Tyrone Evans
Rise Up

Founded in 1996 by the German-Nigerian lead singer Ade Bantu, his brother Abiodun Odukoya and Patrice, BANTU have been one of the West African acts transforming the legacy of King Sunny Adé and Fela Kuti into the soundtrack of the continent. The group is distinguished by the fact that while created and fronted by vocalist Ade Bantu, it is unmistakably a collective, collaborative effort. When you have a band this strong, this tight where everyone gets to shine, magic happens. And once again with this new album, the 13-piece ensemble is pushing the boundaries of funkiness and political prowess for contemporary music, in Africa or globally.From their first release, “No Vernacular in 1996 to the present, BANTU has scored a series of hits across Europe and Africa garnering major awards. Indeed, the list of artists who've collaborated with BANTU is a testament to the power, originality and talent of the band: an international cornucopia including UB40, Tony Allen, Orlando Julius, Brothers Keepers (which they created), Gentleman, Ebenezer Obey and Burna Boy just to name a few. These collaborations helped the band earn several major Continental awards, including the Kora Awards (the Pan African equivalent of the Grammys) for “Best Group West Africa” and “Best Group Africa”.Their latest release Everybody Get Agenda is nothing short of a musical sensation - Afrobeat, Funk and Soul seamlessly flow into one another as they merge with Jazz, Highlife, Hiphop and Yoruba music. The lyrics address issues around corruption, injustice, migration, xenophobia and urban alienation while a guest appearance by Seun Kuti on “Yeye Theory” rounds up this solid long player. There is no doubt that with Everybody Get Agenda BANTU has not just charted new musical territory but reached it and planted the flag.

ITOPIASunshine LoveWackie's USThe original 1981 12" of Itopia's 'Sunshine Love' is one of the most sought-after cuts in the Wackie's catalogue, with copies regularly changing hands for three-figure sums online. This 12" includes the two key cuts from that 12", the synth-sporting, electrofunk-era vocal reggae gem original mix of 'Sunshine Love' - all super-sweet group vocals, hybrid live/electronic grooves and colourful electronics - and the dub style 'Version', which boasts some seriously squelchy synth-bass. Over on the flip there's a chance to cop Itopia's upbeat 1984 reggae club-rocker, the similarly synth-splashed 'Keep a Rockin', plus one of the original 'Sunshine Love' flipsides, the NYC synth-skank that is 'Get Over'. In a word: essential.

On change de mood avec cette sortie Ska chez Amoul Bayi Records. Comme a son habitude le label n'a pas peur d'aller chercher aux bases du Reggae et de croiser les influences ! Amoul-Bayi RecordsABR12006A1: Nzolani Brothers - Kinsoundi BarrageA2: DubwiseB1: Galas - Liar & ThiefB2: DubwiseMusic by Amoul Bayi All StarsMixed by Sawah at Sawasound StudioFrance2019

Pittsburgh, PA-native Buscrates returns to Bastard Jazz with a synth-heavy 7” single, “Internal Dialogue.” The two-tracker sees the artist take an easy-going approach to his signature funk-filled sound, with a slowed-down tempo and melodic key riffs. “Internal Dialogue” is a mellow boogie joint that combines plenty of Moog, rich ARP strings, and syncopated clavinet chord stabs; “Early Morning” is reminiscent of a late-90s neo-soul beat, with rich Rhodes chords, while a squelching bass line evokes 70s electro-funk. Both tracks are undeniably Buscrates and are sure to have your head bobbing.Buscrates - aka Orlando Marshall - is a DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Pittsburgh. He draws influences largely from 90s hip hop and early-mid 80s electronic funk, which is evident in the boomy, swinging drums and bubbly Minimoog bass lines heard throughout some of his productions. He works locally and sometimes internationally either behind a pair of turntables spinning 45s or working his trusty Roland SP-404SX sampler and various other little portable gadgets at one of his beat sets. Some of his production credits include Phonte & Eric Roberson, Wiz Khalifa, and the late great Mac Miller.“Internal Dialogue” is out on Bastard Jazz Recordings September 30th.

Surely one of the all-time greats of instrumental reggae reveries, Ernest Ranglin is widely adored for a very good reason. He was there at the very beginning, and stayed relevant throughout successive decades of Jamaican music. In 1982, Ranglin teamed up with the mighty Noel Williams in Florida and recorded a sweet cover of The Dramatics' R&B classic, 'In The Rain'. It's a heady, dreamy version with a sumptuous, widescreen sound, as romantic and immersive as the original version was and this is the first time ever on a 45. But that's not all - on the flip, as played by Gilles Peterson Mukatsuku gets busy with a frankly stunning dub which loops up flute licks in a masterful manner.