Back catalogue: International

Review: Some expansive, cinematic, orchestral spiritual jazz for you here, from the trio of talents that Fumio Itabashi, Kuniyiki and Henrik Schwarz. While the latter two are generally better-known for their deep and sometimes tech-tinged house and ambient productions, the original mix of 'Watarese' (featured here on side B) is a dense, immersive jazz soundscape laden with evocative Japanese vocals, improvised piano, moody orchestration and definite nods towards vintage free-jazz. Spiritual Life supremo Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell provides the remix and, somewhat predictably, steals the show. His take is gently rhythmic, sun-splashed spiritual jazz full of hand percussion, fluid piano motifs and rubbery double bass.

Review: The titular release from Kumomi Records, based in Japan, hears Okinawa salsa band Kachimba 1551 fuse two enduring traditions: Okinawa folk music and salsa. The band embarked on this fusion first in 1998 and have continued their activities in their hometown of Okinawa ever since. A-sider, their rendition of 'Asatoya Yunta', appears first - a folk song said to have originated on Taketomi Island in the Yaeyama Islands, and which has been covered by many musicians around the world (including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, and Akiko Yano). On the B, meanwhile, is 'Uminu Chinboraa', said to have been handed down from 'Ie Island In Kunigami Gun Of Okinawa', a folk song known for its use in traditional party settings.

Review: Kalita Records are proud and honoured to announce the first ever and official reissue of Kallaloo's sought-after 1982 disco single 'Star Child', accompanied by interview-based liner notes. Originally released on Jeffrey Turpin's Trinidadian record label IDA, 'Star Child' has since become highly sought-after by both DJs and collectors alike as an invisible, yet astonishing piece of Caribbean disco. Unable at the time to gain the traction and success that it deserved, we hope that this re-release provides an opportunity to bring such a great record to a much wider audience.

Kallaloo consisted of various Trinidadian musicians including Keith Alexander and Peter Wayne Barkley. Keith had been well-respected as a member of the Trinidadian group Impact, and was later to become an in-demand producer and composer under the name of Keith Diamond, responsible for various hits by Billy Ocean, Donna Summer, Starpoint and Melba Moore. In contrast, Peter was a well-known recording session drummer, but after 'Star Child's' release he moved to North Carolina to pursue other interests and "was never heard from again".

'Star Child' was recorded at Right Track Recording, in mid-town Manhattan, New York. As Jeffrey recalls, the atmosphere in the studio was "great", with "everyone upbeat, the cream of the crop just looking for that break... everyone was talented and just wanted the chance to express their own ideas". Five hundred copies of the record were released on IDA with a white label design, and they were sold both in Brooklyn, New York and Port of Spain, Trinidad. It was also released on a red label, however this was not to Jeffrey's knowledge at the time.

Jeffrey explains that the reason why the record didn't fare well at the time was because of the difficulty in getting the song played on the radio. As he recalls, radio stations were much more likely to play 'radio versions' of songs which lasted for a couple of minutes, rather than five or seven minute 'extended' versions such as 'Star Child', which were more suitable to a club environment. In addition, as Jeffrey explains, radio airplay is a "political business", and also within a short while band members such as Keith got their own breaks, and the Kallaloo era was over as quickly as it had started.

Review: Dutch label Afrosynth's latest dig into the South African scene of the 1980s and '90s focuses on the career of Kamazu, a prolific artist who released six albums and a handful of killer singles between 1986 and '97. It's a great collection, combining his better-known hits - the mid-80s boogie goodness of "Korobela" and superb 1991 Kwaito smash "Indaba Kabani" - with a quartet of lesser-known cuts from his bulging catalogue. Our picks include the slo-mo Kwaito dreaminess of "Atikatareni" and the cheery, synth bass-propelled brilliance of "Victim", though the standard throughout is dizzyingly high. A must-have for all those who love the distinctive warm, dreamy and synth-heavy sound of South African dance music from the late '80s and early '90s.

Review: The Polyversal Souls are renowned for the strength of their collaborative singles, which to date have featured all manner of legends and rising stars from the underground African music scene. This time around, the German-Ghanaian band provides high-grade backing for guest vocalist Frank Karikari, son of legendary Highlife musician Ralph Karikari. The A-side medley of "Siakwaa/Nana Agyei" is particularly good, with Karikari's confident lead vocal rising above shuffling, soft-focus drums and ear-catching juju guitars. Flipside cut "Odo Agye Gye Me" is great, too, offering a slightly more upbeat and undeniably percussive fusion of highlife/Afrobeat fusion.

Review: The intriguingly named Humus Per Tutti label has made us wait well over two years for a seance EP after the tantalising first volume of this self-titled series. It comes from a section of artists who are all editing some worldly source material. First off is a Jean Kefta edit that locks you in a guitar loop while intoxicating vocals up top bring the charm. The Babach Flangerman mix of the A1 is another loopy disco cut with a Middle Eastern flavour and the comes Jean Kefta & Max Houmous's snake charming and psychedelic disco groover 'Muharaqa'.
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Review: Salif Keita: Remixed features two new remixes of iconic tracks by one of Africa's greatest vocalists. MoBlack's remix of 'Yamore' is currently a hit on streaming platforms and radio, while Francis Mercier reworks 'Kabe' from Ana Na Ming. The EP also includes Martin Solveig's famous 2003 cover of 'Madan' and Osunlade's remix of 'Moussolou'. All four tracks are taken from Keita's legendary 2002 album Moffou, which sold over 200,000 copies globally. The remixes breathe new life into these timeless songs, continuing to captivate audiences worldwide.

Review: Fingier Records is a new Acid Jazz sub-label that is back with a brand new 7" from The Kevin Fingier Collective. It's a real dance floor heater that is perfectly aged and authentic as it mixes up Northern Soul and r&b with driving guitar rhythms and steamy piano chords. The horns are killer but the vocal is the icing on the cake. On the flip things get Latin flavoured with the bossa-tinged mod jazz of 'The Great Akerman' which is defined by lush flute and organ vamps. This is a great taster of the full length to come from The Kevin Fingier Collective.

Review: Elado Gulab Jamun did a fantastic job with his edit of this Bollywood gem to the extent that it has become a real dancefloor gem that's been much loved all around the world for the last two years. Now it makes its way to a 7" vinyl pressing and is backed with his 4am mix of the same tune. This one is a sublime and dubbed out, acid tinged electronic trip that comes with original CD artwork that pays great tribute to original artist Nadim Khan. Another tasteful outing from Razor-N-Tape for this fresh edit.

Review: Emotional Rescue closes out another brilliant year with one final hot drop. This sorting 7" Safari by King Sporty was the artist's first ever single back in 1976. It comes after the label has served up plenty of reissues of the man known as Noel Wiliam's tackle but this one might be the best. It's from his album Deep Reggae Roots and is nice tropical excursion with steamy hits, wooden percussive sounds and funky bass over a low-slung groove and chanting vocals. This one is backed with a special disco mix by Lexx that reworks the tune for more lively moments.

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: Over the last three years, DJ/producer Mimmo "MoBlack" Falcone has turned MoBlack Records into arguably the World's leading label for African house music. Defected clearly thinks so, because the label has decided to put out this EP featuring tracks from remixes from Falcone and some of his regular collaborators. On side A Falcone joins forces with Armonica to deliver two sparkling, rubbery, positive and heavily electronic reworks of Fela Kuti classic 'International Thief Thief'. Both hit the spot, though it's the Dub, with its extended vocal breakdown and trippy effects, that floats our boat. Over on the flip we're treated to two versions of MoBlack, Emmanuel Jal and Henrick Schwarz hook-up 'Chagu': a bouncy Afro-tech take from Schwarz and a warmer, deep Afro-house interpretation by Falcone.

Review: Seun Kuti has released his highly anticipated album Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) via Record Kicks to great excitement. This album, executive produced by Lenny Kravitz and featuring Fela Kuti's original engineer Sodi Marciszewer, marks a significant milestone in Kuti's career. Following his Grammy-nominated album Black Times, this release showcases his evolution as both an artist and activist. The album features six powerful tracks, each embodying themes of resistance, resilience, and revolution. The track 'Dey,' featuring Damian Marley, emphasises self-empowerment, while 'Emi Aluta' pays homage to revolutionaries, featuring the innovative Sampa The Great. 'T.O.P.' critiques societal values, promoting empathy and a connection to nature. 'Love and Revolution' highlights Kuti's belief in love as a catalyst for change. Kuti expressed gratitude for Kravitz's brotherly support and Sodi's guidance during the production process. He continues to uphold the legacy of his father, Fela Kuti, using his music to inspire social change. This album promises to redefine contemporary Afrobeat while staying true to its roots. Fans can expect an album that entertains, inspires and ignites activism.

Review: Afrobeat virtuoso Seun Kuti is soon to release his highly anticipated album, Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) later this year. It features guest appearances from Damian Marley and Sampa The Great so promises to be a global sensation. Ahead of that, we get a taste of things to come from his distinctive Afrobeat sound with this powerful new work on Milan's Record Kicks. First up here with get the bubbly rhythms of 'Emi Aluta' (Zamrock remix) then 'Emi Aluta' (feat Sampa The Great - 45 edit) comes complete with some hard bars.

Review: Spanish producer Kiko Navarro has joined up with veteran Beninois vocalists and musical powerhouse Kaleta and the next level skills of The Ibibio Horns for this vibrant new 12". It's an inspired and Afro-infused groove exploration with funk, disco and acrobat all bottle dup in the beats that traverse Afria from East to West. The Ibibio Horns are on fire of course as they blaze up the sounds with their expressive horns and red hot keys while the vocals from Kaleta add further fuel to the fire. Instrumentals are also provided for more direct to dancefloor business.

Review: Essential Hi-Life & Afro-Funk from Ghana! The legendary K. Frimpong's fantastic rare second album recorded in 1975 at Ghana Films Studio. As a prolific songwriter and singer, this is reissue of his 2nd album, a modern fusion of Hi-life and the traditional beat called Ahyewa. The excellent background is given by the Super Complex Sounds band which makes the Ahyewa beat suitable for specialist dancefloors.A must have vinyl of percussive Afro-Funk & modern Hi-life . Remastered by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, pressed on Deluxe Replika format, fully licensed to the Alhadji Kwame Frimpong Family.

Review: Aderemi Kabaka's Roots Funkadelia is a magical bit of rather overlooked but classic Kabaka all the way from 1976. It was recorded at Island Studios London then mixed in L.A. during a golden period for the Motown studios. That quality shines through on the record, not least thanks to the appearance throughout of the 'mean machine' which was an alias of legendary Motown artists The Commodores' brass section. An original of this will cost you well over 500 quid so do not sleep on this quality reissue from BBE as it is a brilliant bit of Afro-funk for those who know.

Review: Almost entirely ignored at the time of its original release, Nigerian drumming maestro Remi Kabaka's legendary original LP Son Of Africa has gone down in legend as the defining solo statement of an incendiary drummer, whose contributions to music across the jazz and rock spectrums is credited and felt strongly to this day. A founding member of Afro-jazz band Osibisa, Kabaka is credited for his work with many a Rolling Stone and Beatle, but it's his solo work on this Afro-funk rare gem that really gets the least easy to please among us going. An Afrofuturist statement to the core, its jubilant vocal chants and defiant trumpet lines are but mere pepperings over the boxy, banging body that is Kabaka's live Afrobeat quads.

Review: A Dancefloor in Ndola, curated by East African DJ Kampire for Strut Records' 25th anniversary, is a great example at the broad sounds of classic East and Southern African music. With 13 tracks that span genres like Congolese rumba, South African bubblegum, and Zambian kalindula, the compilation pays homage to the rich musical heritage of the region. Kampire's personal connection to the music, shaped by her upbringing in Ndola, Zambia, adds depth to the compilation. Through her own edit of 'Ririmi Rotsombela' and personal liner notes, she traces her links to the music, creating a nostalgic experience for listeners. The compilation not only celebrates well-known artists but also shines a spotlight on women in African music from the 80s, including legends like Pembey Sheiro, Feza Shamamba, and Princesse Mansia M'bila. It's a testament to the diversity and richness of African music history. With its blend of classic tracks and Kampire's personal touch, A Dancefloor in Ndola is more than just a compilation; it's a cultural journey that highlights the beauty and significance of African musical traditions.

Review: Always keen to break new ground, Strut's latest compilation comes not from a well-known European or American crate-digger, but rather Kenyan-born, Uganda-based DJ Kampire. A Dancefloor in Ndola sees her look back to her time growing up in Zambia and specifically the music she heard and loved during these formative years. It's a great idea, executed brilliantly, with Kampire showcasing an enticing and highly entertaining mix of East and South African music from the 70s and 80s, including Congolese rumba and soukous, bubblegum, and kalindula, a guitar-led style native to Zambia. It's a joyous an eye-opening collection all told and notable for - aside from the high quality throughout - Kampire's decision to showcase a high number of tracks from legendary and little-known female artists. A genuinely essential collection all told.

Review: Zouk pioneers Jacob Desvarieux, Georges, and Pierre-Edouard Decimus worked together as Kassav and to mark their 40th anniversary comes this vinyl pressing of Yelele. The group was founded in 1979 and went on to leave an indelible mark on global music. From their roots in Guadeloupe and Martinique, Kassav' popularised zouk worldwide and earned numerous gold and platinum records. Despite the tragic loss of Desvarieux to Covid-19 in 2021, Kassav's legacy thrives through their ongoing live concerts. Their music is infused with Caribbean rhythms like Guadeloupe's gwo-ka and Martinique's ti-bwa so transcends cultural boundaries and hooks in dancers everywhere from Japan to Russia. Four decades later, Kassav's timeless hits still resonate as this album reminds us.

Review: This is a new record of unearthed delights by Leon Keita, a longtime singer and multi-instrumentalist from Mali. On the eponymous 'Leon Keita', we hear Malian music fused with sensibilities from Sudan-Guinea and Burkina Faso, with modern pop and electronic influences, impeccably played in a smattering of crisp guitars, love-sung lyrics and laboured rhythms. All laid to a fresh pressing, the A-side hears three rather relaxed beauties, while the B moves into more idealistic and hedonic directions, not least the conclusive 'Dakan Sate, Korotoumi'. Brought back to our attention by Analog Africa, 'Leon Keita' serves yet another top serving and reminder of Mandingue culture, the influence of which stretches across the world; 'Dalaka' was a recent hit, making it as far as the Colombian coast.

Review: Salif Keita is known as the "golden voice of Africa" and now returns with So Kono, an intimate acoustic album that marks a departure from his usual style. Though reporting he was initially hesitant about releasing an acoustic record, Keita who is traditionally a composer rather than a guitarist, was inspired during the 2023 Kyotophonie Festival in Japan where he was surrounded by the tranquillity of a Zen temple and supported by his musicians. He embraced vulnerability and got to work on So Kono, meaning "in the room" in Mandinka, and it was recorded in the intimacy of his hotel room. The album features a mix of new songs and reworked classics with Keita's powerful voice enriching the sounds.