Orchestre Volta-Jazz
Air Volta

2021. A strong compilation of grooves by two of Belgium’s most iconic selectors, filled with new productions. San Kofa Rhythm Records kicks off 2021 with a killer compilation by AliA & DTM Funk. After three stellar releases, DTM Funk’s San Kofa Rhythm Records is proud to present its first compilation, filled with new productions of ten different talented outsiders.'Black Gravity' refers to the Herbie Hancock and A Guy Called Gerald collaboration from 2001. According to DTM Funk, this track is "the perfect example of two different grooves coming together in perfect harmony". The result shows that groovy soul and alternative electronica go hand in hand. This powerful fusion of influences gave rise to a monthly show on Brussels' online station Kiosk Radio. A few months later, Black Gravity Rhythms now becomes a compilation series around an ever-evolving sound that winks to the past while firmly looking towards the future.In each new volume of the series, DTM Funk will collaborate with another befriended DJ, assembling a varied collection of productions representing the sound of the guest selector. For the first edition, we look to ​AliA​, probably Belgium's most skilled sound digger of her generation. Still only 21-year-old, she is known for her eclectic style, impeccable skills and versatile selection that ranges from broken beats to bossa nova and from alternative techno to off-beat belters. She's a regular at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival, Listen Festival and frequently plays together with Belgium's most renowned DJ, Lefto. Settling on ten definitive tunes together with DTM Funk proved to be as easy as a B2B DJ-set (of which they have done plenty of).The final selection on the compilation delivers for any music fan. From broken beat (Faraji Heritage Experiment, Kuna Maze and Pippin), dub-infused Afro house (SofaTalk and Àbáse), laidback grooves (Chery Moya and Duke Hugh) or soulful house (Forbidden Fruit and Windows & Daidu). Whether you need something to shuffle to in your living room or reminisce the long-gone days of clubbing, these are the kind of vibes that suit any occasion.As will be the standard from here on out, the compilation's producers originate from a wide array of places and backgrounds. Forbidden Fruit (who keen observers might know from his Title and Soft Focus aliases), Kuna Maza, Cherry Maze and Pippin represent Belgium's versatile and fruitful beatmaker scene, while Farija Heritage (Morocco), SofaTalk (Italy), Àbáse (Hungary), Windows & Vertigo (The Netherlands), Kodäma (UK) and Duke Hugh (The Netherlands) bring in a decent dose of worldly flavours. In fact, the latter is a favourite of NTS Radio resident Bradley Zero, who released Duke Hugh’s debut Canvas EP on his renowned Rhythm Section record label.The compilation perfectly fits the philosophy of the record label. "The meaning of San Kofa implies that all music comes from somewhere", explains DTM Funk. "If you acknowledge the music's origins and its essence, it becomes so much more valuable, and you become better prepared for the future". The first episode of this collaborative compilation series does just that. With plenty more releases on the agenda in 2021, Black Gravity Rhythms Vol. 1 is a strong start of a bountiful year filled with forward-facing music.

Badder Weather / As I Walk (feat. Josephine Oniyama) - (Ltd Clear edition 7"Gondwana Records are delighted to announce '7" Series', our first ever 7" vinyl collection series. Featuring bespoke artwork from Gondwana Records designer Daniel Halsall, cut at Calyx in Berlin, and manufactured at Optimal, each 7" is limited to strictly 300 copies and housed in a reverse board printed sleeve with classic 'dinked' centre holes.To launch this collectable series, we are excited to share new and previously unreleased music from Mammal Hands and two catalogue favourites from Matthew Halsall. Over the next coming months, we will share series part 3 and 4 and beyond.Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra ft Josephine OniyamaBadder Weather / As I Walk 7" (GOND07003)Manchester based composer, arranger, producer, DJ and band-leader Matthew Halsall has carved out a niche for himself as one of the UK's brightest talents. His languid, soulful, beautiful music has won international acclaim and for his first ever 7" he revisits his 2015 masterpiece, Into Forever, selecting two classic cuts, featuring the great vocalist Josephine Oniyama to create an instant, timeless, classic.Side A Badder Weather is deep and soulful built around a groove that never quits.Side B As I Walk is a lush, soulful affair, featuring swelling strings and deep vocals.Manchester based composer, producer, trumpeter, DJ and founder of Gondwana Records, Matthew Halsall is one of UK's most creative talents. A gifted trumpeter with a beautiful, expressive tone, his music has explored his love of the transcendental spiritual and modal jazz of Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, as well as more contemporary dance music and electronica.

The third album on Black Focus continues the South London tradition but this time in the form of one of the originators: a triple OG, Steve Spacek. Spacek recently released a solo record through Alexander Nut’s imprint Eglo, dBridge’s Exit Records as Blackpocket, following on from his work with Ninja Tune under the Beat Spacek moniker and collaboration with Mark Pritchard as Africa HiTech on Warp.He’s also made formative work with legendary artists J Dilla, Raphael Saddiq, Q Tip and Common and made early drum & bass tunes with his brother dBridge. It’s an incredible career resume and an honour to be releasing this new work. ‘Houses’ sees Spacek return to his Detroit influences, with house music at the heart of this record as it's foundation but as with all Spacek’s releases, it transcends genre and focuses more on swing, melody and feeling.There are elements of soul, jazz and R&B interlaced within the DNA of his electronic music, alongside his signature falsetto vocals. The entire project was produced using iPhone and iPad apps, an approach Steve champions and feels liberated by using technology to join the past with the present. Describing the project his own words: “It’s been well overdue for me to be releasing some 4/4 House vibes!This music has been a big part of my musical journey from dot. Mainly from two angles. The first is, of course, the early rave scene in London and the UK in general, with all its early iterations. Techno from the D, acid, (happy) hardcore, what we use to call dub house (pre jungle), coming into Garage and Balearic to name a few. The other angle is the music production angle: I’ve always used the basic 4/4 template as a means of being able to learn a new piece of recording equipment.Whenever I get any new beat making hardware or software, I’d always make a house beat. I find it the easiest music to make and have always joked about how I can knock up a house beat in 10 minutes! Well now I have an LP’s worth to share! Taken a tad longer than 10min but hey ;) Enjoy.”

A 12" comp put together by Four Tet, selecting two big peak-time Jazz tracks he used to spin regularly at Plastic People.On one side, we’ve got all time jazz greats Jackie McLean and Michael Carvin’s De I Comahlee Ah, taken from their seminal album Antiquity recorded in Denmark back in 1975. A year and a half ago, we visited Steeplechase, the original label in the outskirts of Copenhagen. They informed us that at the time, the track was cut short as it didn’t fit on the full LP. They were kind enough to provide us with the tape of the full original recording, allowing us to release for the first time the full extended version capturing twelve and a half minutes of studio magic. Speaking with Michael back in November, he told us that every song on that album was recorded without any overdubs. They had taken their shoes off and organised the studio in such a way that they could move from instrument to instrument during the take (!!)On the flip, we have Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – MRA. Back in 70s London, the Brotherhood had brought together musicians who had sought refuge from South Africa’s apartheid regime and the best of a new generation of British jazz musicians. Music journalist Richard Williams, who had originally reviewed the band in the 1970s tell us: “They made music that appealed in equal measure to the head, the heart and the feet, taking the jazz legacy of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus and adding to it the fantastic dance rhythms and gorgeous harmonies of the townships and untethered collective improvisations of the new free music”.Four Tet’s instalment is out early May in 12” format and digitally (stream & download), first press comes with a folded A2 insert with words from and about the artists. Graphic design by Studio ChoqueLeGoff, illustration and animation by Nevil Bernard and for the audiophiles out there, remastered and cut at half speed by Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios!The second instalment curated by Ben UFO is scheduled shortly, which will be followed over time by a string of releases including selections from Hunee, Mafalda, Floating Points, Anya & Julia from Javybz, Daphni, Josey Rebelle, Charlie Bones, Gilles Peterson… and more, stay tuned!

In the beginning of the 1970’s, Guinea-Bissau was a country broken up into many ethnic groups and at the heart of a war for independence. By reviving traditional musical genres as Gumbé and singing in guinean Kriol, José Carlos Schwarz & Cobiana Djazz established an immediate affective bond with their audiences. Through its music and politically engaged spirit of the lyrics, the band played a significant role in shaping the social and political consciousness of the masses. As well as influencing local bands like Super Mama Djombo and giving back a deep sense of cultural identity to bissau-guineans.The explosive birth of Cobiana Djazz brought about other kinds of detonation. Schwarz became involved in urban guerilla activities which resulted in several bombings in the centre of Bissau, leading to his imprisonment and torture. He remained in lockup for a total period of about 2 years, between 1972 and 1974.The process of decolonisation, in the wake of the Portuguese revolution of 25 April 1974, led to the recognition, during the same year, of the sovereign nation of Guinea-Bissau.Schwarz, a key figure in the fight for independence, played an important part in the transition to the democratic regime, profiting from his popularity as an artist. Soon, his criticism (underscoring opportunism and irresponsibility in high places) became a thorn in the side of the political elite. Uneasy with the disquieting effects of his work, government officials effectively separated the author from the masses by assigning him to the embassy in Havana.José Carlos Schwarz met a tragic and untimely death at the age of 27, when his plane crashed on arrival at Cuba's José Martí International Airport, on May 271th 1977.Hailed by african giants like Orchestra Baobab, Letta Mbulu or Miriam Makeba (with whom he recorded his first and only solo album), “Zé Carlos” and his poetry won a lasting position in the annals of Guinea-Bissau. However, this collection of songs remains relatively unknown outside the country and its diasporas.We are proud to offer, in close collaboration with the Schwarz family, this first official reissue on vinyl. Remastered and pressed on heavyweight vinyl.