Grafonola

Florence Adooni - Mam Pe'ela Su'ure ( Philophon ) Florence Adooni shares a long history with Philophon. Being part of Guy One's group she is the voice on his radio hit "Estre". Furthermore, she is a member of Alogte Oho's Sounds of Joy and can be heard on his smasher "Mam Yinne Wa". Last but not least, Jimi Tenor chose her to sing on his instant club classic "Vocalize My Luv". In addition to all these cooperations, Florence has locally released a series of albums under her own name and without a doubt, she can be called the queen of Frafra-Gospel. "Mam Pe'ela Su'ure" is a typical Frafra-Gospel Hymn, sung during Sunday services accompanied only with shakers and hand clapping. Our version here is backed up by Kumasi's finest High Life players, who transform the song into a massive wave of groove. "Naba Aferda" is a homage to the Chief of Zuarungu, Florence's home village, which was also the home village of...

EKTE VARE Han Sotofett & Jaakko Eino Kalevi with Andres Lõo – Jazzsomdub ( Sex Tags Amfibia ) Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jaakko Eino Kalevi & Norwegian producer Han Sotofett (aka DJ Sotofett ) teamed up with Estonian drummer Andres Lõo on the "Jazzsomdub" album for a wide & improvised excursion within a narrow world of drums, percussion, saxophone, flutes, electric piano, monophonic synths, and tape delays. Besides distinctively exploring Lõo and Kalevi's batterie & percussion work with deep-listening quality drum mixes there are elements of impulsive beauty, particularly on "Essens" free carrying sax solo. The album partly reaches for well-known directions of jazz from the '70s in the vain of the cosmic, psychedelic, improvised, atonal, and spiritual, but the particularness lies within the rhythm & mix – like a rubber band stretched in 4 dimensions. Big Tip! Balamii · Sotofett presents... Jazzsomdub - November 2020

NIK BÄRTSCH - Entendre ( ECM ) A fascinating solo album from the Swiss pianist, composer, and conceptualist best known as the leader of the band's Ronin and Mobile, Entendre offers deeper insight into Nik Bärtch’s musical thinking. As the album title implies Entendre is about hearing as a creative process, referencing the patient unfolding of Bärtch’s modular polymetric pieces, with alertness to the dynamics of touch, finding freedom in aesthetic restriction, serving the flow of each piece’s development while also taking the music to new places. Recorded at Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI, Lugano, in September 2020, and produced by Manfred Eicher.

TAMIL OGEON - Son Of Nyx ( Soul Bank Music ) A lovely jazz album by Melbourne-based violist/violinist and orchestral composer, Tamil Rogeon, featuring Allyshea Joy and recorded by Harvey Sutherland. The album has echoes of Michael White or Jean-Luc Ponty's works in parts. Son of Nyx by Tamil Rogeon

VARIOUS - J Jazz Volume 3: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan (BBE) Since the first volume in February 2018, the J Jazz compilation series has showcased some of the most creative, inspired, and sought-after jazz recorded in Japan during a golden period spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. Illustrating the richness and versatility of the composers and musicians on this collection, the music spans a wide yet coherent range of styles: samba, funk fusion, modal, spiritual, post-bop, and bossa all combine to present an aural portrait of a jazz scene that was constantly moving and shifting its multiple musical centres of gravity. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery studio in London, many of the tracks featured are reissued for the first time, including mega-rare private press cuts from the YasuhiroKohno Trio, Masaru Imada Trio, and Hideyasu Terakawa Quartet. There’s heavy post modal bop by J Jazz legends Kohsuke Mine and Koichi Matsukaze; samba heat from Tatsuya Nakamura, Hideo Shiraki and Seiich...

J.H. Guraj - Introspection / Migration ( Maple Death Records ) From an ocean of black, sometimes there is a slim chance you might emerge clean and translucent, with another life chapter under your belt and a renewed story to tell. J.H. Guraj, our favorite wandering bird, is back with his first proper opus on Maple Death: Introspection / Migration. Sometimes records lead off into an unknown path that never considers release schedules or the outside world, inhabiting the abysses of the artists’ mind and dropping a hefty anchor in the murky waters. Dominique Vaccaro, stage name Guraj in homage to an old sage picker from the Albanian rocky landscape, started Introspection / Migration on a two-day recording spree in 2014 using a resophonic guitar, a distinct unifying songbook theme, and his usual freestyle wizardry … then the dust settled. In between releasing Underrated Glances At The Edge Of Town (Maple Death, 2016), Steadfast On Our Sand (Boring Machines, 2018), touring with Be My Delay...

JILALA - Jilala ( Rogue Frequency Recordings ) Until Now, Jilala has been a much sought-after phantom in relation to their better-known musical and spiritual contemporaries, The Master Musicians of Jajouka. Culled from three and a half hours of 1965 recordings by writers/artists/poets Brion Gysin and Paul Bowles, the first batch of Jilala recordings were released on a 1965 LP that was scarce even upon its initial release. The second batch of Recordings, which this LP has drawn from, came in the form of a CD by Baraka Foundation in 1998, which is also now long out of print. In the original liner notes Ira Cohen provides a breakdown of the Jilala ensemble: "The instruments used are the shebaba, a long transversal cane flute, which leads the way; the bendir, a handheld drum resembling a tambourine without cymbals; and the karkabat which is a double castanet made of metal. On this record, there are usually three flutes, six drums, and one pair of castanets." In conjunction with t...

TNT ROOTS - Supreme Dub ( África Mãe Do Leão Brazil ) [AML1002] TNT Roots is the mysterious dubplate anthem provider who operated in the shadows and became revered for supplying some of the toughest Soundsystem tunes for Aba Shanti-I for many years, and he has been slinging tunes in DIY style via CDs over the last decade or two until more recently he reared his head on wax via our friends Bokeh Versions and via a fine, unexpected linkup with John T. Gast. But ultimately, the vibe is – no fuss, no hype, just music – and this music happens to be some of the most cantankerous, charged steppers noise we’ve ever heard. This unexpected 10″ here for Brazilian label África Mãe Do Leão suits the DIY style of TNT to go along with what feels right at the time, and these cuts somehow combine that overdriven bassbin UK dub sound with a hint of grimey / Brazilian percussive rhythm in there somewhere (even if we’re just imagining that by association now – it kind of makes sense). Supreme is the k...

MEGA WAVE ORCHESTRA - Mega Wave Orchestra (Libreville) The music on this compilation was, for the most part, originally released privately in Geneva as a box set containing five LPs by The Mega Wave Orchestra and five prints by the artist Richard Reimann. The Mega Wave Orchestra, the brain-child of musician, mathematician, and composer Christian Oestreicher, was conceived as a multi-media electronic music orchestra. Mega Wave Orchestra by Mega Wave Orchestra It was comprised of seven keyboard players Christine Schaller, Vincent Barras, Jacques Demierre, Olivier Rogg, Rainer Boesch, Roger Baudet, and Benoit Corboz, with Oestreicher as arranger and producer. The Mega Wave Orchestra created a piece of new hybrid music. It was music with roots in the jazz and classical traditions, but one which also drew on the sonic freedom of musique concrete and the kind of total experience offered by psychedelia. The diverse backgrounds and specialisms of each of the band leaders/writers r...

PRISCILLA ERMEL - Origens Da Luz ( Music From Memory ) Music From Memory is delighted to announce a retrospective of an artist long-loved by the label, Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Priscilla Ermel. Origens Da Luz brings together a selection of recordings drawn from a body of work that was originally recorded between 1986 and 1994.  Priscilla was raised in a musical family in São Paulo and learned the cello and guitar at an early age. She then embarked on a deeply personal musical journey that would travel from origins rooted in Tom Jobim and Chico Buarque to recording the music of the natural world and the communities around her. A film-maker and anthropologist by training, Priscilla is a lifelong student of universal music. Disillusioned with contemporary European classical music, she spent long periods living with indigenous populations in Brazil, collecting instruments that she would later combine with synthesizers and field recordings. After studying wit...

Brand New series of Exotic/International / Rare grooves mixed & selected by Bruno Lopes (Mundo Urbano). Original Post via mundourbano.blogspot.com Tracklist: 01.Ronald Snijders - Natural Sources (Everland Austria) 02.Doug Hammond - Lopin' - Meno Mosso (Manufactured Recordings) 03.Weldon Irvine - Time Capsule (Nodlew) 04.Transilvanian Galaxi - You Have Always Been The Caretaker (Acido) 05.Andrew Pekler - Approximate Bermeja (Faitiche) 06.Steady Income Band - Side A (Pond Life) 07.Fatima Al Qadiri - Boys In The Mirror (Éditions Milan Music) 08.Doug Hammond - Water Moves (Manufactured Recordings) 09.Yasuaki Shimizu - Kono Yo Ni Yomeri (Better Days) 10.German Army - Groundwater Minning (Crash Symbols) 11. Yvonne Archer - Ain't Nobody (Jura Soundsystem Edit) (Isle Of Jura) 12.Kraftwerk - Heimatklänge (Philips) 13.Priscilla Ermel - Origens da Luz (Music From Memory) 14.Jason Letkiewicz - The Kill Fee (Into The Light Records) 15.Azymuth - Águia Negra x Dragão Negro (WEA) ...

T HE SORCERERS - Summoning The Monkey God (ATA) Taken from the upcoming LP 'In Search of The Lost City of The Monkey God', 'Summoning The Monkey God' covers a wide range of influences: Ethiopiques Ethio-Jazz rubs up against European library music of the 60s and 70s. The Sorcerers seamlessly blend these disparate elements into one cohesive sound. Based in ATA Records' home of Leeds, The Sorcerers form the backbone of the ATA Records house band including drummer Joost Hendrickx (Kefaya, Shatner's Bassoon, Abstract Orchestra) and ATA label heads Neil Innes (Bass & Guitar) and Pete Williams (Woodwinds & Percussion). Bass clarinets, flutes, and esoteric percussion that sit alongside bass, guitar and drums are essential to The Sorcerers sound providing cinematic textures on top of a solid rhythmic foundation. 'Summoning the Monkey God' is an edit of a track from their forthcoming 2nd LP. Hypnotic bass and ominous vibraphone set the stage for cre...

WHODAMANNY - The Dance Sucker ( Periodica )  Periodica Records is back with a four tracker 12inch from Raffaele Whodamanny Arcella. "The Dance Sucker" sees Whodamanny off the microphone going for a late 80s and proto-house experience. Tip!

SEASIDE LOVERS - Memories In Beach House ( Ship To Shore PhonoCo ) Originally released in 1983 and never reissued on vinyl, Ship to Shore PhonoCo is proud to present the jazz fusion masterpiece that is Memories in Beach House. With music by legends Akira Inoue, Hiroshi Sato and Masataka Matsutoya (performing under the name Seaside Lovers), the album weaves a tapestry of island beats and rhythms that will transport you to another place and another time. From the lush production of Lovers Paradise to the emotionally stirring strings of Blue Memories, if you close your eyes and listen very closely, we're sure you're bound to hear a wave or two in the background. Highly sought after on the vinyl aftermarket since it was released, we are happy to offer this under-recognized gem to the public again! Newly remastered by Sony Music for this release, after spinning this one you'll agree it's never sounded better! This release is available on blue vinyl and comes with a f...

RED ASTAIRE - Follow Me ( Gamm ) Repress! GAMM flex back sixteen years to the very beginning with a rerun of their first ever release. Cue label mainstay and firm friend, Fredrik Lager AKA Stockholm groove monster Red Astaire who launched the label in style with these two cult edits; "Follow Me" takes D'Angelo to some pretty psychedelic places while "The Wildstyle" struts with serious sentiments of 'unity' and some of the strongest JB chops available on 45. A timeless record that sparked the tales of both Red Astaire and GAMM. Not to be slept on. Follow Me / The Wildstyle by Red Astaire

FABRIZIO FATTORI - Mediterranean Africa (Best Record) Fabrizio Fattori has been a deep cover hero in Italian dance music since the mid 80s, and while he may have shifted his attention to tribal house music in the 90s, this collection zeroes in on his earlier afro disco funk work, which drips with Balearic groove appeal. Collecting sought after records and other archival gems, this lengthy EP is a joyous, synthy excursion through sunny climes, from the MIDI brass and plastic slap bass of "Leg Pulling" to the intricate percussion and live sax of "Bara-Hum-Ba." This is a quintessential Best reissue - beautifully packaged, and putting super rare music back in the hands of the fans. Recommended!

SOSENA GEBRE EYESUS - Sosena Gebre Eyesus ( Little Axe Records ) Ethiopian artist Sosena Gebre Eyesus sings accompanied by her playing of the Begena, or King David’s Harp, one of the world’s oldest and most beguiling instruments. Since ancient times the Harp of David has been used as an aural balm, a soother of evil and disturbed spirits —it’s low, buzzing tones widely noted for their ability to sweetly refresh one’s soul. Said to have been brought to Ethiopia in biblical times by Menelik I, it has long been the central instrument used to accompany Ethiopian Orthodox hymns, which Eyesus plays here in an absolutely entrancing manner while softly singing songs of devotional reflection. Featuring six beautiful hymns that gently unspool at the measured pace of a lullaby, Sosena Gebre Eyesus magically creates a rarefied atmosphere that feels absolutely necessary and vital for these most turbulent of days. Originally released on cassette, Recommended! Sosena Gebre Eyesus by Sosena Gebre...

AKIRA TOYODA - Benkei (Cool Cult) Originally released in 1984 by Sound Design Records Inc.  Credits: Bass – Dean Johnson  Drums – Akira Toyoda Piano – Peter Madsen Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Joe Lovano

Nakara Percussions by Nakara Percussions Nakara Percussions - Nakara Percussions ( Komos Jazz) “Hypnotic percussion tracks and organic soundscapes drawing on African, Asian, Indian & South American traditions, recorded deep in the French countryside in 1984.”  Founded by long-time friends Gerard Kurdjian and Stéphane Olivier alongside compatriot Christian Berthier in 1983, Nakara Percussions was a trio from the south of France, fascinated with percussion instruments, rhythms and textures from across the world.  Steeped in Jazz and ethnographic recordings, the trio designed and built their own instruments and played across the South of France throughout the 80s, recording a single album in the tiny village of Alliens in 1984.  Self-produced and mainly sold at gigs, the record reflects the inquisitive, experimental approach of the group and has become a cult album among DJs and music lovers for its blend of complex rhythms and organic soundscapes, taking in...

Michael O'Shea - Michael O'Shea ( Allchival ) Having sold his instruments to fund a nomadic 1970s lifestyle, eccentric Irish experimentalist Michael O’Shea was forced to create his own handmade answer to the sitars and zelochords he’d become accustomed to playing on his travels around the globe.  Using an old door, 17 strings, chopsticks and combining them with phasers, echo units and amplification, the new device was to become his signature sound, mixing Irish folk influences with Asian and North African sounds in a mesmerising and soulful new way that brought him to the attention of the leading improvisers of his day - Alice Coltrane, Ravi Shankar, Don Cherry and more.  A logical follow up to AllChival’s recent reissue of Stano's debut LP, Michael O’Shea’s self-titled LP was originally released on Wire's Dome Imprint in 1982.  The background to the album is as interesting and inspiring as the artist who created it - born in Northern Ireland but raised in t...