Soundway レコード& CD

Review: Soundway presents a 7" featuring two rare tracks from Java, Indonesia, recorded in the late 60s. On one side, Rully Djohan delivers a psychedelic organ version of 'Bubuj Bulan', a classic Indonesian song by Benny Corda. On the other side, Munif sings a raw funk tune in Arabic called 'Naghm El Uns'. It amounts to nothing less than a fascinating glimpse into the diverse musical scene of Java at the time.

Review: Blending reggae, disco, soul, funk and roots - comes the reissue of the highly sought-after 7" from 1979 by Gypsy Fari, the first known reggae outfit from Chicago, born in the south side of the city after a chance meeting between St Kitts expat Leroy Webster and local music graduate Kevin Coleman. The pair set out to blur the boundaries of genre with their unique brand of music, spearheaded by Webster's Caribbean roots and fused with the soul and blues of the midwest.On the A-side, 'Chi-Town Reggae' springs out the gate with fast-paced disco-reggae, powered by a relentless rhythm section and Webster's infectious vocal melody. On the flip, 'Hail Jah' is a swaggering, deep roots reggae cut that pays homage to Webster's heritage - which he wrote on the hilltops of the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica.

Review: Soundway brings the West Indian funk from 1977 on the new and raw double-sider. King Wellington's 'Shango' goes first and is a tune taken from his Sooner Or Later album. It now finally makes it onto 45rom for the first time and is inspired by the ritual from which it takes its name with roots in Yoruba culture and hints of Calypso music all powered by hypnotic bass with Wellington's signature vocal adding to this unique Caribbean blend. Canadian musician Tony Springer fronts the B-side cut 'Mystery Man' which is a dreamy and psyched-out trip with electric keys and floating horns.

Review: Edits in the hole! Two Afrofunk gems enjoy floor-primed refocuses: Steve Monite's Doing It In Lagos-featured "Only You" gets a little juice from Sofrito's Frankie Francis who really brings the bass out in proceedings. Meanwhile on the B Nick The Record and Idjut Boy Dan Tyler tweak the energy and sheen of Tabu Ley Rochereau's "Hafi Disco" as the drums are given a little more momentum and the chorus and horns are really brought to the centre of the action. Stunning.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Edits in the hole! Two Afrofunk gems enjoy floor-primed refocuses: Steve Monite's Doing It In Lagos-featured "Only You" gets a little juice from Sofrito's Frankie Francis who really brings the bass out in proceedings. Meanwhile on the B Nick The Record and Idjut Boy Dan Tyler tweak the energy and sheen of Tabu Ley Rochereau's "Hafi Disco" as the drums are given a little more momentum and the chorus and horns are really brought to the centre of the action. Stunning.

Review: Recorded in a single weekend, 'Yagana' is a choice afro-disco and synth collab from Margate 5-piece Pigeon. With the band drunkenly forming after a pub session, it's got Guinean singer Falle Nioke heading up frontman duties, while Graham Godfrey on drums, Steve Pringle on keys, Tom Dream on guitar and Josh Ludlow on bass take up phat instrumental space. The result is a cosmic space jam and call into a cold universe, facing eternity with a friendly, synthy, and even grungy sonic greeting: "it's been a while".

Review: Sai Galaxy is a collective that draws inspiration and influence from 70s and 80s Nigerian artists such as Nkono Teles, Jake Sollo and Mike Umoh. Australian multi-instrumentalist Simon Durrington leads the way with Olugbade Okunade - former trumpet player from Seun Kuti's Egypt 80 - as well and guests Gabriel Otu, Ray Ledon and Vanessa Baker also playing on these sessions. There is everything from West African funk to a touch of psychedelia, with dance floor ready tunes like 'Get It In The Sun' irresistible to all who hear it.

Review: The Yoruba Singers reinterpreted Guyana folk music and infused it with Afro-roots and culture on this double A-side 7". Now for the first time every it gets reissued on vinyl. This release came a year after the group's debut album Ojinga's Own and were recorded in Barbados and released on the Green Shrimp label. They were big regional has with dancers lapping the grooves throughout the Caribbean and South America. The sounds are said to be the building blocks for what went on to become known as the Champeta Criolla sound in the Caribbean coast of Colombia.