in doing so, inspired millions of future DJs and producers to do the same.

This collection has some absolute belters including the above. And what's also made my day is that this set is currently reduced over at Demon Music Group. You'll find it on Amazon for £70+, but Demon have it for £34.99, which is quite a saving.