Whatever is playing at this time stamp is so good

Out August 27 on LP/CD/Tape/Digital
https://linktr.ee/ephatmujuru

Ephat Mujuru exemplifies a unique generation of traditional musicians in Zimbabwe. Born under an oppressive colonial regime in Southern Rhodesia, his generation witnessed the brutality of the 1970s liberation struggle, and then the dawn of independent Zimbabwe, a time in which African music culture—long stigmatized by Rhodesian educators and religious authorities—experienced a thrilling renaissance. 

Under the tutelage of his grandfather, who was a respected spirit medium and mbira master, Ephat showed an early talent for the rigors of mbira training, playing his first possession ceremony when he was just ten years old.
By then, guerilla war was engulfing the country and his grandfather Muchatera tragically became a victim of the violence, a devastating blow to the young musician. In the midst of the liberation struggle, mbira music became political.
 
Eventually, the Rhodesians were defeated, but rather than return to the past, the nation of Zimbabwe was born and a new future unfolded. Ephat threw himself into the spirit of independence, singing of brotherhood, healing, and unity: crucial themes during a time when the nation’s two dominant ethnic groups, the Shona and the Ndebele, were struggling to reconcile differences.

Ephat’s band would eventually follow the popular trend and add electric instruments. But before that, he and Spirit of the People released two all-acoustic albums, and they may well be the most exciting and beautiful recordings he made in his career. Mbavaira, the second of these albums, was released in 1983. 

As the independence years moved on, there would be fewer and fewer commercial mbira releases. But for the moment, Ephat had the required stature and reputation. Also, with the energy and drive we hear in these recordings, the album could easily rival the pop music of its day.

Within a few years after the release of Mbavaira, it and albums like it became harder to find in Zimbabwean record stores. Ephat adapted to the times and formed an electric band. They recorded more albums over the years but none of them have the particularly delicious energy of Spirit of the People in the first years of Zimbabwe’s independence.

Mbavaira

Ephat Mujuru & The Spirit of the People — Mudande

This fabled 11 minute+ version of Brazilian icon Joyce's groundbreaking "Feminina" was recorded at Columbia Studios, New York in 1977, for the as yet unreleased Natureza album. Produced, arranged and conducted by the great Claus Ogerman (Frank Sinatra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Billie Holiday... the list goes on), Natureza would have ostensibly been Joyce's big break to international stardom, but mysteriously, it was never released. With Joyce came fellow Brazilian icon Mauricio Maestro, while Nana Vasconcelos and Tutty Moreno were already living in New York, and Ogerman employed North American jazz legends Joe Farrell, Michael Brecker, Buster Williams, Mike Manieri and a full orchestra for the sessions.

In anticipation of the monumental forthcoming Natureza album release via Far Out Recordings, this astonishing version of a true classic gets its first proper 12" vinyl release for Record Store Day 2022. In the spirit of making the release special for Record Store Day, rather than leave it as a single sided 12", Far Out boss called up Joyce to talk about the recording, recorded the conversation, and got it pressed onto the B-side.

Joyce - Feminina (produced, arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman)

Some records just stop you in your tracks. They resonate with you and feel instantly familiar like an old friend, even on the first listen. SOYUZ's third album ‘Force of the Wind’ is one of those records. It holds all the trademarks, beauty, and eccentricities of classic Brazilian recordings, from the 60s and 70s, that we have come to love. Think artists such as Milton Nascimento, Lô Borges, Burnier e Cartier, Arthur Verocai et al. But this record wasn’t made in Brazil and is in fact a brand-new release. 
 
SOYUZ (which translates as 'union') is a creative collective from Minsk, Belarus, led by composer, arranger, and singer, Alex Chumak, multi-instrumentalist, Mikita Arlou, and drummer, Anton Nemahai. SOYUZ's previous albums explored and reimagined the legacy of jazz-oriented, non-English-language pop music of the 20th century. For their third album, there is a stronger focus, and it is influenced by 70s Música popular Brasileira and building bridges from it to present-day Belarus. Alex notes that from the moment he first encountered Brazilian music, he found in it a kind of concentrated emotion that felt as if it were familiar to him from his childhood. This non-verbal emotion and connection between the listener and musician echoes in the music, regardless of understanding of the language the album is recorded in. 
 
‘Force of the Wind’ includes songs sung in Russian and Portuguese as well as instrumental compositions. Its musical palette is both acoustic and electroacoustic: rich warm Rhodes piano, soaring string arrangements, and a controlled drum swagger sounding both relaxed yet super tight. Alongside Alex's sublime vocals, that grace the majority of the tracks, the album features guest performances by multi-talented musician and vocalist Kate NV and rising Brazilian star, Sessa. Alex also recently arranged a number of tracks on Sessa's highly praised 2022 album 'Estrela Acesa'.
 
On the album, the trio is joined by a cast of friends; NY-based musician of Turkish origin percussionist, Cem Mısırlıoğlu, classically trained composer, Simon Hanes, who aided with string arrangements and conducting the string players, Netherlands-based Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, Gabriel Milliet, on flutes. With the collaboration of these friends SOYUZ have created nine songs/suites that are subtle and plenitude and like the best albums, leave you aching for more.  
 
‘Force of the Wind’ is an enigma, Brazilian yet not Brazilian, vintage yet still contemporary, out of sync with modern culture yet completely relevant and necessary.

SOYUZ (СОЮЗ) - Song With No Words (Песня Без Слов)

Ellingtonia

Caravan (Pershing Ballroom, 1958)

Forgotten today, Piero Umiliani was never among the most famous film music composers of italian cinema. Maybe due the fact that he only worked in underrated or suspicious movies that hasn't got much of a publicity.
However, he may be considered one of the best of the buch. His work sometimes was unusual and ahead of its time.
This track is taken from the obscure film "La Ragazza Fuori Strada", directed by Luigi Scattini, in another long time professional collaboration director-composer.
An excellent, groovy and ravishing downtempo track.

Piero Umiliani - Cantata Per Maryam

A blend of post-punk, dub and funk on this reissue of Bristol band Maximum Joy. The inaugural release on Silent Street, a new label from Chris Farrell (Idle Hands) and Kiran Sande (Blackest Ever Black).

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2017/08/17/premiere-maximum-joy-building-bridges-building-dub/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/building-bridges-dub

I Can’t Stand It Here On Quiet Nights (Singles 1981-82)

Listen on Youtube

Maximum Joy - Building Bridges (Building Dub) (STW Premiere)

Karma

Creator Has a Master Plan

Listen/stream/download https://mr-bongo.lnk.to/kitsebastian-mantramoderne

Debut single from Kit Sebastian’s stunning, contemporary masterpiece, ‘Mantra Moderne’. A must for fans of Khruangbin, Portishead, Arthur Verocai, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, Os Mutantes, Cortex and co.

WATCH THE VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4s3KeV9Y4

PRE ORDER:

7” SINGLE

Mr Bongo https://www.mrbongo.com/products/kit-sebastian-mantra-moderne-kuytu-7-vinyl

Bandcamp https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/mantra-moderne

ALBUM

Mr Bongo https://www.mrbongo.com/collections/best-sellers/products/kit-sebastian-mantra-moderne-vinyl-lp-cd-cassette

Piero Piccioni Essentials Mix 3

Starving Daughters

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