Into The Fire: An African Mix

Monday, November 30, 2009

M y first exposure to African music (and I think this is true for a lot of people) was Fela Kuti. His records regularly, albeit inaccurately, show up in funk bins and through the years I’ve obtained a bunch of his titles. Ignorantly, I thought that Fela Kuti was the end of the road for African music and it wasn’t until many years later that I realized Africa has one of the richest music histories; Kuti was just the gateway drug.

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My infatuation with African music started a little over a year ago when I stumbled upon a comp called Ghana Soundz released by UK based Soundway Records. The comp explored rare, and for many, previously unheard of afro-beat, afro-funk and afro-fusion sounds from Ghana. I had also recently discovered Voodoo Funk, Frank Gossner’s blog documenting his time living in Africa with the sole mission of re-discovering Africa’s long lost archives of music. In some cases he sourced and found many of the artists who’s records he unearthed in dusty basements and abandoned warehouses. The stories of his travels are fascinating enough to write a book about, and in actuality, director Leigh Iacobucci followed Gossner during some of his time in Africa and will be releasing a documentary called Take Me Away Fast (see trailer below).

“Take Me Away Fast” Trailer from Leigh Iacobucci on Vimeo.

Frank also has a ton of mixes up on his blog highlighting some of his African finds. Some of my favorites are his Big Beats, Sweet Talks, and Psychedelic Aliens, Everybody Get Down and African Heat mixes, although they are all pretty fantastic. I’ve learned a lot from his blog and mixes alone, not to mention scored a bunch of great African titles from him. He also has had his hand in a number of reissue projects, including the amazing reissue of Pax Nicholas’ uber rare solo album, Na Teef Know the Road of Teef.

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Everyone seems to be catching on to the hypnotic quality of African music as Soundway continues to release superb compilations (their latest Ghana Special is a must have) as well as Analog Africa, who’s comps are amongst the best across any genre. Academy Records has also recently reissued three rare African records, Ofege’s Try and Love, one of the best psychedelic Afro records out there, as well as SJOB Movement’s A Move in the Right Direction and Mebusas’ Blood Brothers. These compilations and reissues are a great place to start exploring the depths of African music, although I must warn you: addiction may ensue.

For the past year I’ve focused most of my attention on African records, and to punctuate this post I’ve made my first African mix. There is no real focus to this mix, just tracks that I dig and think may be a good introduction to the African sound. I am by no means an expert on African music, but strongly believe that stuff like this needs to be preserved, remembered and heard by anyone willing to listen. I hope you enjoy it.

Download Into the Fire

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Into the Fire Tracklisting:
01. Bob Pinodo – Africa
(from Show Master of Africa, 1978)
02. Uhuru Dance Band – Biribi
(from The Sound of Africa, 1975)
03. Bunzu Soundz – Zinabu
(from Bunzu Soundz, 1977)
04. Ogyatanaa – Akosua Manu
(from Yerefrefre, 1975)
05. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou – Minsatole Mi Dayi Homin
(from Volume 1, 1972/1983)
06. Orchestre Picoby Band – Jo Ahi Nou Se
(from Jo Ahi Nou Se/Vikoue 7″, 197?)
07. The Big Beats – Kyenkyema
(from Kyenkyema/Mi Nsumoo Bo Donn 7″, 197?)
08. K Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu
(from Self Titled, 1976)
09. Ebo Taylor – Heaven
(from Self Titled, 1978)
10. Sweet Talks – Eyi Su Ngaangaa
(from The Kusum Beat, 1976)
11. Dan Satch – Je Nr’okan
(from Je Nr’okan/Woman Pin Down 7″, 1971)
12. Avolonto Honore – Na Mi Do Gbe Hue Nu
(from La Mort N’a Pas De Date Fixe, 197?)
13. The Funkees – Break Through
(from Break Through/Slipping Into Darkness 7″, 197?)
14. One World – I Need Your Help
(from Victory, 197?)
15. The Apostles – Play Girl
(from Self Titled, 197?)
16. SJOB Movement – You Only Live Once
(from A Move in the Right Direction, 197?)
17. Thony Shorby Nwenyi – No Wrong Show
(from Sweet Funk Music, 1978)
18. Akeeb Kareem – Tomorrow
(from Blackman, 1972)


Clipse – “I’m Good (Remix)” feat Rick Ross

Tuesday, November 24, 2009


Somewhere in Africa

Friday, November 20, 2009

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Somewhere in Africa is this room filled with records…… My man Frank from Voodoo Funk sent me these photos of an untapped cache of records one of his buyers in Africa found. One can only imagine how long they’ve been there and what circumstances brought them there. Regardless, this is the type of thing record collectors dream of, and nowadays rarely happens. It’s sad to see so much music disposed of like this, but luckily it’s all being excavated and shipped off to the states where they will find new homes and new ears. Again, stay tuned for an African mix. Hopefully I can get to it this weekend.

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Freedom Funk

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

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I posted this album up on Soulstrut for their Record Day a few weeks ago and thought I’d put it up here for people to enjoy. It’s one of my favorite African records and is relatively unknown as far as I can tell. I first heard of them listening to Voodoo Funk’s Big Beats, Sweet Talks & Psychedelic Aliens mix and remember hearing that intro bass line to “Holy Worshipping” and thinking it was Eric B And Rakim’s “Paid in Full.” Off the strength of that track alone I searched high and low for a copy and when I finally tracked one down I was amazed to find that the entire album is pretty much an end to end burner. You can listen to “Holy Worshipping” below and download the entire album here. Enjoy!

Freedom Family – Tracklisting:
01. Lala Li (Happy Song)
02. Life
03. Holy Worshipping
04. Good Times
05. Ayentsoo (Woman)
06. Love Affair
07. Yensuro (No Fears)
08. Lover’s Garden
09. The Last Thing


Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds, Ghanaian Blues 1968 – 1981

Friday, November 13, 2009

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Soundways latest African comp, Ghana Special, is probably their most impressive package to date. It comes in either a 2 CD or 5LP box set of 33 original and previously un-reissued tracks from Ghana. The project took nearly ten years of on-going research in and around the cities of Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, Takoradi and Kumasi, knocking on musician’s doors and visiting ex-distributors, DJs, collectors, manufacturers and shop owners who helped piece the story together. The CD comes with a 44-page booklet filled with history, photos and original record scans. An amazing accomplishment and comes highly highly recommended. Check the sample below.

CD 1:

1. The Mercury Dance Band – Kai Wawa
2. T. O. Jazz – Owuo Adaadaa Me
3. Christy Azuma & Uppers International – Din Ya Sugri
4. The Barbecues – Aaya Lolo
5. Asaase Ase – Ohiani Sua Efir
6. St. Peter & The Holymen – Bofoo Beye Abowa Den
7. City Boys Band – Nya Asem Hwe
8. Hedzoleh Soundz – Edinya Benya
9. The Cutlass Dance Band – HweHwe Mu Yi Mpena
10. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings – Sei Nazo
11. Kyeremateng Atwede & The Kyeremateng Stars – I Go Die For You
12. Vis a Vis – Obi Agye Me Dofo
13. Ebo Taylor – Twer Nyame (excerpt)
14. The Big Beats – Mi Nsum
15. Pa Steeles African Brothers – Odo Mmera
16. The Ogyatanaa Show Band – You Monopolise Me

CD 2:

1. The African Brothers International Band – Wompe Masem
2. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Creations – Akoko Ba
3. The Sweet Talks – Akampanye
4. Houghas Sorowonko – Enuanom Adofo
5. Oscar Sulley’s Nzele Soundz – Bukom
6. Bokoor Band – You Can Go
7. K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas – Kyenkyen Bi Adi MAwu
8. Basa Basa Soundz feat. Fela Anikulapo Kuti – Dr. Solutsu
9. Pagadeja – Tamale
10. Hedzolleh Soundz – Omusus Da Fe M’musu
11. The Uhuru Dance Band – Yahyia Mu
12. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings – Noble Kings (Yako Aba)
13. The Wellis Band – Bindiga
14. Boombaya – Boombaya
15. Sawaaba Soundz – Owuo
16. The Cutlass Dance Band – Them Go Talk Of You
17. Honny & The Bees Band – Sisi Mbon

Basa Basa Band

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Freedom Rhythm & Sound: Revolutionary Jazz Cover Art

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

frs

Over the years, radio personality and DJ Gilles Peterson has unearthed a number of underground jazz albums, and his passion for the music has finally translated into his new book, Freedom Rhythm & Sound: Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-83. The collection focuses on albums of the spiritual, free and afrocentric variety from labels like BYG/Actuel, Strata East, Nimbus, ESP, and artists including Sun Ra, Phil Cohran, Pharoah Sanders, Prince Lasha, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Lloyd McNeill and Marcus Belgrave. The collection is not only visually stunning, but also serves as a historical document, capturing a point in time when many artists sought freedom and black empowerment through their music.

And when you get tired of  looking, you can also listen with the CD or 2-volume LP which will be available soon. Highly recommended.

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Vinyl People

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Vinyl People from Howard Silver on Vimeo.


Stefan Glerum

Monday, November 2, 2009

I first heard of Stefan Glerum’s work from his painfully honest series of illustrations depicting the pitfalls of record collecting entitled Crate Digging Don’t Do It. I stumbled upon his site today and was pleasantly surprised to find a bunch of new work, a lot of it related to the world of records and DJing. His style reminds me a bit of Gary Larson’s Far Side work, with a little more detail and depth. I especially love his pencil drawings, but his work with color is nice as well. You can check out more of his work here.

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