White Vinyl 2LP (Contains original album and mono-mix retrieved from original tapes)
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Strut label, we are delighted to unveil a special edition of a landmark album within the realm of African music - Mulatu Astatke"s "Mulatu Of Ethiopia". Recorded in New York in 1972, this pivotal album marks a juncture in Astatke"s musical journey when he adeptly fused various styles to craft the distinctive genre known as Ethio-jazz. For this special edition, the release features the original stereo mix of the full album, as well as a special "mono-mix" of each track retrieved from the original 2" tapes, pressed on opaque white vinyl 2LP.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Strut label, we are delighted to unveil a special edition of a landmark album within the realm of African music - Mulatu Astatke"s "Mulatu Of Ethiopia". Recorded in New York in 1972, this pivotal album marks a juncture in Astatke"s musical journey when he adeptly fused various styles to craft the distinctive genre known as Ethio-jazz. For this special edition, the release features the original stereo mix of the full album, as well as a special "mono-mix" of each track retrieved from the original 2" tapes, pressed on opaque white vinyl 2LP.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
More records from Mulatu Astatke
Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.
Tracklist
Vinyl:
A1. Zelesenga Dewel
A2. Kulun
A3. Netsanet
B1. Yekermo Sew
B2. Chik Chikka
B3. Motherland
B4. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Tracklist
Vinyl:
A1. Zelesenga Dewel
A2. Kulun
A3. Netsanet
B1. Yekermo Sew
B2. Chik Chikka
B3. Motherland
B4. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.
Tracklist
CD / Digital:
1. Zelesenga Dewel
2. Kulun
3. Netsanet
4.Yekermo Sew
5. Azmari
6.Chik Chikka
7. The Way To Nice
8.Motherland Intro
9. Motherland
10. Mulatu
11. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Tracklist
CD / Digital:
1. Zelesenga Dewel
2. Kulun
3. Netsanet
4.Yekermo Sew
5. Azmari
6.Chik Chikka
7. The Way To Nice
8.Motherland Intro
9. Motherland
10. Mulatu
11. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut are proud to present a new repress 0f the definitive Mulatu Astatke career retrospective covering his landmark ‘60s and ‘70s´recordings.
2LP TRACKLISTING
A1 Yèkèrmo Sèw
A2 I Faram Gami I Faram
A3 Shagu
A4 Emnete
A5 Mulatu
B1 Yègelé Tezeta
B2 Asiyo Bellema
B3 Ebo Lala
B4 Fikratchin
B5 Yefikir Tizita
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2LP TRACKLISTING
A1 Yèkèrmo Sèw
A2 I Faram Gami I Faram
A3 Shagu
A4 Emnete
A5 Mulatu
B1 Yègelé Tezeta
B2 Asiyo Bellema
B3 Ebo Lala
B4 Fikratchin
B5 Yefikir Tizita
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1
Mulatu Astatke - Dèwol
2
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Saw
3
Mulatu Astatke - Gubèlyé
4
Mulatu Astatke - Asmarina
5
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkatit
6
Mulatu Astatke - Nètsanèt
7
Mulatu Astatke - Nètsanèt
8
Mulatu Astatke - Sabyé
9
Mulatu Astatke - Ené Alantchi Alnorem
*2023 REPRESS **
180gram vinyl. The Ethio Jazz album by Mulatu Astatatke is a jewel of the modern Ethiopian music. Essential.
An incredibly groovy Ethiopian record, originally from 1969-1972. Amazing orchestral 'Ethio-groove' filled with US soul, jazz, sometimes Latin and the deepest Eastern rhythms, even including some great nasty and dirty fuzz guitars. A true gem of Ethiopian modern instrumental music, which illustrates perfectly this symbiosis of strong rhythms and quality arrangements of subtle yet deep Ethiopian melodies. A must for all '60s/'70s collectors! In the Ethiopian musical landscape, Mulatu Astatke is a unique musician, composer, arranger. His real contribution consists in his action for instrumental music, in a country where orchestral traditions doesn't exist. For the last 30 years, he is the leading head of the Ethiopian musical scene. First vinyl reissue and definitely one of the most important Ethiopian music albums."
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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180gram vinyl. The Ethio Jazz album by Mulatu Astatatke is a jewel of the modern Ethiopian music. Essential.
An incredibly groovy Ethiopian record, originally from 1969-1972. Amazing orchestral 'Ethio-groove' filled with US soul, jazz, sometimes Latin and the deepest Eastern rhythms, even including some great nasty and dirty fuzz guitars. A true gem of Ethiopian modern instrumental music, which illustrates perfectly this symbiosis of strong rhythms and quality arrangements of subtle yet deep Ethiopian melodies. A must for all '60s/'70s collectors! In the Ethiopian musical landscape, Mulatu Astatke is a unique musician, composer, arranger. His real contribution consists in his action for instrumental music, in a country where orchestral traditions doesn't exist. For the last 30 years, he is the leading head of the Ethiopian musical scene. First vinyl reissue and definitely one of the most important Ethiopian music albums."
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut presents the official reissue of a landmark album in the field of African music, Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ from 1972.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta
2
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkatit
Repress!
Africa 45, number 3; a Mulatu Astatke double A side.
Mulatu is an Ethiopian born instrumentalist, composer and arranger extraordinaire. Schooled in the UK and then the USA, Mulatu fuses jazz, latin and traditional Ethiopian styles to create a unique sound, most commonly referred to as Ethio-jazz.
Over the past decade years he has gained much exposure via the Ethiopiques series, a collaboration project with the Heliocentrics, and through the inclusion of ‘Yegelle Tezeta’ - featured here - in the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch's film, ‘Broken Flowers’, starring Bill Murray.
A: Yègellé Tezeta
Low slung, mysterious organ led groover, with building, layered horns a sampled by Nas & Damian Marley on ‘As We Enter’ released in 2010.
Originally appeared on the legendary ‘Ethiopian Modern Instrumentals Hits’ compilation album from Ethiopia in 1974, of which six out of ten tracks were by Mulatu. It was also released on an Amha 7”, that is very tough to find.
AA: Yèkatit
Originally appeared on the also legendary ‘Ethio Jazz’ album by Mulatu that changes hands for $1000's, released in Ethiopia. Typically Ethiopian horn line, about as classic as it gets.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Africa 45, number 3; a Mulatu Astatke double A side.
Mulatu is an Ethiopian born instrumentalist, composer and arranger extraordinaire. Schooled in the UK and then the USA, Mulatu fuses jazz, latin and traditional Ethiopian styles to create a unique sound, most commonly referred to as Ethio-jazz.
Over the past decade years he has gained much exposure via the Ethiopiques series, a collaboration project with the Heliocentrics, and through the inclusion of ‘Yegelle Tezeta’ - featured here - in the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch's film, ‘Broken Flowers’, starring Bill Murray.
A: Yègellé Tezeta
Low slung, mysterious organ led groover, with building, layered horns a sampled by Nas & Damian Marley on ‘As We Enter’ released in 2010.
Originally appeared on the legendary ‘Ethiopian Modern Instrumentals Hits’ compilation album from Ethiopia in 1974, of which six out of ten tracks were by Mulatu. It was also released on an Amha 7”, that is very tough to find.
AA: Yèkatit
Originally appeared on the also legendary ‘Ethio Jazz’ album by Mulatu that changes hands for $1000's, released in Ethiopia. Typically Ethiopian horn line, about as classic as it gets.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Strut continue their essential work with the "Godfather Of Ethio Jazz", Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke's life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. "I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music," he explains. "I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms. In the mid-'60s, I formed a band called The Ethiopian Quintet in New York comprising Ethiopian, Latin and Afro-American musicians - the band included trumpeter and pianist Rudy Houston who later played with Yambu and Felix Torres who played with La Sonora Poncena." Supported by Worthy Records' Gil Snapper who offered to record the quintet, Astatke began to experiment during two separate sessions: "We created a different feel and different arrangements. On the first recording, I played an adaptation of an ancient Ethiopian warrior song, 'I Faram Gami I Faram' - the lyrics were translated so that the singer could sing it in Spanish. Some compositions were important steps for me: 'Mascaram Setaba' ('Summer Is Coming') 'Shagu' and 'Almaz'. With the second album, a personal favourite is 'Girl From Addis Ababa' which worked very nicely as a fusion of Ethiopian modes and R&B rhythms." Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy in 1972, 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' (STRUT129) but the two volumes of 'Afro Latin Soul' stand as important recordings documenting his early career. "It was a very interesting time to be in New York during the mid-'60s. I was there at the same time as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti and we each tried to play our part in putting Africa on the map of contemporary jazz." 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Strut continue their essential work with the "Godfather Of Ethio Jazz", Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke's life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. "I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music," he explains. "I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms. In the mid-'60s, I formed a band called The Ethiopian Quintet in New York comprising Ethiopian, Latin and Afro-American musicians - the band included trumpeter and pianist Rudy Houston who later played with Yambu and Felix Torres who played with La Sonora Poncena." Supported by Worthy Records' Gil Snapper who offered to record the quintet, Astatke began to experiment during two separate sessions: "We created a different feel and different arrangements. On the first recording, I played an adaptation of an ancient Ethiopian warrior song, 'I Faram Gami I Faram' - the lyrics were translated so that the singer could sing it in Spanish. Some compositions were important steps for me: 'Mascaram Setaba' ('Summer Is Coming') 'Shagu' and 'Almaz'. With the second album, a personal favourite is 'Girl From Addis Ababa' which worked very nicely as a fusion of Ethiopian modes and R&B rhythms." Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy in 1972, 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' (STRUT129) but the two volumes of 'Afro Latin Soul' stand as important recordings documenting his early career. "It was a very interesting time to be in New York during the mid-'60s. I was there at the same time as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti and we each tried to play our part in putting Africa on the map of contemporary jazz." 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
More records from Strut Records
Strut Records proudly presents the first definitive expanded reissue of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Sun Ra’s 1977 session recorded at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana, presented across three Vinyl LPs or as a two-CD set. Please note the differing tracklist between the CD & LP.
Vinyl
Side A
Shadows Of Infinity 7.58
Pleiades 4.52
Discipline 27 5.42
Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo 2.40
Side B
Equation Of The Myth 8.53
Neptune 5.32
Yesterdays 6.03
Side C
St. Louis Blues 6.28
The Mystery of Two 7.36
We Live To Be 4.47
Side D
Amen Meni Many Amens 7.38
Saturn Speaks 2.56
Images In A Mirror 10.15
Side E
Take The ‘A’ Train 11.14
Make Another Mistake 3.43
Bluebird Shuffle 5.55
Side F
Outer Reach Intensity Energy / Cosmos Rendezvous 8.15
Next Stop Mars 0.23
Over The Rainbow 7.08
I’ll Wait For You 3.33
Listen LP: listen.k7.com/ea9c6103-8784-4d82-822d-3edab26a28e9
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Vinyl
Side A
Shadows Of Infinity 7.58
Pleiades 4.52
Discipline 27 5.42
Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo 2.40
Side B
Equation Of The Myth 8.53
Neptune 5.32
Yesterdays 6.03
Side C
St. Louis Blues 6.28
The Mystery of Two 7.36
We Live To Be 4.47
Side D
Amen Meni Many Amens 7.38
Saturn Speaks 2.56
Images In A Mirror 10.15
Side E
Take The ‘A’ Train 11.14
Make Another Mistake 3.43
Bluebird Shuffle 5.55
Side F
Outer Reach Intensity Energy / Cosmos Rendezvous 8.15
Next Stop Mars 0.23
Over The Rainbow 7.08
I’ll Wait For You 3.33
Listen LP: listen.k7.com/ea9c6103-8784-4d82-822d-3edab26a28e9
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Strut Records proudly presents the first definitive expanded reissue of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Sun Ra’s 1977 session recorded at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana, presented across three Vinyl LPs or as a two-CD set. Please note the differing tracklist between the CD & LP.
Tracklist:
CD1
Shadows Of Infinity
Pleiades
Discipline 27
Equation Of The Myth
Keep Your Sunny Side Up
Saturn Speaks
Neptune / The Voice Of Ebah
Yesterdays
Yeah Man!
King Porter Stomp
Lightnin’
St. Louis Blues
The Mystery Of Two
CD2
Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo
We Live To Be
Bye Bye Blackbird
Gone With The Wind
Amen Meni Many Amens
Take The ‘A’ Train
Images In A Mirror
Outer Reach Intensity Energy /Cosmos Rendezvous
Bluebird Shuffle
Next Stop Mars
Over The Rainbow
I’ll Wait For You
Make Another Mistake
Listen CD: listen.k7.com/b01ccfd6-efdd-4956-94ac-49afda30a934
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Tracklist:
CD1
Shadows Of Infinity
Pleiades
Discipline 27
Equation Of The Myth
Keep Your Sunny Side Up
Saturn Speaks
Neptune / The Voice Of Ebah
Yesterdays
Yeah Man!
King Porter Stomp
Lightnin’
St. Louis Blues
The Mystery Of Two
CD2
Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo
We Live To Be
Bye Bye Blackbird
Gone With The Wind
Amen Meni Many Amens
Take The ‘A’ Train
Images In A Mirror
Outer Reach Intensity Energy /Cosmos Rendezvous
Bluebird Shuffle
Next Stop Mars
Over The Rainbow
I’ll Wait For You
Make Another Mistake
Listen CD: listen.k7.com/b01ccfd6-efdd-4956-94ac-49afda30a934
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Strut Records proudly presents a new reissue of the original Afrobeat classic Low Profile (Not For The Blacks), recorded and composed by Afrika 70 saxophonist and bandleader Lekan Animashaun and produced by Fela Kut
Listen: listen.k7.com/32398358-5ea9-49db-9ba3-cc2b59487d4e
Tracklist
A Side:
1. Low Profile
B Side:
1. Se Rere
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Listen: listen.k7.com/32398358-5ea9-49db-9ba3-cc2b59487d4e
Tracklist
A Side:
1. Low Profile
B Side:
1. Se Rere
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Strut proudly presents the first-ever reissue of a landmark 1974 Ghanaian highlife classic Sikyi Highlife by Dr K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings, originally released on Essiebons.
Listen: listen.k7.com/d96e1a42-2881-485d-b4ee-a4d152bb4907
Tracklist
Side 1
Medley:
YEDE ABA
MENE MENUA MIENU
SABARIMA
EBIA NIE
AMINTIMINIM
SIAKWAA
NANA AGYEI
Side 2:
Medley:
EFIE NE FIE
NYANKONTON NKO NYAA
KWANKWAASEM NTI
EGYA ANANSE YI WONAN BAAKO
KWAADEDE MEYARE MEREWU
EDA A MEWU
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Listen: listen.k7.com/d96e1a42-2881-485d-b4ee-a4d152bb4907
Tracklist
Side 1
Medley:
YEDE ABA
MENE MENUA MIENU
SABARIMA
EBIA NIE
AMINTIMINIM
SIAKWAA
NANA AGYEI
Side 2:
Medley:
EFIE NE FIE
NYANKONTON NKO NYAA
KWANKWAASEM NTI
EGYA ANANSE YI WONAN BAAKO
KWAADEDE MEYARE MEREWU
EDA A MEWU
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lim. Yellow & Orange Vinyl LP
Strut proudly presents Nuclear War, a powerful collaboration between UK collective The Heliocentrics, Sun Ra Arkestra legends Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott, and vocalist Bilal - issued on limited-edition “hazardous” orange and yellow vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2026.
Tracklist
Side A
Nuclear War
Where Pathways Meet
Side B
Angels & Demons At Play
Astro Black Ft. Bilal
https://soundcloud.com/strut/sets/the-heliocentrics-marshalll-allen-knoel-scott-ft-bilal-nuclear-war/s-58Rc2hElR1I?
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Strut proudly presents Nuclear War, a powerful collaboration between UK collective The Heliocentrics, Sun Ra Arkestra legends Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott, and vocalist Bilal - issued on limited-edition “hazardous” orange and yellow vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2026.
Tracklist
Side A
Nuclear War
Where Pathways Meet
Side B
Angels & Demons At Play
Astro Black Ft. Bilal
https://soundcloud.com/strut/sets/the-heliocentrics-marshalll-allen-knoel-scott-ft-bilal-nuclear-war/s-58Rc2hElR1I?
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As the world sinks deeper into screens and algorithms blur the line between creation and imitation, Nubiyan Twist return with "Chasing Shadows", a record that reclaims the pulse, warmth and spontaneity of human connection. The band"s fifth studio album is a rich and restless blend of jazz, afrobeat, hip hop and electronic textures, exploring the space between the organic and the digital. It"s music that moves, sweats, and breathes, made by real people in real rooms with heavyweight features bringing together varied voices from the music community which they inhabit. Following 2024"s acclaimed "Find Your Flame", "Chasing Shadows" pushes the band"s sound further into new soulful territory under Excell"s expert guidance, featuring bright new vocalist Eniola and a glowing cast of icons and innovators. On "Chasing Shadows", Nubiyan Twist continue to look outwards with their music but keep the focus firmly on humanity and positivity. It is an album which crosses continents and which shamelessly celebrates our collective strength.
Tracklist
1.1Azimuth
1.2Red Herring (Ft. Booty Brown)
1.3Chasing Shadows (Ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
1.4How Far (Ft. M.Anifest)
1.5Body Flows
1.6Mlonje: Voices Joined (Ft. The Zawose Queens)
1.7Echoes
1.8Message (Ft. Mr.Williamz)
1.9Sunlight
1.10Rhythm of You (Ft. Joe Armon-Jones)
Listen: https://listen.k7.com/8e73a364-4743-4287-b882-89f4618fdd3b
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Tracklist
1.1Azimuth
1.2Red Herring (Ft. Booty Brown)
1.3Chasing Shadows (Ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
1.4How Far (Ft. M.Anifest)
1.5Body Flows
1.6Mlonje: Voices Joined (Ft. The Zawose Queens)
1.7Echoes
1.8Message (Ft. Mr.Williamz)
1.9Sunlight
1.10Rhythm of You (Ft. Joe Armon-Jones)
Listen: https://listen.k7.com/8e73a364-4743-4287-b882-89f4618fdd3b
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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As the world sinks deeper into screens and algorithms blur the line between creation and imitation, Nubiyan Twist return with "Chasing Shadows", a record that reclaims the pulse, warmth and spontaneity of human connection. The band"s fifth studio album is a rich and restless blend of jazz, afrobeat, hip hop and electronic textures, exploring the space between the organic and the digital. It"s music that moves, sweats, and breathes, made by real people in real rooms with heavyweight features bringing together varied voices from the music community which they inhabit. Following 2024"s acclaimed "Find Your Flame", "Chasing Shadows" pushes the band"s sound further into new soulful territory under Excell"s expert guidance, featuring bright new vocalist Eniola and a glowing cast of icons and innovators. On "Chasing Shadows", Nubiyan Twist continue to look outwards with their music but keep the focus firmly on humanity and positivity. It is an album which crosses continents and which shamelessly celebrates our collective strength.
Tracklist
1.1Azimuth
1.2Red Herring (Ft. Booty Brown)
1.3Chasing Shadows (Ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
1.4How Far (Ft. M.Anifest)
1.5Body Flows
1.6Mlonje: Voices Joined (Ft. The Zawose Queens)
1.7Echoes
1.8Message (Ft. Mr.Williamz)
1.9Sunlight
1.10Rhythm of You (Ft. Joe Armon-Jones)
Listen: https://listen.k7.com/8e73a364-4743-4287-b882-89f4618fdd3b
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Germany
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Tracklist
1.1Azimuth
1.2Red Herring (Ft. Booty Brown)
1.3Chasing Shadows (Ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
1.4How Far (Ft. M.Anifest)
1.5Body Flows
1.6Mlonje: Voices Joined (Ft. The Zawose Queens)
1.7Echoes
1.8Message (Ft. Mr.Williamz)
1.9Sunlight
1.10Rhythm of You (Ft. Joe Armon-Jones)
Listen: https://listen.k7.com/8e73a364-4743-4287-b882-89f4618fdd3b
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut proudly presents the debut album from producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Momoko Gill. Fresh from her critically acclaimed collaboration Clay recorded with cult electronic artist Matthew Herbert, Momoko steps forward in her own right for the first time with her remarkable debut solo album.
Listen: listen.k7.com/a3aef2bd-1ccc-4c12-b4c1-227a8e216711
TRACKLISTING
LP:
A1. SATELLITE
A2. NO OTHERS
A3. HEAVY
A4. REWIND/REMIND
A5. SHADOWBOXING
A6. TEST A SMALL AREA
B1. 2CLOSE2FARR
B2. ANYWAY, I’M DROWNING
B3. WHEN PALESTINE IS FREE
B4. RIVER
B5. INEFFABLY
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Listen: listen.k7.com/a3aef2bd-1ccc-4c12-b4c1-227a8e216711
TRACKLISTING
LP:
A1. SATELLITE
A2. NO OTHERS
A3. HEAVY
A4. REWIND/REMIND
A5. SHADOWBOXING
A6. TEST A SMALL AREA
B1. 2CLOSE2FARR
B2. ANYWAY, I’M DROWNING
B3. WHEN PALESTINE IS FREE
B4. RIVER
B5. INEFFABLY
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Strut proudly presents the debut album from producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Momoko Gill. Fresh from her critically acclaimed collaboration Clay recorded with cult electronic artist Matthew Herbert, Momoko steps forward in her own right for the first time with her remarkable debut solo album.
Listen: listen.k7.com/a3aef2bd-1ccc-4c12-b4c1-227a8e216711
TRACKLISTING
LP:
A1. SATELLITE
A2. NO OTHERS
A3. HEAVY
A4. REWIND/REMIND
A5. SHADOWBOXING
A6. TEST A SMALL AREA
B1. 2CLOSE2FARR
B2. ANYWAY, I’M DROWNING
B3. WHEN PALESTINE IS FREE
B4. RIVER
B5. INEFFABLY
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Listen: listen.k7.com/a3aef2bd-1ccc-4c12-b4c1-227a8e216711
TRACKLISTING
LP:
A1. SATELLITE
A2. NO OTHERS
A3. HEAVY
A4. REWIND/REMIND
A5. SHADOWBOXING
A6. TEST A SMALL AREA
B1. 2CLOSE2FARR
B2. ANYWAY, I’M DROWNING
B3. WHEN PALESTINE IS FREE
B4. RIVER
B5. INEFFABLY
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Ajomasé is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980 on his own label CAP, Strut are proud to now bring this unique album back to the racks.
Listen: listen.k7.com/63a1f322-4080-4795-8995-5acdf8777083
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Listen: listen.k7.com/63a1f322-4080-4795-8995-5acdf8777083
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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From the crypts of Parisian funk obscurity comes the long-lost Halloween holy grail, Disco Frankenstein from Ice AKA Lafayette Afro Rock Band. A teasing album of horror-disco oddities, pressed on blood-stained black-red vinyl LP. Our special edition release for Halloween 2025
Listen: listen.k7.com/32fce7b1-89fd-4e25-8964-d3f42aea14dc
Tracklist:
A1. City Beast - Ice
A2. Disco Vampire - Ice
A3. Godzilla
A4. Creature From The Freak Lagoon
A5. Disco Frankenstein
B1. Dr Beezar "Soul Frankenstein"
B2. Zeke The Zombie
B3. Vampire Blob
B4. Igor's Reggae
B5. She Devil
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Listen: listen.k7.com/32fce7b1-89fd-4e25-8964-d3f42aea14dc
Tracklist:
A1. City Beast - Ice
A2. Disco Vampire - Ice
A3. Godzilla
A4. Creature From The Freak Lagoon
A5. Disco Frankenstein
B1. Dr Beezar "Soul Frankenstein"
B2. Zeke The Zombie
B3. Vampire Blob
B4. Igor's Reggae
B5. She Devil
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A landmark recording from one of Ghana’s great musical architects, Ebo Taylor’s 1977 self-title release marked the first solo LP by the legendary guitarist, arranger, and composer after years behind the scenes shaping the sound of modern highlife.
Listen: https://listen.k7.com/43913d58-98b2-4916-b06e-9dfbd6105dad
Tracklist
A1. Saana
A2. Ntsir A
A3. BRA
B1. OHYE ATAR GYAN
B2. heaven
B3. AMPONSAH
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Listen: https://listen.k7.com/43913d58-98b2-4916-b06e-9dfbd6105dad
Tracklist
A1. Saana
A2. Ntsir A
A3. BRA
B1. OHYE ATAR GYAN
B2. heaven
B3. AMPONSAH
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Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.
Tracklist
Vinyl:
A1. Zelesenga Dewel
A2. Kulun
A3. Netsanet
B1. Yekermo Sew
B2. Chik Chikka
B3. Motherland
B4. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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Tracklist
Vinyl:
A1. Zelesenga Dewel
A2. Kulun
A3. Netsanet
B1. Yekermo Sew
B2. Chik Chikka
B3. Motherland
B4. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.
Tracklist
CD / Digital:
1. Zelesenga Dewel
2. Kulun
3. Netsanet
4.Yekermo Sew
5. Azmari
6.Chik Chikka
7. The Way To Nice
8.Motherland Intro
9. Motherland
10. Mulatu
11. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Tracklist
CD / Digital:
1. Zelesenga Dewel
2. Kulun
3. Netsanet
4.Yekermo Sew
5. Azmari
6.Chik Chikka
7. The Way To Nice
8.Motherland Intro
9. Motherland
10. Mulatu
11. Yekatit
Listen: listen.k7.com/ae404432-cbfc-45cf-8ee4-958f2945bef9
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Strut Records proudly presents the official reissue of Hidden Fire Volumes 1 & 2, the final album released by Sun Ra on his El Saturn label in 1988.
Listen: listen.k7.com/1c1cafdc-38a4-416b-bd99-1070d9c14e3d
Tracklist:
A1. Retrospect - This World Is Not My Home
A2. Hidden Fire Improvisation
B1/B2. Hidden Fire Blues
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Listen: listen.k7.com/1c1cafdc-38a4-416b-bd99-1070d9c14e3d
Tracklist:
A1. Retrospect - This World Is Not My Home
A2. Hidden Fire Improvisation
B1/B2. Hidden Fire Blues
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Vinyl LP + insert
An electrified meeting of minds, Candy Girl is a lost 1975 session by jazz pianist Mal
Waldron, recorded in Paris with core members of the mighty Lafayette Afro Rock Band, the
American funk unit who had made France their home and whose deep grooves would later
be mined by generations of hip-hop producers.
TRACKLIST
A1. Home Again 05:20
A2. Red Match Box 09:35
B1. Bits And Things 09:05
B2. Dedication To Brahms 06:20
B3. Candy Girl 03:30
Listen: listen.k7.com/98feffb8-7b4b-432b-a986-4de530e35d2d
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An electrified meeting of minds, Candy Girl is a lost 1975 session by jazz pianist Mal
Waldron, recorded in Paris with core members of the mighty Lafayette Afro Rock Band, the
American funk unit who had made France their home and whose deep grooves would later
be mined by generations of hip-hop producers.
TRACKLIST
A1. Home Again 05:20
A2. Red Match Box 09:35
B1. Bits And Things 09:05
B2. Dedication To Brahms 06:20
B3. Candy Girl 03:30
Listen: listen.k7.com/98feffb8-7b4b-432b-a986-4de530e35d2d
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Strut present a new single vinyl reissue of Vambe"s sought-after privately pressed album from 1982, Drumland Dreamland. A self-taught drummer, inventor, and sonic experimentalist, Vambe holds a unique place in British music. The creator of his own instrument, the drumgita (pronounced "drumguitar") or string-drum, he aimed to create music that had never been previously made to pursue access to the fourth dimension and forge a radical new musical language - intuitive, polyrhythmic and metaphysical. Drumland Dreamland is deep and haunting; a dense tapestry of layered percussion, time-warped tape loops, and spiralling drumgita figures, all underpinned by hypnotic improvisations from Brazilian pianist Rafael Dos Santos. It is both ecstatic and unsettling, a landmark recording in black British experimental music.
Tracklist
1.1Drumsong (One)
1.2Drumsong (Two)
1.3Drumsong (Three)
1.4Strumelody
1.5Drumelody (One)
1.6Drumelody (Two)
1.7Ydolemurd
1.8Hum Drum Dring (One)
1.9Hum Drum Dring (Two) The Freedrum Song
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Tracklist
1.1Drumsong (One)
1.2Drumsong (Two)
1.3Drumsong (Three)
1.4Strumelody
1.5Drumelody (One)
1.6Drumelody (Two)
1.7Ydolemurd
1.8Hum Drum Dring (One)
1.9Hum Drum Dring (Two) The Freedrum Song
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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Strut now present a new single vinyl reissue of Vambe"s privately pressed original album from 1982, Drumgita Solo. A self-taught drummer, inventor, and sonic experimentalist, Vambe is a unique figure in British music. The creator of his own instrument, the drumgita (pronounced "drum-guitar") or string-drum, Vambe intended to create a kind of music that had never been made in order to pursue access to the fourth dimension. The album plays with time, mixing hypnotic, trance-like drumgita pieces with the same segments played backwards. You can hear echoes of African drumming traditions, minimalist repetition, and tape-manipulated musique concrète - but ultimately, the album defies genre. It is a solitary voyage, spiritual and futuristic.
Tracklist
1.1Intro
1.2Drumgita
1.3Ancient Boogie (Mantra)
1.4Artnam
1.5Mantra
1.6(One) Boogie Home Going
1.7Going Home Boogie (One)
1.8Un Minuto (One)
1.9Un Minuto (Two)
1.10Going Home Boogie (Two)
1.11Going Home Boogie (Three)
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Tracklist
1.1Intro
1.2Drumgita
1.3Ancient Boogie (Mantra)
1.4Artnam
1.5Mantra
1.6(One) Boogie Home Going
1.7Going Home Boogie (One)
1.8Un Minuto (One)
1.9Un Minuto (Two)
1.10Going Home Boogie (Two)
1.11Going Home Boogie (Three)
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Niningashi - Ameagari (After the rain)
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Niningashi - Semai Boku No Heyade (In My Small Room)
3
Niningashi - Ososugite (Too Late)
4
Niningashi - Miyo Chan
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Niningashi - Oraga Murano Soncho San (Our Village Chief)
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Niningashi - Restaurant
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Niningashi - Natsu (Summer)
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Niningashi - Chikan No Uta (Molester Song)
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Niningashi - Hitoribotchi (On My Own)
A long-lost Japanese acid folk gem, Niningashi’s 1974 private press debut Heavy Way shimmers with originality, deft song writing and a dream-like groove.
Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine.
A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo’s life, and Japanese society more widely as a nostalgia for the pastoral calm of the traditional life, met the cosmopolitan thrill of coffee, sex and cigarettes in the big city.
Intoxicated by Tokyo, driven by a passion for music and surrounded by a thriving acid folk scene, the young student filtered his experiences through a psychedelic cocktail of soulful influences from the US and Japan.
Niningashi was his first band, and Heavy Way was their only album. It was honest and raw, deep and strangely funky, in an off-beat kind of way. Across nine tracks, Okubo and the 6-piece band put their own spin on the new folk sound of Japan, combining witty lyrics with electric guitar-driven solos and crisp, understated grooves.
Melancholy and profound, opening track ‘Ameagari’ feels like a synthesis of Harvest-era Neil Young and Haruomi Hosono’s Happy End. Then there’s the whimsical washboard country sound of ‘Semai Boku No Heyade’; the moody, low-lit charm of ‘Restaurant’; and ‘Hitoribotchi’, a sensitive portrayal of childhood, steeped in memories of rainfall that will resonate with fans of Woo and Mac Demarco.
While Okubo would go on to taste success with psychedelic folk bands Neko and Kaze, the latter of which scored three #1 albums, little is known about his mysterious debut with Niningashi.
Self-released by Okubo in 1974, and featuring album artwork by his brother, it has slowly generated a cult following online, intrigued by its soft and enchanting sound. So few records were ultimately pressed that those remaining have fetched up to £1,500 online.
Featured on Time Capsule’s era-spanning collection Nippon Acid Folk, Niningashi’s Heavy Way is a deep-cut grail of a vibrant time in Japan’s musical history, where even the pharmacists were making jams.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine.
A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo’s life, and Japanese society more widely as a nostalgia for the pastoral calm of the traditional life, met the cosmopolitan thrill of coffee, sex and cigarettes in the big city.
Intoxicated by Tokyo, driven by a passion for music and surrounded by a thriving acid folk scene, the young student filtered his experiences through a psychedelic cocktail of soulful influences from the US and Japan.
Niningashi was his first band, and Heavy Way was their only album. It was honest and raw, deep and strangely funky, in an off-beat kind of way. Across nine tracks, Okubo and the 6-piece band put their own spin on the new folk sound of Japan, combining witty lyrics with electric guitar-driven solos and crisp, understated grooves.
Melancholy and profound, opening track ‘Ameagari’ feels like a synthesis of Harvest-era Neil Young and Haruomi Hosono’s Happy End. Then there’s the whimsical washboard country sound of ‘Semai Boku No Heyade’; the moody, low-lit charm of ‘Restaurant’; and ‘Hitoribotchi’, a sensitive portrayal of childhood, steeped in memories of rainfall that will resonate with fans of Woo and Mac Demarco.
While Okubo would go on to taste success with psychedelic folk bands Neko and Kaze, the latter of which scored three #1 albums, little is known about his mysterious debut with Niningashi.
Self-released by Okubo in 1974, and featuring album artwork by his brother, it has slowly generated a cult following online, intrigued by its soft and enchanting sound. So few records were ultimately pressed that those remaining have fetched up to £1,500 online.
Featured on Time Capsule’s era-spanning collection Nippon Acid Folk, Niningashi’s Heavy Way is a deep-cut grail of a vibrant time in Japan’s musical history, where even the pharmacists were making jams.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut presents the official reissue of a landmark album in the field of African music, Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ from 1972.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Strut proudly presents the official remastered reissues of Lafayette Afro Rock Band's elusive funk/Afro original album, 'Malik,' originally released in 1974 and Soul Makossa' from 1973, both pressed on black vinyl LP.
Tracklist
1.1Soul Makossa
1.2Azeta
1.3Oglenon
1.4Voodounon
1.5Hihache
1.6Nicky
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Germany
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Tracklist
1.1Soul Makossa
1.2Azeta
1.3Oglenon
1.4Voodounon
1.5Hihache
1.6Nicky
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1
Hiroshi Kamayatsu - Have you smoked Gauloise
2
Happy End - Haruyo Koi (Come, spring)
3
Yoshiko Sai - Aoi Galasu Dama (Blue Glass Ball)
4
Tadashi Goino Group - Jikan Wo Koero (Go Beyond Time)
5
Jun Fukamachi - Omae (You)
6
Momotaro Pink with Original PINKS - Hachigatsu No Inshow (August’s impression)
7
Vol.1 Chap.100 - Heya No Naka (In The Room)
The follow-up compilation to Time Capsule’s Nippon Acid Folk, Nippon Psychedelic Soul takes myriad pathways into the tripped-out undergrowth of 1970s Japan. Finding their feet at home and looking for inspiration abroad, the musicians featured here were engaged in the communal soul-searching that followed the breakdown of the 1960s protest movements. Some made it big, others drifted into oblivion. The music they left behind shimmers with intensity.
At the core was Happy End, the first project of YMO’s Haroumi Hosono, whose distortion-heavy guitar and crisp back-beat laid the foundations for Japanese lyrics that flipped the paradigm of Japanese rock music on its head. With it came a new found sonic ambition, such as in the bold Philly-soul style arrangements of producer Yuji Ohno, whose work with occult wandered Yoshiko Sai shares some of the bittersweet grandeur of Rotary Connection or David Axelrod.
Then there was Jun Fukamachi, a pioneer of Japanese synthesis, whose debut album was a carnival of orchestral funk, euphoric horn lines and rich production, complete with soaring guitar solos, psychedelic organ and a truly cinematic finale. The first and only time Fukamachi would sing on record, ‘Omae’ rips like the ultimate end-of-nighter.
Influenced by giants of the US soul scene, maverick composer Hiroshi “Monsieur” Kamayatsu (otherwise known as ‘the Brian Wilson of Japan’) went one step further, enlisting Tower of Power to play on ‘Have You Smoked Gauloises?’ The B-side to Monsieur’s biggest-selling single, it coasts with sophisticated cool - a liquid bassline and suave keys comping under a roaring trademark ToP sax solo. No surprise it found favour once more on the Acid Jazz dance floors of ‘90s London.
Such was the spirit of experimentation that big studio productions and private press releases sat side-by-side, with the likes of Momotaro Pink and Kazushi Inamura, taking their hopes of success into their own hands with the resources available to them. More reflective but no less robust, theirs was a heavy, fat-backed drum sound, soaked in dramatic, soulful psychedelia.
If some were dreamers and others space cadets, none were further out than sci-fi writer, musician, activist and self-made scientist Tadashi Goino, who transformed his own fantasy novel Messenger from the Seventh Dimension into an operatic prog odyssey with few discernible musical reference points – a majestic and completely bonkers outlier even among company as strange and brilliant as that which is collected here.
Less a compilation of a scene, as a compilation of a sentiment, Nippon Psychedelic Soul is a wild ride from start to finish, shattering the narratives of the Japanese folk and rock tradition into a million tiny pieces.
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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At the core was Happy End, the first project of YMO’s Haroumi Hosono, whose distortion-heavy guitar and crisp back-beat laid the foundations for Japanese lyrics that flipped the paradigm of Japanese rock music on its head. With it came a new found sonic ambition, such as in the bold Philly-soul style arrangements of producer Yuji Ohno, whose work with occult wandered Yoshiko Sai shares some of the bittersweet grandeur of Rotary Connection or David Axelrod.
Then there was Jun Fukamachi, a pioneer of Japanese synthesis, whose debut album was a carnival of orchestral funk, euphoric horn lines and rich production, complete with soaring guitar solos, psychedelic organ and a truly cinematic finale. The first and only time Fukamachi would sing on record, ‘Omae’ rips like the ultimate end-of-nighter.
Influenced by giants of the US soul scene, maverick composer Hiroshi “Monsieur” Kamayatsu (otherwise known as ‘the Brian Wilson of Japan’) went one step further, enlisting Tower of Power to play on ‘Have You Smoked Gauloises?’ The B-side to Monsieur’s biggest-selling single, it coasts with sophisticated cool - a liquid bassline and suave keys comping under a roaring trademark ToP sax solo. No surprise it found favour once more on the Acid Jazz dance floors of ‘90s London.
Such was the spirit of experimentation that big studio productions and private press releases sat side-by-side, with the likes of Momotaro Pink and Kazushi Inamura, taking their hopes of success into their own hands with the resources available to them. More reflective but no less robust, theirs was a heavy, fat-backed drum sound, soaked in dramatic, soulful psychedelia.
If some were dreamers and others space cadets, none were further out than sci-fi writer, musician, activist and self-made scientist Tadashi Goino, who transformed his own fantasy novel Messenger from the Seventh Dimension into an operatic prog odyssey with few discernible musical reference points – a majestic and completely bonkers outlier even among company as strange and brilliant as that which is collected here.
Less a compilation of a scene, as a compilation of a sentiment, Nippon Psychedelic Soul is a wild ride from start to finish, shattering the narratives of the Japanese folk and rock tradition into a million tiny pieces.
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Strut continue their essential work with the "Godfather Of Ethio Jazz", Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke's life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. "I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music," he explains. "I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms. In the mid-'60s, I formed a band called The Ethiopian Quintet in New York comprising Ethiopian, Latin and Afro-American musicians - the band included trumpeter and pianist Rudy Houston who later played with Yambu and Felix Torres who played with La Sonora Poncena." Supported by Worthy Records' Gil Snapper who offered to record the quintet, Astatke began to experiment during two separate sessions: "We created a different feel and different arrangements. On the first recording, I played an adaptation of an ancient Ethiopian warrior song, 'I Faram Gami I Faram' - the lyrics were translated so that the singer could sing it in Spanish. Some compositions were important steps for me: 'Mascaram Setaba' ('Summer Is Coming') 'Shagu' and 'Almaz'. With the second album, a personal favourite is 'Girl From Addis Ababa' which worked very nicely as a fusion of Ethiopian modes and R&B rhythms." Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy in 1972, 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' (STRUT129) but the two volumes of 'Afro Latin Soul' stand as important recordings documenting his early career. "It was a very interesting time to be in New York during the mid-'60s. I was there at the same time as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti and we each tried to play our part in putting Africa on the map of contemporary jazz." 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
Mário Rui Silva - Kazum-zum-zum
2
Mário Rui Silva - Kizomba Kya Kisanji
3
Mário Rui Silva - Dembita
4
Mário Rui Silva - Ngisumba
5
Mário Rui Silva - Sung'ali
6
Mário Rui Silva - Mgeni
7
Mário Rui Silva - Lonjura
8
Mário Rui Silva - Madimba M'ami
9
Mário Rui Silva - Kora Kya Ngola
10
Mário Rui Silva - Nu Tempu Du Antigamente
11
Mário Rui Silva - Maniku
12
Mário Rui Silva - Nahary
13
Mário Rui Silva - Lembrança De Um Velho
14
Mário Rui Silva - Dongada
15
Mário Rui Silva - Depois De Uma Conversa
16
Mário Rui Silva - Ngele-ngele-ngele
17
Mário Rui Silva - Kambanza K'etu
Double LP + 4-page insert
Originally released by Time Capsule in 2021 and long out of print, Stories From Another Time 1982-1988 returns in an upgraded edition following years of demand and rising collector prices on the secondhand market. Widely regarded as a modern cult classic, Mário Rui Silva’s visionary recordings blend acoustic folk, cinematic soul, spiritual jazz and saudade-filled Lusophone rhythm into a deeply timeless and universal work that transcends genre and geography.
This new edition features half-speed mastering cut at Metropolis alongside an expanded 4-page insert with a tribute essay and unseen photographs following Silva’s passing in 2024.
The roots of Angolan popular music explored in the meticulous guitar studies of Mário Rui Silva 1980s albums.
Whether on mesmerising acoustic ballads or hypnotic groove-led tracks, the music of Angolan guitarist, researcher and intellectual Mário Rui Silva has a beguiling, melancholy quality, woven into the dynamics of his deft guitar playing.
Rhythmically complex yet supremely effortless, the music collected here stems from three albums Mário released in Luanda in the 1980s that reflect his diverse range of influences, from traditional Angolan and West African rhythms to European jazz and classical instrumentation.
It is united by a sense of low-key beauty, whether on the chugging opener ‘Kazum-zum-zum’, the jazz-funk keys of ‘Lembrança Dum Velho’, or the twinkling, late-night poly-rhythms of ‘Kizomba Kya Kisanji’.
Born in Luanda, Angola in 1953, Mário dedicated his life to Angolan popular music. His fifty-year career has seen him live between Angola and Europe, rub shoulders with Cameroonian musicians Francis Bebey and Ewanjé, record the seminal album Angola ’72 with fellow Angolan musician Bonga, and draw influence from Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell.
It was the teaching of Angolan legend and Ngola Ritmos co-founder Liceu Vieira Dias that Mário gained a technical, political and spiritual understanding of Angolan musical culture. In the hands of Liceu, the traditional Angolan semba and kazukuta rhythms of the 1940s and ‘50s helped create an emancipatory sense of national pride and collective agency that awakened its listeners to the racism and tyranny of colonial rule, underpinning the country’s push for independence in the process.
What might sound like the intonations of Brazilian influence are what Mário attributes to the “African rhythms taken by the slaves [which] gave rise to other musical cultures” around the globe. Instead, this music emerged from a collective instinct to assert a cosmopolitan Angolan identity free from the patronising falsehoods of Lusotropicalism.
“There was a need within me to contribute in doing new things,” Mário describes. “In the sense of solidifying the music of Angola that was the result of the meeting of two cultures, and wanting to value the Angolan part whenever possible.”
A selection from Mário’s three 1980s albums, Sung’Ali (1982), Tunapenda Afrika (1985) and Koizas dum Outru Tempu (1988) have been compiled here as a 2xLP release by Time Capsule’s Sam Jacob and Kay Suzuki. Together, they provide a snapshot of one man’s journey to the core of his nation’s music, charged with the search for a culture uprooted by colonialism.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Originally released by Time Capsule in 2021 and long out of print, Stories From Another Time 1982-1988 returns in an upgraded edition following years of demand and rising collector prices on the secondhand market. Widely regarded as a modern cult classic, Mário Rui Silva’s visionary recordings blend acoustic folk, cinematic soul, spiritual jazz and saudade-filled Lusophone rhythm into a deeply timeless and universal work that transcends genre and geography.
This new edition features half-speed mastering cut at Metropolis alongside an expanded 4-page insert with a tribute essay and unseen photographs following Silva’s passing in 2024.
The roots of Angolan popular music explored in the meticulous guitar studies of Mário Rui Silva 1980s albums.
Whether on mesmerising acoustic ballads or hypnotic groove-led tracks, the music of Angolan guitarist, researcher and intellectual Mário Rui Silva has a beguiling, melancholy quality, woven into the dynamics of his deft guitar playing.
Rhythmically complex yet supremely effortless, the music collected here stems from three albums Mário released in Luanda in the 1980s that reflect his diverse range of influences, from traditional Angolan and West African rhythms to European jazz and classical instrumentation.
It is united by a sense of low-key beauty, whether on the chugging opener ‘Kazum-zum-zum’, the jazz-funk keys of ‘Lembrança Dum Velho’, or the twinkling, late-night poly-rhythms of ‘Kizomba Kya Kisanji’.
Born in Luanda, Angola in 1953, Mário dedicated his life to Angolan popular music. His fifty-year career has seen him live between Angola and Europe, rub shoulders with Cameroonian musicians Francis Bebey and Ewanjé, record the seminal album Angola ’72 with fellow Angolan musician Bonga, and draw influence from Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell.
It was the teaching of Angolan legend and Ngola Ritmos co-founder Liceu Vieira Dias that Mário gained a technical, political and spiritual understanding of Angolan musical culture. In the hands of Liceu, the traditional Angolan semba and kazukuta rhythms of the 1940s and ‘50s helped create an emancipatory sense of national pride and collective agency that awakened its listeners to the racism and tyranny of colonial rule, underpinning the country’s push for independence in the process.
What might sound like the intonations of Brazilian influence are what Mário attributes to the “African rhythms taken by the slaves [which] gave rise to other musical cultures” around the globe. Instead, this music emerged from a collective instinct to assert a cosmopolitan Angolan identity free from the patronising falsehoods of Lusotropicalism.
“There was a need within me to contribute in doing new things,” Mário describes. “In the sense of solidifying the music of Angola that was the result of the meeting of two cultures, and wanting to value the Angolan part whenever possible.”
A selection from Mário’s three 1980s albums, Sung’Ali (1982), Tunapenda Afrika (1985) and Koizas dum Outru Tempu (1988) have been compiled here as a 2xLP release by Time Capsule’s Sam Jacob and Kay Suzuki. Together, they provide a snapshot of one man’s journey to the core of his nation’s music, charged with the search for a culture uprooted by colonialism.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Strut continue their essential work with the "Godfather Of Ethio Jazz", Mulatu Astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as The Ethiopian Quintet. Arriving after Astatke's life-changing years studying at Berklee College in Boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing Ethiopian cultural music with Afro Latin and jazz forms. "I have always felt a deep connection between Latin and African music," he explains. "I travelled to Cuba and listened to their musicians; the tempo, rhythm and feeling was very similar to different African forms. In the mid-'60s, I formed a band called The Ethiopian Quintet in New York comprising Ethiopian, Latin and Afro-American musicians - the band included trumpeter and pianist Rudy Houston who later played with Yambu and Felix Torres who played with La Sonora Poncena." Supported by Worthy Records' Gil Snapper who offered to record the quintet, Astatke began to experiment during two separate sessions: "We created a different feel and different arrangements. On the first recording, I played an adaptation of an ancient Ethiopian warrior song, 'I Faram Gami I Faram' - the lyrics were translated so that the singer could sing it in Spanish. Some compositions were important steps for me: 'Mascaram Setaba' ('Summer Is Coming') 'Shagu' and 'Almaz'. With the second album, a personal favourite is 'Girl From Addis Ababa' which worked very nicely as a fusion of Ethiopian modes and R&B rhythms." Astatke would start to perfect his Ethio jazz sound on his later album for Worthy in 1972, 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' (STRUT129) but the two volumes of 'Afro Latin Soul' stand as important recordings documenting his early career. "It was a very interesting time to be in New York during the mid-'60s. I was there at the same time as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti and we each tried to play our part in putting Africa on the map of contemporary jazz." 'Afro Latin Soul' Volumes 1 and 2 come in their full original artwork and are painstakingly remastered by The Carvery. All formats feature personal liner notes by Mulatu Astatke.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
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1
Hiroki Tamaki - River
2
Happy End - Kaze Wo Atsumete
3
Takashi Nishioka - Manin no ki
4
Ken Narita - Gingatetsudo No Noru
5
Hiroki Tamaki - Beautiful Song
6
Niningashi - Hitoribotch
7
Tokedashita Garasubako - Anmari Fukasugite
8
Akaitori - Hotaru
Repress!
A counterculture movement united by an expansive, experimental and deeply soulful sensibility, Japan’s rebel protest music challenged the status quo and changed the country’s music industry in the process.
The birth of Japan’s nascent acid folk scene was rooted in the messy and invigorating political climate of the late 1960s. It is a story of Dadaists, communists, pharmacists and cult leaders, led by a young generation of upstart students, artists and dreamers hellbent on turning their world upside down.
Born on the campuses of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and centred around newly formed independent label and left-wing stronghold URC, this uniquely Japanese form of folk expression provided an outlet for musicians who were tired of aping Western sounds and instead found ways to sing in Japanese and integrate traditional forms in new ways.
At the forefront of this movement was Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Haroumi Hosono, a polymath innovator whose band Happy End released the first Japanese language rock album, and whose influence would go on to be felt across Japanese music for decades. Alongside, and informed by the Kansai scene’s Takashi Nishioka and Happy End collaborator Ken Narita, they experimented with cadences and accents of the Japanese language to open the door for others to experiment with their own forms of psychedelic folk too.
Some, like Nishioka, were more inspired by Dadaism than drugs, while others, like Kazuhisa Okubo, would ultimately find work as a chemist, having founded two further folk groups that flirted with varying levels of success. Obstinately uncommercial, relentlessly creative, the music featured on Time Capsule’s Nippon Acid Folk represents a broad church of influences.
Perhaps the wildest addition to this congregation however was Hiroki Tamaki, a classically-trained violinist and committed iconoclast, whose synth-prog odysseys hinted at his obsession with the divine. Subsumed by the teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, he penned an album in praise of the infamous religious leader of which two superbly mind-bending tracks are featured on this compilation.
Charting the decade from 1970 to 1980 as the dreams of political and spiritual liberation seeded in the ‘60s turned to dust, Nippon Acid Folk surveys a little explored corner of Japanese music history, but one which ultimately laid the foundations for an independent music industry, launching the careers of Hosono and others in the process.
Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980 is pressed on 12” vinyl and represents the start of Time Capsule’s deep dive into Japan’s rich history of folk and psychedelic soul music.
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
A counterculture movement united by an expansive, experimental and deeply soulful sensibility, Japan’s rebel protest music challenged the status quo and changed the country’s music industry in the process.
The birth of Japan’s nascent acid folk scene was rooted in the messy and invigorating political climate of the late 1960s. It is a story of Dadaists, communists, pharmacists and cult leaders, led by a young generation of upstart students, artists and dreamers hellbent on turning their world upside down.
Born on the campuses of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and centred around newly formed independent label and left-wing stronghold URC, this uniquely Japanese form of folk expression provided an outlet for musicians who were tired of aping Western sounds and instead found ways to sing in Japanese and integrate traditional forms in new ways.
At the forefront of this movement was Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Haroumi Hosono, a polymath innovator whose band Happy End released the first Japanese language rock album, and whose influence would go on to be felt across Japanese music for decades. Alongside, and informed by the Kansai scene’s Takashi Nishioka and Happy End collaborator Ken Narita, they experimented with cadences and accents of the Japanese language to open the door for others to experiment with their own forms of psychedelic folk too.
Some, like Nishioka, were more inspired by Dadaism than drugs, while others, like Kazuhisa Okubo, would ultimately find work as a chemist, having founded two further folk groups that flirted with varying levels of success. Obstinately uncommercial, relentlessly creative, the music featured on Time Capsule’s Nippon Acid Folk represents a broad church of influences.
Perhaps the wildest addition to this congregation however was Hiroki Tamaki, a classically-trained violinist and committed iconoclast, whose synth-prog odysseys hinted at his obsession with the divine. Subsumed by the teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, he penned an album in praise of the infamous religious leader of which two superbly mind-bending tracks are featured on this compilation.
Charting the decade from 1970 to 1980 as the dreams of political and spiritual liberation seeded in the ‘60s turned to dust, Nippon Acid Folk surveys a little explored corner of Japanese music history, but one which ultimately laid the foundations for an independent music industry, launching the careers of Hosono and others in the process.
Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980 is pressed on 12” vinyl and represents the start of Time Capsule’s deep dive into Japan’s rich history of folk and psychedelic soul music.
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1
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Mas Que Nada
2
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Coffee Rumba
3
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Crazy Love
4
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Quiet Explosion
5
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Naze
6
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Palm St.
7
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Espresso
8
Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi - Angel Sky
"Irrepressible, off-the-wall and utterly unique - the late 70s/early 80s Latin jazz-funk and leftfield electronic boogie of Japanese composer and pianist Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi collected for the first time.
A star in Japan, she moved to Europe to record global hits with Depeche Mode and Swing Out Sister, toured the world with the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra and made beats with Attica Blues’ Tony Nwachukwu. Now based in London, Mimi currently fronts Tokyo Riddim Band - the intergenerational live Japanese Reggae outfit born from Time Capsule’s acclaimed 2023 compilation of the same name - playing live shows and releasing a trio of recordings.
Choice Cuts 1978-1983 collects eight recordings from four of Mimi’s first five albums – Sea Flight (1978) recorded with her group Flying Mimi Band, and Coconuts High (1981), Nuts Nuts Nuts (1982) and Tropicana (1983) under her own name.
The compilation opens with a syncopated electro-funk cover of Sergio Mendes’ ‘Mas Que Nada’ (Tropicana) and the crisp and stripped back techno-pop of ‘Coffee Rumba’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) with a keyboard bass line that would have made Stevie Wonder weep.
Alongside the off-beat synth jam ‘Quiet Explosion’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) and piano samba of ‘Espresso’ (Tropicana), there’s two low slung soul-jazz numbers, ‘Naze’ and ‘Angel Sky’, from Sea Flight (1978) that recall the collaborations between Herbie Hancock and Kimiko Kasai. But it is around the two tracks from Mimi’s 1981 album Coconuts High that this compilation revolves (and from whose cover shoot it borrows).
Released on legendary guitarist Takanaka’s Kitty Records label, Coconuts High was recorded in LA with a jazz fusion backing band, including Alex Acuña, Abraham Laborial, Harvey Mason and the Tower of Power horns. A riot of playful Latin-tinged jazz, funk and fusion with the off-beat spirit of Kid Creole & and the Coconuts, the album became a cult hit. Here it’s the sultry, Minnie Riperton-esque ‘Crazy Love’, with its addictive groove and bittersweet melodies that makes the cut, alongside the steel drum-infused carnivalesque bounce of ‘Palm St’.
Choice Cuts 1978-1983 will introduce the idiosyncratic energy and playful verve of this under-the-radar pioneer to a wider audience for the first time. Welcome to the world of Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi."
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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A star in Japan, she moved to Europe to record global hits with Depeche Mode and Swing Out Sister, toured the world with the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra and made beats with Attica Blues’ Tony Nwachukwu. Now based in London, Mimi currently fronts Tokyo Riddim Band - the intergenerational live Japanese Reggae outfit born from Time Capsule’s acclaimed 2023 compilation of the same name - playing live shows and releasing a trio of recordings.
Choice Cuts 1978-1983 collects eight recordings from four of Mimi’s first five albums – Sea Flight (1978) recorded with her group Flying Mimi Band, and Coconuts High (1981), Nuts Nuts Nuts (1982) and Tropicana (1983) under her own name.
The compilation opens with a syncopated electro-funk cover of Sergio Mendes’ ‘Mas Que Nada’ (Tropicana) and the crisp and stripped back techno-pop of ‘Coffee Rumba’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) with a keyboard bass line that would have made Stevie Wonder weep.
Alongside the off-beat synth jam ‘Quiet Explosion’ (Nuts Nuts Nuts) and piano samba of ‘Espresso’ (Tropicana), there’s two low slung soul-jazz numbers, ‘Naze’ and ‘Angel Sky’, from Sea Flight (1978) that recall the collaborations between Herbie Hancock and Kimiko Kasai. But it is around the two tracks from Mimi’s 1981 album Coconuts High that this compilation revolves (and from whose cover shoot it borrows).
Released on legendary guitarist Takanaka’s Kitty Records label, Coconuts High was recorded in LA with a jazz fusion backing band, including Alex Acuña, Abraham Laborial, Harvey Mason and the Tower of Power horns. A riot of playful Latin-tinged jazz, funk and fusion with the off-beat spirit of Kid Creole & and the Coconuts, the album became a cult hit. Here it’s the sultry, Minnie Riperton-esque ‘Crazy Love’, with its addictive groove and bittersweet melodies that makes the cut, alongside the steel drum-infused carnivalesque bounce of ‘Palm St’.
Choice Cuts 1978-1983 will introduce the idiosyncratic energy and playful verve of this under-the-radar pioneer to a wider audience for the first time. Welcome to the world of Izumi ‘Mimi’ Kobayashi."
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Black Vinyl 2LP Gatefold
2LP TRACKLIST:
A1. Introit
A2. Prophecy At 1420 MHz
A3. Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan
A4. Age Of Capricorn
A5. Father And Son
B1. Somewhere Right Now In The Future
B2. Naraka
B3. Acts Of Magic
B4. Memory Death
B5. The Word Becomes Flesh
C1. Into The Magic Land
C2. Blood In The Labyrinth
C3. Deep Time
C4. All Reason Departs
D1. Arena Americanada
D2. The Process
D3. You Retreat In Time And Space
D4. I Saw Through Platonia
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2LP TRACKLIST:
A1. Introit
A2. Prophecy At 1420 MHz
A3. Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan
A4. Age Of Capricorn
A5. Father And Son
B1. Somewhere Right Now In The Future
B2. Naraka
B3. Acts Of Magic
B4. Memory Death
B5. The Word Becomes Flesh
C1. Into The Magic Land
C2. Blood In The Labyrinth
C3. Deep Time
C4. All Reason Departs
D1. Arena Americanada
D2. The Process
D3. You Retreat In Time And Space
D4. I Saw Through Platonia
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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non-exclusive
2LP R&S and Apollo Records present an official vinyl repress of this most classicand timeless album The vinyl uses the 2013 re-masters made from original DAT tapes cut by Matt Colton and presented in original artwork.
All time favourite Aphex Twin Album. Nice and accesible experimental techno. Originally released in 1992. What else could be said here, we finally are stocking copies on arguably the most important and influential electronic album of album time, Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works 85–92. You will always need this!!!
Tracks: A1 Xtal
A2 Tha
A3 Pulsewidth
B1 Ageispolis
B2 i
B3 Green Calx
B4 Heliosphan
C1 We Are The Music Makers
C2 Schottkey 7th Path
C3 Ptolemy
D1 Hedphelym
D2 Delphium
D3 Actium
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
2LP R&S and Apollo Records present an official vinyl repress of this most classicand timeless album The vinyl uses the 2013 re-masters made from original DAT tapes cut by Matt Colton and presented in original artwork.
All time favourite Aphex Twin Album. Nice and accesible experimental techno. Originally released in 1992. What else could be said here, we finally are stocking copies on arguably the most important and influential electronic album of album time, Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works 85–92. You will always need this!!!
Tracks: A1 Xtal
A2 Tha
A3 Pulsewidth
B1 Ageispolis
B2 i
B3 Green Calx
B4 Heliosphan
C1 We Are The Music Makers
C2 Schottkey 7th Path
C3 Ptolemy
D1 Hedphelym
D2 Delphium
D3 Actium
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More