Canopy Vinyl & CDs

Review: For their first full-length reissue, Canopy Records brings new life to Oppressor, a rare 1987 album by Nigerian artist Myke Moul. Long a cult favourite due to its genre-blending style and hard-to-find status, this remastered edition corrects past audio issues and gives the album the sound quality it always deserved. From the opening notes of the title track, Oppressor sets a tone that's both breezy and politically aware, a mid-tempo groove riding on synth-reggae rhythms with a soulful message woven in. The album, shaped in part by reggae icon Majek Fashek and later reimagined in France with a roster of versatile session players, stands out for its seamless mix of styles: island-leaning reggae, glossy boogie, and moments that feel like they could have soundtracked a Mediterranean sunset. "Shadows in the Rain" dips into an 80s synth-funk groove, while "Heading for the Top" is a shimmering, bass-forward boogie cut, setting the tone for a collection that flits back and forth between reggae, funk and boogie.

Review: Kiko Navarro is back on the Canopy label to head up its tenth vinyl outing and once again brings global influences to his brand of disco. The rousing vocals come from Kaleta while Kiko lays down Afro-tinged and hefty kick drum patterns and runs them through with cosmic synth lines that are taught and nebulous. The electro-afro-beat rhythms come even more to the fore on the flipside when weighty bass oscillations bring the instrumental to life. Both cuts are potent, powerful jams with muscular rhythms but no lack of soul - and both of these are primed and ready for full on late-night dancefloor action.

Review: Opolopo and Alafia recently united to embark on a fresh musical odyssey that birthed two intricately crafted percussive marvels. 'Axxanxxan' and 'Axxiove' were irresistibly captivating, blending Afro rhythms, disco allure, and synth ingenuity into dancefloor dynamite pulsating with tribal vitality. Now, both cuts get served up as instrumental cuts. On the A-side, metallic basslines, choppy guitars, and swirling synths conjure a tropical ambience, while the flip side features pronounced drums and entrancing rhythms infused with a cosmic allure. These Canopy treasures shine as brightly as the original versions.