Spotlight

Astral Daze - Psychedelic South African Rock 1968-1972.
This real collectors item features 18 classic, rare and obscure tracks from the heydays of South African Psychedelic Rock. 16 of these tracks have never previously been released on official CD.

The Bats - Race With The Devil

They were invaders from the North and they set South Africa alight with their unique barnstorming brand of high octane blues rock.. they were Otis Waygood and rock was never the same again! Digitally transferred from the original vinyl their seminal debut album includes classics like "You're late Miss Kate" , "Watch 'n chain", "I cant keep from cryin'" and their burning version of "Fever". This reissue features three bonus tracks as well as a fascinating essay by noted author Rian Malan plus newly discovered photos.

Fever

Wee Wee Baby

The most famous South African group of all time, The Flames recorded these psychedelic soul rock albums in 1967 and 1968 and are officially released for the first time on one CD. Highly prized by 'beat'and early psych collectors worldwide.

A Place In The Sun

You Got It Made

Lost

Something You Got

Purple Haze

For Your Precious Love

Never available before on CD "Johnny Calls The Chemist" is perhaps Falling Mirror's finest work... brooding, dark and slightly unhinged lyrical imagery fused with some of the most searing rock guitar this side of the universe. Songs of madness, obsession and alienation not to be listened to in the dark, alone! Includes the classic title track plus an unreleased track, two in-studio demos and for Mirror fanatics... the rare "Johnny…" video clip as a enhanced feature. 

01 Automaton Town 9AM Including Girl

02 As Sly As The Fox

03 Makin` out with granny

04 Chemist Girl

05 Encounter In A Takeaway Shop

07 For A Woman So Opposed

07 Johnny calls the chemist

08 I Fought For My Friend

09 The Ghost Of Collette (Conclusion

The recent rediscovery of Falling Mirror by legions of new media and fans led to an series of incredible sold out live shows, a film documentary and the realization by all and sundry of just how important Falling Mirror's unique music is to South Africa's cultural heritage. To celebrate this awakening, and poignantly guitarist Allan Faull's untimely death during the recording of a new album, the release of “Hystorical” stands as a landmark to one of the most innovative rock bands of all time. It's the first retrospective to include songs from not only the band's 4 recognised albums but the first to feature key tracks from the mythical, hereunto commercially unreleased “Hammerhead Hotel” album. Sonically re-mastered by long time producer (and erstwhile 'fourth' band member) Tully McCully with artwork by drummer Patrick Humphries, “Hystorical” is a welcome addition to Falling Mirror's remarkable canon of work.

Falling Mirror - Then It Turns Around

Throughout the '60s The Flames were South Africa’s biggest selling band: This double disc set highlights the band’s many hits from 1964 to 1966 and includes the “Ummm! Ummm! Oh Yeah” and “That's Enough” albums on Disc 1 and 16 non-album A & B sides singles on Disc 2. This release is a companion to the Retro best selling “Soulfire”/”Burning Soul” reissue. 

The Flames - 19 - Purple Raindrops

The Flames - 24 - For Your Precious Love

The Flames - 23 - Ole Man Trouble

The Flames - 03 - Maniac

Face to Face's self titled debut album captured the eyes and ears of the pop public in 1984 with Number 1 hits like “Here we are“ and “Night of the long knives”. Released for the first time on CD, this reissue also includes their 1985 single “Too young b/w Sad but true” plus 5 bonus tracks from their unreleased second album. 

01 Night Of The Long Knives

04 Eyes Can Tell

08 Night Is Young

For the first time ever…a 59 track, 3 CD set of the cream of South African rock, from the early '70s through to the '90s….Killer tunes from the likes of Evoid, Tribe after Tribe, Stingray, Hawk, Baxtop, The Sweatband, Squeal, Freedoms Children, Ellamental, Wild Youth, Julian Laxton and many more. 

Radio Rats - ZX Dan

eVoid - I Am A Fadget

The 4th volume from Fresh Music in the Astral Daze series.

Astral Daze 4 - More Snapshots Of The South African Underground [2017]

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Freedoms Children - That did it

40 years on the legendary Radio Rats bring their unique garage pop and rock anthems to life on a brand new album “The Concise Rock and Roll Primer”.

The Concise Rock And Roll Primer

Buy CD & DVD set

Rock And Roll Is Dead

Born With A Beechie In His Mouth

Two Teaspoons Of Rock And Roll

My interview with the legendary guitarist Joe Walsh on the eve of Tthe Eagles South African tour in 2012. We spoke mainly about his solo album "Analog Man"  and guitar playing in general.

Joe Walsh Interview 2012

Robbi Robb-guitars, vocals / Dino Archon-bass, vocals / Steve Howells-drums

Asylum Kids - Fight It With Your Mind

Rare sole 1971 album by African influenced progressive rock band which included members of The Bats and The Square Set; elements of pastoral flute / pennywhistle tinged folk mixed with psych guitar, jazz rock brass, soulful vocals and thundering percussion. Comparisons with Vertigo prog rockers Jade Warrior, early Gravy Train, Assegai and jazz rockers like Chicago and Greatest Show on Earth. 

Impi - Sun

"Innocent Child" was originally released in 1995 on the "Wicked Wonder" album. Available on "Wild Warriors  - The Complete Arapaho" CD compilation, released in 2006.

Arapaho - Innocent Child

Volume 3 of our acclaimed Astral Daze series find us in the company of some well known 'underground' bands (Freedom's Children, Abstract Truth, The Bats) and some lesser known luminaries of the psych rock era (The Gentle People, Finder's Keepers, 004's, Wakeford Hart). The compilation is rounded off with some real classics including engineer Peter Pearlson's 2011 remix of Hawk's ‘Here comes the sun’ and Sharon Tandy's psych collaboration with UK rockers Fleur De Lys. 

Hawk  - Here Comes The Sun (remix)

Released for the first time on CD is the long awaited retrospective of South Africa's legendary original punk band, Wild Youth. This massive 23 track set includes all of Wild Youth's late 70`s seminal singles, live and demo tracks plus several songs from the band's alter ego outfit, The Gay Marines. Wild Youth are prominently featured in the film documentary “Punk in Afrika”, currently showing in key US and European film festivals. 

Wild Youth - Wot About Me

Wild Youth - Radio Youth

Taken from his debut album " Living in the suburbs" released by WEA Records in 1984 under license from Spaced Out Sounds.

Living in the suburbs

Niki Daly The Young Director

Released in 1995 as part of a 3 track e.p and 10 track cassette tape release.

B World

B World-Rain (Full Version)

RETRO FRESH is an imprint label dedicated to the preservation of classic South African pop & rock music of the last 30 years ... each release, many available for the first time on cd, has been digitally remastered with bonus tracks including live, studio out takes, demos and unreleased songs. Where possible the original artwork has been retained but has been extended to include great pics, in-depth liner notes written by some of the country's leading music journalists, rare memorabilia and artist commentary. All releases are artist approved.

So from the Afro rock sounds of Hawk and the bluesy wail of Otis Waygood to the ethotronic funk of éVoid and the psychotic psychedelia of Falling Mirror RETRO FRESH brings you the best musical memories... 

FreshMusic

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