Saturday 22 April 2017

Record Store Day 2017

RSD turns 10 today, and as usual heralds a cavalcade of cracking, crackling wax. We think that's cause for celebration and have highlighted the releases we think pack the most punch. Miley Cyrus' gatefold-LP reissue of Bangerz does not make the cut.
Of course, RSD has it's drawbacks and we regret we can't assist if every copy of that Dark Crystal OST you've had your eye on has been poached by some sheister at 3am and is now on ebay for thrice the price.
It's also become somewhat more mainstream and an excuse to reissue albums that either don't deserve it or are on their third of fourth RSD repress (Vangelis' excellent Blade Runner OST, for example) so we're not without our criticisms. However, there are still some notable offers from the main draw, and most good record stores will have their own specialities, not to mention the countless pop-up shops and market stalls. So get out there and get digging!

Here are our Top 5 RSD releases:

Nigerian Soul Power

"Soul Jazz"



Soul Jazz Records’ Record Store Day Exclusive Limited-Edition Nigeria Soul Power 7” Box Set comprising five heavyweight 70s Afro-Funk, Afro-Disco & Afro-Rock seven-inch singles all with unique bespoke label artwork and all digitally re-mastered. Seriouly rare, killer and classic Nigerian 70s Afro-Funk, Afro-Disco & Afro-Rock tunes bought together here in this unique one-off Record Store Day box-set edition.


Record 1 A: Geraldo Pino – Heavy, Heavy, Heavy AA: Geraldo Pino – Africans Must Unite 
Record 2 A: Wings – We’ll Get Home AA: Wings –Single Boy 
Record 3 A: Tony Grey and The Ozimba Messengers – You Are The One AA: Don Bruce and The Angels – Sugar Baby 
Record 4 A: Geraldo Pino – Shake Hands AA: Geraldo Pino – Power To The People 
Record 5 A: MFB – Beware  AA:  Colomach – Kassa Kpa Sama



TEMPLES/KADHJA BONET

"Fortune"/"I Wanna Be A Free Girl"


Split 7" between Fat Possum artists Temples & Kadhja Bonet. Temples share a b-side from their recently released sophomore album, Volcano. Kadhja Bonet stretches her wings with her take on Dusty Springfield's classic "I Wanna Be A Free Girl"


"Fortune"/"I Wanna Be A Free Girl"

SUN RA

Discipline 27-11

Recorded during the same 1972 sessions as Impulse's Space Is the Place, Discipline 27-II is definitely cut from the same cloth. The title cut is a side-long space chant number (just like "Space Is the Place"), presumably recorded as one lengthy piece, although the tune itself is divided into three sections (radio edits?). Listeners also get another in the instrumental Discipline series (Ra composed and recorded many Disciplines throughout the '70s); this time it's "Discipline 8." "Neptune" is another great space chant ("Have you heard the latest thing from Neptune?"), but the standout track is "Pan Afro," a great blowing session built on Ra's trademark interlocking horn riffs. A tough one to find, Discipline 27-II is well-worth seeking out, especially for those who like Space Is the Place.


ARTHUR VEROCAL

Arthur Verocal




Brazilian 1970s maestro Arthur Verocal's folk-jazz magic. The original is super sought after so it's nice to see this quality repress from Mr Bongo. Half speed cut limited edition version. 180g with gatefold paste-on sleeve. Inclues ltd ed print




SINN SISAMOUTH & ROS SEREY SOTHEA

"Navy A Go Go"/"Old Pot Still Cooks Good Rice"

Dance tracks by two of Cambodia's most celebrated singers, Ros Serey Sothea ("the golden voice of the capital") and Sinn Sisamouth (the undisputed king of Cambodian popular music), as featured on the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed 2015 documentary Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll (DTD 042CD/PT 2007LP). "Melding Eastern melody with Western groove in ways that are still strikingly fresh. . . . remains treasured not only by Cambodians but also by rock connoisseurs around the world." --Ben Sisario, The New York Times

A1. Sinn Sisamouth - Navy A Go Go B1. Ros Serey Sothea - Old Pot Still Cooks Good Rice

Thursday 20 April 2017

Doseone: Enter The Gungeon/Disc Room

Our favourite rapper, possibly (sorry Aesop), Doseone is always making bold and unexpected moves. In fact calling him a rapper is a bit silly, since he's also a composer, painter, producer; a polymath of the highest calibre. His newest output sees him providing video game soundtracks for a couple of indie video games: Enter the Gungeon and Disc Room.
I can safely say I will never play the games themselves, but the audio work is quite remarkable... Disc Room comprises sub-minute snippets of sound designed for individual scenes (levels? chapters?) which are actually consecutive slices of the same song in succession. Enter The Gungeon's audio rattles along too, at a slightly more expansive average duration of around 1:30, and climaxes with the exceptional, eponymous theme, which is just bloody brilliant.

Available exclusively on Bandcamp, which is a shame as I'd love a vinyl copy.




Apostles of Aba: Banko Woman

We're back! Babies, marriages, migrations, new jobs etc reduced CMCFP productivity in 2016 to a resounding zero... but it's time to resurrect the blog. Aptly just after Easter, for resurrection fans everywhere.

Alright so we'll kick off with a new release from one of our favourite reissue labels, Cultures of Soul:

They've got a super rare 45 from highly sought after 70s Nigerian outfit The Apostles of Aba, and have this to say about it:

For over forty years, the Apostles of Aba have stood as the jewel in the crown of the music scene in Eastern Nigeria. Since their formation in 1973, the band has turned out memorable performances in a variety of styles including rock, soul, funk, pop and reggae. Even today, the Apostles continue to thrill audiences in their hometown of Aba with dazzling shows.
Cultures of Soul is proud to present one of the Apostles’ more obscure—yet relentlessly funky recordings: Banko Woman, originally released on the eponymous LP on Love Day Records in 1977. Straddling the world realms of afro-funk and disco, the track has long been a coveted dance floor filler amongst DJs, and for the first time is available for a wider audience. On the B-side is “Faith, Luck & Music,” also from the original Banko Woman album. Coming out as a limited edition 7 inch on May 19th!

Not to be confused with my co-blogger Dann, who is an Apostle for ABBA (don't ask), this is a straight up banger that will be a floor-filler for the more discerning DJs and Funk/Afrophiles everywhere. More like this please!