The Nkengas
Nkengas In London

A collection of 12 taarab songs from 1960s coastal Kenya by Yaseen Mohamed (Mac & Party). Musically rich and unique for its time and place, this compilation is a treasure trove of songs and a feast for your ear.Yaseen’s arrangements drew influences from Indian and Egyptian film music, rhythm and blues, jazz and Latin music. Sung with a characteristic, dark voice, Yaseen’s Swahili poetry was layered over rich percussion patterns, accompanied by the distinctive sound of the Clavioline (a proto-synth) and amplified taishokoto, a novelty harp instrument of Japanese origin that Yaseen helped popularise in Kenya in the 1940s. On many songs he is accompanied by his wife Mimi on vocals.Compiled from the elusive Mzuri catalogue, originally released in Kenya in the 60’s, the LP comes with extensive liner-notes describing the life of Yaseen,his musical background and the early days of the Kenyan record industry.

Shawn Lee's country-soul solo album Rides Again in 2019 was a fascinating one that picked up, rightly, plenty of plaudits. Now he returns with follow up long player Rides Yet again on Germany's Legere Recordings. He is in a more personal and reflective mode than before with an intriguing set of songs. US born but London based he is a prolific singer, songwriter, musician, producer, arranger, filmmaker and author so this album has a strong narrative arc running all throughout it. Soulful but with hints of Americana, it's a unique proposition.

L’affaire perce à Kingston-upon-Hull, entre cup of tea et pinte d’ale. Les mots du bonhomme parlent de ça, entre autres choses. Ils sont imbibés de whisky et de la vapeur iodée de tous les pubs de l’estuaire de la Humber. On n’y sort pas sa guitare pour rien : le folk là-bas ne fait pas de cadeau, il est for real. Fils de Hull comme un marin l’est des rades autour du monde, façonné par le revival folk US des années soixante et soigneux d’un American Dream bien particulier, Prokop débarque.Dans cet album de reprise de chansons traditionnelles, il veut montrer que ces vieilles chansons sont toujoursactuelles car on se les réaproprie en permanence. Jouées par les musiciens folks, ils se les passent de génération en génération et chacun en fait sa version avec ses propres arrangements. Pour Prokop, « On est songwritter folk qu’à partir du moment où on prend en compte ce qui a été écrit avant nous ». Cela lui tenait donc à coeur de débuter sa discographie par « The Confinement Tapes » avant un premier album de ses propres compositions. Avec un enregistrement et des arrangements « roots », Prokop est comme « à nu » sur ce disque dont le genre dominant est la folk, mais non sans lien avec le blues et la country aux inspirations diverses comme Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash ou encore Pete Seeger.

Les Ya Toupas is a band formed in 1976 by Bopol Mansiamina (Bass - Success Mode, 4 Stars ...), Manuaku Waku (aka Grand Zaiko Wawa) and Ray Lema (Piano, Organ and Guitar). Between 1976 and 1978, they recorded several 7inches including the famous title “Je ne bois pas beaucoup” (1976) compiled on the series of Sofrito (Tropical Discotheque ) in 2011. In 1978, they recorded this unique and unclassifiable instrumental album, Les Ya Toupas du Zaïre, produced by Gérard Akueson (founder of Akue Records and Abeti's producer). The LP is composed of minimalist Afro Jazz rhythms and Deep Funk grooves that are close at times to a tropical trance, all played by musicians who used to offer more classic Rumba rhythms.