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Back catalogue: Funk
Juno's full catalogue of Funk
Singles
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Review: Florence Adooni's relationship with Philophon goes back some time. She was the voice of Guy One's group and featured on his hit 'Estre' while she also provided vocals for Jimi Tenor's club classic 'Vocalize My Luv'. Under her own name, she has also dropped a series of top albums that have earned her the title of "the queen of Frafra-Gospel". This super sweet 45rpm typifies that sound with shakers and hand clapping, acoustic guitars and earthy drum sounds. 'Yinne' is upbeat and sunny and rich in melody and 'Fo Yelle' is much more heartfelt and introspective. Both are great.
… Read moreout of stock $16.55
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Money Is The Root Of Evil (translucent orange vinyl 7")
Cat: ES 75LPC1. Rel: 17 Nov 22
Review: Dan Boadi left his native Ghana to take his highlife sound to American audiences after he had his 1967 breakout debut 'Abrabo'. That was a regional hit and soon after came this tune which was recorded at Paul Serrano's studio in Chicago. It showcased the real breadth and depth of his sound as it called upon reggae, acrobat, halide and funk to demand your ear with a chugging drum groove. Add in the colourful orchestration that makes the tune soar and a you have a record that is a true musical melting pot that stood Boadi pat in his new home of the Windy City.
… Read morePlayed by: Mukatsuku Records Chart, Afro Beat Foundation
in stock $9.82
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Review: Over the last couple of years, Matasuna Records has developed a tried-and-tested formula. It revolves around finding and licensing killer cuts - think funk, Afrobeat, tropical flavours and Latin beats - and then pairing them with a fresh, floor-friendly re-edit. Their latest find is something of an overlooked gem: a gorgeously sunny 1983 number from Ghanaian musician Mawuli Decker that's piled high with infectious, EWE-language vocals, Highlife guitars, spacey Moog sounds and cute electric piano solos. The accompanying Renegades of Jazz re-edit is pleasingly faithful to its source material, deftly showcasing Decker's brilliant music while beefing up the bass, subtly tightening up the drums and layering on some complimentary hand percussion.
… Read more in stock $5.90
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Review: Berlin based Afro-Soul duo Jembaa Groove consists of bass player and composer Yannick Nolting and singer-percussionist Eric Owusu. Backed up by a further five players to form a septet, their music aims to cement the reputation of West African musics like highlife with the frenetic pace of Berlin's underground music scene. 'Sweet My Ear' is their latest single, packed with a steady Ghanaian funk, muted horn section, and multi-layered rhythm section, effecting a casually shuffly sound. With the instrumental in tow too, you can expect this heater sate all ears around, and to deliver on its intention to encourage spontaneous romantic encounters.
… Read moreout of stock $26.92
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in stock $12.63
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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.
… Read moreout of stock $11.22
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Review: Spanish reissue label Rocafort present this wonderful slice of highlife from Konkolo Orchestra. 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 which 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.
… Read moreout of stock $12.63
Albums
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Review: After forming from the ashes of a lauded jazz group in 1972, Sierra Leone's Afro National went on to release countless killer singles and albums that effortlessly joined the dots between jazz, highlife, funk and more traditional West African sounds. Here, the laudable Africa Seven label celebrates the band's legacy not by gathering together their most famous tracks, but rather cuts with the most insatiable dancefloor chops. The hits come thick and fast, from the punchy Afrobeat/highlife fusion of opener "Jokenge" and the rolling, low-slung goodness of "Mr Who You Be", to the jaunty, celebratory brilliance of the Juju-influenced "Sonjo" and fuzzy sweetness of the compilation's closing track, "Mother In Law" (which, incidentally, is far more enjoyable than any weekend visit from the in-laws).
… Read more in stock $10.09
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Abrabo (remastered) (heavyweight vinyl LP)
Cat: HC 74. Rel: 18 May 22
out of stock $46.58
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Vol 4 (reissue) (limited LP)
Cat: LBLBOP 5048. Rel: 27 Apr 23
Played by: Juno Recommends International
out of stock $32.27
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Review: The magnificent Luaka Bop label has been showcasing the work of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah - a master of Afro sounds and rhythms that cut deep - for a while now across several albums and compilations. He hails from Edo State in southern Nigeria and is known for holding sermons of the religious as well as musical sort. After various volumes of work and the superb World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife Of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah record comes this new series of gems that show off his unique take on international rhythms across four long, ever evolving and always engaging grooves.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart)
in stock $30.87
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Review: 1975's "Simigwa" album not only launched the career of Afro-funk fusionist and eventual Highlife great Gyedu Blay Ambolley, but also inspired a Ghanaian dance craze. The album was co-produced by another Highlife great, Ebo Taylor, and has long been exceptionally hard to find on vinyl. For this official vinyl reissue on Mr Bongo, Ambolley's landmark set has been fully re-mastered for the very first time. It sounds spectacular, with great clarity on the ear-catching brass solos, serious weight to the bass and superb stereo separation. Highlights include - but certainly aren't limited to - the Afro-blues brilliance of "Toffie", the jaunty dancefloor fuzziness of "This Hustling World" and the heavyweight swing of ear-catching opener "Kwaakwaa".
… Read more in stock $24.97
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Cat: KALITACD 004. Rel: 31 May 19
Review: She may be best known as a TV and radio presenter, but Nigerian star Julie Coker also enjoyed a short but successful music career. She released two albums of note - highlife-focused 1976 debut "Ere Yon (Sweet Songs)" and 1981's more disco-centric "Tomorrow" - both of which now fetch eye-watering sums online. This fine retrospective showcases cuts from both of those sets, with the many highlights including the spacey, delay-laden highlife cheeriness of "Re Hese", the Clavinet-sporting disco-funk-goes-pop bounce of "It's All For You", the low-slung but rising, gospel influenced brilliance of "Gossiper Scandal Monger" and the heavily percussive, off-kilter goodness of album closer "Iyo-Re". You might also notice the intro of 'Ere Yon', which was recently sampled to great effect in Anderson .Paak's "Saviers Road"!
… Read moreout of stock $12.28
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Played by: Charles Maurice, Lexx, Curious Disco, Spacetricks, Manu Archeo, AfroBase (Radio Chart), Shawn Ryan (Universal Cave), Watson, Session Victim, Afro Beat Foundation, Kenneth Bager // Musicfordreams, Your Name (Legalize Lambada), Steve Lee, Daniel T. (Cosmic Kids/Heat-Wave), Trujillo, Hugo Mendez, Originals, Juno Recommends International, Africa Seven
… Read moreout of stock $23.56
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No Food Without Taste If By Hunger (remastered) (limited 180 gram orange vinyl LP + MP3 download code in screen-printed sleeve)
Cat: AADE 020. Rel: 03 Mar 23
Review: No Food Without Taste If By Hunger is the 20th compilation in Analog Africa's Limited Dance Edition series and it also happens to be a mega-rare classic from the world of Edo funk. The Good Samaritans from Benin City, Nigeria released a very small run of the original in 1982. It is an infectious album of hypnotic basslines layered up with trance-like grooves trippy psychedelic guitars that make for an utterly unique kind of funk music. Newly mastered, pressed to 180g vinyl with a silk screen printed cover, and limited to just 2000 copies, this is a rare chance to own such a landmark album.
… Read more in stock $30.87
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Played by: AfroBase (Radio Chart), Juno Recommends International
in stock $27.22
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Cat: HC 65. Rel: 05 Feb 20
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.
… Read more in stock $30.59
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Leon Keita (limited numbered 180 gram vinyl LP + MP3 download code in screen-printed sleeve (indie exclusive))
Cat: AADE 016. Rel: 09 Oct 23
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.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart), Juno Recommends International
out of stock $29.17
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in stock $24.42
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Review: Konkolo Orchestra are keepers of the Afrobeat flame. They may be based in Zurich, but their assembled ensemble has a deeply rooted sound which brings a vibrant modern twist to the foundations laid down by the likes of Fela Kuti. They've been teasing their fully fledged arrival since 2022 when we first heard their debut single 'Blue G', but finally Rocafort are able to present their first album. It's a true celebration of West African music culture, fronted by Nongoma Ndlovu on the lion's share of vocal duties and with Eric Owusu laying down the djembe and kpanlogo in front of Alexis Malefakis' rhythm section. It's a joyous album from start to finish that does credit to the Afrobeat tradition while adding its own touches to the mix.
… Read morePlayed by: RUSTAM OSPANOFF.
out of stock $27.22
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Future Pasts ("mimosa" marbled vinyl LP + MP3 download code)
Cat: ROCLP 012CV. Rel: 25 Jan 24
Review: If you love modern updates of the Afrobeat sound, you need to check out Konkolo Orchestra. Hailing from Zurich and brought together by Alexis Malefakis, this project has been bubbling up for a hot minute since their debut single 'Blue G' snuck out on Rocafort back in 2022. Now their debut album is ready, and it's an effervescent celebration of all things Afrobeat with some incredible singers and players feeding into the mix. Nongoma Ndlovu makes frequent appearances on vocal duties, as well as the unmistakable lilt of Sir Frank Karikari on 'Yese Yese'. This edition of the album comes on yellow vinyl, so if you're swayed by wax as sunny as the music contained within, this is the pressing for you.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart)
out of stock $27.22
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Accumulation Of Profit & Power (LP + insert)
Cat: OH 005LP. Rel: 06 Dec 22
Played by: Craig Charles Funk And Soul
in stock $20.49
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Cat: OH 005CD. Rel: 15 Dec 22
Played by: Craig Charles Funk And Soul
out of stock $16.82
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Cat: AJXLP 729. Rel: 22 Jun 23
Review: Acid Jazz Records are master compilers who here turn their focus once more to Les Sympathics De Porto Novo Benin. It's part of the label's reissues series focussing on rare sounds from legendary Benin imprint Albarika Store and is a second album from one of the most notable groups to hail from Porto Novo'. This 1970s collective, founded by Herman Laleye, is famed for its heavy rhythm section and vocals from Gangbo Bonheur, Armand Pognon playing blues-tinged guitar and Camille Zanou's on the organ. Rather than straight-up Afro-beat, Afro-funk or Latin, this band fused it all seamlessly into something new.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart)
in stock $21.31
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Review: Rare finds enthusiasts, this one's for you. Beninese Afrobeat troupe Ogassa were, criminally, hardly celebrated in their day. Their only album and surviving high-quality recording is 'Ogassa Original', released on the enigmatic record label Albarika Store, whose archives are still being scoured by the modern label Acid Jazz for the purpose of reissing their best and most obscure pressings. Recorded at EMI in Lagos, the four songs heard on this LP, from 'Avale' to 'Gbe We Gnin Wa Bo', feature an ensemble of voices and performances, each full of gratitude for continent of Africa, familial rites, and matters of the spiritual.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart)
out of stock $21.04
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out of stock $16.82
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Volume 3: The Skeletal Essences Of Afro Funk 1969-1980 (CD + 44 page booklet)
Cat: AACD 073. Rel: 25 Apr 13
Review: Benin-based West African funk fusionists Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cottonou have enjoyed a long career; amazingly, they're still recording now, some 43 years after forming. This excellent retrospective from Analog Africa takes a closer look at their "glory years" between 1969 and '80, putting more flesh on the bones with a superb 44-page booklet featuring interviews with band members. Their style - a riotous, Hammond-heavy mix if funk, high life, Afrobeat, juju, jazz and Rhumba - is distinctive. What makes the compilation more essential, though, is the unashamed quality of the tracks; you'll find few deeper, sunnier Afro tracks than the brilliant "Min We Tun So".
… Read moreout of stock $17.40
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Le Sato 2 (reissue) (LP)
Cat: AJXLP 771. Rel: 23 Nov 23
Review: Acid Jazz has got an ongoing deal to issue and reissue music from Benin funk supergroup Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou and the latest fruits of that is this reissue of their Le Sato album. It is a follow-up to the one they dropped back in 2021 and is another section of traditional voodoo ceremonial music from the group from the mid-seventies. The name of the album is taken from the large ceremonial Sato drum, which is played with wooden stick beaters at special ceremonial occasions. Here it can be heard in all its glory making traditional rhythms and deeply ritualistic grooves that will leave you in a trance.
… Read more in stock $21.31
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Review: Immanuel 'Immy' Kwabena Dreessens-Owusu is based in Torquay but is of Ghanaian-Dutch heritage. His musical upbringing straddled the worlds of rock'n'roll and the West African culture of his roots. His grandfather is a legendary musician, Koo Nim, and this debut album was recorded with his father Kojo Noah Owusu and Ghanaian drummer Julius Sackey. Across nine glorious cuts he mixes highlife and Afro rhythms, Afro rock and psychedelic sounds with spiritual vocals into an energising and cathartic brew that is steeped in classic and authentic styles but with plenty of modern perpsective.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart), Juno Recommends International
out of stock $29.17
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The Man Who Sings All African Languages :Retrospective 1967-1985 (gatefold 2xLP + MP3 download code)
Cat: NBK 004. Rel: 10 Apr 25
Review: This compilation is a vibrant celebration of Gnonnas Pedro, the legendary Beninese composer and musician. Spanning his career from 1967 to 1985, it showcases Pedro's remarkable versatility and eclectic musical palette; featuring 21 tracks that traverse genres with ease, from the Afrobeat energy of 'Pas De Petard' and 'L'Indomptable Gnonnas Pop' to the salsa rhythms of 'Tembleque' and the soulful grooves of 'How Much Love Naturally Cost'. Pedro's music is a fusion of influences, blending traditional African sounds with funk, soul and Latin flavours and highlights here include the irresistible 'Dadje Von O Von Non', the funky 'Yiri Yiri Boum', and the soulful 'Bailando Mi Solo'.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart)
in stock $42.37
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Roi De L'Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 (gatefold 2xLP + booklet + MP3 download code)
Cat: AALP 100. Rel: 06 Feb 25
Review: Analog Africa is back with a dedicated project celebrating Gnonnas Pedro, the king of Modern Agbadja, and they press it up on a marvellous double album that includes an eight-page booklet with a ton of extra info. This bumper pack features 16 of Pedro's best works, all of which captivated Africa at the time. His vibrant blend of Agbadja, Cuban fon, jerk, highlife and more unique styles, all of which come with vocals sung in Fon, Mina, Yoruba, French, English and Spanish, add up to one hell of a rich sound. A great testament to the artist's extraordinary legacy.
… Read more in stock $30.02
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out of stock $21.60
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out of stock $30.02
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out of stock $25.25
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Cat: COMET 121. Rel: 12 Apr 23
Review: Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans were Afro-funk masters of the seventies. Their self-titled 1976 record is one of the most well-regarded and highly sought-after Ghanaian funk offerings and now it gets a high-quality reissue by Comet Records. This album contains the legendary 'Come Along' and is the first time revered artist, arranger, musician and producer Ebo sang the seminal Ghana funk tune. He is joined throughout by the 12-piece Cape Coast collective The Pelikans led by Bessa Simmona with rhythm guitarist Fifi Orleans Lindsay.
… Read morePlayed by: Mukatsuku Records Chart
in stock $32.84
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Stage Two (limited 180 gram clear vinyl LP with obi-strip)
Cat: TWM 73LITA. Rel: 04 Aug 21
Review: Recorded and initially released in 1976, Stage 2 was one of a trio of killer albums that highlife legend Pat Thomas recorded with the Marjarita backing band. Although amongst his most popular sets in his native Ghana, the album has never been released outside Africa - until now. This remastered edition, which comes pressed on clear vinyl, is therefore long overdue. It remains a superb set all told, with Thomas and his collaborators serving up a fuzzy, sometimes fiery fusion of Afro-Soul, highlife, Afro-funk, rocksteady, reggae and Afro-rock. Thomas is in terrific form throughout, delivering effortlessly soulful and impassioned vocals that turn an otherwise excellent album into a genuinely terrific one.
… Read morePlayed by: AfroBase (Radio Chart), Juno Recommends International
in stock $17.40
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Pat Thomas Introduces Marijata (reissue) (Record Store Day 2018) (180 gram vinyl LP)
Cat: MRBLP 158. Rel: 01 May 18
Review: We love RSD only for one thing, and that's providing us with inaccessible records that have been snapped-up by Discogs sharks over the years. This timely reissue of Pat Thomas second LP from 1976, the wonderful Marijata, is one such record that has become impossible to find in its original format, and one which allows us to have some access to the highlife beat, one of our biggest loves. While much of this album rests in classic soul and funk, Pat Thomas' Ghanaian influences are loud and present, whether through the guitars, the aesthetics of each instrumental and, of course, the quality of the recording itself. Funk out to some ORIGINAL STYLE. Cop it quick!
… Read more in stock $24.97
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Played by: AfroBase (Radio Chart), Juno Recommends International
out of stock $28.62
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VARIOUS
Cat: KALITA 012LP. Rel: 22 May 25
Review: Kalita returns with the third instalment of its Borga Revolution! series, continuing its deep dive into the sound of Burger Highlife, a genre born of traditional Ghanaian melodies, synths, drum machines, and disco groove-matics. Emerging in the 1980s during a time of great political turmoil, public strife and mass emigration, the style evolved as Ghanaian musicians abroad began blending their roots with the digital tools of their new homes. Volume 3 showcases rare and elusive cuts by the likes of Obibini Takyi, Osei Banahene, and Okyerema Asante, as well as keystone figures George Darko and Lee Dodou. The collection paints a fuller picture of a moment where innovation thrived in exile, and highlife was reshaped through transcontinental influence and technological experimentation.
… Read more in stock $28.34
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VARIOUS
Cat: STRUT 079LP. Rel: 13 May 11
in stock $18.80
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Review: A new week means yet another new compilation from Wagram. The French label has become expert at myriad different genres from staples like house and techno to more esoteric world genre niches. This time out they launch a new series that looks into the rich sounds of Afrobeat, first pioneered by the likes of Fela Kuti and his drummer Tony Allen. Neither of them feature here but the four sides of tunes we do get all make for a deep dive into this compelling rhythmical music.
… Read morePlayed by: Afro Beat Foundation
in stock $28.34
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VARIOUS
Borga Revolution! Volume 2: Ghanian Dance Music In The Digital Age 1983-1996 (gatefold 2xLP + booklet)
Cat: KALITALP 010. Rel: 09 Mar 23
Review: Kalita's Borga Revolution compilations are pure joy, tapping into the boom in electronic music in Ghana in the 80s and 90s. The first volume came out last year and carried work from the likes of Thomas Frempong and George Darko. On this second instalment we get a whole host of new names to bring us more of that West African heat, and the hits just keep spilling out. Check the urgent stomp of 'Soca For Your Pleasure' by Alan Cosmos & His Bam-Baara Soundz, or the rugged soul and deadly grooves bursting out of Pope Flyne Ackah's 'I Think You Are Right (Jepense Que Tu A Raison)'. If you were into the first edition, this is only going to bring you more delights from an overlooked corner of Africa's musical history.
… Read more in stock $16.00
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VARIOUS
Ghana Special Volume 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora 1980-93 (gatefold 3xLP + booklet)
Cat: SNDWLP 148. Rel: 09 May 24
Review: New to Soundway Records comes this second edition of Ghana Special, a comprehensive compilation of '80s Ghanaian-diasporic highlife and its embrace of synthesiser and new wave elements. 20 years on from the first compilation in the series, which was released in 2009 and focused on modern and contemporary forms of highlife, this second volume focuses more on tracing the development of the sound as it took on increasingly synthetic forms. The scheme of things goes something like this: drum machines and synthesisers appeared alongside lilting guitar lines and punchy horns, and Ghanaian musicians began incorporating US disco and boogie, r&b, European new wave, and Caribbean zouk and soca into their music. A kind of socioeconomic history lesson conjoins this musicology: the eighties saw unrestricted migration policies in Western nations in the postcolonial era, which enabled new crossover industries to flourish. Thus the music you hear on this compilation was born, and thrived, and continues to thrive.
… Read more in stock $36.20
