The Vannier collaborator births this Finders Keepers’ imprint with a late-sixties knockabout conceptual-pop riposte to musique concrete: found sound, industrial noise, piano jazz, avant orchestration, signature cimbalom.
Ducking and diving between London and Kingston JA, Winston Edwards cut the Melodian on the monumental Conquering Lion rhythm in the mid-70s, covering Eddie Floyd. Dark, hurting and self-disgusted… bad tune.
Always hard-sought-after for the jazz dance gem Tabu, and the overall blend of Cal Tjader, Les Baxter and Luiz Bonfa. “In a way it’s world music,” says Don. “Polynesian, samba, Brazil, jazz, West Indian. It has the energy of Latin and funk records.”
The Latin Jazz classic from 1969, huge on the Dingwalls scene back in the day for the sizzling dancer Tema De Alma Latina.
A mix of overlooked gems and local boomshots from the cassette tape scene in Libya, during the late 80s to early 2000, when independent artists relied on makeshift home studios or travelled abroad to record in Tunisia and Egypt. A judicious mash-up of boundary-pushing sounds which reflects this precariousness and nascency; also the political and cultural crossroads at which Libya found itself. North African rhythms meet Arab melodies and deep African roots. Disco and house run into gritty pop. Reggae courses through, with an unmistakable Libyan twist — not just musically, in the slowed-down cadence of traditional shaabi beats, but also culturally, taking to heart its outernational message of proud, defiant self-awareness.
Assembled by Habibi Funk with personality and love, as per; with a 32-page booklet. Another winner.
Last few box sets!