Juno Recommends International July 2021

Review: Spanish outfit Mampon is a 10-piece Afrobeat collective that is hear to get you dancing liek you have never dance before. And what better time to do that as we emerge from lockdown, with the sun beating down? The single they serve up here on Rocafort is 'Quierete,' with its mad horns, juggling beats, organic percussion and angular guitar riffs all making you shake every bone in your body utterly loose. The call and response vocals are hypnotic and finish the party in style. There is a real disco vibe to the flip side remix courtesy of another Latino artist, Voodoocuts

Review: Straop yourself in and prepare for a cosmic trip on psyched out cosmic polyrhythms with kosmische overtones at the hands of newcomer Glass Beams. This debut on Research Record is a stunning one from the enigmatic producer but will have you googling t find out as much as you can while you get lost in the sliding bass and transcendent synthwork. It's tinged with a certain retro charm and 70s prog magic but also feels decidedly new and fresh. Masterful.

Review: Angolan guitarist and musicologist Mario Rui Silva is under the microscope on this fantastic new reissue from Time Capsule. It is a retrospective of 80s recordings that take in myriad style including jazz, acoustic, Mexican cantina, swinging serenades and folky village sing alongs. The whole record is delightfully summery and airy, with feel good grooves and subtle funk styles all making it a perfect accompaniment to a lazy afternoon in the sun or an evening drinking with friends. While analogies can be found in Brazilian artists like Jorge Ben, Lo Borges, and Milton Nascimento, Rui Silva is in a world of his own as he worked to preserve traditional musics.

Review: Another standout Record Store Day 2021 release here with Ciao Italia: Generazioni Underground bringing together plenty of rare and hugely desirable Italo house gems. The 13 tunes have all been assembled by Brescia based, Rebirth label boss Shield and they take in some unreleased gold as well as super rare material in a retro styled 1990 world cup sleeve. All the mainstays such as DJ Ralf, Alex Neri, Optik, Morenas and SueNo Latino feature. This special double LP comes with a 20 page booklet for extra insight.

Review: NuNorthern Soul's 2021 Record Store Day offering is something of a treat. It's a fresh reissue of an impossible-to-find promo 45 first issued to promote Flamenco legend El Turronero's 1980 disco album, EL Hondo. It features two tracks that have long been regular features in the sets of many dusty-fingered Balearic selectors, especially globe-trotting cult leader DJ Harvey. On the A-side you'll find the cosmic, driving, synth-laden brilliance of 'Las Penas (La Cana) - a genuine "everything but the kitchen sink" affair topped off by El Turronero's distinctive vocals - while the more exotic 'Si Yo Volviera Al Nacer', where synths and Sitars accompany the Flamenco-disco grooves, resides on the flip.

Review: Social Joy records is very pleased to present Burkina Azza's debut Album "Wari bo" a musical tale that covers every aspect of Burkina Azza's values and world view. The album takes us to the very soul of Burkina Faso, giving us a taste of the deep connection of the artists to the beauty and culture of this country.

The Burkinabe collective, from Nayerina in the Djibasso region, was born from a lineage of Balafonist and Percussionist musicians called "The Griots", often referred to as a "living archive of the people's traditions". "Wari bo" was Produced in January 2020 on the brink of the coronavirus pandemic in Ouagadougou after Label owner Guilhem Monin discovered an outstanding street performance via the African Drumming Facebook group. Two years later, this release is the result of a friendship and love of music that connects two continents and travels across borders, space and time.

Review: Rewind to 1975, Brazilian supergroup Azymuth hit their richest creative vein with this self-titled full-length. Just as the band remain so themselves, this is still hugely relevant and ridiculously on-point considering it's 40 years on the clock. Proof can be found on every track from the sedative harmonic charms of the opener "Linha Do Horizonte", the raw slap bass funk, velvet keys and soaring synths on "Seems Like This" and the frenetic, almost techy mentality of "Wait For My Turn". An essential addition to any collection, this would have blown minds to pieces back in 1975.

Review: There are numerous reasons why you shop cop a copy of this 50th anniversary reissue of Fela Kuti and Africa '70s 1971 album Open & Close, not least the luxurious gatefold packaging (modelled on the gatefold sleeve that accompanied the original Nigerian album release) and a marbled red and orange vinyl pressing. The album itself remains one of the late, great saxophonist and bandleader's greatest albums: a fiery and funky Afrobeat set whose groove-based tracks brilliantly twist and turn and come laden with a variety of expressive solos from the man himself and various members of his vast backing band (including, we should point out, some incredible Tony Allen drum-work). The 15-minute title track in particular is mind-blowing.

Review: The brilliant and tireless Mr Bongo serve up another of their reissues with a big dose of love. 'Conflict Nkru!' from Ebo Taylor and Uhuru Yenzu was originally recorded back in 1980 and is one of the many great records that made Taylor such a towering figure of the Ghanaian music scene. A master of Afrobeat, Afrofunk and highlife he is fantastic form here with plenty of modern funk stitched into traditional Ghanian rhythms. The record is defined by catchy chants, horn riffs and guitar licks, with airy flute next to heavy horns. It close son arguably the highlight - 'Victory', which is based on a traditional song of the Asafa, or war people.