Rocafort Spain Vinyl & CDs

Review: Spanish label Rocafort started 2019 by releasing their first dub reggae "45", so it's fitting that they are ending the year with a sequel from the same act, The Circle of Confusion. Like its' predecessor, "Yesterday Was History" features lead vocals from Studio 1 singer Cornell Campbell. His soulful intonation works wonderfully above the band's hazy, heavy and ear-pleasing digi-dub backing track. Arguably even better is the band's own flipside "Dub" mix, which is as weighty, spaced out and intoxicating as the largely digital dubs pioneered by British scene stalwart Mad Professor. It's worth buying the seven-inch just to get your hands on it.

Review: The Circle of Confusion are a Swiss dub production duo, who, adding to their fast-growing repertoire of releases, now drop 'Soul Of A Lion', which features Wayne Paul, an English reggae singer who was mostly active in the 90s and 2000s. Though Paul disappeared from the scene towards the end of that period, he now returns with a defiant message of big-feline hope and reminiscence, sung against a modern reggae backing with a polished, 80s roots feel. "How you feeling right now... now that you're older and wiser?" he asks in the song. Alll the better now you're back, thanks for asking.

Review: Climactic, psychedelic soul and blues brilliance by Don Covay, co-written by Donny Hathaway and backed by a proto-Balearic sweetmeat on the B, Harvey Mandel's 'Baby Batter'. The A-side was originally released one year after (1972) the B-side (1971) on the American Janus label, and the tracks provide a palpable contrast, drawing on the same idiom yet approaching it with remarkable difference. Covay's lyrics are, thematically, overflowing with determination, despite the psychic conflict at the track's heart. Is there any resolution? "The sweeter you, look, mama... the bitterer you treat me..."

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: Bosq's take on Konkolo Orchestra's 'Le Secret' feels like the moment when an Afrobeat anthem gets suited up for the club. Infused with his trademark Latin disco edge, the remix blends the rich pulse of Afro rhythms with sleek, dancefloor-ready beats. It's clear Bosq's move to Colombia has added a fresh sense of urgency to the track: percussion snaps with precision, while lush, warm keys wrap around the groove. The instrumental mix on the B-side strips it back, leaving only the track's hypnotic beats and intricate textures to breathe perfect for DJs looking to build atmosphere. This is Bosq's take on Afrobeat, refracted through his own shimmering lens, and it's infectious.

Review: The third instalment in the 'Cumbia Sabrosa' series delves into the rich archives of Colombia's Codiscos label, unearthing a selection of tracks that exemplify the vibrant energy of cumbia. Artists such as Los Trotamundos, Aniceto Molina y su Conjunto, and Los Hermanos Martelo contribute to a compilation that seamlessly blends traditional rhythms with the dynamic flair characteristic of the sonidero scene. Each track offers a unique glimpse into the musical landscape of the era, highlighting the enduring appeal of cumbia's infectious beats.

Review: Mampon unleash their latest Afrobeat enchantment on a new 7" release. 'Si Algun Dia Has De Caer' is a clean, bouncing neo-Afrobeat whirlwind, combining the infectious vocals of Spanish singer Hector Rodriguez with a dynamic backup production that is as irresistible as it is ineluctable. The B-side pares back the dance and pierces the political veil, with a Spanish-language plea to listeners to carve out their own paths in life, regardless of cost.

Review: Rocafort Records took a trip to LA last summer to meet Dan Ubick, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and DJ who is also an original member of Breakestra and founding member of reggae bands The Lions and Night Owls. They decided to hook up on this project which he devised as a couple of instrumentals which then changed form and became the Brazilian-inspired hip-hop sounds you can hear on this 7". Percussion player Bobby Easton, singer Diana Purim and Sadat X from NYC's Brand Nubian also helped add some extra colour.