Dele Sosimi
You No Fit Touch Am

A totally obscure release from Youngstown, Ohio's Tony Lavorgna and his late 70's early 1980's band: The St. Thomas Quartet. Like many private press album's it's an ad for their set list, recorded on the cusp of cassettes and definitely pre-cd so strictly vinyl it is. A mixed bag of tunes and influences but two of the tunes absolutely leap into your ears.A Hammond led Soul Jazz version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" at nearly ten minutes that seems to just get more drivingly funky and intense and David Thomas on the B3 is absolutely inspired on this monster of a track. It makes you wonder why on earth more Hammond players didn't make a feature of this tune?The other inspired choice is War's "The World Is A Ghetto" which just has to be one of the funkiest versions of this much covered tune. Some soulful sax from leader Lavorgna signposts the way for the rest of the bands soulful and jazzy contributions with again Hammond man David Thomas underpinning with his funk drenched riffs.Tony Lavorgna is a one off too, his life story is available in Comic Book form under the title "Bebopman" by American Splendor writer Harvey Pekar.

Jéroboam drop their debut on Space Grapes. This Parisian funk band, also known as Echoes Of, comes with an extensive live experience and a strong reputation as backing band for Howard Johnson, Junior Giscombe, Kyoto Jazz Massive and others. Recorded in the usual Space Grapes style; fully analog, rough and ready!

Lexplosion II by Lexsoul Dancemachine

Limited to 300 copies, vinyl only!Viking of the Sky kicks off with 2 songs from Bibi's first LP Ngayibamba on Heads Productions 1984, which to date remains completely invisible with no info or even a picture of this LP online. Most likely due to heavy government censorship in South Africa at the time, most of the LPs were destroyed due to the political nature of some of the songs. The 2 afro funk tracks on this compilation could almost be classified as "unreleased". all live musicians and sung in both English and Zulu. The next 2 songs are taken from Bibi's maxi dance single "Viking of the Sky" with "I Just Can't Believe You" on the B side, released on WEA Records in 1985. Here we get to the classic mid 80s SA boogie sound featuring banging drum machines, synths, live guitars and bass, and super female backing vocals behind Bibi's powerful voice. The original 12" from 1985 is extremely sought after maxi single by boogie funk vinyl collectors around the world (to date it has only sold once online).And the last 2 tracks are taken from the much sought after Bibi & Satari LP Whisper in the Dark released in 1986 on WEA Records. Again we have a great blend of drum machines, synths, live bass, guitar and gospel influenced backing vocals, produced by 2 of South Africa's most prolific producers - Sidwell Duda and Thokoza Memela.All 6 songs contain upbeat dancefloor friendly music with plenty of live instrumentation played by South Africa's best of the best session musicians that uplift the soul and compel the listener to dance (which is the label mission). Featuring SA's best of the best funky music talent backing Bibi Msomi:Sidwell Duda (Stimuli, Don Laka, Image), Thokoza Memela (The Disco Cats), Satari band featuring Cecelia, Jabu Nkosi (Peace, The Drive, Thetha), Thandi Seoka (Sipho Hot Stix Mabuse, Shalom), Jimmy Mojapelo (The Black Five), Janshi Mayo (Umoja Singers Chorale), Peter Mokoena (Cisco Mokoena), Solly "Ace" Letwaba (Juluka), Bob "Blackie" Sibisi (Brenda & The Big Dudes), Joey Mabe (Mahlathini And Mahotella Queens) and many more.

Originally released in 1976, Ubok Aka Inua is the fifth album by legendary Nigerian saxophonist and band leader, Etubom Rex Williams.The album features Psychedelic Shoes and One Woman Is Enough Trouble, both heard on countless funk and soul compilations.The album was restored from the original tapes by Noah Mintz and artwork restored and recreated by Steve Lewin."Etubom Rex Williams occupies the genuine space of legend of Nigerian Highlife. His incredible professionalism, vast body of work and huge personality, established him as a veritable force of the genre quite early in his career. A case quite similar to another teenage prodigy of Highlife Music, Sir Victor Uwaifo. However any accolades he earned were well deserved and based on a platform of hard graft and genuine love for his art. He like Uwaifo, straddles the Inter-generational gap between the old masters of Highlife such as Bobby Benson, E.C.Arinze, Inyang Henshaw, Dr Victor Olaiya etc and the latter generation of Eddy Okweddy, Orlando Owoh, Tunji Oyelana, Eric Akaeze, Osayomore Joseph et al." - Ed Keazor, Music in Africa