Taken from Nightports w/Matthew Bourne (2018)
https://nightports.bandcamp.com/album/nightports-w-matthew-bourne

http://nightports.co.uk
https://facebook.com/nightportsmusic
https://twitter.com/nightports

@matthew-bourne @theleaflabel

Nightports w/Matthew Bourne

Nightports w/Matthew Bourne - Exit

More info - http://loose-lips.co.uk/blog/nightports-wmatthew-bourne-fragile-years-the-leaf-label

PREMIERE: Nightports w/Matthew Bourne - Fragile Years (The Leaf Label)

With their last original release coming in 2016, It may feel like The Busy Twist have shied away from the limelight in recent years but during this time they’ve been travelling and working hard on some of their most ambitious music yet, and in the process have set up their own label Busy Life Records. 

Busy Life is a project focused on joining the dots between West African, South American, Caribbean and UK electronic music by developing a sound which not only melds the sonic genealogy of all four palettes but also presents such crossovers faithfully. Developing an exchange with local artists that works in both directions is key to the label, and crucial to creating borderless music that can be shared with their family worldwide. 

The opening EP on the label ‘Sunny Side’ is a record years in the making and highlights the ever-decreasing gap between UK and modern African music. It is therefore fitting that many of the ideas heard on ‘Sunny Side’ were born during their very first trip to Ghana, and have been continually refined as Afro and UK sounds intertwine year on year. 

The EP is led by strong vocal performances from lead singer Zongo Abongo. An artist from Northern Ghana who has been part of the Busy Life family since its inception. It also features additional vocals from Kyekyeku and Siaka Djarra from Burkina Fasso.

01. Sunny Side 
Vocals: Zongo Abongo
Production: Ollie Twist, Gabriel Benn
Mastered by Precise Mastering

Sunny Side EP

PRE-ORDER

SUNNY SIDE (feat. Zongo Abongo)

With their last original release coming in 2016, It may feel like The Busy Twist have shied away from the limelight in recent years but during this time they’ve been travelling and working hard on some of their most ambitious music yet, and in the process have set up their own label Busy Life Records.

Busy Life is a project focused on joining the dots between West African, South American, Caribbean and UK electronic music by developing a sound which not only melds the sonic genealogy of all four palettes but also presents such crossovers faithfully. Developing an exchange with local artists that works in both directions is key to the label, and crucial to creating borderless music that can be shared with their family worldwide.

The opening EP on the label ‘Sunny Side’ is a record years in the making and highlights the ever-decreasing gap between UK and modern African music. It is therefore fitting that many of the ideas heard on ‘Sunny Side’ were born during their very first trip to Ghana, and have been continually refined as Afro and UK sounds intertwine year on year.

The EP is led by strong vocal performances from lead singer Zongo Abongo. An artist from Northern Ghana who has been part of the Busy Life family since its inception. It also features additional vocals from Kyekyeku and Siaka Djarra from Burkina Fasso.

02. Traveller
Vocals: Kyekyeku, Zongo Abongo
Production: Ollie Twist, Gabriel Benn
Mastered by Precise Mastering

“Traveller” showcases Accra local Kyekyeku on vocals and guitar in a distinctive Ghanaian style melding folk and romantic urban Highlife. Alongside backing vocals and a killer verse from Zongo Abongo in his northern dialect, the pair sing about the trials and tribulations of the traveller.

TRAVELLER (feat. Zongo Abongo + Kyekyeku)

Recorded entirely on vintage analogue recording equipment packed into a disused garage in Leeds, the LP features the vocal talents of Gospel-inspired Soul singer Rachel Modest. Taken from The Magnificent Tape Band's forthcoming debut LP “The Subtle Art Of Distraction”, 'Danger' lays down an ominous groove with tuff hooks and a powerful vocal performance from Rachel Modest. 

The Magnificent Tape Band are the alter egos of ATA Records founders Neil Innes & Pete Williams, who were the creative driving force behind the debut album by The Sorcerers, for which they wrote and produced all the tracks as well as contributing bass and guitar performances. Sheffield born, Rachel Modest developed her unique vocal ability within the churches and gospel choirs of her local community. Now based in Leeds, she has developed a powerful and soulful vocal style that takes inspiration from artists such as Madeleine Bell, Dee Dee Warwick, Dusty Springfield and at times delivers a performance that resembles the falsetto of The Delfonics' William Hart.

Taking inspiration from the more abstract end of the Soul spectrum that has been a richly tapped vein for Hip-Hop producers, The Magnificent Tape Band aim to create an evocative tapestry of sound that pulls together Psychedelic Soul with British Library Music to create a distinctly dramatic sounding record. Recorded on original '60s equipment, using vintage instruments, "The Subtle Art Of Distraction" immediately brings to mind the more experimental Psychedelic Soul records of the late '60s and early '70s by incorporating a driving clavinet, loping drums, swirling organ, and vintage Mellotron alongside Rachel Modest's ethereal and powerful vocals.

The record is definitely one to watch out for if you're a fan of the Big Crown Records catalogue, The Sorcerers, Mulatu Astatke, or any form of Soul-inspired Hip-Hop.

“The Subtle Art Of Distraction” releases physically & digitally May 25, 2018 on ATA Records

Preorder Album: https://bit.ly/2LjGco1

The Subtle Art Of Distraction

Preorder Album

Exclusive Premiere: The Magnificent Tape Band "Danger" (ATA Records)

Order CD/LP/DL: https://goo.gl/zrhyHM
Stream/digital: https://IDOL.lnk.to/Daega_Rek

The London based afro-dub ensemble Fofoulah, have followed-up their trailblazing debut album (“Fofoulah”/Glitterbeat 2014) with an even more shapeshifting and adventurous recording. Slippery sabar beats, dystopian electronics and echoing, shamanic chants ratchet up both the dub quotient and the dramatic tension.  Creating a soundworld that is both earthy and urban, futurist and rooted - the new album “Daega Rek” (The Truth) is brought into sharp focus by the rhythms and vocals of Gambian sabar drummer Kaw Secka and the vivid production of keyboardist/saxophonist Tom Challenger.

After the release of their self-titled first album, the band played extensively in the U.K. and Europe where - spontaneously - every concert would see Kaw Secka rise to the microphone (with his tama - a talking drum) and rap over the last song, cuing rhythmic patterns for the group to play in unison (called Bakas). It was decided to take this exploratory part of the shows forward into the next realm.

The concept that emerged for the new album – “Daega Rek” – involved combining recordings of drums and percussion (laid down at Real World Studios) with improvisatory vocalizations and a production aesthetic that pushed the band’s collective sound in a much more electronic and dub-based direction.

The resultant tracks were shaped by Challenger in his studio (Brockley, London), fusing the new rhythm sessions with a variety of manipulated, previous recordings of the band – while also adding an array of synthesizers and a vast sample palette. Secka then came in to lay down vocals and it was these contributions that went on to define the final songs. 

Every song has a different meaning, or message, all of them sung in Wolof, a language central to coastal West African countries such as The Gambia and Senegal. Secka’s lyrics explore a myriad of topics - ‘Njite’ for example, focuses on the importance of leadership, and all that it entails; ‘Seye’ (Marriage) explores the nature of human connection; and the title track ‘Daega Rek,’ sets its lens on truth and the riddles of reality. 

Says Secka: “The truth is only true; Where is death coming from? Something true, but what is the truth?” 

The rhythmic propulsion of the initial recordings made by drummer Dave Smith and Secka at Real World, melds with a backdrop of constantly shifting sonic colors - Johnny Brierley’s deep, melodic bass lines, underpin the evolving patterns of Phil Stevenson’s guitar which in turn, intersect with Challenger’s keyboards and the urgency of Secka’s incantations. The emphasis on the sonic structure and the identity of the material showcases its influences - traditional sabar drumming meeting glitchy electronics; and dub textures blending with elements of footwork and drum & bass.  

Moving outward, the band will tour their new show - alongside their original singer and dancer Batch Gueye - and will not only feature the music of “Daega Rek,” but also sounds from their past catalogue cast through a new lens.

Fofoulah remind us that sonics and human experiences combine, resonate and land where they will. “Fortress” mentalities can slow this down, but the spirit of morphing and connectivity still flashes forward.

Daega Rek

Seye

Fofoulah - Seye

Private audio stream of "She's In a State", H.Grimace's upcoming new single. To be released on Living Waters Records January 25, 2018.

Pre-order Limited-Run 7": http://bit.ly/2W8lyNa
H.Grimace on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2UakyX7
H.Grimace on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2RWz3QU

"She's In a State" b/w "In The Body" 7"

"She's In a State"

H.Grimace - "She's In a State"

Just heard this version of "You Sent Me Flying" 2 days ago.  It's very a visceral, and soulful version with her playing the guitar on a Radio show.  It's longer than this, but I cut it short because I feel that these are the parts that best showcase her vocals.  It is played half a step lower than the original key for those interested.

JAN01

Matías Reed

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