Rocafort Spain レコード& CD

Review: Mampon unleash their latest Afrobeat enchantment on a new 7" release. 'Si Algun Dia Has De Caer' is a clean, bouncing neo-Afrobeat whirlwind, combining the infectious vocals of Spanish singer Hector Rodriguez with a dynamic backup production that is as irresistible as it is ineluctable. The B-side pares back the dance and pierces the political veil, with a Spanish-language plea to listeners to carve out their own paths in life, regardless of cost.

Review: Brass meets hip-hop on this swaggalicious new single from, yes, you guessed it, the Hip Horns Brass Collective. Boasting over eight band members, HHBC have also enlisted the special trumpet chops of local Italian jazz great Tito Bonacera, as well as the production talent of one HOSS$ Benitez, to produce two slow-sauntering, fat, swelling brass clangers. 'Thunder' steals the A, while 'Marathon Runner' is an intriguing, audiophilic and minimal turnover.

Review: Germany's Mighty Mocambos are one of the flagship funk outfits on the scene right now and this new 45rpm on Rocafort Records shows why. It was recorded live on tape during the Queen 16 B-Girl battle in Berlin back in 2022. Opener 'International Cypher' brings a fresh take on funk with oriental overtones thanks to an electric Phin, which is a Thai guitar, being heavily deployed throughout over bristling drums that are raw and hit hard. On the flip, 'Queen 16 Theme' is more lively and loose limbed with a jumble of drums and expressive horns leading the charge.

Review: Spanish reissue label Rocafort present this wonderful slice of highlife from Konkolo Orchestra, this time on nice blue wax as well as a plain black version. It's not exactly clear where, or indeed when, exactly the band came from, but their sound is all you need to worry about. 'Blue G' is a lilting, shuffling message of love and support for future generations, and from the message to the effervescent musicality, it's a no-brainer. On the flip, 'That Good Thing' is an instrumental that spirals outwards on the sweetest keys, joyous brass and dreamy guitar, driven by a pattering drum section to radiate good vibes wherever it's played.

Review: Spanish-born, Swiss-based reissue label Rocafort invite Sabrosa to lay down some instrumental, funkified grooves in homage the mighty Beastie Boys. On the A side of this little 7" we get 'Sure Pow' an organ and wah-wah guitar soaked expansion on the iconic licks that define all-time classic 'Sure Shot'. On the B-side we get 'Tangerine Shot', a sweetly dubbed cover version of 'Suco De Tangerina' from the Beastie's 2007 album The Mix-Up. Both versions travel some distance from the source material, making this much more than an affectionate rip off. If you dig on sunkissed instrumental funk, this is a surefire selection to slip in a bag of sevens.

Review: The popular Spanish ensemble Pyramid Blue come back, and do so in brilliantly fantastic fashion with this red-hot new 7" featuring a captivating mix of Afrofunk and Ethio Jazz. Oscar Martos is the composer and producer who heads up this group and is fresh off big collabs with Tito Ramirez. He manages to draw from modern sounds as well as classic genre tropes here and push both into all new ground with 'Lince Rojo' opening up with an enchanting lead and raw rhythms. On the B-side, 'Doctor One' brings a hint of hip hop edge to psyched-out guitars and cosmic synths.

Review: Various cumbia compilations are jostling for the limelight at present, but perhaps one of the headsier ones to potentially divert your attention is this latest from Rocafort. This time diving into the Discos Tropical Records vaults, the label bring together a compelling six-track array of Latin fruits, with songs from Pacho Galan Y Su Orquesta, Cuarteto Del Monaco and Andres Landero Y Su Conjunto all in tow. The second of the Cumbia Sabrosa series, these are readymade, tailored soundsystem bangers, doing thorough justice to the woofers despite their now vintage rust n' dust.

Review: The love affair between Colombia and African music tracks back to the 17th Century and the establishment of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in colonial Latin America which offered refuge and commune for Black slaves. It was a place where African culture could thrive and joyously intermingle with local customs, and centuries later the Afro-Caribbean communities in Colombia established their own twist on Jamaican soundsystem culture in the 20th Century known as 'picos', where styles such as Kenyan Benga music were able to wow crowds on homemade rigs. This compilation takes a loving look at the unique guitar-picking style which developed its own distinct qualities that could only come from one time and place at the intersection of vibrant cultures.