Launched in early 2015 by a collective of crate diggers, Afro music-heads and vinyl-buying obsessives, Africa Seven's aim is to spread the love and knowledge for African music in all its forms. In the wake of this effort, Afrosonique Vol.1 is the ideal first installment of a series of compilations bridging African songs from the '70s and '80s with the most talented artists of today into a remix and re-edit series.
Compiled by the legendary UK producer Tony Thorpe (Moody Boyz, KLF), one of the most important figures of the UK dance underground movement, the album brings together a rich ensemble of producers and artists from different genres and music scenes. From Warp's long-time signee Plaid, DJ Food, top DJs John Talabot & Pional to broken beat legend IG Culture, to Ry9n & Knid, a project by James Cameron and Joe Muggs, the compilation promises to bring a modern twist to Africa's most iconic tunes. This selection of artists also includes great names of the likes of Deep Medi's Silkie and Appleblim from the historical dubstep night FWD>> at Plastic People.
A younger generation of talents like Marcel Lune, Jabru, Redpine & Solo and EVM128 has also taken part in this cutting-edge project, bringing its own personal touch to this unique compilation. Using his most famous alias 'Moody Boyz', Thorpe himself has added his own artistic signature, remixing the iconic Bunzu Soundz's Zinabu - a rolling cut of the finest UK Afro-dub beats.
Africa remains the key theme and unifying principle of this work. With no multi-tracks available, the artists have gone through an incredible work of editing and overdubbing, almost remixing the original works. The result is a frenetic and fresh blend of styles ranging from modern Afro-jazz cuts to heavyweight dancefloor gear, almost spiritual hypnotic club anthems and lowtempo dreamscapes.
Originals have been picked up from Africa Seven's ever-expanding catalogue of reissues from the '70s and '80s hailing from Cameroon, Nigeria and Sierra Leone among other African countries. The selection includes rare tracks such as Bunzu Soundz 'Zinabu', Manu Dibango 'Les Cavaliers' and Afro National's 'Jokenge'.
In a time in which African music is coming back prominently as one of the primary influences of electronic music, Afrosonique Vol.1 effortlessly goes full circle bringing together the original energy of African classics with the disruptive talent of today’s innovators.
released May 26, 2017
A1: Afro National - Jokenge (IG Culture Edit)
Written by Afro National. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Sonafric (
www.sonafric.net)
Remixed by IG Culture at Tillia Rd Studio, mixed by Alex Phountzi.
A2: Ekambi Brillant - Soul Castle (Silkie Edit Over Dub)
Written by Ekambi Brillant & Slim Pezin. Published by Dharma Songs
Licensed from Ekambi Brillant.
Mixed, Produced & Arranged by S.Rose @ W6 Studios.
A3: M'Bamina - Mosi Zole (EVM Edit Overdub)
Written by Samba Ngo. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Fiesta Records (
www.fiestarecords.net)
Produced & Mixed by EVM128. Horn's by Gal Bar Adon.
B1 M'Bamina - Mbongui (Marcel Lune Edit Refix)
Written by M'Bamina & Samba Ngo. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Fiesta Records (
www.fiestarecords.net)
Produced & Mixed by Marcel Lune at Motz Enterprisez studio's.
B2: Sorry Bamba - Nani Nani (Appleblim Edit Over Dub)
Written by Sorry Bamba. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Sonafric (
www.sonafric.net)
Produced, Refined & Mixed by Appleblim.
B3: Douglas Mbida - Nnom Mot (Ry9n & Knid Edit Over Dub)
Written by Douglas Mbida & Jacob Desvarieux. Published by Copyright Control
Licensed from Disques Esperance (
www.disquesesperance.com)
Mixed by James Cameron & Joe Muggs at Hotel Voltage Studio's.
C1: Sookie - Rhythm On Rhythm (DJ Food Chop-up)
Written by Jo Bisso. Published by Dharma Songs.
Produced by DJ Food. Mixed by PC at Tennay Studios.
(C) Africa Seven
C2: Ekambi Brillant - Afrika Afrika (John Talabot & Pional 'Lost Scripts' Rerub)
Written by Ekambi Brillant & Slim Pezin. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Disques Esperance (
www.disquesesperance.com)
C3: Manu Dibango - Les Cavaliers (Plaid Edit Over Dub)
Written by Manu Dibango. Published by Soul Makossa.
Licensed from Fiesta Records (
www.fiestarecords.net)
Produced & Remixed by Plaid.
D1: Pasteur Lappe - Sekelimania (Nku Bilam) (Jabru Edit Over Dub)
Remixed by Jabru (A.Wallwork) @ The Interstellar Soul Cellar
Written by Pasteur Lappe. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licenced from Disques Esperance (
www.disquesesperance.com)
Produced & Mixed by Jabru (A.Wallwork) @ The Interstellar Soul Cellar.
D2: Bunzu Soundz - Zinabu (Moody Boyz Edit Refix)
Written by Faisal Helwani. Published by Dharma Songs.
Licensed from Afrodisia / Decca West Afric (
www.afrodisiarecords.com)
Produced & Arranged by the Moody Boyz. Mixed By Leon Atter in Sheffield.
D3: Bozambo – Bgklouala-Niklouala (Redpine & Solo Edit Over Dub)
Written by Bozambo.
Licensed from Disques Esperance (
www.disquesesperance.com)
Produced, Remade & Mixed by Redpine & Solo.
Artwork by New-Analog (
www.new-analog.net)
Compiled by Tony Thorpe
This Compilation © 2017 Africa Seven
www.africaseven.com
