Artist Bio:
Sounds of South Africa Volumes 1 and 2 contains tracks by many of South Africa's best: Achisa, Alien Soap Opera, Amampondo, Barungwa, Brice Wassy, Byron Wallen, Changuito, DMP and Chill Factor, DZM Projects, Flora Purim, Iain Ballamy, Ingube Gout, Juno Reactor, Lungiswa Plaatjies, Mabi Thobejane, Madala Kunene, Max Lasser, Moses Molelekwa, Outernational Meltdown, Pops Mohamed, Skeleton, Suzan Hendricks and Sangoma Friends, Vusi Khumalo.
VOLUME 1
1. Madala Kunene Kon'ko Man
From the album, Kon'ko Man
Dubbed the 'King of the Zulu guitar', Madala used to be a passionate soccer player who traded in the round leather for a guitar. Madala lives in a poor suburb of Durban, South Africa, where I first played him the final version of this track. Airto Moreira and Flora Purim had worked hard on the basic track, initially produced by Pops Mohamed. It was one of those great moments in life where a happy face says more than a million words. Madala and Mabi Thobejane subsequently played me a couple of very personal concerts which I recorded on my personal DAT machine and my friend DicK Jewell filmed the event with a Hi-8 Handycam. Both the video and the music, on CD and vinyl, are released as King of the Zulu Guitar Live Vol. 1 (BNET CD/LP 001) on the bootleg.net label exclusively through mail order.
2. Byron Wallen Winds Of Change (Earth Roots)
From the album, Earth Roots
Byron's second album is a good example of how a jazz musician can point out this earth's gigantic problems without being sarcastic: an eye and an ear opener! As a dedicated Miles Davis fan, I have looked upon Byron as my new favoured trumpet player. Check his albums to see if you agree with me and let me know your opinion by e-mail.
3. Pops Mohamed The Spirit
From the album, How Far Have We Come?
Pops has been our strong link to South Africa since 1993 and is responsible for initiating many projects on this label. The album, How Far Have We Come? is inspired by our visit to Africa's oldest tribe - the Bushmen (Khoi-san) at the edge of the Kalahari desert, where they are held in so-called 'corridors' and are forgotten by all save some charitable organisations like the Nye Nye Foundation, which helps the Bushmen to return to their traditional hunting grounds. A percentage of the album royalties is going to help the Bushmen. If you want to know more, e-mail me and I will pass you on to the relevant organisation.
4. Flora Purim Now Go Ahead And Open Your Eyes
Exclusively available on limited CD or vinyl 4 track EP (BW5061)
Remember Return To Forever? This is the return of flora and she is joined by some of her old friends, like George Duke, his son Rashid Duke, Ricardo Silveira, Giovanni Hidalgo, Alphonso Johnson and her husband, Airto Moreira.Check Flora's solo album, Speed Of Light (BW044) for some new enlightenment.
5. Max Lässer Kumnandi
From the album, Between
Max Lässer has been around and a lot of New Age music lovers have come across his solo albums and his guitar playing with Andreas Vollenweider. Max joined me on a recording session in Johannesburg, where I introduced him to my South African friends, who all loved to contribute to his work. Vocals and lyrics on Kumnandi are by Lulu 'Lungwisa' Plaatjies, a member of Amampondo. Look out for the forthcoming Lungwisa solo album on M.E.L.T.2000, produced by Tony Thorpe of The Moody Boyz.
6. Brice Wassy Mevum
From the album, Shrine Dance
Manu Dibango and Salif Keita are two of the masters of African music for whom Brice has had the honour of playing drums. You will also hear him playing percussion on the Talking Heads album, Naked, should you be less familiar with African music! On this album, Brice plays jazz the Wassy way: fresh and different and not to be confused with dinner jazz; try dancing again, please! Brice is a forward-thinking citizen of the world and his is the rhythm of the 21st century.
7. Barungwa Vugani
From the album, Music With No Name
The original track of this remix version by DJ Smash for New Breed Productions (NY) remains unreleased and we are waiting for the Messengers to come back together one they have made their statements as solo artists. Andrew Missingham is teaching in Liverpool; Moses Molelekwa and Max Mntambo are working on their solo albums; Dave Mayekane is enjoying the Cape; Chris Bowden is touring his newly-released and highly-acclaimed album. I look forward to getting them together again when the temperature in England is more acceptable for the boys from Africa!
8. Changuito A'Ma'Pancho
From the forthcoming album, Wireless Communication
Chango, the co-founder of the Cuban band, Los Van Van and master of the congas and timbale presents his first free composition in collaboration with the members of Amampondo and Jessica Lauren from London, recorded in Johannesburg, SA, during a creative two week M.E.L.T.DOWN session with musicians from the UK, Cuba, Switzerland, and South Africa. Changuito has discovered new percussion instruments. You will hear them when you get his new album, which includes Chucho Valdes and José Neto: a different kind of Cuban sound!
9. Amampondo Drums For Tomorrow
From the album, Drums For Tomorrow
The 'people of Pondo' are South Africa's leading percussion collective and a favourite of Nelson Mandela, who sent the group to represent their country at the opening of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, 1996. this is the title track from their new album, produced by Brice Wassy. We were working late in the studio at Brownhill Farm and had been getting complaints from the neighbours, so we decided not to make any more noise that night but to leave the 'drums for tomorrow'!
10. Moses Taiwa Molelekwa Tsala
From the forthcoming album, Genes & Spirits (BW079)
Moses got two awards in 1996 for his first album, Finding One's Self (BW053). I wonder how many he will get for his new solo album! A very young star of the piano and keyboards from a country that has surprised the world with a string of great piano players. Dollar and Beki are the most famous, but here is Moses and Tsala: a talent and a song to lead the modern South Africa to International recognition once again.
11. Mabi Gabriel Thobejane Crying About Nature
Unreleased
Malombo and Sakhile are two names to make the Mabi connection. Are you connected ? If not, give a listen to his first album, called after Nelson Mandela's nickname, Madiba (BW086). Or you could check the little guy playing with Juno Reactor on a track called Conga Fury, on the Blueroom Released label, but only if you are up for some brand new techno; be my guest!
12. Vusi Khumalo Dumazile
From the album, Follow Your Dreams (BW093)
Truly soulful soul from the master musicians of South Africa M.E.L.T.ED together by Vusi Khumalo, one of the greatest drummers in the country, and layered with some of the finest players among the London posse. Recorded at Real World and produced by Russell Herman. Connoisseurs of South African music should check the line-up and will definitely recognise some new old names!
13. Doc, Mabi & Madala Nghoko
From their forthcoming album (BW094)
Robert 'Doc' Mthalane, Mabi Gabriel Thobejane and Madala Kunene came to England together. Mabi desperately wanted to work with Doc, but the man was as ill as anybody I've ever seen. Doc refused to leave the farm until he's recorded a couple of tracks, but the next day I got him to the best hospital I could find. When he came out after weeks, we finished the album. It was a hard time for all of us, but the music reflects the simple beauty of being alive.
VOLUME 2
1. Achisa - Say No To Guns (5.26)
Composed by Peter Ndlala. Arranged by Monde Nyamakazi, Sipho Mahonisi, Luvuyo Kemele and Thembile Bam. Lyrics by Monde Nyamakazi, Sipho Mahonisi, Lunga Mbethe and Thabo Matheatsie. Executive Producer, Simpiwe Matole. Mixed by D. Zaman and Sheldon Isaac. Published by Peer Music Pty.
Six young men from a Baptist Boy Home in the oldest township, Langa in Cape Town which was erected by the apartheid government. This is a great example of how music can help to get our kids off the street and to help spread the message - Say No To Guns. A cry of peace and an encouragement to lay down those many weapons that disturb the once quiet and peaceful nights of Langa and most of the other townships.
2. Outernational Meltdown - Hungry on Arrival (8.25)
Spring Heel Jack Mix
Written by Fana Zulu. Published by Peer Music Pty
Spring Heel Jack remixed this track based on Fana Zulu's bassline with which he, Airto, Jose Neto, Moses Molelekwa, Max Mntambo and Andrew Missingham kicked off the legendary 1994 Outernational Meltdown recording sessions in Johannesburg. True musicians who defied the interference of the local union simply because everybody was hungry for new music when they arrived at the studio.
3. Amampondo - Nobabheha (We are defeated) (1.18)
Written, composed and arranged by Dizu Plaatjies. Published by Peer Music Pty
It's been a long wait for me and a proud moment when I finally got Amampondo signed to this label. Ever since we worked together in 94 Amampondo had been a very important part of my future plans for this label. "Drums for Tomorrow" is a departure from their previous releases by inviting and sharing their music with friends such as Brice Wassy (who also produced the album) Airto Moreira, Richard Ajileye, Christoph Stiefelel, Emmanuel Serjourné Noel Ekwabi, Geoff Gordon and Byron Wallen.
4. Suzan Hendricks and Sangoma Friends - Ngihawukele Thonga Lami (My Dream) (3.17)
Composed by Suzan Hendricks. Production, special natural percussion and effects by Airto Moreira. Published by Peer Music Pty
Some of you might be familiar with our Sangoma friends (Traditional Healers) from the release "Healers Brew" (BWO77) Suzan and her friends returned to the studio in 1995 but this time Airto wasn't able to make it so i asked him to add his own interpretation to their track. When he stopped over at our Brownhill Farm Studios - He payed respect!
5. Juno Reactor - Conga Fury (5.08)
Written by Ben Watkins and Mabi Gabriel Thobejane.
Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor joined me twice on my trips to South Africa and Namibia where we visited and recorded the Bushmen with Pops Mohamed. It's great to see how the African continent deeply influences and inspires especially creative people like Ben and his friend Norma. Ben went to work with Mabi Thobejane and fulfilled a long vision of mine by bringing musicians from the two labels together. Norma's inspiration can be seen on the videos she did for Madala's Kon'ko Man, Migrant Workers and Flora Purim's track "Light my Flo". Conga Fury is the beginning of organic techno.
6. DZM Projects - Sfebe Sendoda (Playboy) (2.53)
Produced and composed by Dizu Plaatjies and Mzwandile Qotoyi. Creative Production and special Natural Percussion and Effects by Airto Moreira. Sound by Chris Lewis. Published by Peer Music Pty.
Another track from the "Airto creative production releases". This time I selected a song from the "DZM Projects" with Dizu Plaatjies and Mzwandile Qotoyi (Amampondo). Dizu and Mz are amongst the very few in South Africa who make preservation of traditional music their goal. Work on remixes of this and other tracks at our studios in the UK will further cross into the New Organic/ Electronic Dance Music scene.
7. Alien Soap Opera - Free Lunch (6.06)
Produced by Pops Mohamed and Greg Hunter Published by Kalamazoo.
Administered by Peer Music Pty
New age lover Pops enters the modern ambient age of current European Thinking in unique collaborations between lovers of both traditional and electronic music. Greg Hunter found new friends in the South of Africa. A totally new club recipe - reality after 1001 nights!
8. Mabi Thobejane - Madiba (Part 1) (2.12)
Composed and Produced by Mabi Thobejane. Published by Peer Music Pty. Sound by Richard Edwards.
Mabi is one of the percussionists who has been hiding behind the bigger names, always waiting for his time to come. Decades of alcohol abuse finally brought him close to death. When we picked him up from the hospital he promised me never to touch another drink - He kept his word! Madiba (Nelson Mandela) is a milestone and an outspoken political documentation of the daily life before and after apartheid in South Africa through the music of the great little man.
9. Madala Kunene - Ubombo (3.07)
Smith & Mighty remix
Published by Peer Music Pty.
Smith & Mighty have come up with a beautiful remix of Madala Kunene, the King of Zulu Guitar. Madala has a unique style of playing guitar which he demonstrates throughout the three releases on the label - Kon'ko Man is the latest release on which Madala is accompanied amongst others by his friends Busi Mhlongo, Mabi Thobejane, Flora Purim, José Neto and produced by Airto Moreira.
10. Skeleton - Phumelelo (6.59)
Produced by Ben Watkins. Sound by Richard Edwards. Published by Sigude Music.
This is tomorrow's version of Maskanda Township Music - rough and to the point this is the first Maskanda Album produced by a specialist of Electronic Music - Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor, who created a new awareness for this lesser known music outside its native country.
11. DMP and Chill Factor - What We Really See (5.03)
Composed, Produced and arranged by Diana Moreira & Chil Factor. Lyrics: D.P.M. Published by Chil - Dream Music (BMI). Recorded and mixed at Sound Design Studios in Santa Barbara, USA.
A further adventure into the seeing how it really is. You've heard the original on Flora Purim's; Speed of Light or the remix by A Guy Called Gerald. Here comes the version of the original composers.
12. Lungiswa Plaatjies - Fundal (5.05)
Produced by Tony Thorpe. Published by Peer Music (Pty) Ltd/Copyright Control.
Language label owner Tony Thorpe produced a wicked album for Lungiswa, her first solo album. Lungiswa is the first ever South African artist to get the touch of a master like Tony and his national anthem and the Marvin Gaye cover version of "Inner City Blues" in Lungiswa's native tongue Xhosa are not only a must but respectful history - A fine dedication to South Africa and a great singer. Personally I could not have asked for more. Thank you Mr Moody Giant!
13. Alien Soap Opera - Yimkin (Maybe) (6.50)
Lyrics by Nasser Rashwan
Produced by Greg Hunter and Amir Abdel Magid. Published by Copyright Control.
Mr "Hypno" Greg Hunter spent many months with Amir Abdel Magid and some of Egypt's finest musicians. His trip resulted in two completely different albums of which "Ancient Future" becomes the debut album for our new ELECTRIC M.E.L.T. label. We all feel this is definitely the best start a new label could be given. I hope you agree and there is more to follow if you like what you hear.
14. Iain Ballamy - Cyclops (6.10)
Composed and arranged by Iain Ballamy. Produced by Iain Ballamy and Andrew Murdock. Published by PRS/ MCPS.
The first result of Iain's new sound adventure with Ultramarine - A sign of things to come? A serious yes to future sounds and I look forward to other collaborations of this great sax player who's capable to lead the more established Jazz out of this never ending cul de sac. It's time for more respect for our musos than just dinner Jazz at clubs with drunken suits!
15. Ingube Gout & Pops Mohamed - Looking Back (4.45)
Composed by Ingube Gout and Pops Mohamed. Published by Kalamazoo. Administered by Peer Music Pty Ltd.
Age defying Bushman Ingube looks back on the empty promises of the white man's government and some of it's black African puppets on a string who visited and promised them a return to their hunting grounds. For some it is happening now with the help and intervention of international organisations who made sure the world starts to be more aware of the Bushman's (Khoi San) genocide. (Adults got rounded up and killed. Their children were given to white farmers because of their skills.) It decimated this self efficient and most skilled tribe right through Southern Africa.
We recorded Ingube at the edge of the Kalahari dessert in Namibia and left him and his folks with heavy hearts still in hope that he can ultimately return to his hunting grounds. It might just have been too long a wait for the man with no age. Judging by the story Ingube tells, he could still reach a full century in his search for peace and a decent place to live. Ingube and his friends are still hidden away from the eyes of tourists in the corridors beyond Gobabis - You need a special survey map to find the place!
Notes by Robert Trunz
— Courtesy Calabash Music
