Review: After two 45s on Les Disques Bongo Joe, Dutch Afrofunk space cadets make their debut on Soundway with their first full EP. Hurling all their roots and inspirations into a heady, bewitching brew of west African, Columbian, Caribbean, Latin and all-round cosmic fusion, the results are four slabs of world funk gold. "Down In The Basement" updates highlife styles with a salubrious big-bottomed disco twist, "The Opposite" ups the tempo with a little more cumbia charm while "Continue The Fun" adds a dub mentality to the mix as we're chugged to oblivion with heads down introspection. Finally "Tuto Bay" closes somewhere on a Cuban beach with rum-warmed harmonies. Beautiful.
Review: ARN4L2's first-ever solo vinyl project is a doozy. Across five cuts he looks to the dance floor from his own unique perspective and mixes up Congolese soukous, Colombian Bullerengue, Nigerian highlife, Caribbean soca, and good old house music. His style is colourful and psychedelic and it really is fresh across the hurried, skittish percussive rhythms of 'Rompecuero' and deeper Afro-funk and soul of 'Caribe.' 'Kampangola' brings great instrumental displays and 'Papasukus' is pure summer music. A super strong EP from an artist well worth watching this year.
Groupe Kounabeli De Masuku & Patience Dabany - "Abaga Mbouga" (8:23)
Oyana Efiem Pelagie - "Biloa" (5:29)
Groupe D'Animation UFPDG - "Mpebe" (7:05)
Groupe D'Animation UFPDG - "Tchatcha Tchatcha" (6:18)
Kolikagie De Masuku - "Miali Mi Kolikagie" (6:01)
Mi Kouagna De Mounana - "Legnila Nde Obele" (6:55)
Groupe D'Animation Kakoula Djele De Bongoville - "Yaya Omar Bongo" (7:52)
Kounabeli De Mbilasuku - "Lekou Mobi" (6:46)
Groupe Kounabeli De Masuku & Orchestre Banowita - "Lessimbi" (6:49)
Patience Dabany - "Ayanga" (6:05)
Review: Merci Yaya Bongo: Female Animation Groups In Gabon 1982-1989 offers a spellbinding glimpse into Gabon's vibrant music scene of the 1980s. The compilation showcases the talent and creativity of several female groups and presents a diverse range of styles from Afrobeat to funk and disco. Tracks like 'Abaga Mbouga' and 'Yaya Omar Bongo' exude infectious rhythms and soulful melodies and highlight the unique sound of Gabonese music during this era. With its rare and obscure selections, this compilation serves as a valuable homage to the overlooked contributions of female artists in shaping the country's musical heritage.
Review: You could easily think this was a dusty reissue of a long-lost Afro classic. But no, it is not. Instead, it is new music from Loboko, a new group created from the rich musical melting pot that is New York City featuring young Congolese vocalist and guitar talent, Yohni Djungu Sungu, plus Soukouss-Stars associate and top bassist Ngouma Lokito. This is their debut recording and surely the first of many that will be built of jam sessions. It is traditional Congolese music with a modern twist but plenty of guitar-driven sounds from African soukous with Caribbean inspirations, Loboko's unique take on the ethnic Baluba rhythm, and elements drawn from the seben style. Utterly intoxicating.
Review: 'Eki Bis' is a quintessential example of fresh modern-day soukous and zouk. Despite being first laid down by Congolese singer Lutchiana Mobulu in 1989, the single sounds just as fresh and relevant for the present day as it did back then, reissed via Hot Casa here for a crisp and infectious new reversion. The title track is emblematic of this enough, with high-pitched guitar noodlings and ecstatic raps delivered over a sizzlingly-hot beat skillet. Julien Lebrun's edit catapults the track into subtle space, adding careful echoes and refractions.
Review: Oliver N'Goma was a Gabonese Afro-zouk and soukous singer and guitarist whosadly passed away in 2010, leaving a handful of albums and singles as his musical legacy. His debut album Bane is one of the highest selling African albums of all time and this Best Of collects songs taken from that and other releases, all hand picked by the artist himself a few years before his death. For the very first time, this compilation is now available on vinyl - so, what are you waiting for?!
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