April 21, 2006

GINGER JOHNSON

"Flower power is at its peak in Haight Ashbury, the Rolling Stones are answering Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band with their own psychedlic masterpiece and Folonho ‘Ginger’ Johnson releases this long overlooked gem of funky African music in London.
Two years later at the famous Rolling Stones’ concert in Hyde Park, Ginger and his massed drum ensemble would make a memorable appearance on ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ but first would be African Party.

Ginger first came to the UK in the 50s and by the sixties was a cult fixture on the mod scene. His sound was one of complex African polyrhythms funked up guitar, flute and above all a jazz horn section. Remind you of anyone? Did Fela and Ginger meet, maybe even jam together? Who knows but one thing is for sure, this album represents an African response to Afro-American interest in African music from groups like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, recorded in London at a time when everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Fela Kuti, Bob Marley to Gilberto Gil would be passing through (not to mention the homegrown talents).
The title suggests that it would have been marketed as a bit of a novelty record and Ginger’s association with bands like Edmundo Ross’ makes one suspect that this Nigerian drummer would do what it takes to get by but any thought of compromise in the music itself is swiftly countered by the ten tracks of ebullient, funky and percussion-heavy proto Afro beat.

Respect to Cyclone Releasing Corp. for unearthing this gem. Commiserations to the person who paid over $150 last year for an original copy."

Review by Damian Rafferty I couldn't have stated it better myself. Check out this awesome record, it won't let you down.

April 19, 2006

R.I.P. FAZA NELLY

Sad news from Tanzania where Faza Nelly, one of the founding members of Tanzanian rap group X Plastaz, passed away. Nelly had been admitted to hospital with wounds inflicted by a knife that a psychotic neighbour had used to attack him. Doctors had hope of curing him, but the damage to his lungs proved too severe.

In his travel with the group he got to see different parts of the world such as Belgium, UK and Brazil. He was booked to perform in Gabon (West-central Africa) in early June, and a music video featuring him rapping on top of the holy mountain of the Maasai (the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai) was about to be released in Tanzania along with the new single 'Hiyo' which is also on the new Kunta Kinte Clothing mixtape (see the X Plastaz Myspace page for audio).

April 08, 2006

Encounters of the Dutch Rare Grooves: Tony Sherman

I always loved the band WAR (with or without Eric Burdon), and was very pleased to encounter this seven inch (on the BASF label) with Tony Sherman's version of WAR's Slippin' into darkness on the flipside...Tony was born in Haarlem, Netherlands (his parents hailed from the Antilles) and made a few recordings under his own name, later he formed a band called The Shermans. Tonight is his second single (1974) and the A side is allright, but Slippin' ... really hits the spot. Funky Funky Holland! Definitely a candidate for the next Dutch Rare Groove compilation!
for more info on Tony check the NPI website: http://www.popinstituut.nl/

April 04, 2006

LAGOS STORI PLENTI

While we're still at home enjoying "African Rebel" as, without doubt, THE best reggae compilation cd to see the light of day this year, the busy Germanz of OutHere records went back to Africa to cook up a fine new release: Lagos Stori Plenti. A comp with the finest hip hop Nigeria has to offer today. An yet again, it's killing. From the get go, a great tribute to Eminem by Terry da Rapman (I'm a Nigerian, do you trust me?) to the very end, this is good music all over. Though sometimes sounding a bit TOO much like their American brothers, there are a lot of standout tracks which add to flavour by mixing hip hop with local music and thus creating a new, exciting and utmost danceable "afrobeat juju Hiphop" kinda thing.

check it out here

April 01, 2006

THE HOUND

The Hound was a radioshow that ran from 1985 to 1995, broadcasted in the New York area. All shows from that era have now been ressurected on the web, and we thank God on our bare knees, whilst praying our haaaaaaaail Maries, for that. The Hound is a superb, easy acces archive of great music, spanning from Hasil Adkins to Bo Diddley and ongoing via Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band to the Chantels (the girlgroup, not the reggae combo.)You can download complete shows, or single tracks as mp3's. Even more interesting is scrolling through the database by artist. In doing so, the true magnitude of this internet site is revealed in all its simplicity and it'll leave you downloading for hours! Don't say we didn't warn you!

here you go!

thanks to soulgeneration for the tip