In July 2019, eleven years after Jay-Z became the first hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury, Stormzy became the first English rapper to follow suit. Wearing a customised stab-proof vest designed by Banksy, the South London rapper delivered an explosive performance and finished by thanking the “legends for paving the way,” name-checking Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, and Giggs. Despite how unlikely it seemed for decades, UK rap was now firmly a part of pop music and the greater hip-hop canon.
Rich, nuanced, and often misunderstood, the history of UK rap is a story of music that refused to stand still. Factoring in socioeconomics, gender, identity, music industry disruption, and innovation, What Do You Call It? charts the artform’s first four decades, beginning when rap landed on our island in the early 1980s. Shaped by sound system culture, inspired by punk, and accelerated by rave, it has evolved from Britcore, UK hip-hop, and trip-hop of the late twentieth century to garage, grime, and drill.
Through cultural theory, historical research, and original interviews with key figures and collaborators in the UK rap scene, from pioneers like Malcolm McLaren, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Roots Manuva, and Roll Deep to modern artists like Dave, CASISDEAD, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, and Skengdo x AM, adds a rich human dimension to the UK rap story — one that helped change British music and culture forever.
“A long overdue exploration of rap music in the UK and its longstanding – albeit overlooked – legacy and influence. In an era when UK rappers dominate the charts, star in major movies and TV shows and front huge advertising campaigns for multi-national corporations, Kane traces back the arduous journey from maligned sub-culture to celebrated mascot of neoliberal capitalism.” Jehst
“David Kane writes with a deft touch and possesses a disarming and deeply insightful interview style. Sparking life, humour, and sorrow across every page of more than three decades of UK rap history.” Charlie Dark MBE
“Kane builds bridges in a rich musical universe full of heroes and villains—and plot twists. With an inimitable style, he merges culture high and low to bring new meaning to the music. What Do You Call It? is a landmark tome for UK rap music.” Brian DiGenti, Wax Poetics
“A mind rich in ideas” Stanley Ledbetter, The New Yorker
Cerca:one on one
This October Jamiroquai celebrates the 30th anniversary of ‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’. Their second album, it will be reissued as a double-LP set on 140g “moon grey” vinyl and includes Michael Gray’s Good Vibe Zone edit of ‘Space Cowboy’ - which has never been released on a physical product. The packaging has also been re-designed for this anniversary release including foil enhancement of the original cover design.
‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’ is the follow up album to the band’s huge 1993 debut, ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’. Selling over 3 million copies globally, ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’ put the band on the map with their distinctive sound standing them apart from other popular acts of the time.
‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’ was released just one year later and was met with great critical and public acclaim. Certified Platinum in the UK, Japan and France, it achieved chart success in multiple countries and spawned the single ‘Space Cowboy’ which remains one of their biggest tracks to date. Critically the album was lauded with Rolling Stone saying "Jamiroquai parlay jazzy soul pop so tight it crackles… Nowadays, when most funk comes out of cans, Jamiroquai's live spark glows", The Guardian said “... this second album sounds like vintage Stevie Wonder and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, but Kay's vocals are as snappy and engaging as his extrovert persona" and Q magazine said it “combines intricate arrangements with several long, free-form workouts crammed with virtuoso performances".
For many, this album is defined by some of the most complex songwriting the band have ever produced and Jay Kay called it “one of our most creative and accomplished albums”. The process of making the album came with many challenges. Having to recruit a new drummer (after Nick Van Gelder failed to return from holiday), the band were met with second-album syndrome with Kay proclaiming since that lyrics weren’t coming "... because suddenly I wasn't homeless, I had everything I needed. So I found myself creating problems to write about." The songwriting process was complex for the band as Jay Kay was often dissatisfied with the results, leading songs to be scrapped or rewritten, but half-way through recording Kay wrote ‘Space Cowboy’, a song which reflects darker times during the recording session, and it became the catalyst of creative inspiration helping them finish the record. On this 30th anniversary edition of the album Space Cowboy gets a modern dance makeover courtesy of DJ Michael Gray, shedding new light on the track and emphasising it’s already infectious groove.
The album built on the success of ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’ and Jamiroquai have become one of the UK’s most pioneering and ground breaking bands of the past 30 years. Pushing boundaries and bringing jazz and funk to a mainstream audience, their sound is not only unique, but immediately recognisable.
THE SOUL BROTHERS SIX hailed from Rochester, New York and have played a part on the Northern Soul scene for over 50 years. Their first recording, for 'Lyndell' Records in 1966, is now a 3-figure rarity, but it is their debut disc for Atlantic, I'll Be Loving You', that first graced the decks at the Twisted Wheel, The Pendulum et al and has become a perennial Northern Soul favourite. At the time of release tt was the B-side to Some kind Of Wonderful' which took the disc to No.91 on the R&B charts.
WILLIE TEE has also been a familiar figure on the rare soul scene since the early Mod clubs with his architypal New Orleans mid tempo soul sound. His early recordings on 'Gatur' rank as some of the most collectable 45s to emanate from the Crescent City. Here we feature his club classic from 1964, the anthemic Walkin' Up A One Way Street'.
QUAZAR are pioneers of the first house- and techno-generation of the early 90’s. Formed in Amsterdam by producer Gert van Veen, QUAZAR debuted in 1990 with the 12 inch ‘The Seven Stars/Day-glo’, which became an underground hit all over the world, from the UK and Germany to The USA, Goa and Australia. It’s still considered as one of the ultimate classics of the original rave-scene.
‘The Seven Stars’, a wild and exciting musical voyage, full of instrumental crescendoes and rushes, is a hard hitting techno-track that set dance floors on fire with its fierce energy.
The raw persuasive power of the a side and the acid tinged 'Moon Turns The Tide' is balanced by the gentle, melodic ‘Day-glo’ - a predecessor of the later minimal style and a favourite of Ricardo Villalobos, that unexpectedly became just as popular as ‘The Seven Stars’.
During the Amsterdam Dance Event 2024 ‘The Seven Stars EP'will be rereleased on vinyl, two weeks later followed by the rerelease of the first QUAZAR album ‘Seven Stars’.
‘The Seven Stars EP' 12" presents remastered versions of the three tracks on the original record plus a 2024 QUAZAR remake of ‘The Seven Stars’, mixed by Dutch house legend Olav Basoski.
To celebrate these releases, QUAZAR, still one of the best live-acts in the Netherlands, will do a special hardware-only live-gig at DOKA/The Volkshotel in Amsterdam on Wednesday October 16 2024.
- A1: God Has Left The Room (Intro)
- A2: Somebody's Daughter Feat Kareen Lomax
- A3: Nowhere Fast
- A4: Henny Hold Up Feat Mother Marygold, Ric Wilson
- A5: Jinterlude Feat Jin Jin
- A6: Serotonin Moonbeams
- B1: Edge Of Saturday Night Feat Kylie Minogue
- B2: U Want 6 Grand 4 Wut (Interlude)
- B3: Blessed Already Feat Ric Wilson, Mabl
- B4: Strength (R U Ready) Feat Joy Crookes
- B5: Why Trax Records Still Sucks In 24 Feat Jamie Principle (Interlude)
- B6: We Still Believe Feat Jamie Principle
- B7: That's The Shhh (Pure Love) (Interlude)
- C1: Carry Me Higher Feat Joy Anonymous, Danielle Ponder
- C2: Henterlude Feat Joy Anonymous
- C3: Back 2 Love Feat Jin Jin
- C4: Brand New Feat James Vincent Mcmorrow, A-Trak
- C5: Count On My Love Feat Daniel Wilson, Kon
- D1: Godspeed Feat Dj E-Clyps
- D2: Secretariat Feat Shaun J Wright
- D3: Mercy (The Welcome) Feat Jacob Lusk
- D4: Mercy (The Godsquad Album Mix) Feat Jacob Lusk
- D5: Your Mom <3 (Interlude)
- D6: Happier Feat Clementine Douglas (Bonus Track)
The Blessed Madonna began with three magic words, scrawled in shoe polish on a broken - down box and hung on the wall at a small sweaty party: We Still Believe. “I think you have to give up completely to really understand what hope is. It was like 2011? I had spectacularly, monumentally failed. I left the label. I wasn’t DJing. I wasn’t putting out records. I was divorced and living on my Dad’s couch so naturally my friends and I decided to throw an illegal rave. We didn’t have any decorations, so I took a box and wrote, ‘We Still Believe’ on it. I needed to believe that something better was possible and that’s how it all started.” After years of $50 gigs, strung together by gas money and surfed couches, The Blessed Madonna cemented her reputation as a sublime technician behind the decks with a legacy of fluent and dynamic sets, spanning from disco to techno to house and back. One room sweatboxes, circus tents, theatres, massive festival stages and entire city blocks have all served as the canvas for her shows. After a jam packed 2023, from Glastonbury to Sonar to Boiler Room Bali, The Blessed Madonna has been filling the dance floor everywhere she goes and is now releasing her debut album.
- A1: The Right Way
- A2: Pocket
- A3: What Do You Believe In?
- A4: I Ron
- A5: Hideaway
- A6: All I Know
- B1: Rush Of Blood
- B2: Feeding All These Fires
- B3: Put A Little Hurt On Me
- B4: Chokehold
- B5: Wreckage
- B6: Hope You Felt Loved At The End
- C1: Bleed The Same
- C2: Sorry For My Broken Heart
- C3: Ghosts
- C4: Lovers In A Past Life (Acoustic)
- C5: Lovers In A Past Life
Rag’n’Bone Man is ready to accept joy into his life. Born Rory Charles Graham, the Sussex-born singer known for his gravelly blues vocals, took the world by storm with his debut album ‘Human’ in 2016. Now multi award-winning, the British vocalist is embracing newfound balance, returning to his creative foundations while building anew.
It’s the most vital chapter to date in one of British music’s defining stories. A truth-telling voice that has framed an era, Rag’n’Bone Man’s success speaks for itself: his debut album ‘Human’ went platinum four times over in the UK and multi-platinum in a further twenty-seven countries - becoming the fastest selling male debut album that decade. While his latest release ‘Life By Misadventure’ debuted at #1 and spent seven weeks in the Top 10, making it the fastest-selling album by a solo artist in 2021. With over nine-billion worldwide streams (and counting) over his entire catalogue, Rag’n’Bone Man is a voice that can be heard across the globe. Now he’s ready to eclipse this: assured, and built with love, his uplifting new album “What Do You Believe In?” finds the multi award-winning British artist (with three BRITs, two MTV Europe awards, and an Ivor Novello to his name) facing the future with passionate excitement.
‘What Do You Believe In?’ is anchored in the blossoming of confidence and the enduring support network he finds in family life. It’s taken time, but Rag’n’Bone Man is in a secure, loving place - and he wants to share that feeling. The period surrounding second album, 2021’s ‘Life By Misadventure’, was marked by self-doubt, with troubles weighing down on the singer’s shoulders – but then things changed - As a result, new album ‘What Do You Believe In?’ has a bold, yet radiant touch.
With the pairing of the poignant and ubiquitous themes and the sonic brightness of both 00s hip-hop and the youthful memories they prompt, the release of the albums title track ‘What Do You Believe In?’ sets the tone for the for the thrilling musical journey Rag’s is preparing to take fans on.
Step into the realm of legends with « This Thing EP » by Lukas Lyrestam & Simoncino, featuring the iconic voice of Robert Owens—a true gem on vinyl. This release brings together the visionary talents of rising stars Lukas Lyrestam and Simoncino with the remix artistry of house music luminary Chez Damier, crafting a blend of past and future that resonates with the magic of timeless house. The EP opens with « This Thing » a creation by Lyrestam & Simoncino, elevated by Robert Owens’ soulful vocals that weave effortlessly into the groove, setting the tone for a transcendent sonic journey. Chez Damier, one of the genre's most revered figures, takes the reins with a masterful remix that transforms « This Thing » into something even greater, infusing his deep and emotive style to further enrich the track's essence.
« This Thing EP » is more than a release; it's a celebration of house music’s enduring legacy, uniting legends across generations. Available in limited edition on Skylax Records, this vinyl is a must-have for true aficionados. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of house history secure your copy and join the legacy.
They still exist, these stories: A fresh newcomer project from Cologne sends their first demo to just one address. An A&R, who has a medically certified autotune allergy, listens to the demo, hears an autotune track and signs the band anyway. ‘Streetpoet’ by Mourad Kehailia & Sebastian Fischer aka 9OASES is as unusual as the genesis of this record. It’s a wild hybrid of raving breakbeats, a chord hook that would have done Underworld proud in their heyday and the aforementioned autotune rap. It is magical. Axel Boman is a remixer who can make the magic even more magical. His 8-minute version of ‘Streetpoet’ establishes a long overdue new genre: trancehall! With ‘New Ballad’, 9OASES show us that they really mean business with their plans for world conquest. This is great techno pop with heart and mind. We are very excited to see what the guys from Cologne will do next.
Es gibt sie noch, diese Geschichten: Ein frisches Kölner Newcomer-Projekt schickt ihr erstes Demo an nur eine Adresse. Ein A&R, der eine ärztlich bescheinigte Autotune Allergie hat, hört sich das Demo an, hört einen Autotune Track und signt die Band trotzdem vom Fleck weg. ‘Streetpoet’ von Mourad Kehailia & Sebastian Fischer aka 9OASES ist so ungewöhnlich, wie die Entstehungsgeschichte dieser Platte. Es ist ein wilder Hybrid aus ravigen Breakbeats, einem Chordhook, der Underworld zu ihren Glanzzeiten alle Ehre gemacht hätte und eben besagtem Autotune Rap. Es ist magisch. Mit Axel Boman wurde ein Remixer verpflichtet, der das Magische noch magischer machen kann. Seine 8 minütige Version von ‘Streetpoet’ begründet ein längst überfälliges, neues Genre: Trancehall! Mit ‘New Ballad’ zeigen uns 9OASES, dass sie es wirklich ernst meinen mit ihren Welteroberungsplänen. Das ist großer Technopop mit Herz und Verstand. Wir sind sehr gespannt, was die Kölschen Jungs als nächstes tun werden.
ni:'o is the final project for Neo Festen’s studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, marking a milestone in his musical journey. The five-track EP showcases a blend of energetic yet deep sounds, exploring emotional themes throughout.
"Test Run 4 U," a standout track, carries a long expressive story, while "Protocol 1.625" is an fun experiment to the use of different time signatures.
ni:'o, Introduces the listener to his personal and approach to dance music.
While this EP closes one chapter, this is just the beginning.
New twelve inch of vintage Wackie's on City Line. The A-side features two of the best Wackie's deep roots tunes previously only released on compilation, which have long needed single release. Stranger Cole's somber "Capture Land" about the reality of squatting in the ghetto, followed by Wanachi's instrumental cut of the brilliant rhythm you might know from Azul's 'Black Rose.' The B-side features a really unique previously unreleased tune from one Moon Dread. Operatic, semi-acoustic and haunting, if you like early Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, this tune offers a maybe less spiritual and more theatrical but still compelling take in that vein from about a decade later in the late 1970s. Comes in new Wackie's company sleeve.
- A1: Flore
- B1: John Iii
- B2: Us
- C1: Just-Test
- D1: We The Blessed
- E1: Mother Africa
- F1: Sweet Evil Miss" Kisianga
- F2: Virginia
- G1: C Marianne Alicia
- G2: Dr Oliver W. Lancaster
- H1: Palm Sunday
- H2: Prima - Mr A.a
- I1: Keno - Exactement
- I2: Providence Baptiste Church
- J1: Just Test
- J2: Work And Pray
- J3: Rib Crib I
- K1: Rib Crib Ii
- K2: Loving Kindness
- K3: Dogtown
- L1: Love Always
Souffle Continu records presents Byard Lancaster – The Complete Palm Recordings 1973-1974, the definitive package of Philadelphia-born jazz wizard Byard Lancaster including his 4 legendary albums released on Jef Gilson’s Palm Records in the 1970s, Us, Mother Africa, Exactement and Funny Funky Rib Crib, along with the first ever standalone edition of Love Always, a fifteen minute modal jazz beauty plus a 20 page booklet with rare photos and in-depth article about Byard Lancaster’s Parisian years by Pierre Crépon.
At the beginning of the 1960s, at the Berklee College of Music, Byard Lancaster met some feisty friends: Sonny Sharrock, Dave Burrell and Ted Daniel. It is easy to see why he rapidly became involved in free jazz. Once he was settled in New York, he appeared on Sunny Murray Quintet, recorded under the leadership of the drum crazy colleague of Albert Ayler.
In 1968, the saxophonist and flutist recorded his first album under his own name: It’s Not Up To Us. The following year he came to Paris in the wake of... Sunny Murray. He would come back to France in 1971 (again with Murray) and in 1973 (without Murray for a change). This is when he met Jef Gilson, the pianist and producer who encouraged him to record under his own name again. On Palm Records (Gilson’s label), he would release four albums: Us, Mother Africa, Exactement and Funny Funky Rib Crib.
“Us”, the first of the four records was recorded on November 24th, 1973 with Sylvin Marc on electric bass (a Fender... Lancaster?) and the evergreen Steve McCall on drums.
On the album, the trio works from the John Coltrane model; free jazz shook up by the timely contributions of the bassist, followed by a mesmerizing atmospheric music. Then, Lancaster delivers a sinuous solo path, which is a reminder of his unique tone. On the album’s companion single, the trio launches into great black music of a different genre which would lead the clairvoyant François Tusques to claim that Byard Lancaster is an “authentic representative of soul/free jazz”, to sum up this is Great Black Music! A few months after recording “Us”, Lancaster recorded “Mother Africa” along with Clint Jackson III, a trumpeter, partner of Khan Jamal or Noah Howard on other recordings.
On march 8th, 1974, Lancaster and Jackson headed up a group composed of Jean-François Catoire (electric and double bass), Keno Speller (percussion) and Jonathan Dickinson (drums). Together, they create an immediate impression. From the first seconds of “We The Blessed”, they develop a free jazz which rapidly abandons any virulence under the effect of blues and soul based interventions. When Gilson’s composition “Mother Africa” begins, listeners are transported into the studio, listening to the musicians setting up: chatting and joking... Then comes the melody: a dozen or so notes of a repeated theme which is accelerated and deformed according to their whims... The jazz played by the association Byard Lancaster / Clint Jackson III is rare: creative AND recreational. “We the blessed”, is apt listening to this again today!
The recording of “Exactement” required two sessions in the studio: February 1st and May 18th 1974 – in between the two dates, Lancaster recorded, alongside Clint Jackson, the excellent Mother Africa.
Two names appear on the cover of “Exactement”: Lancaster (Byard) and Speller (Keno). Byard Lancaster wanted to be precise, moving regularly from one instrument to another: first on piano, which was the first instrument he learned. On “Sweet Evil Miss Kisianga”, his inspiration is first and foremost Coltrane (even if leaning more towards Alice than John), this announces the storm to follow.
It is Lancaster’s horn-playing which really stands out: on alto (the sound of which is transformed by an octavoice on one track, "Dr. Oliver W. Lancaster") or soprano saxophones, as well as on flute or bass clarinet, the musician walks a tightrope making the most of all the risks he takes. Using the full register of his instruments, he has fun with the possibilities.
Then, Lancaster invokes or evokes Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy and even Prokofiev, before going into a danse alongside Keno Speller on percussion. Above all, he has a unique sound. Byard Lancaster, on whatever instrument he plays and by continually seeking, always ends up hitting the right note... ends up by playing exactement the note he had to play.
“Funny Funky Rib Crib” is an unforgettable recording (made up of several sessions dating from the middle of 1974) of creative jazz overwhelmed by funk and soul. If Lancaster had already made successful albums in the same genre – notably New Horizons, under the name Sounds Of Liberation which he co-led with Khan Jamal –, this one is an homage to James Brown and Sammy Davis enjoying the company of a host of guests including François Tusques (electric piano), Clint Jackson III (trumpet), François Nyombo (guitar), Joseph Traindl (trombone)...
Funny Funky Rib Crib’s cover is a three-quarter profile portrait of the saxophonist (who can also be heard on flute, piano and even vocals), however, on the record, it is the whole group, inspired and frenetic, that tests the melodies of “Just Test”, “Dogtown” or “Rib Crib” – the two versions of which display leader Lancaster’s art of nuance. On both sides of the album, the group also moves into a calmer groove, infused by blues and soul, “Work And Pray” and “Loving Kindness” are meditative tracks where listeners can lay back and relax before asking for more: Funny Funky Rib Crib!
The magnificent “Love Always” was originally released on the fourth (and last) volume of the Jef Gilson Anthology series released in 1975.
Recorded on 8th March 1974, it is a beautiful 15-minute-long modal jazz piece. Four notes from the bass (the relentless Jean-François Catoire, who makes up the rhythm section alongside drummer Jonathan Dickinson and percussionist Keno Speller), and the group is up and running!
On piano, Gilson shows the subtle tact of a sideman, leaving the lions’ share of the place to the horns. This allows us to hear the trumpet of Clint Jackson III and the alto (which sometimes sounds almost flute-like) of Byard Lancaster each staking their claim in a long hallucinatory march which moves from moments of direct exaltation to profoundly sensitive collective playing. And if further proof was required of the confidence that Byard Lancaster and Jef Gilson inspire, “Love Always” provides it on this one sided release exclusive to the box set.
DSK Records is thrilled to announce the release of the highly anticipated album ‘USWATT' by the renowned Barcelona based Egyptian artist, Raxon. BIGAMO welcomes Bi Disc to it's label roster who is best known as one half of producer duo Feeling Valencia and the founding member of acclaimed club outfit Gheist. Under the newfound Bi Disc moniker, he now reveals "Pieces, Falling" a musical spectrum that aims at nothing less than offering the most authentic version of himself.
For further information please have a look below, or in the stocklist attached to this mail.
If there is anything else you need, just let us know
Get your ass up and let’s get ill! Yep, that’s right it’s Krash Slaughta and Phill – more accurately, it’s Phill and Krash because it’s that way round on what you get for your cash. Actually, face it, you’ll pay by card, though you won’t be bothered as these rhymes go hard. And you know it ain’t just them fat rhymes either, KS got the beats to give you a fever. That’s Side One, Definition Of Ill, but you know there’s another on the other side still. I Ain’t Playin’ With Y’All is what that’s called, more premium hip-hop to keep you enthralled. Phill says the music inspired the lyrics – apt because the finished tracks inspired this critic. Peace, I’m out! And if you don’t get your skates on, stores will be out too – of stock that is because while this one comes in two different cover & label versions, it’s strictly limited and there will be no re-press. Don’t sleep peeps!
Peelable mic sticker sleeve[20,13 €]
Get your ass up and let’s get ill! Yep, that’s right it’s Krash Slaughta and Phill – more accurately, it’s Phill and Krash because it’s that way round on what you get for your cash. Actually, face it, you’ll pay by card, though you won’t be bothered as these rhymes go hard. And you know it ain’t just them fat rhymes either, KS got the beats to give you a fever. That’s Side One, Definition Of Ill, but you know there’s another on the other side still. I Ain’t Playin’ With Y’All is what that’s called, more premium hip-hop to keep you enthralled. Phill says the music inspired the lyrics – apt because the finished tracks inspired this critic. Peace, I’m out! And if you don’t get your skates on, stores will be out too – of stock that is because while this one comes in two different cover & label versions, it’s strictly limited and there will be no re-press. Don’t sleep peeps!
After an extensive catalog of digital deep, minimal and tech house releases, Mole Music makes its debut in the realm of vinyl with a fresh selection of dancefloor weapons from a fine array of artists, each offering their unique takes on deep house, tech, and minimal sounds. The A-side kicks off with JHNS "Nevermind", a minimalistic, low-end heavyweight groove driven by rubbery drums and a tight bassline. Steve End & Colau follow with a silky late-night hypnotic track, while El Funkador closes the A-side with an uplifting, drum-shuffling deep house cut, complete with funky synths and chord progressions. On the B-side, "Night Strobe", a collaboration between Alben, LAJE, and Erratic, brings a retro-futuristic feel with a fast-paced, garage-tinged vibe. This sets the stage for HOT DLVRY's "Friction", a thumping deep groove led by spacious chords and keys, all anchored by an analog bassline. To round off this well-balanced compilation, Craftsmanship delivers a warm, humid deep house sound featuring bold chords and punchy drums - one of the defining motifs of this standout EP.
Wellington, New Zealand-based producer, drummer and band leader Cory Champion aka Borrowed CS delivers his second release on Planet Trip Records ~ Rise N Shine EP, expanding the infectious outsider boogie sound he explored on ‘Mystic Shuffle’ (off 2020’s Balance/Ascend EP) into a six-song suite of neon-lit machine funk, mutant post-disco and uptempo future soul. Draped in synthesisers that sparkle and glitter like summer sunlight hitting the harbour waters, the programmed Roland TR-606 drums and keyboard bass on these club tracks absolutely snap, wobble and groove.
From the space-aged melodies and throwback electro bounce of ‘All My People’ (featuring the pioneering British electronic soul vocalist Steve Spacek) to the dialled-in dancefloor weaponry of the title track and ‘Potplant’, the A-side of Rise n Shine unfolds like Friday night at a 1980s roller disco. On the flip, Champion reconnects with the idiosyncratic Māori singer-songwriter Mara TK to pen another golden-voiced chapter in the hi-tek South Pacific future soul story with ‘Hearsay’ before diving into some deep mid-tempo body music on ‘Subsonix’ and ‘Mystic Dream’. One for the dancefloor dreamers, Rise n Shine, will be available in 12” vinyl (limited to 300 copies) and digital versions.
Teranga Beat returns to its roots in West Africa and more precisely to Gambia, to present Galgi, the second album of Bai Janha’s groovy steamroller Karantamba on the label. The first album of Karantamba - Ndigal was a crucial one for the label as it was its third release, marking its identity: exploring cultural hybrids where traditional music is still present, in that specific region of West Africa in the beginning and later on to other parts of the continent and the Mediterranean.
Galgi was recorded 4 years after Ndigal in 1988 in Studio Wings in Dakar on reel tapes. An Afro-Mading jewel that remained unreleased until today and as an original ‘80s recording, guitars and synthesisers are thriving together with a killer groove throughout the entire album. The difference between Galgi and the previous recordings of Karantamba is not only the ’80s sound but also the female vocals of Ndey Nyang!
Galgi means “Slave ship” in Wolof, a track dedicated to the people who suffered during the Atlantic slave trade, and this is why the photo of the cover was shot in the emblematic House of Slaves in the Gorée island in Dakar. The song remains contemporary, as many people today take the risk of sailing through the maelstrom of the Atlantic Ocean towards unknown shores—a journey reminiscent of the historical immigration from the West Coast of Africa, where slave ships once set sail. This time though, it reflects an effort to escape the realities imposed on Africa by former colonisers since the continent gained independence.
This album was realised with the support of Eligo Audio Culture
We pressed this vinyl for the club sound lovers.
Lots of percussion and catchy harmonies with influences from New York, Detroit and a touch of English style.
You will be listening to the real underground house.
On the "a" side we feature one of our residents and creators of Mostly Records Bs As deep, which includes a track with his alias System T.
On the "b" side from Italy we present for the first time a great friend and artist Nicola Brusegan, who really knows how to make music for the dance floor.








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