Selection of all winners from the Music Team label - mid 80s to early 90s gems on here!

One of South Africa’s biggest independent labels for more than a decade, Music Team offered working musicians a shot at fame via access to top studios, producers, songwriters and session musicians, as well as distribution via a number of imprints: CTV, Red Label, Solid, Spinna, Mambo Music and others. Artists in the stable who tasted success would typically release a few albums over as many years before moving on to other labels or falling off the radar as times changed. At their peak, according to label boss Maurice Horwitz, Music Team was selling a million records a month, and was at the forefront of South African pop music as it evolved from soul to disco and beyond.

Afrosynth Records’ ‘Music Team Sampler’ dusts off six rare and long-forgotten gems from the Music Team catalogue, originally released between 1986 and 1992. Four are typical of the label’s take on the popular ‘bubblegum’ sound of the day — Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng’s ‘Candy’, ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ by Linda Oliphant, Jappie Lebona’s ‘My Love is Yours and ‘Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)’ by Thandi Zulu (aka TZ Junior). Two instrumentals — Mr. Ace’s ‘Ace 1’ and ‘Axe Chop’ by The Hard Workers, a studio project by Music Team’s in-house producer Tom Mkhize — meanwhile hint at the imminent rise of kwaito and house.

Forged in the fire of a cruel and volatile political system that was gradually unraveling, instead of addressing political realities these indelible pop songs sought to provide an escape to a world where love and music were all that mattered. More

Parisian label Chuwanaga is proud to present their latest 12-inch series release from Jéroboam, "Brexit Funk / Peckham Night". The band, also known in the streets of Paris and Montreuil as Echoes Of, is celebrating Britfunk and the rich musical heritage of Greater London, reflecting their deep appreciation for the iconic Britfunk sound. After several successful collaborations celebrating the genre with the label at the infamous New Morning venue in Paris, Jéroboam has crafted two brilliant compositions for this EP.

"Brexit Funk" is an electrifying homage to the classic London Jazz-Funk scene of the late seventies and early eighties. It is a tremendous track, reminiscent of the early sounds of Incognito and Freeez, infused with the energy of Hot Cuisine and Hi-Tension. It features a standout brass section, amazing solo performances, and a strong rhythm section. Having played in London and now across the whole UK, the band decided to ironically name this track as a musical memory of this strange transition.

On the B-side, you’ll find "Peckham Night" and its dub version, an outstanding composition that perfectly emulates the late seventies soul-jazz vibe. Beautiful vocals by singer Agyei blend seamlessly into this perfect composition. All along, you really feel the band coming together, bringing out the best of their soul. It really is the work of passionate and experienced musicians who have built strong confidence playing together for years.

Jéroboam is a group of 10 Parisian funkateers recognized as one of the biggest funk outfits on the current French scene. They already boast extensive live experience and a solid reputation between Paris and London. In addition to their original and popular tributes to American funk cities of the 70s-80s, they have also gained attention as a formidable backing band for Howard Johnson, Junior Giscombe, and Kyoto Jazz Massive. Having also released two highly acclaimed EPs on the Space Grapes label, they continue to work on their own original compositions under the name Jéroboam, with their debut album scheduled for release in 2025.

A1 - Brexit Funk
B1 - Peckham Night
B2 - Peckham Night (Dub Mix) More

The funk, the funk and THEEE FUNK!!
Transcend oneself from the realm of what you know and feel
all that the groove can heal within you.
When the honorary P-Funk hits you ask ‘What You Gonna Say?’
meanwhile the A side ‘Vector Smector’ has the boogie stance
in affect whilst the island percussion simmers with a jazz lean.
SHOKAZULU will protect you. More

Italian digger extraordinaire Fab Mayday supplies another four beauties from the vaults! Limited to 200 copies, no repress. More

“We kick the label off with our inaugural release from label head Drum Dance; an eclectic four-tracker opening with ‘Zani!’, an outernational cosmic head-nodder meets Chicago footwork influenced ode to the great Zani Diabaté. Low-slung Latin flavoured boogie number ‘Body Heat’ switches up the tempo but keeps those limbs moving with its percussive four-to-the-floor beat, steamy disco vocals and jazzy keys. 80s jazz Balearic goes to Kingston for a bass-heavy dub makeover on ‘Venus Dub 2’.

Signing things off is ‘Adan On Dòt Soley’, a personal dedication to the beautiful country of Gwadloup. A common farewell in the local tongue, it translates poetically as “until another sun”. The track begins with off-kilter spaced-out synths and emerges into a dubby percussive jam featuring the gorgeous keys of Andy Wileman. Field recordings capturing glimpses of birds singing, waves lapping and the sound of gwo ka on the beach close things out, until another sun.”??

Full sleeve artwork printed on reverse board (design by mikesstudio.co.uk)
Mastered and cut by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering
Pressed and printed by The Vinyl Factory More

Reissue of this italo disco classic from 1986. More

Green Opaque Vinyl!

Get out! Fight!” The Lijadu Sisters’ Horizon Unlimited is the insurgent afrofunk their second cousin Fela strived to create. Soulful, psychedelic, feminist, and revolutionary music already known worldwide, finally available again after a decade with The Lijadus’ approval and deep involvement.

“The Nigerian twins who fought the elite with funk” - The Guardian

"Trailblazers whose influence spans many genres and generations. From David Byrne to Nas...The Lijadu Sisters helped lay the foundation for African music's global resonance today" - Rolling Stone

“I think one of the most exciting things about the reintroduction of Horizon Unlimited is the fact that young folk love our music, and are surprised at the upbeat tempo, and the lyrics, which are not only of today, but also very futuristic as well. Horizon Unlimited was our last album with Decca that came out in 1979. It’s been a long time since then and this really is part of a much longer story, but amongst one of the most significant things I remember was that we, The Lijadu Sisters, paid for all the studio and band session fees. At the time, this was unusual, and not the arrangement we had with that record label. We were originally meant to record at Decca West Africa in Lagos, but when we got to the studio, no one had told us that it was being upgraded – from eight tracks to twenty-four. So, we brought everyone to London and made the album there instead.”
–Yeye Taiwo Lijadu


The Lijadu Sisters and Numero Group are thrilled to announce an expansive new partnership that is equal parts reissue and reparation: a celebration and critical reappraisal for the musical and political impact of two iconic artists who have influenced and uplifted generations and a long-over due look back at their legendary career. As one of the only women-led acts making music at the outset of Nigeria’s national independence and cultural golden age, identical twin sisters Yeye Taiwo Lijadu and the late Kehinde Lijadu released five imperative albums in the 1970s who's sounds and influence managed to prevail now for 50+ years. The singular power of their harmonic singing, pioneering sound and trailblazing vision led to tours with David Byrne, inspired the work of fans like Amaarae, Ayra Starr, Hayley Williams, Jamie xx and Nas, and has cultivated a growing audience of hundreds of thousands of online listeners eager for more.

Beginning September 20th, 2024, with the release of a remastered, restored and revelatory edition of 1979’s Horizon Unlimited, the album that produced an indelible hit in “Come On Home,” The Lijadu Sisters and Numero Group launch a multi-year, multi-record campaign to finally bring the duo’s entire discography to the masses. In addition to amending the material’s history of misuse, Numero Group will reissue each of the band’s LPs, as well as a collection of rediscovered, previously unavailable singles, promo EPs and rare recordings that the label has worked to unearth and soon debut in the West. More

Transparent Red Vinyl!

Timmion Records introduces a new instrumental group Bronze, Silver & Brass, an eight-piece brass ensemble that is about to make waves with their debut 7” vinyl single “Conrad’s Lesson” b/w “Ward to Ward”. This banger of a release blesses you with two spectacular tunes that showcases the group’s influences from soulful stage band music to NOLA street funk.

On the A-side, “Conrad’s Lesson” delivers a pulsing midtempo groove, driven by funky drums and adorned with beautifully mellow horn melodies. Meanwhile, the B-side gem, “Ward to Ward” offers upbeat New Orleans second line funk, exuding the spirit of celebration and joy through syncopated beats and spirited horn arrangements.

Inspired by the soulful sounds of Kashmere Stage Band, Curtis Mayfield – and of course contemporary trailblazers such as Young Blood Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band – Bronze, Silver & Brass boldly blend a gumbo that that oozes musical love without excuses. With this debut single, they invite listeners to celebrate the rich heritage of brass music while keeping things severely funky. Get ready and march to the infectious rhythms of Bronze, Silver & Brass. More

Another boogie grail gets the 7" treatment as STAR CREATURE boss TIM ZAWADA picks 2 of the heavy boogie cuts from Gary, Indiana's I.N.D. The overlooked but certified floor filler A-side is backed with a cut up of version called "INTO NEW DIMENSIONS" (I.N.D.). More

Dino Lenny’s latest two singles for Belgian titan R&S Records get coupled together for a vinyl release. ‘Lose Control’ and ‘Washington Street’ are both served up with alternate mixes. The London based Italian producer fired out another irresistible club heater on the ‘Lose Control’ single, racking up Top Ten chart positions across the dance DSPs. On the Tea With Quincy Mix, legendary American musician Jerry Hey in drafted in to add his unmistakable horn playing to this version of ‘Lose Control. Hey is a highly seasoned orchestrator and session musician, playing on hundreds of classic recordings including Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, ‘Rock With You’ and ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’, and also playing with Earth, Wind & Fire, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, George Benson and numerous others, including Quincy Jones, whom the mix title doffs its cap to. A special ‘4am Mix’ of ‘Washington Street’ from Dino Lenny himself sits on the flip side, a propelling and heavyweight dancefloor cut laced with seductive saxophone and climaxing with sparkling melodic electronics.
More

Reissue of this italo disco classic from 1984. Comes with Pulsedriver, John Laurant and MS Project remixes. More