A double shot of vital Soukous / Coupé Décalé hybrids out of Abidjan & Paris - available on 12" vinyl direct from the Sofrito store:
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/super-single-ivoire-promotion-ep
A1: Nassima (12" edit) / Bazaré D. Pablo
B1: Africa (Original Mix) / Atalaku 8
B2: Africa (Siwo Dub) / Atalaku 8

A Side:
"Nassima" is a deep hybrid of Soukous and Highlife, recorded in Abidjan in 1975 by the mysterious Bazaré D. Pablo. Thumping percussion, intricate guitar, ethereal vocals and a solid bassline add up to a perennial Sofrito classic that never fails.

B Side:
Atalaku 8 - a Paris-based Ivoirien/Congolese group operating out of the legendary Kos studio - lay down a seriously funky house-tempo Coupé Décalé track, topped off with a Siwo dub.

Buy 12" vinyl

Sofrito Super Single // Ivoire Promotion EP

Mixes and shows from the Sofrito family...

Sofrito // Mixes

A fresh installment in the Sofrito Super Singles Series: a limited 3 track EP of raw percussion sounds from the Alma Negra crew, at the crossroads between organic percussion and electronics, and inspired by the Carnival celebrations on the Cape Verdean island of Santiago. 

Buy 12" Vinyl

Sofrito Super Single // Alma Negra // The Tabanka EP

The next installment in the Sofrito Island Series: a double dose of heavy Cadence-Lypso from the Swinging Stars of Dominica - available direct from the Sofrito site

SSS015 ISLAND SERIES: DOMINICA // SWINGING STARS OF DOMINICA 7"

Caribbean Boogie classics from the godfather of Cadence-Lypso.
With his group Exile One, Gordon Henderson was instrumental in creating the Cadence-Lypso style. Fast forward a few years and he was in Air studios in Montserrat, where - along with new group the U-Convention - he recorded the sessions that would make up this release. The Highest Bidder is a long-time rare groove classic, a no-messing-about slice of early 80s funky boogie. On the B-side "Hard World" ups the tempo for an over-looked slice of Modern Soul.
Sofrito and Gordon Henderson are proud to see these tracks legitimately once more, cut nice and loud on a 45 for optimal club play

SSS016 ISLAND SERIES: GORDON HENDERSON 7"

The seventh installment in the Sofrito Island series celebrates the often overlooked music of Madagascar and the sounds of Salegy – a modern, electrified updating of the traditional Antsa style from North Western Madagascar based around a 6/8 rhythm, layers of percussion and call-and-response vocals.

Vetson’ Androy were one of the most popular groups in Madagascar in the 70s. Fronted by two female singers and chiefly known for romantic love songs, Mavandeza (Recorded in a rudimentary studio and originally released in 1978) represents a departure from their normal repertoire and combines psychedelic organ and a loping bassline, bringing a touch of Fela-style afrobeat to the Salegy sauce.

Eusebe Jaojaby – the king of Salegy - is one of the biggest stars of Malagasy music. Taratasy Maitso was originally released in 1987 and adds a lilting flute to the insistent 6/8 rhythm - a dancefloor sure shot.

The Madagascar installment of the Island Series is produced in conjunction with La Basse Tropicale, aka DJs Natty Ho and Konsole, a DJ and digging duo from Réunion in the Indian Ocean also responsible for the excellent Soul Sok Sega compilation on Strut Records.

Buy Vinyl

SOFRITO ISLAND SERIES // MADAGASCAR 7" (SSS018)

Vinyl release date 23/01/2017
Buy Vinyl here: http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/auntie-flo-the-soniferous-garden
Digital release date 03/02/2017
Buy Digital here: https://auntieflo.bandcamp.com/album/the-soniferous-garden

Buy Release

Auntie Flo // The Soniferous Garden // SSS019

An ongoing series of 7" and 12" releases celebrating music from islands from around the world. Featuring tracks from Cape Verde, Haiti, Martinique, Dominica and Madagascar, more to follow....

BUY VINYL

Sofrito // Island Series Selection

First release on new label Nouvelle Ambiance.
https://soundcloud.com/nouvelleambiance

Siassia & Tokobina EP // Nouvelle Ambiance

Format: Limited 12" Vinyl
Available now from the Sofrito shop and all good retailers
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/brazzaville-percussions-ep-j-m-bolangassa

A1: Disna Ngaï
B1: Rikikida
B2: La Vie
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Founder member of the seminal Afro Disco group M'Bamina, JM Bolangassa comes through with 3 tracks of raw and unadulterated percussion, pairing virtuoso playing with complex drum machine arrangements and sparse synths that sit on the fault line between traditional Congolese rhythms and techno.


About the artist
Percussionist Jean-Marie Bolangassa arrived in Paris in 1967 as part of the Ballet Nationale du Congo and has been a lynchpin of the European scene for over 40 years - heading up the cult Afro Disco band M'Bamina and playing with a legion of stars including Tabu Ley Rochereau, Koffi Olomide and Ryco Jazz as well as supplying drums for innumerable Coupé Décalé and Ndombolo crews.

SOFRITO // BRAZZAVILLE PERCUSSIONS EP // JM BOLANGASSA

Ibo Combo - Mateau

More rough and ready sounds from the Republic of Sofrito, inspired by a session with Simbad at Red Bull Studios Paris in February. 
Taking in new Sofrito releases from Simbad & Frankie Francis, a recent track from the Haiti Direct EP, Gwo Ka percussion and some 80s flavours from Jamaica and Guadeloupe, with a syndrum and a tape echo to accompany.


Republic of Sofrito // Hugo Mendez Mix for Red Bull Studios Paris

Available from the Sofrito shop:
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/brazzaville-percussions-ep-j-m-bolangassa

Taken from the "Brazzaville Percussions EP" from legendary Percussionist Jean-Marie Bolangassa. 

A meeting point between electronic music and traditional Congolese percussion, with percussion parts transposed for drum machines alongside a variety of percussion instruments and sparse synths.

Born in Brazzaville in 1947, Jean-Marie Bolangassa arrived in Paris in 1967 as part of the Ballet Nationale du Congo. Since then he has played and arranged for innumerable stars - from Ryco Jazz to Koffi Olomide.
Heading up the seminal Afro disco group M'Bamina at the beginning of the 80s, he has continued to arrange and produce for a legion of stars.



DISNA NGAI (EXCERPT) // JM BOLANGASSA // BRAZZAVILLE PERCUSSIONS EP

Jean-Marie Bolangassa: Brazzaville Percussions EP
Available from the Sofrito shop:
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/brazzaville-percussions-ep-j-m-bolangassa

LA VIE (EXCERPT) // JM BOLANGASSA //BRAZAVILLE PERCUSSIONS EP

Jean-Maire Bolangassa:  Brazzaville Percussions EP
Available from the Sofrito shop:
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/brazzaville-percussions-ep-j-m-bolangassa

RIKIKIDA // JM BOLANGASSA // BRAZZAVILLE PERCUSSIONS EP

Taken from Jean-Marie Bolangassa's debut on the tropic Sofrito label, channelling his Congolese roots with an afro-futurist tinge.

More info: http://www.stampthewax.com/2015/05/22/premiere-jean-marie-bolongassa-disna-ngai/

Follow
@sofrito

Buy Now

Premiere: Jean-Marie Bolangassa - Disna Ngaï

A double shot of vital Soukous / Coupé Décalé hybrids out of Abidjan & Paris.
12" vinyl available here:
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/super-single-ivoire-promotion-ep

Atalaku 8 - a Paris-based Ivoirien/Congolese group operating out of the legendary Kos studio - lay down a seriously funky house-tempo Coupé Décalé track, topped off with a Siwo dub.

Africa (Original & Siwo Dub Excerpts) // Atalaku 8

For their next release, @sofrito take us to the Côte D'Ivoire with a deep hybrid of soukous and highlife, recorded in Abidjan in 1975 by the mysterious Bazaré D. Pablo. Thumping percussion, generous shakers, intricate guitar, ethereal vocals and a solid bassline add up to a frenetic and energetic hip-shaker. 

Watch on YouTube: http://bit.ly/gpww-sofrito
More info: http://www.gillespetersonworldwide.com/gpww-premiere-bazare-d-pablo-et-orchestre-nassima/
Buy Ivoire Promotion EP: http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/super-single-ivoire-promotion-ep



Listen on Youtube

Bazaré D. Pablo et Orchestre - Nassima (Worldwide Premiere)

The Sofrito Island series continues with a 7" single featuring two heavy-hitting 70s cadence rarities from Martinique.
7" Vinyl Available Here:
http://sofrito.bigcartel.com/product/island-series-martinique-7


Nothing if not well-travelled, Michel Bagoe spent his early years moving between Senegal and Martinique prior to moving to Paris in the early 70s. From there he decamped to Cote D'Ivoire to become the resident vocalist at the famous "Canne a Sucre" nightclub in Abidjan.
"Oulé Collé" is taken from a session recorded by a who's who of Martiniquan musicians in Paris in 1976.

BUY 7" VINYL

Island Series // Michel Bagoé // Oulé Collé (Excerpt)

Sofrito Boiler Room London DJ Set

Purveyors of all things tropical - Sofrito are currently readying the release of the ninth instalment in their Sofrito Super Singles Series. For this outing Basel's Alma Negra deliver three percussion heavy tracks at the crossroads between organic & electronic sounds, inspired by the Carnival celebrations on the Cape Verdean island of Santiago.

The A-side, "Mageko", sets it's foundation on a rolling bassline peppered with manic chants, sounding like a long-lost Afro Disco dub. A surefire weapon on any dance floor, especially considering we're in the depths various different culture's carnival season right now.

Preorder 

Alma Negra "Mageko" - Boiler Room Debuts

The chant was one of pain and desperation as he stood amidst the village of shanty huts. This was a place which he had called home for so long but now as he stood staring at the burnt out town that surrounded him he had never felt a stronger sense of disconnect. His heart ached for his missing lover, she had vanished into the shadowy depths of the forest which surrounded the once peaceful town. He shouted into the night, calling her name, "Tabanka" he cried, again and again. 

Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque is a record label made up of Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis, Lewis Heriz and friends. Based in London they release music of a wonderfully eclectic worldly origin which could be as far removed from the city streets in which they inhabit.  Alma Negra is based in Switzerland and has previously released music for Highlife and INI Movement. This one has tribal dancefloor written all over it.

@almanegramusic @sofrito

PREMIERE: Alma Negra - Tabanka (Version)[Sofrito]

Basel collective @almanegramusic deliver a rolling afro house number inspired by the Carnival celebrations on the Cape Verdean island of Santiago. Out now on @sofrito. 

Read more: http://www.stampthewax.com/2016/02/22/premiere-alma-negra-ramboia/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/ramboia
Buy: 
http://shop.sofrito.co.uk/product/super-single-alma-negra-the-tabanka-ep

Alma Negra - Ramboia (STW Premiere)

SSS015 SIDE 2 - SWINGIN STARS // JAM JAM (Excerpt)

The next installment in the Sofrito Island Series: Foundation Cadence-Lypso from the Swinging Stars of Dominica

Buy 7" Vinyl

SSS015 SWINGING STARS OF DOMINICA - LAS MAL PARLE (excerpt)

SSS016 ISLAND SERIES: GORDON HENDERSON // HARD WORLD (excerpt)

Boogie classic from the father of Cadence-Lypso, available on 7" vinyl on Sofrito.

SSS016 ISLAND SERIES: GORDON HENDERSON // THE HIGHEST BIDDER (EXCERPT)

A long-time Caribbean boogie classic that dips its toes into 80’s funk with rich horn lines and plush vocals sang in unison from the get-go.

Off the latest 'Island Series' release from @Sofrito.

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2016/07/20/gordon-henderson-highbid

Gordon Henderson - The Highest Bidder (STW Premiere)

"Fully remastered percussion and drum machine workouts from late 80s and early 90s Guadeloupe".
The second installment in the Sofrito Percussions Series: an EP showcasing tracks from pivotal Guadeloupean singer and percussionist Erick Cosaque and his group Voltage 8, combining virtuoso percussion ane drum machine experiments.

Format: 12" Vinyl
Release date: early September 2017


SSS017 Kaloukera Percussions EP

Erick Cosaque & Voltage 8 // Bazouka (B2)

Erick Cosaque & Voltage 8 // Kowidow Man'm Boé (B1)

Erick Cosaque & Voltage 8 // Banbou La (A2)

Erick Cosaque & Voltage 8 // Flan'm Cho (A1)

Eusebe Jaojaby – the king of Salegy - is one of the biggest stars of Malagasy music. Taratasy Maitso was originally released in 1987 and adds a lilting flute to the insistent 6/8 rhythm - a dancefloor sure shot.

The Madagascar installment of the Island Series is produced in conjunction with La Basse Tropicale, aka DJs Natty Ho and Konsole, a DJ and digging duo from Réunion in the Indian Ocean also responsible for the excellent Soul Sok Sega compilation on Strut Records.

Jaojoby // Taratasy Maitso (Sofrito Island Series: Madagascar SSS018)

Vetson Androy // Mavandeza (Sofrito Island Series: Madagascar SSS018)

The phrase 'one-of-a-kind' perhaps gets thrown around too much these days, but those that already know Auntie Flo (née Brian D'Souza) will join me in saying this is no overstatement. Building a reputation for having one of the most sonically eclectic and captivating live shows, and the revered ability to combine acoustic and electronic elements like no other, Auntie Flo has been excelling at his own game for a minute now.

And now, Auntie Flo is back with a new EP to feed our hungry souls with his beats inspired the sounds of the universe. This project, already with Four Tet's backing, is the product of D'Souza's yearning to share his love of traditional African rhythms, and a wish to bring them to the world's stage. Here, he employs an impressive array of session musicians and a Ugandan ten-string harp, recording it all at the Santuri Studios as part of the Ugandan Bayimba arts festival in Kamapala last year.

"Rainfall on Red Earth" is available in its full 16-minute beauty as part of The Soniferous Garden EP, which will be released in full exclusively on vinyl by Sofrito early next year.

The Soniferous Garden

Auntie Flo "Rainfall On Red Earth" (excerpt) Boiler Room Debuts

Sofrito Mixes

Hugo Mendez // After Hours Percussions Mix

According to Canadian composer & environmentalist R. Murray Schaferan, a soniferous garden is an "aural space of retreat from the oppressive overabundance of acoustic information in the modern industrial world". 

@auntie-flo conjures up these feelings on a 14 minute journey, recorded during a 3 day session at the Santuri studios in Kampala with East African musicians and singers. Released as a mini album on @sofrito.

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2017/01/19/premiere-auntie-flo-the-soniferous-garden/
Listen on Youtube: bit.ly/soniferous-garden

Auntie Flo - Soniferous Garden (Radio Edit) (STW Premiere)

New wave rumba disco crossover, recorded in Paris in the mid 80s. 

4 tracks spanning rumba, disco, new wave and reggae experiments from Congolese singer Albert Siassia and his group Tokobina, including two previously unreleased tracks taken from original demo tapes. 

Originally from Pointe Noire in Congo, Albert Siassia came to Paris in the early 80s as part of the Ballet Nationale du Congo and joined forces with a young French reggae group called Dread Lion – a band he re-christened “Tokobina” (Lingala for “let’s dance”). Keen to broaden their audience the group played a mixture of reggae, rumba, disco and new wave styles, often using drum machines and synths. 
They released one 12” EP, further altering the spelling of the name – “Tokobina” was phonetically anglicised to “Talk-Hoby-Night” in an unsuccessful effort to increase international sales. The record failed to make much of an impact and soon after Albert Siassia moved back to Pointe Noire to become an evangelical preacher. He passed away in 1999. 
Dancefloor sureshots Mama Africa and Pointe Noire are taken from the group’s only 12” release. In the world and Sangui are taken from demo cassettes from the archive of drummer Franck Benhamou. Sangui was originally scheduled for release on a 7” but the release was withdrawn due to a pressing fault.

SIASSIA & TOKOBINA - SANGI (B2) *previously unreleased*

SIASSIA & TOKOBINA - IN THE WORLD (A2) *previously unreleased*

Siassia & Tokobina - Mama Africa (A1)

Sofrito sister label Nouvelle Ambiance launches with a post-punk leaning Franco-Congolese collaboration from 1980.

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2017/11/01/premiere-siassia-tokobina-pointe-noire
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/pointe-noire

Siassia & Tokobina - Pointe Noire (STW Premiere)

Rinse France Podcast

Ciao! Radioshow #2 - Hugo Mendez | Rinse France

Sofrito Super Singles // Island Series // Percussions  // DJ mixes & sessions

Playlists by Sofrito