Matsuli Vinyl & CDs

Review: You have a genuine piece of musical history here. The Anchors may not be remembered by many, but made a significant impact on everyone who does. Black Soul is the third and - to all musicologist knowledge - last record put out by this pioneering South African funk-soul outfit. Straight out of the Johannesburg township of Alexandria at the height of Apartheid, they became known for exceptional musicianship and reinterpreting the classic Memphis, USA sound for their own oppressed community. Part three of that legacy takes things much, much further, though. So, we can definitely still hear those Mid South sounds that represent the very essence of soul, but here the aesthetic becomes something altogether different, Afro and specific to time and place. Homage paid to the genre founders, but drawing on personal circumstances to own things for themselves.

Review: Ballake Sissoko and Derek Gripper's collaborative album is a magical exploration of musical synergy and virtuosity. Recorded in just three hours, the album captures the spontaneous magic that arises when two masters of their craft come together. Sissoko's mastery of the kora, rooted in the traditions of West Africa, melds seamlessly with Gripper's classical guitar expertise, creating a captivating fusion of sound. Their musical dialogue transcends boundaries, with each artist pushing the other to new heights of creativity and expression. Gripper's reverence for Sissoko's skill as an interpreter of timbre is palpable, while Sissoko acknowledges Gripper's curiosity and openness as essential to their collaboration. This album a trip through ancient and contemporary realms, where the resonances of the Manding empire blend with the textures of the guitar to create something truly unique and special.