music

For the fifth entry in our Collector`s Series we enlist the skills of Japan-based musical connoisseurs, Ken Hidaka, Max Essa, and Dr. Rob. Their compilation Oto No Wa sets out to map the evolution of chilled Japanese sounds across 3 decades, collecting 14 tracks, produced by a wide range of artists. From ambient pioneers to dance-floor veterans, to a 9-piece reggae band, Little Tempo, percussionist Kazuya Kotani, and organic, psychedelic collective, Olololop.

Extending the heritage left from the first chapter of the homonymous collection, Schema Records presents "Freedom Jazz Dance Book II". The concept comes from an idea of Luciano Cantone aiming at offering "New Standards" that can be understood and responsively absorbed by young generations. The title deriving from a composition from Eddie Harris describes precisely the project's essence: the intuition of something overcoming hurdles laid by rigid market rules.

On the Corner goes beyond being a record label. It is a story of innovative artists from hotbeds of ancient-future* music across the globe. This ‘Door to the Cosmos’ compilation is the 10th full release (and an eclectic array of 20 EPs). OtCs rawkus sonic explorations are brought to the fore via 24 tracks making a heady blend of label mainstays and fresh family recruits. The label is an inimitable mixture of Miles Davis’ ‘call it what you want’ attitude, the afro centric futurism of Sun Ra and the evolving electronic frontier where black music kicks it to the dance floor.

Finally! A second part of the legendary African Scream Contest compilation which really put Analog Africa on the collector’s map back in 2008. Samy Ben Redjeb has done another sterling job in reviving these cuts from Benin & Togo for posterity and parties everywhere, not to mention officially licensing all the material on board; including heavy funk ’n soul fire in Les Sympathics de Porto Novo’s A Min We Vo Nou We, on the driving disco-funk bubble of Moulon Devia from Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, some nerve-jangling funk from a clearly James Brown infatuated Super Borgou de Parakou, and the melting synths on Gnonnas Pedro and His Dadjes Band’s How Much Love Naturally Costs. Class is in session!

4 years in the making, in partnership with Teranga beat the current leading label for Senegalese music, Analog Africa proudly offer an insight into the musical adventures that were taking place in the major Senegalese cities during the 60s and 70s. This compilation, reflects the unique fusions of Funk, Mbalax, Cuban Son and Mandigue guitar sounds that transformed Dakar into West Africa's most vibrant city.

After being blown away by a few tunes – probably just as you will be after listening to this - Samy Ben Redjeb travelled to the infamous capital city of Somalia in November of 2016, making Analog Africa the first music label to set foot in Mogadishu. On his arrival in Somalia Samy began rifling through piles of cassettes and listening to reel-to-reel tapes in the dusty archives of Radio Mogadishu, looking for music that "swam against the current".

As part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations, Strut present the first new volume in their pioneering ‘Nigeria 70’ series for over 8 years, bringing together rare highlife, Afro-funk and juju from the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Compiled by collector and DJ Duncan Brooker, this new selection of tracks is receiving its first international release outside of Nigeria.

In Ghana “to chop” is to eat, so the phrase No Funk, No Chop quite simply means; deliver afro funk and disco bombs, or no one will eat today.

We’d like to introduce you to this giant of musical endeavour, the ‘Colossus of Rio’, as he’s known. For Ed’s sweetly agreed to be our point man on all matters smooth for this latest TSTD collection, where we take a dive into an often overlooked side of Brazilian music: Brazilian soul, funk and AOR.

Pacific Breeze is an expertly compiled collection of choice cuts that range from silky smooth grooves to innovative techno pop bangers and everything in between. Long-revered by crate diggers and adventurous music heads, this music has never been released outside of Japan until now.