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In 2015, Freestyle Records re-issued the groundbreaking 'African Party' album by the somewhat mysterious figure of Ginger (George Folunsho) Johnson. Recorded in 1967, nearly 20 years after he first arrived in post war London and immediately began performing and recording with London jazz stalwarts Ronnie Scott and Pete King.

Credited by those in the know (including Giles Peterson, Louie Vega, Fela Kuti's drummer Tony Allen & writer David Toop) as the godfather of afrobeat, Ginger and his group, The African Messengers enjoyed a varied career as the go to afro-cuban percussion group for recording sessions in the UK, working with Georgie Fame, Osibisa, Madeleine Bell and Quincy Jones - as well as acting us mentor to a young Fela Kuti and members of Cymande who cut their teeth as members of his ensemble. They also performed at The Royal Variety Performance, Ginger's music featured in the James Bond film 'Live & Let Die' and Ginger himself appears on screen drumming in the Hammer Films cult classic 'She', and famously performed with The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 1969.

Aside from 'African Party', and several Hi Life singles released on the Melodisc label in the 50's, it was thought that there were no further recordings by this hugely influential musician . Eventually, prompted by the attention afforded the Freestyle re-issues - Ginger's son Dennis Dee Mac Johnson was contacted by Uchenna Ikonne, a renowned African music collector, who told him he had discovered one rather battered original copy of a 45 single, released in the mid 70's on the short lived 'Afrodesia' label,

For Record Store Day 2019, Freestyle are proud to release the 2 tracks on a fresh vinyl 45. 'Witchdoctor' is not the track of the same name on African Party, but it and 'Nawa' (written by Dizzy Gillespie cohort Chano Pozo) demonstrate a musical progression as funk had stamped it's indelible footprint on Ginger's music along with afro-cuban rhythms and jazz.

Thanks to Claudio Passavanti at Doctor Mix Studios in London, who has done quite an amazing restoration and re-mastering job on this long lost music.

"Dance On", the latest single from Canopy continues the label's enthusiasm for re-issuing vintage Afro-tropical funk, reggae & disco, paired with modern remixes and remakes.

Two long out of print and previously un-reissued musical gems from Malian musician Nawari, get an overdue second life. Those gems being the eponymous "Dance On", an upbeat Afro-reggae-disco dancer originally self-released in 1987, and "Fanta Cini", originally released in 1989, which takes a deeper, tougher "proto-Afro-electro-funk" direction.

Sharing creative duties is Russian producer Valique, aka "V" from the best-selling "V's edits series, appearing on Canopy for the first time with a strong contribution to the label. Taking the title tune he reimagined & recreated it, building from Nawari's vocals and recording live horns, skanking guitars and percussion, blended with his signature classy production: crisp, warm, groovy & punchy.

Valique turns in 3 different mixes of Dance On, ranging from reggae disco, to cosmic Afro beat, timbale percussion workouts and beyond.

The release spans a range of moods, segueing between the past & present, organic and electronic, proving itself to be well suited for many environments, from the kitchen party to the bars, clubs & festivals of the world.

Modern Obscure Music presents The Bubble of Love, a new collaborative album by Pedro Vian together with Ustad Nawab Khan and Naved Nawab Khan - the 9th and 10th generation of a distinguished santoor lineage from Rajasthan, India. Recorded during an intense week of sessions at Pedro Vian's studio in Barcelona, the album captures a rare and concentrated encounter between traditions, generations, and sonic languages.

ROADS VOL.3 is the third installment of Thylacine's iconic ROADS series, recorded in the heart of the stunning landscapes of Namibia, in his caravan studio. A true sonic journey, this album immerses the listener in a unique universe, where every note tells a story of landscape, emotion, and authentic experience.



Since the breakthrough success of Transsiberian, Thylacine has continued to push boundaries, venturing into new territories in search of stories to tell and challenges to take on. Much like mountaineers carving fresh paths across glaciers, he is constantly exploring new creative horizons. With millions of streams to his name and standout tracks like Anatolia, Piany Pianino, and Satie I, his momentum shows no sign of slowing.
Breaking away from the familiar, his upcoming album Roads Vol.3 draws on the raw beauty of his recent journey through Namibia, offering listeners a collection of previously unreleased tracks. Guided by his instinct for musical nomadism, Thylacine treats each project as a true adventure in its own right. Roads Vol.3 will be released on October 31.

ROADS VOL.3 is the third installment of Thylacine's iconic ROADS series, recorded in the heart of the stunning landscapes of Namibia, in his caravan studio. A true sonic journey, this album immerses the listener in a unique universe, where every note tells a story of landscape, emotion, and authentic experience.



Since the breakthrough success of Transsiberian, Thylacine has continued to push boundaries, venturing into new territories in search of stories to tell and challenges to take on. Much like mountaineers carving fresh paths across glaciers, he is constantly exploring new creative horizons. With millions of streams to his name and standout tracks like Anatolia, Piany Pianino, and Satie I, his momentum shows no sign of slowing.
Breaking away from the familiar, his upcoming album Roads Vol.3 draws on the raw beauty of his recent journey through Namibia, offering listeners a collection of previously unreleased tracks. Guided by his instinct for musical nomadism, Thylacine treats each project as a true adventure in its own right. Roads Vol.3 will be released on October 31.

Leila Gamal’s ‘Abaleeh Abalingi’

At the height of Pan-Arabism, when the United Arab Republic fused Egypt and Syria in a fleeting but bold experiment, a new wave of popular music was emerging—vibrant, infectious, and universally danceable. Among its lesser-known stars was actress Leila Gamal, whose voice—delicate yet rich with longing—embodied the golden era of Egyptian cinema. Born in Alexandria to Syrian roots, Gamal’s vocals were a magnetic blend of sweetness and passion, with a timeless allure that echoed the silver-screen sweethearts of her time.

Abaleeh Abalingi pulses with the hypnotic drive of funky organ riffs, reminiscent of the blind visionary Ammar El Sheriyi, creating a sound both cinematic and undeniably catchy. The delicate lyrics by Khairi Fouad place the track firmly in the lineage of the Middle East’s most iconic pop divas, from Angham to Nawal El-Zoughbi who he subsequently wrote for. This reissue, lovingly remastered, brings this long-lost gem back to life, where it belongs—spinning on turntables, teasing dance floors, and transporting listeners to Egypt in the late sixties.


Adel Osman’s “Oriental Eyes”

Oriental Eyes captures the essence of the 60s Egyptian Franco-Arab movement, blending Western (often jazz) influences with Arabic melodies to mesh mystique with sensuality. Osman’s commanding yet delicate vocals deliver the bilingual lyrics with captivating sincerity, his voice effortlessly gliding over the swells of the arrangement. The trumpet, possibly connecting him to Zaki Osman of Salah Ragab’s legendary Cairo Jazz Band, adds a layer of flair, enriching the track’s Tarantino-esque eclecticism. Now remastered, ‘Oriental Eyes’ is not only a nostalgic gem but a timeless reminder of the boundary-defying spirit that defined the 1960s musical landscape.

Given the ongoing war efforts against Israel, this record wasn’t pressed by Sono Cairo till much later in 1975 once Egypt had recaptured the Sinai and restored national pride. Sono Cairo (Sawt el-Qahira) was the first Arab-owned and by far the largest record label in the Middle East, amassing an unmatched catalogue of music. With exclusive rights over much of Umm Kulthum’s works, Sono Cairo played a crucial role in disseminating the sounds of Arab Nationalism and projecting Egypt’s soft power across the region.

Muhammad Al-Najjar
London, April 2025

credits
Audio restoration and vinyl mastering: Colin Young
Lacquer cut: Timmion cutting lab
Sleeve and label artwork: Grotezk Studio
Under License of Sono Cairo

Rhiza Semar returns with Scarlet Cloak, the second instalment from Dutch-Indonesian producer and label founder Hitam. Emerging from the depths of sonic experimentation, Scarlet Cloak continues Rhiza Semar's mission - blending club-oriented tracks with a left-field approach. With three tracks from Hitam and a remix by Nawaz, the EP offers a subtle nod to early 00's mental tribe, reimagining it with a sleek, contemporary, edge. Pulsing tentatively, Scarlet Cloak opens with delicate drum patterns, paving the way for gritty, heady sonic immersion. Meticulously crafted, faint and distant synths emerge on the horizon, orchestrating an ambience that conjures quiet anticipation - a peaceful wonder drifting through the shadows. Blissfully snaking into the next production, Nawaz remixes the track with a razor-sharp switch in tempo, locking the mental trip. Setting the pace for deep introspection, fast and obscure aquatic layers ripple, submerging the listener into dark, murky textures. Flashes of club lights dissolve into a distorted memory, intangible yet electrifying as Future Kill seizes the mind. Pangs of liquid acid spread through an aphotic tunnel of sound, while percussive elements pump the heart, mirroring the adrenaline rush before stepping into a cavernous rave. In Your Head spins forward, stripped-back minimal layers congregate, spiraling the EP toward a hard climax. Rough-cut textures and skittish vocals lay on a soft bed of snares, creating psychedelic dissonance. The atmosphere thickens and breaks with permeating, rolling kick drums, drawing this 10-minute odyssey to a close. Lose yourself in a sonic labyrinth as Hitam masterfully crafts Scarlet Cloak - a volatile minefield seeping with rude, mental, teeth-gritting energy. credits Words by Charlotte Hingley

The follow up to 'Sun Circles' is here: 'Jour De Fete' (French for "day of celebration") is a sweltering slab of festive inner city disco of the highest order. Flip the record for a mighty, extended dub by cult hero Conrad McDonnell of Idjut Boys fame. 'Nuff said.

Oikoumene" bedeutet "Ökumene" und bezieht sich auf einen altgriechischen Begriff, der die bewohnten oder "zivilisierten" Teile unseres Planeten bezeichnet, mit anderen Worten diejenigen, in denen die Menschheit ihre Spuren hinterlassen hat. In diesem Rahmen hat THEODOR BASTARD Musiker russischer, Zulu-, indischer, britischer und französisch-afrikanischer Traditionen und eine beeindruckende Reihe von Naturinstrumenten (daf, doira, dumbek, udo, kalimba, reko-reko, caxixi, ashiko, talking drum) aus der ganzen Welt zusammengebracht, um dieses Album zu schaffen. Ursprünglich im Jahr 2012 veröffentlicht, wird es nun endlich wiederveröffentlicht! Wie Aki Nawaz von der britischen Kultband Fun-Da-Mental sagt, "spiegeln Theodor Bastard die wahre Kunst des musikalischen Ausdrucks in all ihren Parametern wider".

Oikoumene" bedeutet "Ökumene" und bezieht sich auf einen altgriechischen Begriff, der die bewohnten oder "zivilisierten" Teile unseres Planeten bezeichnet, mit anderen Worten diejenigen, in denen die Menschheit ihre Spuren hinterlassen hat. In diesem Rahmen hat THEODOR BASTARD Musiker russischer, Zulu-, indischer, britischer und französisch-afrikanischer Traditionen und eine beeindruckende Reihe von Naturinstrumenten (daf, doira, dumbek, udo, kalimba, reko-reko, caxixi, ashiko, talking drum) aus der ganzen Welt zusammengebracht, um dieses Album zu schaffen. Ursprünglich im Jahr 2012 veröffentlicht, wird es nun endlich wiederveröffentlicht! Wie Aki Nawaz von der britischen Kultband Fun-Da-Mental sagt, "spiegeln Theodor Bastard die wahre Kunst des musikalischen Ausdrucks in all ihren Parametern wider".

THE big record... Full oldchool crews from The Olstad Sound System, the Cirkus Alien... But all these with Sirius & 4Q with their House & their Electro nawaday skills ! For a change and an open mind selecta !!!!!

Crazy record !!!

2 Banging Hardcore tune 2 Hardfloor killers !

Oldschool French Hardcore ! Longloy awaited since 2009 : the repress !!!

REPRESS ! The NaWak 01 is back. Remastered and remixed ! A must have, featuring the OST from Beetlejuice hardcore remix and C'est Arrivé Près de Chez Vous Tribecore remix... KILLER !

Hotrebor open this EP with a superb Acidcore fly over the hard kick creating an hypnotik dimension The Untitled sometime does nawaday... but mostly reminding me nevertheless than XMF ! Art Is Anal keeps on scouting the A side with his bending kick, bassy alert call ! The flip open with Fist Of Fury and his skills of clearness opoosites to his solid kick, both aerian and tellurik.... The ep finishes with a speedcore Armaguet Nad furious neveous maker... This is the best Go More Core for sure one of the best prods from the SODOM familly ! BIG !

Killer trip into unknown South-East Asian Melayu & Pinoy Funk -
Rare Groove - Deep Soul - Disco & AOR!

Experimental Dancefloor music, unformated and still ... exploring sweet and sour... First tune, called Oppression is a Revered techno kick Doom tune. Secodn track is a sweet shy volumed kick at 220 BPM still...And third A side track, Lobotomie Croissante is an obsessional Industrial broke npsychedelic track, a bit in the Olschool little 7'' witch i cant remember the name of^^ B side opens on Mutation, a 170 BPM speed techno/trie dark tune very new wavy ambiance... Special and precise ! Then comes an ambient dark indus tune called Ondes Robotiques. Terminal is a break electronica hard tune, in a AFX Ant-zenized style. Terminal is the name... good anme to close this EP. A record in a rare style nawadays , offering a real variety of unformated sounds, not so hard but still hard enough to be dancefloor ! MASTERPIECE !!