The crown jewel of Koliphone Records, Grazia’s debut album is by far one of the most intriguing pieces of music to ever be recorded in Israel. Jaffa in the late sixties and early seventies had an exciting and exotic sound to offer, where folk musicians performed live at its taverns seven nights a week. It was far from the mainstream hit-parade of swinging Tel-Aviv but close enough geographically to attract listeners from across the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa metropolis.
Discovery Recordings is proud to release Coule’Ba by Analog Players Society, a collective melting pot of musicians lead by Amon. Coule’Ba draws from West African influences and features the incredible Missia Saran Diabate of Guinea on lead vocals.
Camp Supafrico return with the sixth edition of their highly acclaimed ‘Sound of Funky Africa’ series. Digging even deeper into the Afro-funk vaults, side A features the über-rare 1984 Shina Williams and His African Percussionists ‘Agboju Logun’. Grooving along for a massive eleven and a half minutes, this super-heavy Nigerian disco cut splices raw sounding horns with choirs and chants. Flip over for ‘Don’t Do It’ from Bongi Makeba, a mesmerising afro-funk workout with her powerful voice weaving in and out of the grooving bass and spaced-out sax. Last up is the sought-after ‘Mangous Ye’ from Black Soul. Originally the B-side of a 1976 release on tiny but top-quality NYC label Beam Junction, this Tom Moulton mixed slice of high-octane percussion-soaked afro-disco hit big on Italy’s Cosmic scene as well as the clubs of New York.
The debut release by Glitterbeat Records is a limited edition 12 inch with two dubbed-up remixes by electronic music explorer, Mark Ernestus. The tracks are pulled from Glitterbeat artist, Ben Zabos self-titled and highly touted, 2012 debut album of frenetic, Malian Afro-rock.
Ambassador’s Reception label present the Romanian band Steaua de Mare, with their unique Smokey psychedelic sound. The whole concept of Steaua de Mare was founded on past sounds and the bygone entertainment rituals which existed before the 1989 revolution (that atmosphere extended well beyond and into the nineties). Steaua de Mare was a sixties seaside complex in one of the now fading Black Sea resorts Eforie Nord. As people relaxed in the sun and ate good food, traditional songs were played by restaurant bands which gave Steaua de Mare the idea to pay homage to this way of life by combining the sound of that era together with the new recording techniques of today. The band: Bogdan Stoian (violin, synths) Andrei Dinescu (percussion, drums, violin, synths) Ion Dumitrescu (bass, synths, drum-machines, drums) Horațiu Ș (synths, electric piano) Eugen Imecs (drums, percussion) came together after many years of jamming and decided to pool all resources together in two different studios around Bucharest. Their unique sound comes from many directions. They bring elements of Prog, dub, psychedelic rock, Turkish and contemporary gypsy music mainly from Romania and Bulgaria into the mix. If you then add that they are irreversibly contaminated in analogue and early digital sounds then maybe you have a passing image of this hybrid sound. Steaua de Mare add a unique twist on local standards with the help of Roland Juno 60, Yamaha CS-5, Elektronika EM-25, Junost-21, Poly 61 and their beloved Wurlitzer electric Piano. A wide range of influences from Can to Ork Universal, from psychedelic attitudes, kraut adventures to outer national delights like Bulgarian Chalga.
Vinyl Boxset includes 4 x 180g vinyl, including free download code with bonus tracks. Album sampler BWOOD089 also fits in to complete the boxset. The results of a true culture clash, ‘Mala in Cuba’ marries the intricate rhythms and deep, spiritual roots of Cuba with Mala’s own roots in South London and his dedication to bass culture.
The Hipodrome Of Music 