Tala
Mother Africa

Hot Casa's latest deep dive into the Afro-funk archives takes us to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the turn of the 1970s. It was here, in a nation brimming with post-independence confidence, that a funk band called The Soul Kids briefly burned brightly. This reissue of their impossible to find debut album should be essential listening for anyone interested in West African funk. It contains a mixture of sizzling self-penned instrumentals and inspired cover versions of American funk standards, including a memorable take on Wilson Pickett's cover of Beatles classic "Hey Jude" and two fantastic versions of James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag".

Located on Nyali Beach, south of Mombasa city lies Mombasa Reef Hotel. Catering westerners to safaris and snorkelling, and providing local acts of art-acts and music, including the hotel's then house band the Mombasa Vikings. A band name undoubtedly suited for the many Nordic tourist that frequently visited. It's not exactly afro-beat more of a hybrid, heavy percussive with a a tip of chakacha rhythm pattern, a flute solo ooozing with jazz sensibility. (Afro7)

The Brkn Record is a new project led and produced by Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bass player for the UK’s foundational deep jazz outfit the Heliocentrics. With fellow Heliocentrics co-founder and legendary drummer Malcolm Catto, Ferguson has been a regular collaborator with globally recognised artists including Archie Shepp, Mulatu Astatke, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Julius and many others. The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 represents Ferguson’s debut as a bandleader and orchestrator, and manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe. Combining poetry, testimony and song with rich and cinematic backdrops, Ferguson has produced a sui generis sound that conjures flavours of Arthur Verocai, Ennio Morricone, classic library productions, Madlib-style deep-jazz beat science, and psychedelic soul. With bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums, Ferguson draws on their long years of collaborative experience in the Heliocentrics to build an album of striking texture and depth. But the album does not only reflect Ferguson’s full-spectrum musical prowess, experience and vision. It is equally a manifestation of his longstanding and high-profile work as a frontline activist for racial justice and social equity in London and beyond.

Featuring Joey Qionones’s debut Colemine single ‘Love Me Like You Used To,’ this 45 epitomizes the artist. Drowning in lush and soulful tracks, both ‘There Must Be Something’ and ‘Love Me Like You Used To’ bring you into Joey’s world, where he embodies the East LA sweet soul scene. This is Joey’s second 45 in collaboration with Colemine Records, but expect a dynamic, rich, and stacked debut LP from him later this year.