Analog Africa has done a wondrous thing by introducing the world to the best of Somali music. The Dur-Dur Band was one of the best house and hotel bands in Mogadishu before the tragic civil war began, and thanks to the label’s efforts, their work is being repackaged and remastered.
Afrobeat
Various Artists – Analog Africa: Sound City Joburg – South Africa’s Township Soul 1969 – 1981 (Analog Africa Nr. 47)
We have to wait until December 4 for this release, but if the available tracks are anything to go by, it’s going to be an absolute banger. Go to the Bandcamp site and read the backstory of this album. It’s a novel read. Analog Africa has done another magnificent job Continue Reading
Mitchum Yacoub – Cumbia No Get Enemy / Walky
From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Mitchum Yacoub flips Fela Kuti’s legendary “Water No Get Enemy” into a full-force cumbia frenzy featuring a scalding 4-piece horn section. As a drummer who toured with Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Yacoub has a healthy understanding of this Afrobeat classic yet makes it entirely Continue Reading
SONS OF ZÖKU – Ëndlëss
For those of you who are fans of bands like Khruangbin, you will certainly enjoy Sons of Zöku, a band that hails from Australia. There are far more vocals here, but that funky, nearly Afrobeat-ish pulse underneath and the psychedelic vibe make this fine listening.
Nkwitchoua – Love Tones
First, an introduction to this YouTube channel. African Grooves has long been a favorite of mine, as the curators have introduced their audience to some fine, funky releases from the African continent. This particular release comes from Cameroon, and the funk/disco vibe from Nkwitchoua is wild.
Odion Livingstone – Where Are Our People
There doesn’t seem to be much info available about Odion Livingstone, but this is a nice, sunny, mellow Nigerian psych album.
Vaudou Game – Fintou
Vadou Game’s Fintou is a James Brown-tinged funky masterpiece, easily the most danceable work to come out of West Africa in a while. Respect to French record label Hot Casa Records for this one.
Various Artists – Analog Africa: Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980
“Roots Rocking Zimbabwe” is one of the many incredible compilations that Analog Africa has produced in recent years. If you’re not familiar with the label, I recommend visiting their Bandcamp site to explore the full story behind this release. Here’s a brief overview: “The 25 songs presented in this project Continue Reading
Tidiani Kone et le T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo – Tidiani Kone et le T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Over the past few years Acid Jazz has been the proud custodian of the legendary Albarika Store label, which produced some of the finest, deepest West African cuts of the last century. Based in Benin, the label was a melting point of local sounds and Continue Reading
The Brooklyn Sounds – Libre-Free
Though it has tones of underground and perhaps even a type of mafia culture (certainly the imagery of Hector Lavoe records could spread that misconception), salsa is fun music by its very nature. It’s danceable, rather passionate at times, and full of horns. The Brooklyn Sounds are a long-forgotten group Continue Reading