Juno Recommends International June 2021

Review: Afrique Victime is the long-awaited new album by Mdou Moctar. The talented Tuareg guitarist and songwriter is bold in his work here as he makes a new fusion sound where contemporary Saharan music and classic rock meet with field recordings, poetic meditations, full on noise and coarse guitars. Topics that get touched on along the way include love, religion, Western Africa's exploitation at the hands of colonial powers and women's rights inequality. It's a devastating record that makes s powerful and inedible mark.

Review: Ever-reliable funk fusionist Bosq has scored another hit here, this time with the help of Favourite Recordings regular Pat Kalla, a talented French poet and singer. 'Mouna Power' is another great example of Bosq's ability to successfully meld together elements of Afrobeat, Afro-Cuban music and tropical grooves, adding layers of colourful instrumentation (bass, keys, horns, guitars and so on). The excellent original version comes backed with a longer, slightly tougher but no less warming and kaleidoscopic 'Dancefloor Dub'. It contains most of the vocals, more percussion and a greater role for the killer bassline and is probably our pick of the mixes

Review: DjeuhDjoah and Lieutenant Nicholson are French composers and Afro-soul singers whose 2016 album on Hot Casa is a perfect summer soundtrack. This cheeky 7" actually features two of the standout tunes from their equally essential 2019 album Aimez Ces Aires. 'El Nino' is a a real summer classic, with falsetto vocals singing about how hot it is with big horn leads and funky drums getting that party started. 'Fontaine (Drink Drink)' is a deeper cut with xylophone sounds, hand claps and a warm, organic feel that is again set to get temperatures rising this summer.

Review: Global electronic sound specialist - Producer and DJ Oliver Williams aka "The Busy Twist" is at it again. Among his numerous projects as a producer, this double-sider, dancefloor-focused EP is one of his seldom seen, more personal works in the vein of what he does best: an uptempo, bass-heavy madness, influenced by his regular trips to Africa, Latin America and the West-Indies, packed with undeniable British club music culture and production technique. Highly infectious energy, pure sunshine, 100% good vibes. Following up on The Busy Twist previous collaborations with Congolese singer Tres. "Nanko" is another joyful, sun-soaked, highly danceable Electro-Soukous party joint, loaded with captivating guitar grooves and soulful vocals. On the flip, "Rwendo Rweupenyu (The Journey Of Life) Remix" is an outstanding take on Zimbabwean Sungura Music (one of the country's most popular genres), originally performed by street band Daniel & Gonora Sounds, led by singer-guitarist Daniel Gonora and his drummer son Isaac. Respectfully using Daniel's mind bending guitar riffs and highpitched, uplifting vocals, The Busy Twist and his collaborator Portara deliver an inspiring and remarkably effective version of the original song. Vinyl contains exclusive extended and instrumental Dj-friendly versions of both tracks that won't be available for download anywhere.

Review: London's foremost Brazlian music label Far Out reissued Jose Mauro's debut album Obnoxious in 2016. Rumors circulated that he was long deceased, but on the contrary he was alive and well, retired on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. After years of trying to track him down, they present the long-awaited release of A Viagem Das Horas, featuring three previously unreleased and unheard tracks from the original studio sessions and entirely approved by the artist himself. Made during Brazil's military authoritarianism, Mauro and his songwriting partner Ana Maria Bahiana explored concepts of traditional West African religions and Roman Catholicism with Musica Popular Brasileira, psychedelic folk and orchestral music.

Review: Lebanese cultural icon Ziad Rahbani's cult album Bennesbeh Labokra was long ago awarded its classic status. This reissue will likely introduce it to a whole new audience as well as please those who covet its sought after charms. It is a seamless fusion of Arab music and bossa rhythms, with serene jazzy vibes, dainty piano and cinematic orchestrations. Some of the tracks have lots of room to breathe and let in light and air, others are more complex such as 'Variation 5' which helps make this such a rewarding listen. It's hard to think of albums from the Middle East that have proven as important as this one over the years.

Review: Late last year, El Palmas Music dropped Color De Tropico, a terrific collection of vintage Venezuelan music that showcased far-sighted fusions of cumbia, salsa, and numerous American and European styles (jazz, rock, soul and so on). This speedy follow-up covers similar sonic ground and is every bit as essential as its predecessor. Highlights abound from start to finish, but our picks include the rocking, organ-laced psyche-cumbia of Los Kings' 'Empecemos (Let's Start)', the Venezuelan reggae-soul of 'Buena Suerta' by Las Cuatro Monedas, the percussion-and-synths brilliance of Mario Y Sus Diamentes' 'Santo Domingo' and the plucked guitars and infectious rhythms of Anselmo Y Su Conjunto's 'Seis Pajueliao'. The latter is a bona fide tropical treat!

Review: Social Joy records is very pleased to present Burkina Azza's debut Album "Wari bo" a musical tale that covers every aspect of Burkina Azza's values and world view. The album takes us to the very soul of Burkina Faso, giving us a taste of the deep connection of the artists to the beauty and culture of this country.

The Burkinabe collective, from Nayerina in the Djibasso region, was born from a lineage of Balafonist and Percussionist musicians called "The Griots", often referred to as a "living archive of the people's traditions". "Wari bo" was Produced in January 2020 on the brink of the coronavirus pandemic in Ouagadougou after Label owner Guilhem Monin discovered an outstanding street performance via the African Drumming Facebook group. Two years later, this release is the result of a friendship and love of music that connects two continents and travels across borders, space and time.

Review: Marcos Valle's second album, the 1983 self-titled masterpiece, is one of Brazilian music's many stone cold classics fusing as it does MPB, pop, soul and easy listening with plenty of American influences thanks to the artist's time living in LA. Valle's old brother Paulo Sergio and the legendary Lincoln Olivetti produced the album with a fine cast of guests like Rosana, Serginho Do Trombone, Robson Jorge and Oberdan Magalhaes adding their own vocal and musical flourishes. Standout tunes include Brazilian-boogie cult-classic 'Estrelar' (which was actually co-written by pianist, keyboardist and record producer Leon Ware) while the artwork itself is also well worthy of your attention.

Review: This time last year Nik Mauskovic introduced us to the Mauskovic Dance Band via a sweaty collection of heavily percussive, no wave-influenced, psychedelic dancefloor treats. That Soundway Records-released album was rightly acclaimed, and we have a feeling that this sequel on Dekmantel will receive a similar level of praise. The band's blueprint remains in tact on the no-wave-plus-percussion-and-synths flex of "Ventura Phase", the formidably dubby and eccentric "Squeeze Dogs" and extra-heavy dub disco workout "Theorie Amerikaan", while "Controleer Jezelf" sounds like Konk after a handful of magic mushrooms and an extra-fat spliff. Mauskovic takes us further into deep space on the flip, delivering intoxicating, low-slung dub revisions of the A-side tracks that are arguably even better than the original mixes.

Review: A very special release, available for the first time internationally... Here Analog Africa explores the pollination of rural Brazilian music made by Amazon natives and the influence of escaped African slaves. Composed by Mestre Cupijo and recorded between 1975 and 1982, each track blasts and wheezes its own unique narrative. From the frenetic rhumba of "Tubarao Branco" to the spiralling horns and rich chants of "Siria Quente" via sad croons and concrete guitar strums of "Passarinho Siriri" there's a vibrant fusion of elements that will resonate with fans of music from both sides of the Atlantic.

Review: A unique political story told in 20 chapters, Angola 2 Soundtrack delves deep into the nine year history of recorded music culture that was born out of the live music oppression set in place by Portuguese rule. Between three labels over 800 recordings were released during this fertile period, each one reflecting Angolan folk and distinctive Latin influences. And these are 20 of the most creative highlights. From the frenetic guitar rhythms and harmonic chants of "Mabele" to the psychedelic highlife shimmers of "Avante Juventude" via the insistent, street-bound sermon of "Snipes", this collection is entrenched in a rich musical history. Complete with well researched booklet and powerful imagery, it's an immaculate lesson in modern music history.

Review: Almas Fronteriza is a duo who have long been fusing their own distinctive backgrounds into new musical forms. With links to Mexico City, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area they blend blues, rock, blue eyed soul and psychedelic styles with ease. Their doing so made them cult heroes on the West Coast scene and even got them recognised in New York City. Now they are back with a third cousin in Carlos Rodriguez on trumpet, as well as percussive powerhouse Ahkeel Mestayer on timbales, conga and maracas, amongst others. The sounds they cook up are magic indeed.

Review: Freshfrom offering up brand-new cover versions of 'Toxic' and 'Waterfalls', Inokasira Rangers delve into their back catalogue and offer up another essential reissue. Both tracks were originally released back in 2015 and, like much of their catalogue, put a rocksteady-influenced vintage reggae spin on tracks by other artists. Lead cut 'Hikoukigumo' was the title track from singer-songwriter Yumi Arai's 1973 debut album; in the hands of the Rangers, it becomes a lolloping, Hammond-heavy shuffler full of toasty bass, clipped guitar riffs, rock-solid drums and melodic organ solos. Over on the flip they deliver their interpretation of 'Tetsu no Heya', the Taku Izumi-penned theme tune for a record-breaking Japanese chat show of the same name. We're not familiar with the original, but the trio's cheery and melodic reggae interpretation is certainly entertaining.

Review: Melbourne based Gordon Koang hails from the Upper Nile region of what is now South Sudan. Accompanied by his cousin Paul Biel, Gordon performs a blend of traditional Neur rhythms and original compositions in English, Arabic and his native language - Neur. He kick starts 2021 by announcing his forthcoming remix EP, which features re-works of tracks from his recent Unity LP on his own imprint Music In Exile. On the A side, we have Butter Sessions' Sleep D serving up a low slung and breezy rendition of 'Y Dah', followed by the Andras House remix of 'South Sudan' which retains that infectious boogie vibe of the original.

Review: Victoria Osei and Theresa Owusuaa are Ahemaa Nwomkro, which is a phrase that translates as 'queens of Nwomkro.' Nwomkro is an Ashanti style music that influenced Highlife, a style of music closely linked to Kumasi, Ghana's cultural capital and a city in the middle of the jungle. The pair link up with young highlife talents here and the results are pure, good time sounds that trill with energy, pickle rhythms and earthy percussion as well as some subtle synth work that brings a contemporary edge.

Review: Produced and sleeked out at Opal Studios in NYC, back in 1975, Buari's self-titled LP has been a cornerstone of international highlife music since it was first released. The original is now an arduous item to find at a decent price, so we thanks the Be With label for having repackaged an essential Afro LP that is a must have for anyone into anything outside a constant beat drum. "Karam Bani" opens with a forceful helping of funk, percussive to to the max, and this same hypnotic groove formula is present across the entirety of the A-side, making this a sampler's dream come true

Review: Marcos Valle's second album, the 1983 self-titled masterpiece, is one of Brazilian music's many stone cold classics fusing as it does MPB, pop, soul and easy listening with plenty of American influences thanks to the artist's time living in LA. Valle's old brother Paulo Sergio and the legendary Lincoln Olivetti produced the album with a fine cast of guests like Rosana, Serginho Do Trombone, Robson Jorge and Oberdan Magalhaes adding their own vocal and musical flourishes. Standout tunes include Brazilian-boogie cult-classic 'Estrelar' (which was actually co-written by pianist, keyboardist and record producer Leon Ware) while the artwork itself is also well worthy of your attention.