1
Bra Sello - Butterfly
2
Bra Sello - African Queen
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Butterfly 15:40
Side B: African Queen 15:32 More
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Butterfly 15:40
Side B: African Queen 15:32 More
More records from Bra Sello
1
Bra Sello - Call And Go
2
Bra Sello - Washa
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
More records from Afrodelic
1
Black Disco - Dawn
2
Black Disco - Deep Blue
3
Black Disco - Spiritual Feeling Riding The Blue (feat. Mohamed)
4
Black Disco - Whiter Shade Of Pale
5
Black Disco - No More Tears
6
Black Disco - Slow Mood
7
Black Disco - Kids In The Dark
With a Yamaha organ and a dream, South African artist Pops Mohamed started his musical journey in the mid-1970s as the bandleader and composer of Black Disco, creating a hip melange of chill-out jazz with futuristic drum machine sounds and spiritual overtones. His cosmic organ transmissions were accompanied by two of the most sought-after session players on the South African scene, the sax and flute wizard Basil Coetzee, who had risen to fame in 1974 as one of the soloists on the hit "Mannenberg," and Sipho Gumede, the young bass prodigy who was already rubbing shoulders with the old guard at the outset of his career. Backed at first with polyphonic beats from Mohamed's electric organ and later taking on a drummer, Black Disco created a signature sound and a trilogy of innovative albums in a burst of studio creativity between 1975 and 1976. This is the first full reissue of their 3rd album, from the original masters. Limited Edition
More
1
Black Disco - Spiritual Feel
2
Black Disco - Pops Blue
3
Black Disco - I'm Organized
4
Black Disco - Dark Cloud (Part 1)
5
Black Disco - Dark Cloud (Part 2)
6
Black Disco - My Girl
7
Black Disco - Ain't No Sunshine
With a Yamaha organ and a dream, South African artist Pops Mohamed started his musical journey in the mid-1970s as the bandleader and composer of Black Disco, creating a hip melange of chill-out jazz with futuristic drum machine sounds and spiritual overtones. His cosmic organ transmissions were accompanied by two of the most sought-after session players on the South African scene, the sax and flute wizard Basil Coetzee, who had risen to fame in 1974 as one of the soloists on the hit "Mannenberg," and Sipho Gumede, the young bass prodigy who was already rubbing shoulders with the old guard at the outset of his career. Backed at first with polyphonic beats from Mohamed's electric organ and later taking on a drummer, Black Disco created a signature sound and a trilogy of innovative albums in a burst of studio creativity between 1975 and 1976. This is the first full reissue of the debut album, from the original masters. Limited Edition
More
1
The Hal Singer Jazz Quartet - Soweto To Harlem
2
The Hal Singer Jazz Quartet - Blues After Six
3
The Hal Singer Jazz Quartet - The Gospel
4
The Hal Singer Jazz Quartet - Always Blues
5
The Hal Singer Jazz Quartet - Deacon Johnson
When the U.S. State Department announced in the mid-1970s that they were sponsoring a South African tour for the Oklahoma-born, Paris-based saxophonist Hal Singer, producer Rashid Vally took note. Even though his nascent record label As-Shams/The Sun (established in 1974) was making waves on the local scene, the idea of commissioning a recording from an international artist was a ballsy idea. With a discography that stretched back to the 1950s, Hal Singer was already somewhat of a legacy artist by 1976. Vally was well-versed on Singer’s accomplishments and specifically enamoured by his composition “Blue Stompin’,” which appeared on a Prestige album from 1959 that had struck a chord in South Africa.
With his irresistible charm, Vally managed to coax Singer into a studio in Johannesburg, South Africa, to record a new version of “Blue Stompin’” with South African sax star Kippie Moeketsi, which became the title track of a 1977 album by Moeketsi. The recording session also yielded an album’s worth of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet that took its name from a track inspired by Singer’s trip to South Africa entitled “Soweto to Harlem.” Released in 1976 and only available in South Africa, Soweto to Harlem captures a laid-back, cheeky and nostalgic rhythm and blues set from the Hal Singer Quartet that is unlikely to have emerged for a different target market.
With her irresistible charm, Vally was able to convince Singer to enter a Johannesburg studio. The recording session produced this album of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet named after a song inspired by Singer’s trip to South Africa, entitled “Soweto to Harlem.” Released in 1976 and available only in South Africa, “Soweto to Harlem” captures a laid-back, unabashed and nostalgic rhythm and blues of Hal Singer’s quartet that would hardly have been born for a different market.
Cinedelic’s 2024 edition of this rare album is sourced from the original tape masters and presents it on vinyl internationally for the very first time. The reissue follows Singer’s passing at the 100 in August 2020 as we contemplate and celebrate his extraordinary contribution to jazz in the United States and beyond.
Hal Singer – Tenor Sax
Alain Jean-Marie – Piano
August “Gus” Nemeth – Bass
Oliver Johnson – Drums More
With his irresistible charm, Vally managed to coax Singer into a studio in Johannesburg, South Africa, to record a new version of “Blue Stompin’” with South African sax star Kippie Moeketsi, which became the title track of a 1977 album by Moeketsi. The recording session also yielded an album’s worth of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet that took its name from a track inspired by Singer’s trip to South Africa entitled “Soweto to Harlem.” Released in 1976 and only available in South Africa, Soweto to Harlem captures a laid-back, cheeky and nostalgic rhythm and blues set from the Hal Singer Quartet that is unlikely to have emerged for a different target market.
With her irresistible charm, Vally was able to convince Singer to enter a Johannesburg studio. The recording session produced this album of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet named after a song inspired by Singer’s trip to South Africa, entitled “Soweto to Harlem.” Released in 1976 and available only in South Africa, “Soweto to Harlem” captures a laid-back, unabashed and nostalgic rhythm and blues of Hal Singer’s quartet that would hardly have been born for a different market.
Cinedelic’s 2024 edition of this rare album is sourced from the original tape masters and presents it on vinyl internationally for the very first time. The reissue follows Singer’s passing at the 100 in August 2020 as we contemplate and celebrate his extraordinary contribution to jazz in the United States and beyond.
Hal Singer – Tenor Sax
Alain Jean-Marie – Piano
August “Gus” Nemeth – Bass
Oliver Johnson – Drums More
1
Bra Sello - Call And Go
2
Bra Sello - Washa
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
1
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - Be What You Are
2
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - I'm A Living Man
3
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - Smiling
4
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - I Know You Know What I Know
5
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - Imagination
6
Black Children Sledge Funk Band - Doing It If You Can
A little masterpiece of soul afrofunk with carpets of dreamy keyboards on their swirlingly seductive sound and their really cool voices. The second album of BLACK CHILDREN SLEDGE FUNK BAND released in 1978 is a delight. Repressed for the first time.
More
1
Moonrakers Band - We Got To Live
2
Moonrakers Band - Cut Your Coat According To You
3
Moonrakers Band - Yara Manyan Gore
4
Moonrakers Band - What We Did Today Is Gone
5
Moonrakers Band - Enia Se Pele
6
Moonrakers Band - Little Sister Of Line
7
Moonrakers Band - Move On
8
Moonrakers Band - Wait For Me
An aura of mystery is hidden on this magnificent album released on EMI Nigeria in 1974 and today a collector’s cult object was the only one named Moonrakers Band.
Steve Black tells: “We were the original members of The Moonrakers and were based in Zaria, then in 1972 we left band management and started The Elcados. The original management of The Moonrakers sold the name to his elder brother who had a club in Kano and they brought Prince Bola Agbana to get other musicians to continue The Moonrakers while we moved in as The Elcados.”
Moonrakers Band and Elcados were the two bands that inflamed northern Nigeria in the early 70s with a more rocking and virtuoso sound, and especially with tons of rare grooves, then everything else around it.
Coming to the album content tracks like Wait For Me, Cut Your Coat According To You Size, Yara Manyan Gobe, but also Enia Sa Pele and Move on, will make floating camels appear on the dancefloor, or in your house. More
Steve Black tells: “We were the original members of The Moonrakers and were based in Zaria, then in 1972 we left band management and started The Elcados. The original management of The Moonrakers sold the name to his elder brother who had a club in Kano and they brought Prince Bola Agbana to get other musicians to continue The Moonrakers while we moved in as The Elcados.”
Moonrakers Band and Elcados were the two bands that inflamed northern Nigeria in the early 70s with a more rocking and virtuoso sound, and especially with tons of rare grooves, then everything else around it.
Coming to the album content tracks like Wait For Me, Cut Your Coat According To You Size, Yara Manyan Gobe, but also Enia Sa Pele and Move on, will make floating camels appear on the dancefloor, or in your house. More
1
Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise - Vicky
2
Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise - Bisu-Omi
3
Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise - Red Jeans
4
Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise - Ise Orise
5
Tunde Mabadu & His Sunrise - Blue Bird (Instrumental)
Official AFRODELIC reissue of the ultra-rare Tunde Mabadu’s debut album. Originally released in 1978 on Blackspot label (DECCA’s West Africa division), Bisu, which includes the supergroovy ‘Red Jeans’, differs from the later 1980 ‘Viva Disco’ album by a much more pure African style.
A beautiful and soulful production in which Tunde’s deep voice and sax move on the excellent horns arrangements, percussions, the wahwah rhythm guitar and weird keyboards and synths (at times psychedelic as in the ‘Blue Bird’ 9 minutes).
As wrote on the original liner notes of the era “His music will mesmerize you from the first track. A dedicated Musician especially to his African Roots with so much to offer Musically”.
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
A beautiful and soulful production in which Tunde’s deep voice and sax move on the excellent horns arrangements, percussions, the wahwah rhythm guitar and weird keyboards and synths (at times psychedelic as in the ‘Blue Bird’ 9 minutes).
As wrote on the original liner notes of the era “His music will mesmerize you from the first track. A dedicated Musician especially to his African Roots with so much to offer Musically”.
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
1
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Satisfaction
2
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Feelings I've Got
3
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Mr. Who
4
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Love Is Fair
5
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Funky Child
6
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Hard Life
7
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Another Girl
8
Black Children Sledge Funk Group - Sledge Afro Funk
Nigerian classic Black Children Sledge Funk Group 1976’s debut album full of positive vibrations and feel-good grooves! A sunny blend of Reggae and Afro-Funk with a lot of percussions, psychedelic and rhythmic guitar and organ. In the mid-seventies in Nigeria everybody loved them; they were a symbol and pride of Africa.
Michael Hammedatha Moore sang and played congas and percussion. Daniel Carlos Yakubu played guitar. Jerry Freeman Nwokolo was on keyboards. Ricky Hardnar on bass and And Benson Teteh played the drums. Everyone in the band changed their last name to Black.
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
Michael Hammedatha Moore sang and played congas and percussion. Daniel Carlos Yakubu played guitar. Jerry Freeman Nwokolo was on keyboards. Ricky Hardnar on bass and And Benson Teteh played the drums. Everyone in the band changed their last name to Black.
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
1
Elcados - I Was Stunned Into Speechlessness
2
Elcados - Run Away Girl
3
Elcados - The World Is Not Straight
4
Elcados - Power To The People
5
Elcados - Time Waits For No Man
6
Elcados - Ku Mai Da Hankan (Let's Be Polite And Together)
7
Elcados - Loving Is Right
8
Elcados - Chokoi And Oreje
The ultra-rare holy grail masterpiece by Elcados originally released by EMI-Nigeria in 1973 and recorded by Kayode Salami. It’s their debut album, a real gem played in an extraordinary inspired moment. A top shelf heavyweight Afro-Psych Funk-Rock. Leader of the band the great guitarist Frank Martins. Includes the dreamy ‘Ku Mai Da Hankan’; For Djs ‘Chokoi And Oreje’ and ‘I Was Stunned Into Speechlessness’.
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
Repressed for the first time. Limited Edition. More
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Legendary producer Dave Lee returns as AC Soul Symphony with the “Metamorphosis” LP - his most ambitious
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART ONE
Record One
A1 Windy City Theme
B1 Tradewinds
Record Two
C1 Six Billion Dollar Man
D1 Seneca Village
D2 Metamorphosis
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART ONE
Record One
A1 Windy City Theme
B1 Tradewinds
Record Two
C1 Six Billion Dollar Man
D1 Seneca Village
D2 Metamorphosis
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
Legendary producer Dave Lee returns as AC Soul Symphony with the “Metamorphosis” LP - his most ambitious
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART TWO
Record One
A1 The Philly Avengers
B1 AC Express
B2 The Mystery, The Moment
Record Two
C1 It’s Got To Be Love
C2 Music For Your Pleasure
D1 Losing My Mind At The Disco
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART TWO
Record One
A1 The Philly Avengers
B1 AC Express
B2 The Mystery, The Moment
Record Two
C1 It’s Got To Be Love
C2 Music For Your Pleasure
D1 Losing My Mind At The Disco
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
Legendary producer Dave Lee returns as AC Soul Symphony with the “Metamorphosis” LP - his most ambitious
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART TWO
Record One
A1 The Philly Avengers
B1 AC Express
B2 The Mystery, The Moment
Record Two
C1 It’s Got To Be Love
C2 Music For Your Pleasure
D1 Losing My Mind At The Disco
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
production project in his 35-year career.
With an inimitable CV and discography that includes over a thousand production credits to his name, hundreds of singles
under renowned pseudonyms including Joey Negro, and three UK top 40 hits as Jakatta, Dave Lee is one of the UK’s
most revered producers of disco and house music, defining each genre with a signature sound. Always looking to push
the boundaries of what it means to make music, his latest project sees Dave return to one of his lesser-known pseudonyms
– AC Soul Symphony – to deliver an epic disco record that takes the sound back to its roots in every way possible.
“A few years ago, I produced a remake of David Shire’s orchestral disco masterpiece Manhattan Skyline under
the alias of AC Soul Symphony. I really enjoyed reworking that classic track in a way that retained my favourite
parts of the original but also writing new musical sections that gave it more my own flavour.”
Comprising 15 beautifully arranged disco tracks that effortlessly span almost two hours, “Metamorphosis” is an album by
definition, but at its core, much more than that – it is a labour of love, meticulously composed, arranged and crafted through
a very tangible and human creative process which is unmatched by many modern producers.
“I do it because I love the process of creating something. My aim is to come up with an end result I genuinely
think I’d want to buy, play and listen to if it wasn’t me.”
Inspired by happy memories from the golden era of TV and the soundtracks of his favourite childhood shows,
“Metamorphosis” was borne of a desire to put the strings center stage and “I thought making a whole album of this mainly instrumental, string heavy, tv theme like music would be a really
enjoyable project and one that would play to my strengths as a producer. It was also slightly new territory
musically and a bit of challenge.”
Taking disco back to a physical place, “Metamorphosis” was an organic writing process that saw Dave lay down his ideas
digitally, before reshaping the MIDI strings into a proper arrangement and recording them live with a 20-piece orchestra at
RAK Studios. By his own admission, it is an album of pure indulgence, but by relying on digital production methods, it can
be easy to lose sight of the soul that makes music such a unifying entity. Backing up the immaculate strings with catchy
vocals and enough groove to level a discotheque, it’s this soulful energy that Dave has captured and expertly delivered
with “Metamorphosis”.
VINYL PART TWO
Record One
A1 The Philly Avengers
B1 AC Express
B2 The Mystery, The Moment
Record Two
C1 It’s Got To Be Love
C2 Music For Your Pleasure
D1 Losing My Mind At The Disco
https://soundcloud.com/k7-records/sets/zeddlp059-ac-soul-symphony/s-HszMwWkZIal?si=f6af473f320745e7a3f209defab137e9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing More
1
JJ Whitefield - a2 Raised With Fire
2
JJ Whitefield - a3 Flute Punch
3
JJ Whitefield - b1 No-Mo-Woa
Broc Recordz is proud to announce the album "Puzzled" by the legendary JJ Whitefield, you'll immerse yourself in the
enigmatic universe of this master of funk and psychedelism.
Across 13 tracks, you will discover all facets of this musician hailing from Munich, ranging from raw funk to krautrock. JJ
Whitefield is an iconic figure in the music scene, having played an essential role in diverse projects such as the mastermind
behind Poets Of Rhythm, Karl Hector, The Whitefield Brothers and his essential role in the recent careers of Ebo Taylor,
embryo and witch“. "Puzzled" is the perfect opportunity to delve into his unique musical world.
a1 Dawn Of Delphi
a2 Raised With Fire
a3 Flute Punch
a4 Hyperion
a5 Comin´At Ya
a6 3Mal3
a7 Bin Dippers
b1 No-Mo-Woa
b2 Mukogawa
b3 Holy Daze
b4 Wellness
b5 Amok Koma
b6 Ad Acta More
enigmatic universe of this master of funk and psychedelism.
Across 13 tracks, you will discover all facets of this musician hailing from Munich, ranging from raw funk to krautrock. JJ
Whitefield is an iconic figure in the music scene, having played an essential role in diverse projects such as the mastermind
behind Poets Of Rhythm, Karl Hector, The Whitefield Brothers and his essential role in the recent careers of Ebo Taylor,
embryo and witch“. "Puzzled" is the perfect opportunity to delve into his unique musical world.
a1 Dawn Of Delphi
a2 Raised With Fire
a3 Flute Punch
a4 Hyperion
a5 Comin´At Ya
a6 3Mal3
a7 Bin Dippers
b1 No-Mo-Woa
b2 Mukogawa
b3 Holy Daze
b4 Wellness
b5 Amok Koma
b6 Ad Acta More
1
Le'O Roy - Vocal
2
Le'O Roy - Part 2
Absolutely essential funk-fuelled, disco flavoured business from Le'O Roy with ‘Pound For Pound’ on the mighty Golden Flamingo Records. Produced by Bobby Brinson, and P&P’s very own Peter Brown, you’ll struggle to find four and a half more electrifying, feel-good, funk-infused minutes of music than these.
Pound for pound one of the best cuts of this scene, it’s an early ‘80s boogie leaning blend taking the best bits from disco, funk and soul, and adding a heavy dose of NYC spice to the mix. Punchy funk guitar licks, a driving beat laced with hypnotic cowbells and an intoxicating, gritty yet golden dose of vocal power. A rare as hen’s teeth record finally given the official reissue it’s been crying out for. More
Pound for pound one of the best cuts of this scene, it’s an early ‘80s boogie leaning blend taking the best bits from disco, funk and soul, and adding a heavy dose of NYC spice to the mix. Punchy funk guitar licks, a driving beat laced with hypnotic cowbells and an intoxicating, gritty yet golden dose of vocal power. A rare as hen’s teeth record finally given the official reissue it’s been crying out for. More
1
Asha Puthli - I Am Song (Sing Me) (Yuksek Remix)
2
Asha Puthli - Space Talk (Maurice Fulton Remix)
3
Asha Puthli - Lies (Kraak & Smaak Remix)
4
Asha Puthli - One Night Affair (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
5
Asha Puthli - Right Down Here (Psychemagik Remix)
6
Asha Puthli - I'm Gonna Dance (Jitwam Remix)
Turbotito and Ragz's electrifying Naya Beat label has curated a cultured list of remixers to add their spin to the work
of legendary Indian vocalist Asha Puthli. This essential remix album features Yuksek, Maurice Fulton, Psychemagik,
Kraak & Smaak, Jitwam, and Turbotito & Ragz.
Naya Beat, which translates from Hindi as 'new beat', is focused on uncovering foundational electronic sounds from
the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora through reissues, remixes and compilations. It found quick success with its
first release, 'Naya Beat Volume 1: South Asian Dance and Electronic Music 1983 - 1992', followed by a rare 1985
Hindi New Wave album by Pinky Ann Rihal and more recently a ground-breaking compilation ‘Awaaz’ uncovering
Bollywood electro and leftfield 80s original soundtrack recordings.
Hot off their highly sought after EP of Dimitri From Paris’ seminal remixes of Asha Puthli’s iconic track ‘Space Talk’,
the label now offers up the first of two full-length releases based around her music. For this LP, Naya Beat tracked
down the long mythologised original stems and recordings of Puthli's most seminal albums, including ‘The Devil is
Loose’, and working closely with Asha, they have tasked a series of producers inspired by her work to remix her music.
Yuksek opens up with a pumping disco remix of 'I Am Song (Sing Me)' awash with uplifting synths and big claps next
to the original vocals, which soar to the heavens. The seminal 'Space Talk' is remixed by Maurice Fulton into super
steamy and late-night territory. The live drums and jumbled percussion are lit up with soulful chords as Puthli's carefully
delivered vocals seduce up top. 'Lies' (Kraak & Smaak Remix) rides on fat-bottomed drums and bass that unfold with
a dub swagger beneath a nebulous eco-system of cosmic synths and dramatic vocals. Label heads Turbotito & Ragz
flip 'One Night Affair' into a leggy disco celebration with sweeping synths and bright effects, and Psychemagik's 'Right
Down Here' is a pulsating mix of dark, snaking bass and drums with deep space ambience and raw hits making for a
turbulent and tense atmosphere. Lastly, Jitwam closes out with a smooth disco sound laced with dynamic drums and
cruising chords next to another sensuous top line from Asha Puthli.
A1. I Am Song (Sing Me) (Yuksek Remix)
A2. Space Talk (Maurice Fulton Remix)
A3. Lies (Kraak & Smaak Remix)
B1. One Night Affair (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
B2. Right Down Here (Psychemagik Remix)
B3. I'm Gonna Dance (Jitwam Remix) More
of legendary Indian vocalist Asha Puthli. This essential remix album features Yuksek, Maurice Fulton, Psychemagik,
Kraak & Smaak, Jitwam, and Turbotito & Ragz.
Naya Beat, which translates from Hindi as 'new beat', is focused on uncovering foundational electronic sounds from
the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora through reissues, remixes and compilations. It found quick success with its
first release, 'Naya Beat Volume 1: South Asian Dance and Electronic Music 1983 - 1992', followed by a rare 1985
Hindi New Wave album by Pinky Ann Rihal and more recently a ground-breaking compilation ‘Awaaz’ uncovering
Bollywood electro and leftfield 80s original soundtrack recordings.
Hot off their highly sought after EP of Dimitri From Paris’ seminal remixes of Asha Puthli’s iconic track ‘Space Talk’,
the label now offers up the first of two full-length releases based around her music. For this LP, Naya Beat tracked
down the long mythologised original stems and recordings of Puthli's most seminal albums, including ‘The Devil is
Loose’, and working closely with Asha, they have tasked a series of producers inspired by her work to remix her music.
Yuksek opens up with a pumping disco remix of 'I Am Song (Sing Me)' awash with uplifting synths and big claps next
to the original vocals, which soar to the heavens. The seminal 'Space Talk' is remixed by Maurice Fulton into super
steamy and late-night territory. The live drums and jumbled percussion are lit up with soulful chords as Puthli's carefully
delivered vocals seduce up top. 'Lies' (Kraak & Smaak Remix) rides on fat-bottomed drums and bass that unfold with
a dub swagger beneath a nebulous eco-system of cosmic synths and dramatic vocals. Label heads Turbotito & Ragz
flip 'One Night Affair' into a leggy disco celebration with sweeping synths and bright effects, and Psychemagik's 'Right
Down Here' is a pulsating mix of dark, snaking bass and drums with deep space ambience and raw hits making for a
turbulent and tense atmosphere. Lastly, Jitwam closes out with a smooth disco sound laced with dynamic drums and
cruising chords next to another sensuous top line from Asha Puthli.
A1. I Am Song (Sing Me) (Yuksek Remix)
A2. Space Talk (Maurice Fulton Remix)
A3. Lies (Kraak & Smaak Remix)
B1. One Night Affair (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
B2. Right Down Here (Psychemagik Remix)
B3. I'm Gonna Dance (Jitwam Remix) More
1
Transvolta - Disco Computer
2
Transvolta - You Are Disco
Dan Lacksman is a Belgian electronic music pioneer who co-founded the Electro Pop Dance formation Telex and is credited for their classic 'Moskow Diskow.' He also worked under the Transvolta name but put out only one single, 1978's impossibly hard-to-find classic 'Disco Computer.' Dan himself has carefully remastered the original for this special 12" reissue. It's still a retro-future sound all these years later with the signature talk box vocals and sleek drum machines under cosmic synths. On the flip is a long version of 'You Are Disco' which is a similar vibe but with a slightly more lively groove and vocal. Two serene dancefloor gems by any standards.
More
1
JJ Whitefield & Igor - One Hand Clap
2
JJ Whitefield & Igor - Munich Bells
Get Ready for Another Mind-Blowing Journey with Two Tales From The Mind!
After a first volume featuring Janko Nilovic & The Soul Surfers, Broc Recordz is back with a new banger. This time, we've
got none other than the legendary JJ Whitefield (known for The Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector, Embryo, W.I.T.C.H...) and
the incomparable Igor Zhukovsky from The Soul Surfers.
Our concept remains unchanged – two sides, two unique vibes:
Side A: Groove to the funky beats of "One Hand Clap" – it's pure funkadelic ecstasy!
Side B: Take a trippy ride with this psychedelic tune, "Munich Bells" – it's a sonic journey like no other.
Two Tales for the mind, is meticulously crafted to blow your mind. Get ready to immerse yourself in the experience. Enjoy
the ride!
TRACKLIST:
A1. One Hand Clap
B1. Munich Bells More
After a first volume featuring Janko Nilovic & The Soul Surfers, Broc Recordz is back with a new banger. This time, we've
got none other than the legendary JJ Whitefield (known for The Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector, Embryo, W.I.T.C.H...) and
the incomparable Igor Zhukovsky from The Soul Surfers.
Our concept remains unchanged – two sides, two unique vibes:
Side A: Groove to the funky beats of "One Hand Clap" – it's pure funkadelic ecstasy!
Side B: Take a trippy ride with this psychedelic tune, "Munich Bells" – it's a sonic journey like no other.
Two Tales for the mind, is meticulously crafted to blow your mind. Get ready to immerse yourself in the experience. Enjoy
the ride!
TRACKLIST:
A1. One Hand Clap
B1. Munich Bells More
1
Bra Sello - Call And Go
2
Bra Sello - Washa
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
Side A: Call And Go 18:40
Side B: Washa 19:40 More
1
Wally Badarou - Dance In The Dust
2
Wally Badarou - Amber Whispers
3
Wally Badarou - Where Were We
4
Wally Badarou - The Lights Of Kinshasa
5
Wally Badarou - Pictures Of You
6
Wally Badarou - Serendipity For Two
7
Wally Badarou - Smiles By The Millions
8
Wally Badarou - Higher Still
9
Wally Badarou - Oriental
10
Wally Badarou - Days To Wonder
11
Wally Badarou - Dawn Of Europa
12
Wally Badarou - Crystal Falls
13
Wally Badarou - Purple Lines
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes: First time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Dance In The Dust
A2 Amber Whispers
A3 Where Were We
A4 The Lights Of Kinshasa
A5 Pictures Of You
----
B1 Serendipity For Two
B2 Smiles By The Millions
B3 Higher Still
B4 Oriental
B5 Days To Wonder
B6 Dawn Of Europa
B7 Crystal Falls
B8 Purple Lines
Release Notes:
Synth pioneer and musical polymath, Wally Badarou is a genius. But you know that already. A vinyl version of his majestic Colors Of Silence has been craved by the Balearic cognoscenti ever since its low-key 2001 release. Indeed, when we first started work on Be With, we asked some pals with exquisite taste what their dream release would be. We asked Balearic legend Moonboots and, without hesitation, he said Colors Of Silence by Wally Badarou. We didn't know Wally had made this album. And most still don't. But that's about to change.
Colors Of Silence is ostensibly a new age album. As ever though, Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. It's simply stunning, throughout. It sounds like A.r.t. Wilson or Suzanne Kraft, with traces of CFCF and Jonny Nash. But it was made a good decade earlier than the work of these modern giants. Sometimes, it doesn't seem far from some Larry Heard albums.
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell's friend Nathalie Delon asked Wally to provide music for the yoga DVD she was to release. Lack of time on both sides made them agree on using "quality demos" Wally had in his ideas bank. It's understandable why Colors Of Silence remains somewhat of a lost gem. As Wally explains: "Total lack of promotion made it an 'intimate' release, which was exactly what I was looking for: just a buzz-maker and time-buyer that would allow me to concentrate on the real thing as soon as I'd have time, which could also turn into a rare collecting item later, once the final versions made their way to success. You never know."
Over the years, Colors Of Silence has become a true cult record for the ambient/Balearic heads.
The beguiling but brief "Dance In The Dust" is the shuffling, hyper-percussive, hypnotic opener. It gives way to the deep serenity of "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. The bright and breezy "Where Were We" follows, a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands.
The uptempo groove is maintained on the keys-drizzled soca-funk of "The Lights Of Kinshasa" before Side A is rounded out with "Pictures Of You". It starts with stately, melancholic, unadorned piano and this alone would make for a beautiful song. But Wally always gives us that bit extra and he effortlessly introduces warm, dreamy pads and minimal, slo-mo percussion to augment a frankly stunning piece of work.
Ushering in Side B, Wally's mesmeric piano playing is to the fore again, in the intro to uber-chilled "Serendipity For Two". The playing becomes more mellifluous as the track progresses and adds warmth through exotic percussion, woodwind, sweeping synths and digi-drums. It has echoes of, er, Echoes. It segues seamlessly into the more propulsive, wavy "Smiles By The Millions". If you're not nodding and grinning along widely to the gently throbbing bassline underpinning this, we can't help you. The meditative "Higher Still" follows, cinematic in feel and ever so slightly sinister with the strings. It sounds particularly Badalamenti-esque, if you ask us.
That unmistakable, almost peculiar Badarou funk - so lyrical, so texturally rich and so rhythmically spacious - is all over "Oriental". Next up, "Days To Wonder" brings the serenity back, insistent yet melodic keys, as if played in a place of worship, coupled with birdsong, conjure a kind of instant nostalgia for halcyon days of youth. The contemplative "Dawn Of Europa" is a sombre, beatless, ambient journey whilst the glorious, too-brief "Crystal Falls" features soft percussion and sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod beats. Wally brings this incredible collection to a mellow, tender close with the graceful "Purple Lines".
There can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. A synth specialist, Badarou was the long-time associate of Level 42. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Special thanks must go to Apiento from Test Pressing who first introduced us to Wally and facilitated all those early zoom meetings. It couldn't have happened without his help. Not least on pulling the art together, too, which features striking original photography by Mads Perch. Benji Roebuck of Roebuck Press did his thing brilliantly in art working the whole package to completion. All in all: essential. More
Format Notes: First time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Dance In The Dust
A2 Amber Whispers
A3 Where Were We
A4 The Lights Of Kinshasa
A5 Pictures Of You
----
B1 Serendipity For Two
B2 Smiles By The Millions
B3 Higher Still
B4 Oriental
B5 Days To Wonder
B6 Dawn Of Europa
B7 Crystal Falls
B8 Purple Lines
Release Notes:
Synth pioneer and musical polymath, Wally Badarou is a genius. But you know that already. A vinyl version of his majestic Colors Of Silence has been craved by the Balearic cognoscenti ever since its low-key 2001 release. Indeed, when we first started work on Be With, we asked some pals with exquisite taste what their dream release would be. We asked Balearic legend Moonboots and, without hesitation, he said Colors Of Silence by Wally Badarou. We didn't know Wally had made this album. And most still don't. But that's about to change.
Colors Of Silence is ostensibly a new age album. As ever though, Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. It's simply stunning, throughout. It sounds like A.r.t. Wilson or Suzanne Kraft, with traces of CFCF and Jonny Nash. But it was made a good decade earlier than the work of these modern giants. Sometimes, it doesn't seem far from some Larry Heard albums.
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell's friend Nathalie Delon asked Wally to provide music for the yoga DVD she was to release. Lack of time on both sides made them agree on using "quality demos" Wally had in his ideas bank. It's understandable why Colors Of Silence remains somewhat of a lost gem. As Wally explains: "Total lack of promotion made it an 'intimate' release, which was exactly what I was looking for: just a buzz-maker and time-buyer that would allow me to concentrate on the real thing as soon as I'd have time, which could also turn into a rare collecting item later, once the final versions made their way to success. You never know."
Over the years, Colors Of Silence has become a true cult record for the ambient/Balearic heads.
The beguiling but brief "Dance In The Dust" is the shuffling, hyper-percussive, hypnotic opener. It gives way to the deep serenity of "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. The bright and breezy "Where Were We" follows, a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands.
The uptempo groove is maintained on the keys-drizzled soca-funk of "The Lights Of Kinshasa" before Side A is rounded out with "Pictures Of You". It starts with stately, melancholic, unadorned piano and this alone would make for a beautiful song. But Wally always gives us that bit extra and he effortlessly introduces warm, dreamy pads and minimal, slo-mo percussion to augment a frankly stunning piece of work.
Ushering in Side B, Wally's mesmeric piano playing is to the fore again, in the intro to uber-chilled "Serendipity For Two". The playing becomes more mellifluous as the track progresses and adds warmth through exotic percussion, woodwind, sweeping synths and digi-drums. It has echoes of, er, Echoes. It segues seamlessly into the more propulsive, wavy "Smiles By The Millions". If you're not nodding and grinning along widely to the gently throbbing bassline underpinning this, we can't help you. The meditative "Higher Still" follows, cinematic in feel and ever so slightly sinister with the strings. It sounds particularly Badalamenti-esque, if you ask us.
That unmistakable, almost peculiar Badarou funk - so lyrical, so texturally rich and so rhythmically spacious - is all over "Oriental". Next up, "Days To Wonder" brings the serenity back, insistent yet melodic keys, as if played in a place of worship, coupled with birdsong, conjure a kind of instant nostalgia for halcyon days of youth. The contemplative "Dawn Of Europa" is a sombre, beatless, ambient journey whilst the glorious, too-brief "Crystal Falls" features soft percussion and sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod beats. Wally brings this incredible collection to a mellow, tender close with the graceful "Purple Lines".
There can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. A synth specialist, Badarou was the long-time associate of Level 42. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Special thanks must go to Apiento from Test Pressing who first introduced us to Wally and facilitated all those early zoom meetings. It couldn't have happened without his help. Not least on pulling the art together, too, which features striking original photography by Mads Perch. Benji Roebuck of Roebuck Press did his thing brilliantly in art working the whole package to completion. All in all: essential. More
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King Sporty / De Mer - Fall Out
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King Sporty / De Mer - Fall Out (Fresh '86)
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King Sporty / De Mer - Fall Out (NAD Discomix)
Emotional Rescue's vital Konduko reissue series sadly comes to an end here with a look at the label's final years. In those days it moved away from reggae, disco and boogie towards an enduring electro sound that had a vast and lasting impact on the Miami scene. The biggest tune from that time was when Noel Williams linked with local songwriter Lawrence Dermer aka Der Mer for the track reissued here. 'Fall Out' soon became a hit with its driving electro-funk rhythms. The original sits next to the later Fresh '86" mix as well as a NAD disco mix from Dan Tyler, best known as one of the Idjut Boys. It's an irresistible package of body-popping electro with hooks for days.
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Label:Thank You
Cat-No:THANKYOU022
Release-Date:15.03.2023
Genre:Alternative/Electronic
Configuration:12"
Label:Thank You
Cat-No:THANKYOU022
Release-Date:15.03.2023
Genre:Alternative/Electronic
Configuration:12"
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SOFTWARE - Sun-Beam
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SOFTWARE - Present-Voice
German project founded in 1984 by Peter Mergener and Michael Weisser. This release features two cheery picked exemplary moments in downtempo contemplative cosmic travels. A side sends the listener well out of orbit with a 10 min long gradient of Krauty arpeggiated showers that grows elegantly, a concerto to the astros of the mind. Flip it and it gets better as your space capsule gets sucked into some distant planet's gravitational pull, feelings of other-worldly sounds, slowed down beautifully almost eerie nuances one won't forget so easily. Sunrise on a Balearic island from another solar system. Berlin-School by trade but also heard on mixes by Jose Padilla. Heftily remastered.
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