{"title":"New Recordings","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"greg-foat-symphonie-pacifique","title":"Greg Foat 'Symphonie Pacifique'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe prolific British pianist-keyboardist-composer’s work is centered on place, partnership, and circumstance. Mostly abandoning jazz, he crafts an idiosyncratic, pastoral opus.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(Pitchfork)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFoat has become a versatile mainstay in UK jazz through an acclaimed series of albums on Jazzman and Athens Of The North, moving from soul-jazz workouts to library music to cinematic, haunting compositions and pastoral acid folk. ‘Symphonie Pacifique’ goes expansive and widescreen, building a lush soundscape using choral textures, harp and tubular bells. “It has been a hallmark of my previous albums to use choral voices and tubular bells to sound more like chordal instruments,” explains Foat. “I used pedal steel for the first time on these tracks.” All are showcased on the atmospheric ‘After The Storm’. “This piece was completely improvised during our last day of studio time,” continues Foat. “The assistant engineer had set up an arpeggio on the synthesizer as a metronome; the harp and guitar created an ostinato, myself and others soloed over it and we later added choir and strings. Eventually, we took the arpeggio off to leave a calm, serene piece of music.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUpping the tempo, Foat brings in sensual groove-based tracks like the undulating ‘Anticipation’, the album title track and Groove Merchant-channelling ‘Nikinakinu’. “This was one for my stepson Nicky,” explains Foat. “I worked up this idea with him and my Zimbabwean drummer friend Sam Chagumachinyi so it has a slightly African feel to it and uses pentatonic scales.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther tracks include the languid, simmering ‘Island Life’ and a moving tribute to KPM library legend Duncan Lamont on the reflective ‘Lament For Lamont’. “Duncan was one of the unsung heroes of British jazz. He played with Sinatra, composed some incredible library music and his 1970 album ‘Best Of The Bossa Novas’ was one of the biggest selling UK jazz albums of all time. I recorded with him for my album ‘The Mage’ a few years ago and he was genuinely the nicest guy I have ever played with. He was looking forward to working on this album but sadly passed away a couple of months before the sessions, so we really wanted to record this tribute to him.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album is a truly international collaboration, recorded analogue and produced by Greg Foat at London’s Fish Factory studios with strings recorded in Edinburgh and choir in Gothenburg. The album was mixed by Mattias Glava at Kungsten Studios in Gothenburg. Cover artwork is based on a painting by early 20th Century Algerian \/ Parisian artist Henry Valensi.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Symphonie Pacifique’ marks another major step forward in Foat’s evolution as one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists and composers and is released on CD, 2LP and digital \/ streaming.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Foat","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44097453261122,"sku":"STRUT212LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44097453162818,"sku":"STRUT212CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1237254492_10.jpg?v=1669633233"},{"product_id":"sun-ra-arkestra-swirling","title":"Sun Ra Arkestra 'Swirling'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe planets align as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, are releasing their first studio album in over twenty years, ‘Swirling’.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“We truly hope that this recording brings much joy to a planet which is so deeply in need of a spirit sound and vibration,” states saxophonist Knoel Scott. “We hope it contributes to a change in the ominous direction of man’s journey through the cosmos.”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“This new release is the Arkestra’s love offering to the world,” concludes Marshall Allen. “Beta music for a better world.”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia, the new recording represents the continuation of a heartfelt rebirth of the Arkestra under Allen’s guidance since Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, gaining new generations of followers from their regular touring across the globe. With a big band line-up featuring long-standing Arkestra members including Danny Ray Thompson (RIP), Michael Ray, Vincent Chancey, Knoel Scott, Cecil Brooks, Atakatune (RIP), Elson Nascimento and Tyler Mitchell, the album is a full-blooded celebration of Sun Ra’s legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44324247306562,"sku":"STRUT153LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196453122370,"sku":"STRUT153CDX","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a4106159731_10.jpg?v=1672656417"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-chaos-theories-1","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Chaos Theories'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe album takes the listener from carefully targeted sonic missiles to more reflective thought-provoking moments. ‘Police The Police’ starts the offensive: “I wrote this after my neighbour was beaten to death by Ottawa police during an arrest,” explains Chrétien\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e. “The authorities downplayed the incident and the officers were working the next day like nothing had happened.” ‘House Of Cards’ takes a thinly veiled swipe at the current US administration on an infectious disco groove: “lies within lies within lies… like so many Russian dolls”; ‘Boat Rockers’ challenges us all to look beyond accepted norms and ‘General Strike’ documents the frustrations of the working class as the pay gap gets increasingly wider; ‘Slumlord’ shines the spotlight on dodgy landlords while the brilliant closer ‘Well Runs Dry’ laments modern day living, with its confused pace and mundane obsessions, remembering simpler days gone by.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"credits-label\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44324302455106,"sku":"STRUT208LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196462264642,"sku":"STRUT208CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2526603669_10.jpg?v=1672657299"},{"product_id":"idris-ackamoor-the-pyramids-shaman","title":"Idris Ackamoor \u0026 The Pyramids 'Shaman!'","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘Shaman!’, unveils a fresh Pyramids line-up including original 1970s member Dr. Margaux Simmons on flute, Bobby Cobb on guitar, long-term associate Sandra Poindexter on violin, Ruben Ramos on bass, Gioele Pagliaccia on drums and Jack Yglesias on percussion. The band transitions from the political and social commentaries of 2018’s acclaimed ‘An Angel Fell’ into more introspective themes. “I wanted to use this album to touch on some of the issues that we all face as individuals in the inner space of our souls and our conscience,” explains Ackamoor. “The album unfolds over four Acts with personal musical statements about love and loss, mortality, the afterlife, family and salvation.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"T\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehe album’s 76 minutes are a brilliant, shape-shifting matrix.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(The Guardian)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Shaman!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e is a stellar edition to the saxophonist’s back catalogue [...] and \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eis up there with the best of all of Ackamoor’s works.\u003c\/em\u003e\" \u003cstrong\u003e(The Quietus)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvolving around Ackamoor's intricate compositions, the album takes us effortlessly across moods and emotions through a series of expansive, extended pieces. Starting with ritual, soul-searching, and masculine vulnerability on the title track, the band explores timeless existence on ‘Eternity’ and mourns the sudden loss of loved ones in the prescient ‘When Will I See You Again?’, a track which gains new relevance amidst the current COVID-19 crisis. Ackamoor pays tribute to his mentor Cecil Taylor on the angular ‘Theme For Cecil’ and renders homage to the ancestors on ‘Salvation’ and ‘The Last Slave Ship’, recalling the last ship to bring slaves to the US from Africa, the Clotilda. The superb ‘Virgin’ is an anthem of forgiveness, new beginnings and self-healing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196665852226,"sku":"STRUT214LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196665950530,"sku":"STRUT214CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a0991919912_10.jpg?v=1685616043"},{"product_id":"vusi-mahlasela-face-to-face","title":"Vusi Mahlasela 'Face To Face'","description":"\u003cp\u003eLP, CD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStrut revives a lost recording from the archives in January with a 2002 collaboration between acclaimed South African folk singer Vusi Mahlasela, singer songwriter Norman Zulu and Swedish jazz \/ soul collective Jive Connection.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe links between South Africa and Sweden have long been strong with Sweden one of the most supportive European nations in the struggle against apartheid; the government helped to fund the ANC for decades and Mandela visited the country on one of his first European stops following his release from prison in 1990.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSotho folk singer Vusi Mahlasela, dubbed “The Voice” Of South Africa, performed at Mandela’s inauguration in 1994 and has enjoyed his own long relationship with Sweden, regularly embarking on cultural exchanges and forging a strong bond with the Jive Connection band, featuring guitarist \/ bassist Stefan Bergman and Little Dragon drummer Erik Bodin within its line-up.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlthough touring regularly, the collaboration has rarely been documented beyond a lone studio album in 1994. This “lost” recording, discovered in the archives of producer Torsten Larsson, also features songwriter \/ vocalist Norman Zulu and showcases their natural musical chemistry together. Vusi’s songs have\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etraditionally addressed the struggle for freedom and the need for reconciliation and, here, his lyrics are as powerful as ever, ranging from parables (‘Prodigal Son’) to an unflinching lament on child abuse (‘Faceless People’). Jive Connection vary the soundtrack, bringing in hints of reggae, jazz and post-punk alongside traditional township arrangements.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFace To Face is mastered by The Carvery. Artwork features unseen photos from the album sessions along with full lyrics. Produced in association with Torsten Larsson.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ereleases January 27, 2023\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2023, Strut Records - a division of K7 Music GmbH\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196665983298,"sku":"STRUT211LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44368689955138,"sku":"STRUT211CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1229377087_10.jpg?v=1673525718"},{"product_id":"nubiyan-twist-freedom-fables-indie-colour-edition","title":"Nubiyan Twist 'Freedom Fables'","description":"Woven around soul searching, cautionary tales and parables for modern life, the new album is the most accomplished yet by the Leeds \/ London collective, effortlessly fusing different soul, jazz and global styles with great musicianship and lyrics. “Freedom Fables reflects on the power of narratives. Each vocalist on this record explores their own memoirs, a freedom of expression underpinning our belief that music is the ultimate narrative for unity,” explains Tom Excell. “The record references a lot of music that we all loved during our formative years; you can hear touches of broken beat, blunted hip hop, highlife, Latin, jazz and UK soul running through the tracks.”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe album is also packed full with illustrious guest appearances: regular collaborator Cherise features on the brilliant ‘Tittle Tattle’, calling out gossip through acerbic nur sery rhyming, the loping ‘Flow’ dealing with the ebb and flow of anxiety and the epic Brazilian jazz workout, ‘Keeper’; UK jazz saxman Soweto Kinch brings a burning alto solo and rhymes to the determined ‘Buckle Up’ alongside the band’s own vocalist Nick Richards as the track aims to “find the door to peace” among life’s challenges. “Soweto is a trailblazer of the UK scene both as an alto player and as a rapper with a unique flow and important lyricism,” reflects Tom Excell. “It was really important for us to invite him to contribute to the album.” Richards continues the “dust yourself off and find hope” theme on the rousing ‘Wipe Away Tears’; Ghanaian great Pat Thomas voices a gorgeous Accra meets London highlife jam; massive new vocal talent Ria Moran (a contemporary from the band’s time at Leeds College Of Music) steps up on the sensual ‘Morning Light’ tackling delicate complexities of the heart and long time friend of the band, KOG, brings his trademark full strength Afro dancefloor energy.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196666409282,"sku":"STRUT225LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Special Edition","offer_id":44196666147138,"sku":"STRUT225LPC","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196666343746,"sku":"STRUT225CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2461085139_10.jpg?v=1671715803"},{"product_id":"alostmen-kologo","title":"Alostmen 'Kologo'","description":"\u003cp\u003eLP, CD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormed by Stevo Atambire and produced by Wanlov (Fok’n Bois) and Percy Yip Tong, Alostmen’s music is based around the Frafra traditions of the kologo, a stringed lute, using traditional instrumentation in entirely new ways. “I like to force my instrument to work,” explains Stevo. “I’m a yout’man and into rap, reggae, Malian music. I add these to the band’s sound.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I had toured with Stevo in my band Afro Gypsy in 2017,” Wanlov continues, “and we recorded the tracks for this album on the road in Uganda and North West Ghana in hotel rooms” The band comprises Stevo (kologo, vocals), Jo Ajusiwine (goje fiddle, vocals), Aminu Amadu (talking drum) and Sowah (gome box, djembe and conga) while featured guests include highlife legend Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and Ghanaian stars Yaa Pono and Medikal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We are Alostmen because we were lost in the street, the forgotten people,” explains Stevo. “People at home see music as a teaching so I always try give my community hope to achieve.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196666179906,"sku":"STRUT234LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196666081602,"sku":"STRUT234CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Download (WAV)","offer_id":46526177149266,"sku":"STRUT234D","price":11.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2460842692_10.jpg?v=1670949799"},{"product_id":"kondi-band-we-famous","title":"Kondi Band 'We Famous'","description":"Sorie Kondi, Chief Boima (INTL BLK) and Will LV join forces once more for another essential dose of Freetown freestyle.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFollowing on from their ‘Salone’ album in 2016 and the massive single ‘Yeanoh’, the new recordings further hone the group’s unique fusions of Sorie Kondi’s inimitable vocals and the kondi thumb piano with intricate dancefloor electronics. The album was gradually recorded over a period of four years with Sorie on the road in Belgium, Spain and Canary Islands with the main production collaboration between Boima in Los Angeles and Will in London. The result is a varied and colourful set of tracks infusing Boima and Will’s wide-ranging dancefloor influences. Infectious first single ‘She Doesn’t Love You’ features guest vocalist Mariama Jalloh speaking home truths about rejection while future 4\/4 dancefloor anthem ‘It’s God’s World..’ features a mighty bassline from prolific L.A. musician \/ producer Sweatson Klank. ‘The Sweetness Is Gone’ ramps up the dub and sound system energy while ‘How Will It Be For Me In This World’ sparkles on a bed of electronic textures and kondi lines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196666245442,"sku":"STRUT232LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196666278210,"sku":"STRUT232CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1211057990_10.jpg?v=1671713901"},{"product_id":"electric-jalaba-el-hal-the-feeling","title":"Electric Jalaba 'El Hal \/ The Feeling'","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eElectric Jalaba comprises six accomplished musicians with an empathy that feels telepathic and a groove that immerses. In Arabic, the mother tongue of Moroccan-born singer and guimbri player Simo Lagnawi, a leading practitioner of Gnawa music in Britain, they call this indefinable quality, “El Hal” – “The feeling”. “It’s the feeling that comes when we’re playing and totally forgetting where we are,” says producer and bassist Olly Keen. “The feeling of being grabbed by the music and lost in the groove.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEl Hal is a multi-faceted work that finds the band tighter than ever, deploying a vast cache of influences across nine tracks improvised and developed in their south London studio then deftly produced by Keen. Some tracks pay homage to the origins of Gnawa music, whose repertoire of Arabic-language praise songs contains remnants of West African dialects – Bambara from Mali, Fulani and Hausa from the Sahel region – that point to a centuries-old migration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“\u003cem\u003eThe trance-inducing effect of Gnawa was what hit us first. It was visceral, heart stopping\u003c\/em\u003e,” continues Olly, whose siblings – producer\/keys player Henry Keen, guitarist\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emulti-instrumentalist Nathaniel Keen and singer\/multi-instrumentalist Barnaby Keen – make up Electric Jalaba alongside revered Anglo-Italian kit drummer Dave De Rose and Simo on vocals, krakeb and guimbri. “\u003cem\u003eSimo selected the chant from the traditional song suites and, as a band, we extended these short pieces of ceremonial music and experimented with sound and structure,\u003c\/em\u003e” explains Olly.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTracks include the funky single ‘Cubaili Ba’ featuring the disco-fied patterns of a Juno synth and the drumming of De Rose; ‘Agia Hausa’ is a multi-layered wig-out that partly takes its inspiration from Senegal’s fiercely percussive mbalax rhythms and ‘Daimla’ is a gloriously dubby ode to Allah and iconic maalems including the late Mahmoud Guinea. “\u003cem\u003eThere’s a very strong rhythmic element within the band but because of our different perspectives but the melodic components are really unique as well,\u003c\/em\u003e” says Henry. \u003cem\u003eThat feeling of being outside of yourself but totally within yourself at the same time… That’s what all of us, collectively, are striving for.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196666310978,"sku":"STRUT226LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196666376514,"sku":"STRUT226CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1346777552_10.jpg?v=1685616002"},{"product_id":"juanita-euka-mabanzo","title":"Juanita Euka 'Mabanzo'","description":"Juanita Euka is a familiar face to many from London’s vibrant live music scene over the last decade. Juanita has fronted London Afrobeat Collective’s dynamic live shows, the fusions and cross-pollinations of Animanz and maverick Cuban collective Wara. As a solo artist, she broke through in early 2020, performing her single ‘Alma Seca’ in series 3 of blockbuster series Killing Eve.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOriginally from DR Congo and brought up in Buenos Aires, Juanita’s upbringing involved many different musical influences, not least her uncle, Congolese rumba giant Franco Luambo Makiadi. “In Argentina, I listened to a wide range of styles from African-American artists to Dominican stars like Juan Luis Guerra, the Congolese greats like my uncle and Papa Wemba and various artists from Argentina including Mercedes Sosa. Some of my main inspirations were (and still are) international Afro-Cuban artists like Celia Cruz and La Lupe.” Moving to the UK aged 14, she joined Afro-Peruvian band Malambo and immersed herself in London’s own sounds, from Soul to Jazz to Funk.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith her new album Mabanzo (meaning ‘Thoughts’), Juanita brings together her many and varied musical influences into play and pulls no lyrical punches. Killer dancefloor single ‘Nalingi Mobali Te’ is pure contemporary Congolese guitar gold, ‘Mboka Moka’ channels ‘80s boogie and Quincy horn stylings on an anthem for personal struggle and ‘Baño de Oro’ brings a heavy Afro-Cuban workout. Elsewhere, the epic ballad ‘Sueños de Libertad’ is an impassioned call for freedom and the lilting ‘For All It’s Worth’ champions love over materialism. Recorded entirely at home studios during lockdown, the album was painstakingly constructed by producer Greg Sanders with all musicians recorded remotely. “I have always written songs and poems since I was young,” reflects Euka. “I met Greg, a multi-instrumentalist and producer, while I was in Wara and we started the journey towards a solo project. Greg has that knowledge and vision of different sounds and it is the perfect way to celebrate my music journey. I have tried to bring all of the musical heritage that I have experienced into my album.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196667228482,"sku":"STRUT248LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196667195714,"sku":"STRUT248CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a4204986629_10.jpg?v=1671713172"},{"product_id":"flora-purim-if-you-will-clear-vinyl","title":"Flora Purim 'If You Will'","description":"One of the all-time greats of Brazilian Jazz-Fusion, Flora Purim, returns with her first studio album in over 15 years, ‘If You Will’. This album is a triumphant celebration, exploring new compositions alongside fresh versions of some of Flora’s favourite songs. Title track ‘If You Will’ revives her past collaborations with producer and long-time friend, the legendary George Duke:\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“You will find good love, real joy, so much peace of mind, if you will…”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe tune sets a positive and inspiring tone that echoes throughout the project and features vocals from Flora’s daughter, Diana Purim, who guests on four of the nine tracks. ‘This Is Me’ is a tune rewritten in Portuguese and originally penned in English in 2005 by Diana and her production partner, husband Krishna Booker; ‘500 Miles High’ marks the heyday of the late Chick Corea’s Return To Forever band and 'Zahuroo' by Brazilian singer\/pianist Cláudia Villela features Cláudia on an exciting and dynamic group vocal with Flora and husband, renowned percussionist Airto Moreira.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA true family affair, ‘If You Will’ is one of many albums recorded over the years by the team of Flora, Airto, Diana and Krishna. The project reunites some of Flora’s closest circle of musical peers, including guitarist\/composer José Neto and drummer\/engineer Celso Alberti who, together with Diana and Krishna helped Flora produce this album.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOverseen by creative concept and project manager Roberta Cutolo, this is the latest chapter in Flora’s long, illustrious and varied career. The album was recorded during the pandemic in Los Angeles, Oakland, New York, Mexico City, Curitiba and São Paulo. In addition to Flora’s lifelong marriage and musical partnership with Airto, she has also worked with the likes of Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Miriam Makeba, George Duke, Chick Corea (as an original member of Return To Forever), Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra and many more. Her solo albums on Milestone remain true jazz-fusion classics, which continue to stand the test of time. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"Clear Vinyl LP","offer_id":44196668014914,"sku":"STRUT271LPC","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196668145986,"sku":"STRUT271LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196668080450,"sku":"STRUT271CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1122736647_10.jpg?v=1671004523"},{"product_id":"flock-flock","title":"Flock 'Flock'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlock is a brand new collaboration between five leading musicians from London's open-minded jazz and experimental scenes: Bex Burch (Vula Viel), Sarathy Korwar, Dan “Danalogue” Leavers (Soccer96, The Comet Is Coming), Al MacSween (Maisha) and Tamar Osborn (Collocutor).\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGathering together at The Fish Factory in London Summer 2020, the approach was to try something fresh. “\u003cem\u003eI wrote texts as scores for the session and the emphasis was on breathing and listening to each other\u003c\/em\u003e,” explains Bex Burch. “\u003cem\u003eImprovisation is composition in itself\u003c\/em\u003e,” continues Burch, “\u003cem\u003eso although the music was freely improvised, we sometimes chose to stay on form and rhythm, repeating melodies and groove. As Dan commented on the day, we ‘murmurated’\u003c\/em\u003e. The expansive 13-minute piece ‘How Many Are One’ on the album is the perfect example, a collective following and leading as the music developed.”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOther tracks include the pulsing, searching opener ‘Expand’, the taught soundscape ‘Prepare To Let Go’ and the frenetic, urgent ‘Bold Dream’. At times widescreen and cinematic and at others more tense and claustrophobic, each Flock piece explores its own colour and mood.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196668440898,"sku":"STRUT269LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44196668408130,"sku":"STRUT269CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1092674155_10.jpg?v=1685616063"},{"product_id":"greg-foat-gigi-masin-dolphin","title":"Greg Foat \u0026 Gigi Masin 'Dolphin'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003eLP (Clear Vinyl and Standard), CD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eStrut presents an exclusive new collaboration between UK jazz keyboardist Greg Foat and Venetian ambient \/ electronic maestro Gigi Masin on ‘Dolphin’.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRecorded remotely during 2021-2022 the album took shape in the form of mutual compositions, gradually developed and embellished online. Final recording sessions took place at the majestic Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle Of Wight with Moses Boyd (drums), Tom Herbert (bass) and Siobhan Cosgrove (flute, clarinet) adding elements to several pieces. Tracks include the reflective, wistful single ‘Viento Calido’ and drifting ambient piece ‘Sabena’, a beautiful tribute to Gigi’s wife who sadly passed away during 2022.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreg Foat has recorded prolifically in recent years including acclaimed albums Symphonie Pacifique (2020) and The Mage (2019). Best known for his 1986 ambient masterpiece Wind and as a member of Gaussian Curve, Gigi Masin has enjoyed a revival in recent years through his Calypso album on R\u0026amp;S’s Apollo label and renewed touring. Dolphin represents Greg and Gigi’s first landmark recording collaboration together. “I first heard Gigi’s album Wind in 2016,” remembers Greg. “I was living in Miami and I heard it playing one Summer evening. Since then, it has always been in my mind to be able to record together.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"Clear Vinyl LP","offer_id":44196668539202,"sku":"STRUT311LPC","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":44196668506434,"sku":"STRUT311LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44368722919746,"sku":"STRUT311CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3226182123_10.jpg?v=1673526821"},{"product_id":"kid-creole-and-the-coconuts-i-wake-up-screaming","title":"Kid Creole And The Coconuts 'I Wake Up Screaming'","description":"\u003cp\u003eKid Creole’s 2011 opus finds August Darnell and his Coconuts on top form with a mix of tropical tales and infectious dance tracks produced by New York DJ Brennan Green. Highlights include the fantastical ‘I Do Believe’ and the reflective personal memories of ‘Stony And Cory’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44423115276610,"sku":"STRUT055LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423115145538,"sku":"STRUT055CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3558490795_10.jpg?v=1677091996"},{"product_id":"breakestra-dusk-till-dawn","title":"Breakestra 'Dusk ‘Till Dawn'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA masterclass in breezy West coast soul, led by the vocals of bandleader Miles Tackett. Includes the dancefloor anthems ‘Need A Little Love’ and ‘Joyful Noise’. Guest vocalists include Afrodyete and Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423114981698,"sku":"STRUT048CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2338648860_10.jpg?v=1676986073"},{"product_id":"mulatu-astatke-mulatu-steps-ahead","title":"Mulatu Astatke 'Mulatu Steps Ahead'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe veteran Ethiopian bandleader works with Heliocentrics and Boston's Either\/Orchestra to craft a loose and improvisational winner.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(Pitchfork)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423114948930,"sku":"STRUT056LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423115178306,"sku":"STRUT056CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1512451638_10.jpg?v=1685616132"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-rising-sun","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Rising Sun'","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince their creation in 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, The Souljazz Orchestra have become one of the most potent bands in their field. Drawing on the rough, raw grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s and effortlessly fusing soul, jazz, Afro and latin rhythms within their music, they have moved forward the blueprint of Fela, Fania and the funk in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the vital analogue grit intact. As a live unit, the Orchestra have become an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423115833666,"sku":"STRUT058CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3889805513_10.jpg?v=1677683905"},{"product_id":"arthurs-landing-arthurs-landing","title":"Arthur's Landing 'Arthur's Landing'","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal musicians that worked with maverick New York singer \/ songwriter \/ cellist Arthur Russell reunite for a new studio album re-interpreting their own selection of Russell songs including ‘Your Motion Says’ and ‘I’ll Be Fencing’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423115997506,"sku":"STRUT061LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423115931970,"sku":"STRUT061CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2707582131_10.jpg?v=1676023953"},{"product_id":"lloyd-miller-the-heliocentrics-lloyd-miller-the-heliocentrics","title":"Lloyd Miller \u0026 The Heliocentrics '(OST)'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePioneering UK collective The Heliocentrics join forces with fascinating jazz enigma, ethno-musicologist, jazz maestro and multi-instrumentalist, Lloyd Miller.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLearning various instruments and immersing himself in New Orleans jazz through his father, a professional clarinet player, Lloyd Miller first trained himself in the styles of George Lewis and Jimmy Giuffre and cut his first Dixieland jazz 78 rpm record in 1950. During the late ‘50s, his father landed a job in Iran and Miller began to develop a lifelong interest in Persian and Eastern music forms, learning to play a vast array of traditional ethnic instruments from across Asia and the Middle East.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe toured Europe heavily, basing himself in Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Germany (where he played with Eddie Harris and Don Ellis) and, most famously, in Paris where he worked with oddball bandleader Jef Gilson, a phenomenon in French jazz during the early ‘60s. Miller returned to the Middle East during the ‘70s, landing his own TV show on NIRTV in Tehran under the name Kurosh\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAli Khan. His show became a national fixture and ran for seven years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMiller has since been a vocal ambassador for preserving the traditions of many forms of Eastern music. In recent years, his mid-‘60s album ‘Oriental Jazz’ has become a collector’s favourite and the UK’s Jazzman label have issued a compilation, ‘A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz’, covering work from across his career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423116095810,"sku":"STRUT060LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423116128578,"sku":"STRUT060CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3889251144_10.jpg?v=1677093698"},{"product_id":"ebo-taylor-love-death","title":"Ebo Taylor 'Love \u0026 Death'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe first internationally released solo album by the Ghanaian Afrobeat legend, ‘Love And Death’ reprises some of Taylor’s ‘70s classics alongside some great new compositions, all backed by Berlin collective Afrobeat Academy. Tracks include ‘Mizin’ and ‘Love And Death’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe material is fresh, but it has a thick, vintage sound that ties back to Taylor's old work nicely\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(Pitchfork)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423116325186,"sku":"STRUT073LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423116423490,"sku":"STRUT073CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3138453638_10.jpg?v=1676989202"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-solidarity","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Solidarity'","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince their creation in 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, The Souljazz Orchestra have become one of the most potent bands in their field. Drawing on the rough, raw grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s and effortlessly fusing soul, jazz, Afro and latin rhythms within their music, they have moved forward the blueprint of Fela, Fania and the funk in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the vital analogue grit intact. As a live unit, the Orchestra have become an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423116489026,"sku":"STRUT086CD","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2377348292_10.jpg?v=1677684325"},{"product_id":"orchestre-poly-rythmo-cotonou-club","title":"Orchestre Poly-Rythmo 'Cotonou Club'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new recording from Benin’s all-time great big band. Retaining their celebrated ‘vodou-funk’ sound, Poly Rythmo reprise original hits like ‘Holonon’ and ‘Gbeti Madjro’ along new compositions on a brand new analogue recording. Guests include Angelique Kidjo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423116390722,"sku":"STRUT077CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1551998341_10.jpg?v=1677162024"},{"product_id":"fanga-maalem-abdallah-guinea-fangnawa-experience","title":"Fanga \u0026 Maalem Abdallah Guinea 'Fangnawa Experience'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA brilliant collaboration first put together for the Detours du Monde festival in France involving Afrobeat collective Fanga and Moroccan gnawa master Abdallah Guinea (RIP). The fusions between the artists knit effortlessly together throughout, incuding the driving ’Kelen’ and the building trance of ‘Wouarri’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423117111618,"sku":"STRUT096LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423117078850,"sku":"STRUT096CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3805012892_10.jpg?v=1676989468"},{"product_id":"ebo-taylor-appia-kwa-bridge","title":"Ebo Taylor 'Appia Kwa Bridge'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e‘Appia Kwa Bridge’ is a strident new recording from the Ghanaian highlife guitar legend. Featuring six new compositions, his sound is more dense and tightly locked than ever with Berlin-based musicians Afrobeat Academy. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I wanted to go back to a highlife feeling with this album,”\u003c\/em\u003e explains Ebo Taylor. \u003cem\u003e“The songs are very personal and it is an important part of my music to keep alive many traditional Fante songs, war chants and children’s rhymes.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album covers a variety of themes dear to Taylor. The title track references a small bridge in Ebo’s hometown of Saltpond on the Cape Coast: “\u003cem\u003eit is a tiny bridge but a place known in the town where people meet, where lovers get together.\u003c\/em\u003e” The firing, rousing ‘Ayesama’, first demo-ed during the ‘Love And Death’ sessions, is a Fante war cry, a taunt – “what’s your mother’s name?”; ‘Nsu Na Kwan’, based on a Fante proverb, asks “Which is older – the river or the old road” with the sub-text to respect your elders and the brilliant ‘Abonsam’ carries the message that Abonsam (The Devil) is responsible for\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eevil in the world and that we should follow the Christian message.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElsewhere, the album features a new version of highlife anthem, ‘Yaa Amponsah’, first recorded during the ‘20s by Jacob Sam’s Sam’s Trio before becoming a popular standard in Ghana, and a cover of an original track from Taylor’s time with Apagya Show Band during the ’70s, ‘Serwa Brakatu’, re-titled here as ‘Kruman Dey’. The closer, the acoustic ‘Barrima’, is a poignant tribute to Taylor’s first wife and one true love who sadly passed away during Summer 2011. “\u003cem\u003eEbo wrote the song following her passing and recorded this in one take during our last day in the studio,\u003c\/em\u003e” reflects bandleader Ben Abarbanel-Wolff. “\u003cem\u003eHe was very emotional.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album was recorded at \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJochen Stroh's analogue Lovelite Studios in Berlin, and features a number of special guests within the credits including incomparable drummer Tony Allen, original Africa 70 guitarist Oghene Kologbo and conga maestro Addo Nettey a.k.a. Pax Nicholas. Representing the younger players, keyboard genius Kwame Yeboah, son of Ghanaian legend S.K. Yeboah, makes full use of Lovelite’s famed collection of Farfisa and Wurlitzer organs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423117013314,"sku":"STRUT089CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a0694021390_10.jpg?v=1676988738"},{"product_id":"cornell-campbell-meets-soothsayers-nothing-can-stop-us","title":"Cornell Campbell meets Soothsayers 'Nothing Can Stop Us'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA superb soundclash featuring sweet-voiced Jamaican legend Cornell Campbell and the excellent London-based reggae and Afro-dub collective, Soothsayers, led by Robin Hopcraft and Idris Rahman.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe pairing first took shape through a chance meeting between Cornell Campbell and Hopcraft in Kingston, Jamaica early in 2011. A session was arranged at Bunny Lee’s recording studio in West Kingston and, within days, the collaboration produced the sweet ‘I’ll Never Leave’, a homage to Cornell’s island home country in Parish of St Elizabeth. The dub version of the track was released alongside Soothsayers’ ‘We’re Not Leaving’ in August 2011 and the Cornell Campbell version followed on a 45 on Soothsayers’ own Red Earth label a month later.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow signed to Strut, the collaboration has recorded a full album, a conscious and roots-based set with Cornell Campbell’s iconic, sweet vocals underpinned by deep, dubby rhythm section work and some fresh, intricate arrangements. Hopcraft adds, “We gave Cornell recordings of some ideas we had been working on. He\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etook them away and developed some lyrics. Idris and I also wrote a few complete songs that Cornell loved and he blessed them with his vocals.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWithin the tracklist, the collective revisits Cornel’s poignant 1970s sufferer’s classic ‘Jah Jah Me No Born Yah’ augmented by the addition of horns and Hammond organ bringing out the Moorish melodies of the original. Soothsayers also bring their trademark fusion of influences to the table and move Cornell’s sound into bold new directions, rocking on a rolling Afro groove for the hard-hitting ‘Nothing Can Stop Us’ and simmering on the downtempo reggae soul gem, ‘There’s A Fire’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album carries forward the considerable legacy of Campbell’s recordings over the last half century, from his early work with “Coxsone” Dodd at Studio One to ‘70s and ‘80s classics with Joe Gibbs, Bunny “Striker” Lee, King Tubby and Winston “Niney” Observer. For Soothsayers, the album is the culmination of ten years leading the London live scene. Comprising musicians that have played with many top artists including Mulatu Astatke, Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Arkestra and Hugh Masekela, the band are known for their excellent collaborations with Johnny Clarke, Maxi Jazz (Faithless), Keziah Jones and more and form the nucleus of the band that backed the London leg of the ‘Fela!’ musical during 2011. The band cemented their reputation with the self-released album ‘Human Nature’ during 2012. As The Independent On Sunday testified, “The grooves are solid, the playing immaculate and the three-part vocal harmonies the icing on the cake.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423117406530,"sku":"STRUT103LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423117504834,"sku":"STRUT103CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2366667795_10.jpg?v=1676986323"},{"product_id":"orlando-julius-with-the-heliocentrics-jaiyede-afro","title":"Orlando Julius with The Heliocentrics 'Jaiyede Afro'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003eA modern day Afrobeat classic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis new collaboration with London's Heliocentrics admirably recreates a smokey 70s atmosphere.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(The Wire)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAided and abetted by some magnificent backing by the Helios, using the requisite analog set up, the album has the verve and feel of a classic West African long-player\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e(Record Collector)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt his club residency in Ibadan, Orlando Julius was one of the very first to begin fusing US R\u0026amp;B with traditional highlife during the mid-‘60s with his Modern Aces band. His ‘Super Afro Soul’ album from ’66 set the blueprint for a whole generation of Afrobeat and Afro funk stars and, in an illustrious career, Julius met and played with Louis Armstrong, The Crusaders, Hugh Masekela and Lamont Dozier among others, famously co-composing the classic ‘Going Back To My Roots’ in 1979 whilst based in the USA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor ‘Jaiyede Afro’, Julius takes us back to his own roots, revisiting several compositions from his early years which have never previously been recorded. The title track recalls his experiences as a boy: “My mother would go to group meetings with other women. They would sing together and play drums, I would play along with them and we would sing this song together.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInfectious chant ‘Omo Oba Blues’ is a traditional song sung at Julius’ school which he re-arranged in 1965 for his Modern Aces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eband. The epic Afrobeat jam ‘Be Counted’ stems from his years in the USA: \"This was written around 1976 while I was living on the Westcoast. I did start recording it for the ‘Sisi Sade’ album around 1985 but it was never finished.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther tracks include ‘Buje Buje’ and ‘Aseni’, both re-worked arrangements from his rare ‘Orlando Julius and The Afro Sounders’ album from 1973.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded at the Heliocentrics’ fully analogue HQ in North London, the band follow their memorable collaborations with Mulatu Astatke and Lloyd Miller by taking Orlando’s sound into new, progressive directions, retaining the raw grit of his early work and adding psychedelic touches and adventurous new arrangements. They also contribute live favourite, the James Brown cover ‘In The Middle’ and a series of memorable shorter interludes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ereleased January 1, 2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2014, Strut Records - a division of K7 Music GmbH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP transparent","offer_id":44423117734210,"sku":"STRUT112LPC","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423117570370,"sku":"STRUT112LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423117668674,"sku":"STRUT112CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1071353005_10.jpg?v=1677162432"},{"product_id":"pat-thomas-kwashibu-area-band-pat-thomas-kwashibu-area-band","title":"Pat Thomas \u0026 Kwashibu Area Band 'Pat Thomas \u0026 Kwashibu Area Band'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe brand new studio album by one of Ghana’s all-time great vocalists, “The Golden Voice Of Africa”, Pat Thomas, in conjunction with the Kwashibu Area Band led by multi-instumentalist Kwame Yeboah (Cat Stevens, Patrice) and saxophonist Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (Ebo Taylor, Poets of Rhythm).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHailing from Kumasi, Thomas had lived with highlife legend King Onyina from a young age before working with Ebo Taylor in two of Ghana’s great 1960s highlife big bands, Broadway Dance Band and Stargazers. They would collaborate regularly, Pat contributing vocals to Ebo’s solo albums and Ebo arranging horns for Pat’s songs. Both would become a mainstay of the ‘70s and ‘80s Ghanaian highlife, afrobeat and afro-pop scenes, hitting big with the Ghana Cocoa Board-sponsored Sweet Beans band. Fela Kuti’s bandleader, drummer Tony Allen, would record a session with Sweet Beans in Kumasi in 1975 (as yet unreleased). “Highlife was our music,” Pat remembers. “People like Ebo and I modernised it, made it more relevant to our day. We took the Kwa music of Kumasi and other local styles and added Western elements.” With his distinctive flowing vocal style, sung in Fanti and Ashanti Twi dialect, Pat became established as one of Ghana’s biggest\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emusical draws.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the ‘80s, Pat continued to stay close to highlife and, by the middle of the decade, had become the biggest star in the emerging “burger highlife” scene involving recordings produced in Berlin and Hamburg and exported to Ghana. Together with guitarist George Darko, his output added to the rich mix of cultures making the global reach of highlife possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded in Accra and mixed at Lovelite Studios’ analogue HQ in Berlin, Thomas’ new album marks over 50 years making music and reunites him with old friends: Ebo Taylor provides horn arrangements, Tony Allen contributes drums to several tracks, Osei Tutu (Hedzolleh Sounds) plays a memorable trumpet solo and prolific 1970s bassist Ralph Karikari (The Noble Kings) also features. Younger generation stars appearing include bassist Emmanuel Ofori, percussionist “Sunday” Owusu and Pat Thomas’ daughter Nanaaya, an acclaimed vocalist in her own right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album features new full band arrangements of original ‘80s Thomas classics ‘Gyae Su’, ‘Odoo Adada’ and ‘Mewo Akoma’. Abarbanel-Wolff explains: “By the mid-1980s, Ghanaian music had started to use digital production and the heyday of the “golden era” was over. With this album, we wanted to continue the tradition of the late ‘70s sound and bring the roots back.” Kwame Yeboah continues, “We had to create our own buzz, keep the sound totally real - there are no digital, machine or sampled sounds here.” - New compositions also feature, including the superb, yearning ‘Me Ho Asem’ and the infectious afrobeat jam, ‘Odoo Be Ba’.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423118324034,"sku":"STRUT126LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423118389570,"sku":"STRUT126CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1447397734_10.jpg?v=1677244871"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-inner-fire","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Inner Fire'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCanada’s versatile tropical \/ latin \/ jazz warriors hit their analogue studio for another brilliant album. Here, different influences fuse effortlessly in each track, burning through Afro-jazz stompers, highlife flourishes, Cuban bolero sounds and smouldering salsa dura. Watch out for a great new version of Gary Bartz’ 1971 classic, ‘Celestial Blues’ too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423118815554,"sku":"STRUT115CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2882172351_10.jpg?v=1677682828"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-resistance","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Resistance'","description":"\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eWe approached this album with a fresh ear,\u003c\/em\u003e” explains bandleader Pierre Chrétien. “\u003cem\u003eWe were keen to build on the band’s sound and message, bringing in some of the French Caribbean and Francophone West African influences that we’ve loved since our youth, so the new album brings in French language tracks and elements of coupé-décalé, zouk and cadence to the overall mix.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn keeping with the band’s previous work, the band keep powerful lyrics at the heart of their music, delivering some biting social commentaries alongside messages of hope. Storming opening track ‘Greet The Dawn’ heralds a better way of life for the downtrodden while the manic ‘Shock And Awe’ celebrates people power with a wry reference to Bush-era military tactics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Souljazz Orchestra remain one of the most solid units in their scene, retaining their original line-up since they were first formed back in 2002. On Resistance, they showcase their continuing versatility with saxman Ray Murray, percussionist Marielle Rivard, drummer Philippe Lafrenière and keyboardist Pierre Chrétien all\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etaking on lead vocal duties on different tracks. “\u003cem\u003eWe originally started out as an instrumental band,\u003c\/em\u003e” reflects Chrétien, “\u003cem\u003eso this is actually our first all vocal album, a big step forward for us.\u003c\/em\u003e” Chrétien himself also contributes the superb front cover artwork to the album, “\u003cem\u003eI was inspired by the bold, stark, streamlined look of works by artists like Saul Bass, Emory Douglas, or Cuban poster designers - I love how they manage to maximize impact with a minimal amount of strokes and colours.\u003c\/em\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423118881090,"sku":"STRUT136CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2415308000_10.jpg?v=1677683097"},{"product_id":"kondi-band-salone","title":"Kondi Band 'Salone'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA collaboration between Sierra Leonean kondi (thumb piano) player Sorie Kondi and US producer \/ DJ Chief Boima, who himself has Sierra Leonean roots.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe project was spawned after Boima happened upon an online video of one of Sorie’s original tracks. “Sorie Kondi is a blind musician with a will to thrive like no person I have met before,” explains Boima. “My work with him began with a YouTube link. I spotted the video for his track ‘Without Money No Family’ and was struck by his beautiful vocals and socially-conscious lyrics. These incredible melodies he was playing on his namesake thumb piano (the kondi) sealed the deal: I immediately decided to remix it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe resulting bootleg remix started appearing in DJ playlists and led to coverage by The Fader magazine. As a result, Sorie’s manager in Freetown reached out to Boima and, after a successful Kickstarter campaign, Sorie travelled to America for the first time for a five date tour. During the trip he and Boima worked on new recordings which will form the nucleus of the debut Kondi Band album ‘Belle Wahalah’ this Autumn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This project forges a direct link between techno born\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the black cities of the American Mid-West, where I grew up, and roots African music,” Boima continues. “Sorie Kondi may be playing an acoustic folk instrument from Sierra Leone, but he thinks about music as if he were a techno producer. The dance-friendly pulse of his cajon drum, the spiraling melody lines from the thumb piano and his incredible vocals hold it all together.” It’s acoustic dance music that creates a sound as full and dynamic as any club track and, through Boima’s intricate production, the album subtly and skillfully integrates contemporary electronic sounds, keeping the simplicity and space in Sorie’s music.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first EP from the project is built around Sorie’s personal and uncompromising lyrics on ‘Belle Wahalah’, a song that uses belly pain as a metaphor for poverty, hunger and lack of financial opportunity. Mixes come from South London-based producer Hagan and the “father of Ancestral Soul”, Boddhi Satva. The release also features another simmering Kondi band original, ‘Yeanoh (Powe Handa Blingabe)’ which translates as ‘what’s up \/ what’s occurring’?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe project is the culmination of several years’ work by Boima producing and promoting original new music for groups such as Afro-Panamanian rap duo Los Rakas and his partnership with DJ Oro11 Banana Clipz, alongside official remixes for Afrikan Boy, Sinkane, and El Guincho among others. As a DJ, he has played worldwide, performing at events including The Red Bull Music Academy New York, The Lincoln Center Outdoors and SXSW. He has also delivered lectures on youth culture and politics at Harvard, the EMP and Yale, started his own culture platform INTL BLK, he runs the Brooklyn-based label and DJ collective Dutty Artz and edits the blog ‘Africa Is A Country’.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423119044930,"sku":"STRUT143LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423119110466,"sku":"STRUT143CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1093031104_10.jpg?v=1677092290"},{"product_id":"idris-ackamoor-the-pyramids-we-be-all-africans","title":"Idris Ackamoor \u0026 The Pyramids 'We Be All Africans'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlto saxophonist Ackamoor first met Margo Simmons (flute) and Kimathi Asante (electric bass) whilst students together at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio where one of their teachers was renowned pianist, Cecil Taylor. After founding the band in Paris in 1972, performing in Holland and embarking on a “cultural odyssey” across Africa, the group recorded three independent albums (Lalibela in 1973, King Of Kings in 1974 and Birth \/ Speed \/ Merging in 1976) and became renowned for their striking live shows, mixing percussive, spiritual and space-age jazz with performance, theatre, and dance. After migrating to San Francisco to perform on the Bay Area arts scene, they disbanded in 1977 after a final show at the UC Berkeley Jazz Festival.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlmost 30 years later, The Pyramids reunited unexpectedly following growing demand for their music from vinyl collectors and jazz fans and embarked on the first of many European tours featuring original members, as well as a fresh line-up including renowned percussionist Kenneth Nash. In 2012 the group signed to German\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003elabel Disko B who released a new album, the freeform Otherworldly and all three albums from their rare back catalogue. Idris was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by DJ Gilles Peterson at his Worldwide Awards and The Pyramids were back, gaining a whole new legion of fans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\" ‘We Be All Africans’ is a message of survival. A message of renewal. A message that we are all brothers and sisters. We are all one family, the human family and we need one another in order to survive on this planet that we all share.\"\u003c\/em\u003e – Idris Ackamoor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44423119307074,"sku":"STRUT144LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423119372610,"sku":"STRUT144CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3369152215_10.jpg?v=1677089662"},{"product_id":"kanaku-y-el-tigre-quema-quema-quema","title":"Kanaku y El Tigre 'Quema Quema Quema'","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘Quema Quema Quema’ (‘Burn Burn Burn’ in Spanish) is the product of two years honing the Kanaku sound at the band’s Lima studio. The result is a record feverish in its intensity which screams with joy and cries for help in the same breath.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeaturing ten songs including two sung in English, ‘Quema Quema Quema’ is led by the tortured, impassioned vocals of lead singer Nico Saba but the musical relationship between Nico and Bruno is key. “With the new album, we have focused consistently on the melody and the song despite a multi-instrumental approach,” explains Bruno. “We have always shared this process of dreaming up ideas - we both bring light and darkness into the room and use each other as creative mirrors.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir strong musical partnership stems from the ‘90s\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e, when, in their early teens, they were kicking the dust together in a punk band in downtown Lima. Now in their late twenties and both now bilingual having lived for periods in the UK and the States, their sound owes much to western music forms. Despite being very different characters with near opposite tastes in music, as life-long friends, they see the fruits of their creative partnership as a mutual appreciation living life charged, intense and always ready to ‘Burn, Burn, Burn’.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44423119438146,"sku":"STRUT130LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423119470914,"sku":"STRUT130CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2346356491_10.jpg?v=1685616179"},{"product_id":"orchestre-les-mangelepa-last-band-standing","title":"Orchestre Les Mangelepa 'Last Band Standing'","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new studio album by one of the all-time great African big bands, Orchestre Les Mangelepa. Comprising Congolese musicians who settled in Kenya, Les Mangelepa helped drive the East African evolutionary spur of one of the greatest musical artforms, African rumba, during the 1970s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrior to their formation, in the late 1960s, future members of Les Mangelepa were part of Baba Gaston’s band, L’Orchestre Baba Nationale, based in Lubumbashi in the Eastern Congo. During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Congolese Rumba had become the dominant musical force across Africa ad Nairobi became a magnet since PolyGram, EMI and other international companies had studios and pressing plants in the city. In 1973, Baba Gaston’s band recorded in Kenya and relocated there permanently in 1975. Evany (Kabila Kabanze) and Bwamy Malumona were the bandleaders and held a residency at the Aquarius Club in Ngara but within Baba Nationale there was unhappiness about how Baba Gaston was treating them. A breakaway faction recorded 'Mbungu' and 'Kijana' under the name Les Mangelepa as a side project and a split became inevitable. Led by the Evany and Bwamy, the majority of the members of Orchestre Baba Nationale soon quit and formed Orchestre Les\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMangelepa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeveloping a regular residency in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park at the Park Inn, Mangelepa began to draw huge crowds. Their early recordings helped them to establish their authority, released on contemporary labels like Jojo and Tobina. Alongside a spectacular horn section they were known for their tight vocals and bittersweet, poetic lyrics and, during the late ‘70s, Mangelepa’s stage shows were an unsurpassed breath-taking circus. They held a wide appeal across a spectrum of Kenyans; Congolese (Lingala) music was hugely popular and Mangelepa’s Swahili lyrics used the genre and brought Kenyans together across ethnic divisions. The popular music of Kenya at that time included Benga from the shores of Lake Victoria and Chakacha from the coast; Les Mangelepa became skilful and adept songwriters, harnessing the energy from these other music styles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe band’s fame spread across East Africa, scoring household hits in Kenya with songs like 'Maindusa' and 'Embakasi'. In the late ‘70s, under George Opiyo’s management, they embarked on lengthy tours of Uganda and Malawi and returned to their long-running Nairobi residency at Garden Square. In 1982 they headed to Zimbabwe via Tanzania and Zambia and, after breaking into two factions, made several acclaimed albums including 'Safari Ya Mangelepa' and 'Madina' for PolyGram.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir popularity began to wane during the mid-‘80s until, in the early 2000s, Tom Kazungu took over their management and began to help breathe new life into the band, recording 'Mangelepa Millennium'. They took up new residencies at Tents Club on Mombasa Road and Simmers, right in the centre of Nairobi. In 2016, Les Mangelepa finally made it out of Africa, touring Europe including the Afrika Festival in Hertme, Netherlands. This new album, recorded by No Nation’s Guy Morley, encapsulates some of their best-loved material, re-recorded and brought up to date using the current personnel of their Nairobi Vibro residency. They represent a wonderful era of African music and justifiably warrant the title ‘Last Band Standing’.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased October 20, 2017\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e2017, Strut Records - a division of K7 Music GmbH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423120126274,"sku":"STRUT159LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423120159042,"sku":"STRUT159CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1937645430_10.jpg?v=1677161682"},{"product_id":"seun-kuti-egypt-80-black-times","title":"Seun Kuti \u0026 Egypt 80 'Black Times'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe youngest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti is as incensed by injustice as his father ever was and, with his mighty new album Black Times including features from Carlos Santana and Robert Glasper, he honours the revolutionaries who have gone before and rallies the torch-bearers to come.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack Times is the fourth album by Seun and Egypt 80, the extraordinary dance orchestra created by Fela Kuti as a conduit for the common people. Inherited by the 14-year- old Seun in 1997, the younger Kuti has been building to this, his most accomplished and honest album yet. “Black Times is a true reflection of my political and social beliefs,” says the singer, bandleader and musician, 34. “It is an album for anybody who believes in change and understands the duty we have to rise up and come together. The elites always try to divide the working class and the poor people of the world. The same oppression felt by workers in Flint, Michigan is felt by workers in Lagos and Johannesburg.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHere, then, are tracks designed to spark conversation and realign priorities. The elegant ‘African Dreams’ insists that commercial success counts for little. Pay no heed to examples set\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby “accepted” African-American celebrities, says Kuti, and marvel instead at the philosophies of such great thinkers as the late Pan-Africanist Doctor Amos Wilson. “The message,” Kuti sings, “is free.” ‘Black Times’, with its rousing male and female harmonies, furious guitar riffs and Kuti’s soaring tenor sax, gives us truth. Lyrics such as “Understand your history \/ rise to be free” shine a forensics-style black light on that which is otherwise hidden, intensified by the axe-work of Carlos Santana. ‘Bad Man Lighter’ is a horn-heavy track calling out duplicity and defending the right to smoke the good weed; the politically charged ‘Corporate Public Control Department (C.P.C.D)’ is a roiling protest anthem directed at Muhammadu Bahari’s Nigerian government and indeed, at deceitful politicians the world over. Co-written with veteran Egypt 80 saxophonist Abedimeji ‘Showboy’ Fagbemi, the frenetic, finger-pointing ‘Kuku Kee Me’ borrows from a Nigerian saying (“When someone is always on your case, you’re like ‘Save yourself the stress and kuku kill me now’”) while ‘Theory Of Goat And Yam’ ridicules a homily invented by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who justified corruption by likening politicians to goats tempted by yams: “By taking money meant for a hospital or to build roads, they are actually costing human lives.” ‘Last Revolutionary’ featuring Robert Glasper’s keys is a paean to authentic leaders past, present and future, name-checking homegrown African heroes, revolutionaries and freedom fighters like Kwame Nkrumah, Thomas Sankara and Patrice Lumumba. “I say the names of these men who died for us without any promise of resurrection,” says Seun Kuti. “Maybe it will cause a young man or woman to wonder who they are. Maybe they will Google them, then set out on a journey whose destination is unknown.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We are all capable of change, us iron people, us workers. Black Times is the sound of the people, and a weapon of the future. The big picture needs more colour.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423120257346,"sku":"STRUT163LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423120290114,"sku":"STRUT163CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a0753768187_10.jpg?v=1677249481"},{"product_id":"the-souljazz-orchestra-under-burning-skies","title":"The Souljazz Orchestra 'Under Burning Skies'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCanada’s fastest moving and hardest working collective are back with one of their finest albums to date, a brand new journey into tropical, soul and jazz styles on their scorching new release, ‘Under Burning Skies’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTurbulent times call for strong voices and The Souljazz Orchestra’s new set packs a suitably heavy lyrical punch, with wry observations and an urge for progressive change. Musically, the band continue to push the limits, dusting off ‘80s vintage synthesizers and early drum machines for the first time, bringing lo fi disco, boogie and electro touches to their trademark horn arrangements and earthy analogue sound. The fruits are a-plenty and the group sound at their confident and versatile best from start to finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOpener ‘Dog Eat Dog’ powers in with Mabinuori Idowu and Philippe Lafrenière lambasting the powerful and the corrupt over an infectious Afro-disco groove; ‘Lufunki’ takes the group right back to their B-Boy roots, bringing the Afro vibes to Beat Street and ‘Is Yeelyel’ delivers a killer rework of an obscure original by Somalian super-group Dur-Dur Band. The band go on exploring their passion for French Caribbean styles on the beautiful, lilting ‘Oublier Pour Un Jour’ and\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘Tambour À Deux Peaux’ and they take time for reflection on the potent instrumental title track and poignant closer ‘Aduna Jarul Naawo’, featuring the vocals of Élage Mbaye.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Souljazz Orchestra continue to be an unstoppable force. Nominated for a Canadian Juno award for the third time in 2016, the band regularly tear up venues worldwide through their punishing touring schedule – they have played to audiences in over two dozen countries across the globe and have shared bills along the way with heavyweights as varied as Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Femi Kuti. Not many bands out there have been going for 15 years with their original line-up still intact while still sounding as fresh as this. As saxophonist Ray Murray says, \"Souljazz is more than just a band for us, it's a way of life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"strutrecords","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44423120617794,"sku":"STRUT155LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423120650562,"sku":"STRUT155CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2515715529_10.jpg?v=1677684886"},{"product_id":"idris-ackamoor-the-pyramids-an-angel-fell","title":"Idris Ackamoor \u0026 The Pyramids - An Angel Fell","description":"\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eI wanted to use folklore, fantasy and drama as a warning bell\u003c\/em\u003e,” explains Ackamoor. “\u003cem\u003eThe songs explore global themes that are important to me and to us all: the rise of catastrophic climate change and our lack of concern for our planet, loss of innocence and separation... but positive themes too, the healing power of music, collective action and the simple beauty of nature.\u003c\/em\u003e” Produced by Malcolm Catto of The Heliocentrics, the album was recorded during an intense week at Quatermass studios in London and is one of the deepest, richest works yet from a band reaching their highest creative peak since the early ’70s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Pyramids originally came together in 1972 at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio where teachers included renowned pianist, Cecil Taylor. After forming in Paris and embarking on a “cultural odyssey” across Africa, the group recorded three independent albums, ‘Lalibela’ (1973), ‘King Of Kings’ (1974) and ‘Birth \/ Speed \/ Merging’ (1976) and became renowned for their striking live\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eshows, mixing percussive, spiritual and space-age jazz with performance theatre and dance. After migrating to San Francisco, they disbanded in 1977. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423121142082,"sku":"STRUT164LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423121076546,"sku":"STRUT164CD","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a2338583381_10.jpg?v=1677089155"},{"product_id":"onipa-we-no-be-machine","title":"Onipa - We No Be Machine","description":"\u003cp\u003eONIPA means ‘human’ in Akan, the ancient language of the Ashanti people of Ghana. It’s a message of connection through collaboration: from Ghana to London, our ancestors to our children, Onipa brings energy, groove, electronics, afrofuturism, dance and fire!\u003c\/p\u003e\nBorn out of deep collaboration between long-time friends KOG (Kweku of Ghana of KOG and the Zongo Brigade) and Tom Excell (MD, guitarist and writer of acclaimed jazz\/ soul afrobeat pioneers Nubiyan Twist), the 4 piece live show features KOG on vocals, balafon and percussion, Tom Excell on guitar, percussion and electronics, Dwayne Kilvington (Wonky Logic) on synths and MPC and Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist) on drums.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"As we chase the morphic resonance of African art, sound and movement into new worlds, we find stories of the past answering riddles of the future. Tales of existence and resistance, of our innate ability to positively connect, express, share and create. Tales of extending our natural abilities beyond our own survival, to\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe survival of the planet, reminding us that our ancient connection with the earth must not be traded for technology and materials.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough the musical prisms of London and Ghana our influences join together to create a new sound, 'Savanna Bass’. A fundamental thread of traditional African rhythms, instrumentation and storytelling, interwoven with electronics, urban soundscapes and synth bass. We use technology, but it should never use us, our music is live and about deep human connection.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased March 20, 2020\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e2020, Strut Records - a division of K7 Music GmbH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423121404226,"sku":"STRUT217LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423121371458,"sku":"STRUT217CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a1311381430_10.jpg?v=1677161203"},{"product_id":"pat-thomas-kwashibu-area-band-obiaa","title":"Pat Thomas \u0026 Kwashibu Area Band - Obiaa!","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe modern-day leaders of Ghanaian highlife music are back!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album, produced again by Kwame Yeboah and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff at Lovelite Studio’s analogue HQ in Berlin, is a deep and soulful journey into the heart of Ghana's indigenous highlife music celebrating the timeless and iconic voice of Pat Thomas, the 72 year-old “Golden Voice of Africa”.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter producing Ebo Taylor's seminal albums ‘Love and Death’ and ‘Appia Kwa Bridge’ for Strut Records, in 2014 Ben Abarbanel-Wolff approached Kwame Yeboah, Ghana's top contemporary instrumentalist and bandleader, to work on a new project: “We initially wanted to invite Pat back into the studio with Ebo Taylor and Tony Allen to recreate and expand on some of the vibes they had recorded together during a lost session in 1977,” Ben explains. Recorded in Accra, the result was the critically acclaimed self-titled debut album ‘Pat Thomas \u0026amp; Kwashibu Area Band’ in 2015.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePat and the Kwashibu Area Band (named after Kwame's neighbourhood in Accra) hit the road in October 2015. After a memorable performance at WOMEX in Budapest, they\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003enever looked back. The next two years took them around the world to play at\u003cbr\u003emajor venues and festivals including Glastonbury, Roskilde, WOMAD, Sakifo, WOMADelaide, Sines and many more. “We could see there was something for everyone in our music. People of all ages, colours and trends were dancing together!’ explains Kwame, the mastermind behind the band's unbelievable precision and killer live show.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe new album is called ‘Obiaa!’ which means ‘Everybody!’. Tracks include the modern parables ‘Onfa Nkosi Hwee’ warning against arrogance and ‘Odo Ankasa’ about the value of real love and trust as well as a great new cover of Thomas’ Afro-disco favourite ‘Yamona’. “Playing highlife around the world taught us what we had to do to move our sound forward,” continues Ben. While simultaneously looking back towards the classic days of highlife and forward to a fresh revival of the guitar band sound, this album cements Pat Thomas \u0026amp; Kwashibu Area Band’s position at the pinnacle of modern African music.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423121502530,"sku":"STRUT201LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423121600834,"sku":"STRUT201CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a0285422236_10.jpg?v=1677162896"},{"product_id":"nubiyan-twist-jungle-run","title":"Nubiyan Twist - Jungle Run","description":"\u003cp\u003eNow one of the leading lights in the UK’s new generation of soulful, genre-fluid artists, the Leeds-born and now London-based 10-piece collective have created their finest recordings to date, effortlessly weaving together elements of jazz, soul, hip hop, African styles, Latin, dub, hip hop and electronics in a flow of thought-provoking and life-affirming music. Recorded at the band’s own self-built Henwood Studio in rural Oxfordshire, the album effortlessly moves through different voices from the band’s circle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe inimitable, timeless vocals of Nubiya Brandon lead the way on the album’s title track about breaking preconceptions and promoting equality, “Where you from? I’m from wherever I be.” Saxophonist Nick Richards vocals the killer first single from the album about inner turmoil and a search for the truth, ‘Tell It To Me Slowly’ while rising Ghanaian star K.O.G. appears on the Afro jams ‘Basa Basa’ and ‘They Talk’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePercussionist \/ singer Pilo Adami voices the infectious bossa-jazz jam ‘Borders’. The band also draft in two African legends for guest duties with the original Afrobeat maestro Tony Allen on\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘Ghosts’ and Ethio jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke contributing vibes on the sinuous ‘Addis To London’. “The depth of talent and ideas that every member of this group has brought to the table for this album is incredible,” says producer and orchestrator Tom Excell. “Conceptually, \"Jungle Run\"; is all about connecting different people and cultures whilst exploring the journey of individuals. This album is the pinnacle of everything we have done to date and to collaborate with the godfathers of Afrobeat and Ethio Jazz and celebrate their music in a modern context was very humbling.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":44423121895746,"sku":"STRUT198LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44423121994050,"sku":"STRUT198CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/products\/a3402504973_10.jpg?v=1685616159"},{"product_id":"idris-ackamoor-the-pyramids-afro-futuristic-dreams","title":"Idris Ackamoor \u0026 The Pyramids - Afro Futuristic Dreams","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIdris Ackamoor \u0026amp; The Pyramids are back with their first major new studio album in over 3 years, an epic, sprawling new work exploring the future, the past and the urgent reality of the present\u003cstrong\u003e, ‘Afro Futuristic Dreams’.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRecorded between San Francisco and London and brought together by the genius of Malcolm Catto at his analogue Quatermass Studio, the new recording represents another bold step in Ackamoor’s ever-evolving journey in jazz, adding full, intricate scores including string sections and choral elements to the Pyramids’ trademark spiritual Afro-jazz sound; Driven by the core Pyramids members Ackamoor (sax, keytar, organ), Margaux Simmons (flute), Sandra Poindexter (violin) and Bobby Cobb (guitar), tracks range from hard-hitting commentaries about police brutality (‘Police Dem’) to celebrations of the ancestors and departed loved ones (‘Requiem For The Ancestors’, ‘Re-Memory’) and hazy cosmic journeys, including the album’s title track and the sparkling, experimental closer,\u003cem\u003e ‘Nice It Up’.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“This album has been many years in the making,” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eexplains Ackamoor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e “Back in late 2020, I set out to compose the first in a series of scores to take The Pyramids sound into brave new territory. All of the tracks involve issues that the core band is passionate about and the recording was a complex process involving many musicians and vocalists across two different time zones.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe recording is the Pyramids’ first new release since the acclaimed \u003cstrong\u003e‘Shaman!’\u003c\/strong\u003e in 2020 and rides a wave of interest in the band around their 50\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Anniversary this year. Alongside a box set reissue on Strut bringing together their rare early ‘70s albums for the first time, the band have headlined Le Guess Who festival in Utrecht with an accompanying exhibition of their history and have played major concerts at Presidio Theatre in L.A. and Zebulon in San Francisco. They will be playing a full European tour in Autumn 2023.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Afro-Futuristic Dreams’\u003c\/strong\u003e is mixed by Malcolm Catto and mastered by Peter Beckmann at Technology Works. The superb cover artwork illustration is by David Alabo. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":46765113442642,"sku":"STRUT312LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":46765113409874,"sku":"STRUT312CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/files\/STRUT312IdrisAckamoor_ThePyramidscoverartwork_2.jpg?v=1688476958"},{"product_id":"nubiyan-twist-find-your-flame","title":"Nubiyan Twist - Find Your Flame","description":"Nubiyan Twist announce details of their 4th album ‘Find Your Flame’ (Strut Records, 3 May 2024) accompanied by a vibrant new single ‘Lights Out’ featuring the iconic songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist, Nile Rodgers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Lights Out’ is infused with Nile Rodgers’ signature award -winning guitar style that seamlessly weaves between disco, jazz and afrobeat sounds, embodying a slick dancefloor-ready sound. The track’s carefree instrumentation, anthemic horns and unforgettable chorus from the band’s new lead vocalist Aziza Jaye make for four minutes of energetic, virtuosic joy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNubiyan Twist never shy away from a collaboration, and on this new record, alongside Nile Rodgers, they have enlisted talented artists from across the globe including Seun Kuti and Mamani Keita as well as homegrown UK talent Corto Alta, Ria Moran, KOG \u0026amp;amp; NEone the Wonderer. The first single to be unveiled from the forthcoming record was ‘So Mi Stay’ which was added to the 6Music playlist as well as playlists at Jazz FM and Amazing Radio.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe UK Jazz \/ Soul 9-piece are based in Sheffield and are known globally for their powerful big-band sound and their electric live shows. They’ll be hitting the road again from April on UK and EU tours including a headline date at London’s HERE at Outernet. Since forming in 2011 at the Leeds College of Music, Nubiyan Twist have risen to become one of the leading groups in the UK’s fertile contemporary jazz scene. Their self-titled debut album in 2015 and acclaimed ‘Jungle Run’ in 2019 led to their third breakthrough album ‘Freedom Fables’, released on Strut Records 2021 which was heavily play listed on BBC 6 Music alongside live sessions with Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs and Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2, plus their UK TV debut on ‘Later…with Jools Holland’.","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":47653023154514,"sku":"STRUT346LP","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":47653023121746,"sku":"STRUT346CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/files\/a0641565162_10.jpg?v=1707216660"},{"product_id":"various-artists-kampire-presents-a-dancefloor-in-ndola","title":"Various Artists - Kampire Presents: A Dancefloor in Ndola","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrut introduces a pioneering new compilation 'A Dancefloor In Ndola,' curated by revered East African DJ, Kampire. This release marks an evolution in Strut's approach to compilations, showcasing emerging DJ talent from across the world and embracing an innovative approach to musical discovery from the next wave of selectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eForging her reputation through memorable sets for the Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda over the last decade, Kampire now tours worldwide and is celebrated for her brilliantly curated sets spanning the full range of African music styles from the 70s and 80s to the present day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn in Kenya to Ugandan parents, Kampire spent her formative years in Ndola, Zambia. ‘A Dancefloor In Ndola’ is inspired by artists and songs that formed part of her soundtrack during that time. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is important for me to continually reference Africa’s own musical history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” she explains. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt 17, I didn’t pick up on my Dad’s music but now I love and collect those records. I’m constantly referencing them in my music sets today. I love that feeling of shared nostalgia where people recognise a song they haven’t heard in a long time. It is a touchstone for me when I’m playing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe compilation flows through different East and Southern African genres from Congolese rumba and soukous to 1980s township bubblegum and the rich guitar-led sounds of Zambian kalindula. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are styles of music on the compilation which are often considered unsophisticated from rural areas. I and other contemporary African artists and DJs draw inspiration from them; it is part of what makes us ourselves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.” Kampire also shines the spotlight on many incredible women in African music from the 80s, including Congolese legends like Pembey Sheiro, Feza Shamamba and Princesse Mansia M’bila to V-Mash and Di Groovy Girls from South Africa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“A Dancefloor In Ndola'' is released on 2LP and CD and features a new edit by Kampire alongside personal liner notes tracing her links to the music. Cover artwork montage is by Canon Rumanzi and vinyl restoration \/ mastering by The Carvery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"2LP","offer_id":48190612373842,"sku":"STRUT273LP","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":48195427303762,"sku":"STRUT273CD","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/files\/a3831910560_10.jpg?v=1715607887"},{"product_id":"flock-flock-2","title":"Flock - Flock II","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUK supergroup Flock return with their anticipated sophomore album ‘Flock II’. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComprising an exceptional line-up featuring Bex Burch (fresh from her debut solo album on International Anthem), Sarathy Korwar, Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Unknown To Known), Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming \/ Soccer96) and Al MacSween (Kefaya), the new recordings showcase Flock’s ability to push the boundaries of the composition process and craft unique tracks based on their collective spirit. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecorded amidst the serene landscapes of the Welsh countryside during 2022, 'Flock II' emerges as a compelling departure from their debut album, which was captured in a single day at London's Fish Factory. Nestled within the enchanting environs of the Druidstone, a mystical coastal retreat in West Wales, the group embarked on an immersive week-long recording session. Here, they crafted unique \"jump-off\" devices for each musical piece, drawing inspiration from unconventional structures and atmospheres. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom diagrams utilising shapes and repeated patterns to a revolving lamp throwing out dappled light and a mobile app creating intense strobe effects in front of each musician, each device\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e set a state of mind and a unique approach to their compositions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStudio Owz, housed in a converted country church, provided an ideal setting for their creative exploration. The resulting compositions, ranging from intense to hypnotic, invite listeners to embark on a deeply personal voyage, weaving their own narratives amidst the ethereal soundscape. \u003cbr\u003eThe fruits of a strong and joyful bond between five of the UK’s finest musicians, ‘Flock II’ stands as another essential recording without genre or category. Cover artwork illustration is courtesy of the brilliant Muhammad “Rofi” Fatchurofi, providing the ideal nebulous artistic foil to Flock’s creation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Strut Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":49206862053714,"sku":"STRUT331LP","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":49206903800146,"sku":"STRUT331CD","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/6939\/2706\/files\/STRUT331_STRUT331LP_Artwork.jpg?v=1724242851"}],"url":"https:\/\/strut-records.co.uk\/collections\/new-recordings.oembed?page=2","provider":"strutrecords","version":"1.0","type":"link"}