From the compilation:
Afrobeat Airways 2 - Return Flight to Ghana 1974-1983
Release Date: September 17th, 2013
(click below for promotional pictures and additonal information)

bit.ly/15AR6bg

From the coastal cities of Accra and Cape Coast, basked in a tropical sound heavily influenced by highlife, to the semi-Saharan cities of Tamalé and Bolgatanga (part of a self-proclaimed ‘Islamic Funk Belt’) via the central city of Kumasi, Analog Africa (analogafrica.blogspot.com/) has criss-crossed Ghana in search of rare tracks, part of its ongoing, hard-grooving mission to bring the soul, funk, and vintage local pop out of obscurity and into its deserved international place.

Building on the success of the first installment in 2009, Afrobeat Airways 2 (Analog Africa; release: September 17, 2013) is a selection of 13 ultra-rare tracks by some of the musical giants who had created a movement that rocked the West African nation throughout the ‘70s: legendary singer K. Frimpong; Nana Ampedu (leader of the mighty African Brothers Band); Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and his superb guest appearance with The Complex Sounds; afrobeat star Ebo Taylor, backing his son in an unreleased track called ‘Children Don’t Cry’; the enigmatic Rob and his unique blend of twisted afrofunk; innovative drummer De Frank; and Uppers International, with their raw Islamic funk style. More obscure artists such as Los Issufu and his Moslems, Waza Afrika 76 and Tony Sarfo and his Funky Afrosibi make northern hemisphere debuts, adding to a rich list of Ghanaian artists whose music could be transferred seamlessly to any dancefloor in the world.

As with all Analog Africa releases, this is about more than just the sounds. It’s about the place, time, and people who shaped the scene. To document this, the accompanying 44-page booklet of Afrobeat Airways 2 features an introductory essay written by Afropop Worldwide editor Banning Eyre, exploring the development of soul, funk and afrobeat during the ‘60s and ‘70s in Ghana. The remaining 30 pages are packed with interviews and biographies of the artists and producers involved in the creation of this wonderful music.

Additionally, the Analog Africa team have managed to track down the photographers of the famous Modern Photo studios, located at the front of Accra’s legendary TipToe, a venue notorious for organizing unforgettable dance competitions, ‘Miss Tip Toe’ contests and the most in-demand highlife and afrobeat gigs of the day. 400 negatives have been lent to the Analog Africa team. Samy Ben Redjeb selected 50 of the most expressive pictures to document this little-known but striking musical scene.

SAY MIN SY SOH - Pierre Antoine & Vis-a-Vis (dedicated to Hidehito Morimoto and Vik Sohonie)



Estamos muito orgulhoso e felizes em anunciar o lançamento do nosso segundo LP e nossa primeira parceria com a grande Analog Africa;
uma coletânea de faixas raras da lendária banda beninense, a Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou!

LANÇAMENTO OFICIAL DIA 20 DE MARÇO

Lado A:
- Mede Ma Gnin Messe | Afro-Beat | 6'01''
- Iya Me Dji Ki Bi Ni | Jerk Fon | 4'12''
- Assibavi | Sato | 4'43''
- Sê Tché Wê Djo Mon | Jerk Fon | 4'12''
- Zizi | Pachanga | 3'59''

Lado B:
- Djanfa Magni | Afro-Beat | 9'51''
- Adjro Mi | Cavacha Fon | 5'50''
- Écoute Ma Mélodie | Afro Bossa | 7'25''

www.gomagringa.com/product/orchest…thmo-de-cotonou

A Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou é, sem dúvida, o segredo mais bem guardado da África do Oeste. Sua produção, tanto em termos de quantidade e qualidade, foi espantosa, gravou mais de 500 canções entre 1970 e 1983.

A riqueza cultural e espiritual da música tradicional beninense teve um imenso impacto na construção moderna daquela. Benin é o berço do Vodun. Os cultos são sempre acompanhados de música.

Dois ritmos de Vodun dominam a música da Orchestre Poly-Rythmo: o Sato, um surpreendente e energético ritmo tocado num tambor vertical gigante, e o Sakpata, um ritmo dedicado ao deus do mesmo nome, o Vodun da Terra, que também é deus da varíola e protege as pessoas contra todas as doenças eruptivas. Esses dois ritmos são misturados pela banda com Funk, Soul, o som maluco do órgão e rifes de guitarra psicodélicos.

Nenhuma dessas faixas foram divulgadas fora do Benin durante o período de ouro da banda. Por causa do custo, a maioria destas gravações raramente se beneficiaram de edições maior do que 500 cópias.

A música desta compilação não é apenas extremamente rara, mas também ilustra como a Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, com o apoio dos selos locais, prosperou misturando o melhor do funk, do soul, do latino e do ritmo Vodun para produzir um som novo que não reflete apenas a herança musical e cultural do Benin, mas a transforma e faz deste pequeno país um incrível “melting-pot” musical.

A produção gráfica da capa recebeu e atenção cuidados especiais.

Utilizando como referências umas capas originais de compactos da banda, nós trabalhamos com exatamente as mesmas técnicas como as usadas na época para recriar uma réplica perfeita do design.

Assim, graças à ajuda e conhecimento inestimável da LetterPress Brasil, as capas foram impressas com clichês, montagem tipográfica, Linotipo e impressão LetterPress (baixo relevo).

Todo o processo de produção será documentado em breve com fotos e vídeos! Fique ligado!


Assibavi - Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou | GGLP-002

TERANGA BEAT is a new record label based in Senegal. The aim of the label is to highlight some of the recordings made in the golden era of the Senegalese, and more generally, West African music produced from the late '60s until the mid '80s and to offer them to an international audience. Almost all the recordings are either until now unreleased, or released only for the local market. TERANGA BEAT also has a keen interest in and is already working with established names in Senegalese music alongside newer artists with the aim of combining musical elements and instrumentation from the past with those of the present day. This is the first release on TERANGA BEAT, a compilation of music created by one Senegal’s most important and highly respected artists IDRISSA DIOP, highlighting his recordings made from 1969 until 1976 which was the last made in Senegal before leaving to live in France. The liner notes include more information on ‘IDY’, his legendary band SAHEL and the music in Senegal. 
We hope you will enjoy.


Idrissa Diop & Cheikh Tidiane Tall - Massani Cissé

The Funkees - Akula Owu Onyeara

Akalé Wubé - Mèmona (Etienne de la Sayette Remix Remix)
(Digital Single) Paris DJs PARISDJS079-D, 2016-01-05

Buy on Bandcamp http://bit.ly/1n3Zelq
Info on Paris DJs http://bit.ly/1RrMSyz

In their 6 years of existence, Akalé Wubé have never stopped widening the canvas onto which they lay their music, which keeps becoming richer and deeper just like their primary source of inspiration: the popular Ethiopian repertoire of the 60s and 70s. The band started off by covering music from the 'Ethiopiques' series, after which they immersed themselves deeper into Ethiopian music, all the while multiplying their collaborations with musicians and dancers from Ethiopia, Africa and Europe. Slowly but surely, clocking in at around 200 concerts in Europe, Asia and Africa, the band has become one of the world’s leading ambassadors of Ethiopian groove.

'Mèmona' is a traditional Ethiopian piece from the Tigray Region (the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia), played at weddings. Akalé Wubé discovered the song as sung by Tèwèldè Rèdda on the 'Éthiopiques 5: Tigrigna Music 1970-1975' compilation from Buda Musique, released in 1999. They covered it in their third album 'Sost', and it has since grown into one of the great rockin' jams in their setlists. Nonetheless, saxophone and flute player from the band Etienne de la Sayette has decided to try his producing chops on a remix, trying to bring the tune into a gritty psychedelic afro-rock trip, with lots of sanza...

Credits :
David Georgelet : batterie
Oliver Degabriele : basse
Loïc Réchard : guitare
Paul Bouclier : krar
Etienne de la Sayette : organ, synths, mbira
Mastering by Grant Phabao at Paris DJs studio
© 2015 Akalé Wubé / Clapson / T.I.M.E.C. / Paris DJs
Illustration by Ben Hito

Akalé Wubé - Mèmona (Etienne de la Sayette Remix Remix)

Highlife afrobeat grabado en Estudio Urbano en 2011.

Tam Tam - Belema (opotopo)

Jimi Tenor - Tropical Eel

Afro Latin Soul

Mulatu Astatke-  Playboy Cha cha

A tune by one of the many Nigerian Police bands who recorded Highlife tunes in their spare time. Many learned to play under Benedict Odiase, the composer of Nigeria's national anthem.
This track's from 1973 and taken from Soundway's brilliant Nigeria Special album:

http://www.soundwayrecords.com/catalogue/nigeria-special.html

Asiko Mi Ni, The Nigerian Police Force Band

TERANGA BEAT proudly presents Vol.2 of Kyriakos Sfetsas' 1976 "Greek Fusion Orchestra" project. Sfetsas' vision behind the formation of GFO, was to create a piece of work that would expand the boundaries of Greek traditional music. The result was a Progressive-Jazz Fusion masterpiece comprising complex and intriguing compositions, performed by Athens' best musicians of the day.

Following the success of Vol.1, Vol.2 is a compilation of musical pieces Sfetsas recorded with the group right upon the completion of the Vol. 1 material. Vol.2 is still reflective of his ambition of bringing together progressive jazz and traditional music, but it does so in a different manner. Although the element of traditional music remains present, it does not provide the compositional foundation for the songs (e.g. most pieces are no longer based exclusively on traditional musical forms). More jazzy and more complex than Vol.1, Vol.2 has a darker feeling, presenting Sfetsas not only as a musical experimentalist, but also as a demanding and distinctive composer, who truly puts his musicians through the test.

The recordings on this album are previously unreleased and form only a small part of his overall body of work with the GFO. The music was originally recorded Stereo on Reel Tape with highest standards for the time, with the modern mastering process highlighting even more their original sound quality. The result is a truly impressive and pure audiophile album, even slightly better than Vol.1 on that regard.

The LP version of the album is a Deluxe Edition and comes with a high gloss laminated gatefold cover, a printed insert and a digital download code. The CD packaging is Digipak with Slipcase, including a booklet with photos and liner notes outlining the story of the band members.

Greek Fusion Orchestra Vol.2

Kyriakos Sfetsas - On a Folk Mode

Album available on CD and digital: https://orcd.co/colombiansoul
To most people across the globe, Colombian music (whether traditional or contemporary) usually means energetic, up-tempo latin sounds made for dancing.

Having resided in Colombia for many years now and become a firm fixture in the country’s grassroots music scene, Tricky D has come to know a softer, smoother side to Colombia’s music that most of us never get to hear; so was born his ‘Colombian Soul’ project. As Dean puts it: “I realised that there is no compilation of Colombian downbeat music, so I decided to dig deep and get together collection of dubby, downbeat, minor tuned songs. The result is this collection of 20 spacey, soulful songs recorded by well recognised Colombian artists, many of whom I’ve collaborated with over the past few years.”

Featuring cutting-edge underground sound-system crews and hip hop collectives and Latin Grammy nominated stars alike (and pretty much everything in between), ‘Colombian Soul’ provides a great introduction to the vibrant, eclectic electronic music scene exploding in Colombia today.

Idrissa Diop & Cheikh Tidiane Tall - Massani Cissé

Teranga Beat

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