Future Classic: Nozinja “Nozinja Lodge”
Although I try to keep up to date with all of the various music and dance scenes popping up in Africa I am by no means an expert. However, whenever i take time to do some research I always find the African styles inspiring and unique: sadly with globalized culture it’s …
Guest Mix #50: NIK WESTON (Mukatsuku Records, UK)
Special guest mix by MUKATSUKU head honcho and digger extraordinaire: NIK WESTON! Nik Weston is a DJ, music producer, record label owner of Mukatsuku Records and music buyer for Juno Records. Based out of London, UK, he was from the late 1990s to 2007 a key player in the promotion …
Music Is The Weapon of the Future – 50 Years of African Popular Music
Here is a book suggestion, we figured we’d share the info since we’re buying ourselves a copy! Author: Frank Tenaille. Publisher: Chicago Review Press (2002) “From the unique voice of Salif Keita and the hard funk of Fela Kuti to the poignant blues of Cesaria Evora and the upbeat swing …
Francis Bebey “Psychedelic Sanza 1982-1984”
via Francis Bebey (on BornBadRecords): The first time I saw a sansa (a type of African “thumb piano”), it was just sitting there on a piece of furniture in my family’s living room/dining room – a space that our father also transformed into a recording studio every day. It seemed …
Future Sound of Mzansi – Documentary Trailer
via Future Sounds of Mzansi: “Future Sounds of Mzansi is a documentary which aims to explore, express, and interrogate South Africa’s cultural landscape, 20 years into it’s democracy,. A chief vehicle of this exploration is electronic music, a staple of South African popular culture. The film explores the past, present …
Forgotten Treasure: Rob “Make It Fast, Make It Slow” (1978)
Everybody around me knows how passionate I am about finding the original songs that have been sampled by my favorites beatmakers. I think this is something that a lot of us music nerds love doing. This obsession is the reason why I listen to so much different kind of music …
Fela Kuti’s Entire Discography on Bandcamp – Stream for Free
Fela Kuti is godly in many ways, obviously as the godfather of Afrobeat, the visionnary bandleader who did 10 hours shows at his Shrine nightclub that were more like religious experiences and a god send to all DJs who put on his 18min+ funky opuses on in order to catch …
Forgotten Treasure: Dur-Dur Band “Dooyo” (1987)
You know when you are just scanning through hundreds of songs and albums just to find one you actually like. And with every track that passes you become more and more depressed because nothing is jumping out at you. Sometimes, listening to songs that are a 7/10 becomes as dreadful …
Mix of the Day: Gilles Peterson “Nelson Mandela Tribute”
via @Brownswood: “Gilles pays tribute to the late, great, Nelson Mandela with this extended mix from his earlier tribute on BBC 6 Music. 1 hour of carefully curated songs of hope, freedom and future.” Playlist 1 – Simphiwe Dana – Zundiqondisise 2 – Dollar Brand – Ishmael 3 – Sathima …
Mix of the Day: “A Tribute To Mandela” by King Kong Disko
via King Kong Disco: “Tonight we received the sad news that a real freedom fighter icon of the 20th century has finally passed away. On the 5th of December 2013 Nelson Mandela died in Johannesburg. His name stands for a life long struggle to rid his people of the curse …
Sofrito Records “Sound of Cape Verde EP”
via Sofrito: “Musical collisions in the Atlantic! Sofrito kicks off the new Island Series with a celebration of the vital dancefloor sounds of Cape Verde – a mixture of local Funana and Coladeira rhythms, Batuque percussion and psychedelic disco synths.” A1: Dionisio Maio – Corpim Sabe (Alma Negra Edit) B1: …
Future Classic: Afrolicious “Pleasure Power / Pleasure Time”
The seminal Afro-funk outfit, San Francisco’s very own, Afrolicious, are back again with a couple of brand new ep’s, “Pleasure Power” and ‘Pleasure Time.’ If you’ve ever been to their weekly party that goes down at The Elbo Room every Thursday in the Mission District, you know that it’s one …