Rail Band – Djamban

( Mali , 1975 , RCAM )

posted on 12 / 10 / 2025

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you “Djamban“, an incredible mesmerizing 70s Afro Mandingo Jazz Soul track from Mali with gorgeous horn & guitar parts, taken from one of the first albums recorded in 1975 by the mythical Malian band “Rail Band” (also known as “Orchestre Rail Band” or “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” because the band played there twice a week) leaded by the legendary Malian composer & saxophonist Tidiani Kone (who also played for with Beninese kings from the “Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou”).

Pressed in Nigeria, this album is part of the very well known “Rail Band Series” (this one is the 4th volume), and features some of the bests Malian & West African musicians (Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, …) from that era as :

Tidiani Kone : Leader, Saxophone ;

Djelimady Sissoko : Vocals ;

Djelimady Tounkara : Lead Guitar ;

Cheick Traoré : Bass Guitar ;

Moussa Koné : Bongos, Trumpet ;

Abdouramane Koumané : Congas ;

Mamadou “Pacheco” Bagayoko : Drums ;

Dielly Moussa Kouyaté : Guitar ;

Mory Kanté : Lead Vocals ;

Alfred Coulibaly : Organ ;

Maitre Lédy Youla : Sopranino Saxophone ;

Really hard to find album nowadays, that I found a few years ago during a record digging trip in Nouakchott (Mauritania). I had the great honor to got it from Mr Mohamed Vall, one of the very few record collectors from the country, who used to run “Le Saphir D’Or”, the only record store in Mauritania opened in the 1979 until the early 2000s (for more informations, I interviewed him here).

And cherry on the cake : this sublime artwork – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Rail Band – Djamban (Mali, 1975, RCAM)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/PhCD9gPmtm8

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Roland Louis – Deliver Me

( Guadeloupe , 1979 , Production RL )

posted on 05 / 10 / 2025

Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today, I wanted to share with you “Deliver Me“, a splendid bewitching Island Soul track from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) with Jazz flavors, taken from the first album of the Guadeloupean pianist, composer & arranger Roland Louis, and driven by Jocelyne Beroard’s angel voice (singer of the mythical West Indian band Kassav).

This now cult & ultra hard to find album includes some of the best musicians of that era from the French West Indies & France, such as :

Roland Louis : Keyboards ;

Jocelyne Beroard (from the band “Kassav”) : Vocals ;

Jean-Pierre Coco (from the band “Bozambo”) : Percussion ;

Serge Marne (from the band “Laser”) : Drums ;

Julien Tarquin : Bass, Vocals ;

Henry Bedin : Guitar ;

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous artwork painted credited as from a mysterious “Joyce”… Maybe from Jocelyne Beroard herself ?

Hope you’ll like this new unearthed musical gem, Enjoy !

Roland Louis – Deliver Me (Guadeloupe, 1979, Productions RL)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/QNQtkJ_H7W4

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Noel Et Mathilde – Mi Amor De Todos Dias

( Benin , 1980s )

posted on 28 / 09 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mi Amor De Todos Dias“, an awesome Afro Cuban Salsa Latin Soul gem from Benin with killer horns part, taken from the only release of the beninese duet Noel Houmbiye & Mathilde Yanclo recorded in Cotonou in the late 70s, composed by the legendary beninese musician Ignace De Souza and backed by the mythical “Black Santiagos” Orchestra.

That recording is almost impossible to find nowadays unfortunately, this is why I wanted to share it with you today.

One of the best track of the genre from the African Continent from that era, always a huge dance floor stormer when I play it in clubs, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Noel Et Mathilde – Mi Amor De Todos Dias (Benin, 1980s, Editions Big Junior)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/5hTXPVLZ5mQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Tabu Ley Rochereau – Maze (Part 2)

( Democratic Republic of Congo , 1981 , Genidia )

posted on 21 / 09 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Maze (Part 2)“, an instant feel-good Afro Soul Funky Soukous Masterpiece from Democratic Republic of The Congo (former Zaïre) with frantic guitar, taken from a compilation of previously released singles out in the early 80s (in Kenya & Nigeria) and recorded by the mythical Congolese composer & musician Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as “Tabu Ley Rochereau“.

He started his career in the 60s, playing alongside with legends as “Dr Nico” (Nicolas Kasanda Wa Mikalayi) in famous band such as l’African Jazz, l’Afrisa International & l’Orchestre African Fiesta.

Tabu Ley is famous for having pioneered Soukous music, and to have internationalized Congolese music by mixing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American rumba. He’s considered by one of the giants of Congolese & more widely, African music.

Hope you’ll enjoy this sweet nugget !

Tabu Ley Rochereau – Maze (part 2) (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1981)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Sgv5PGm2dPw

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Kiki Gyan – Keep On Dancing

( Ghana , 1979 , Boom Records )

posted on 08 / 09 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Keep On Dancing“, an instant killer Afro Disco Boogie track from Ghana, recorded in 1979 by the composer & musician Kofi “Kiki’ Kwarko Gyan, keyboardist of the legendary band Osibisa that was popular in the 1970’s.

Multi-instrumentist Kiki Gyan recorded three albums and a couple of singles between 1979 & 1983, and was considered by many as Africa’s answer to Stevie Wonder.

For today, I’m glad to share with you this instant feel-good song, that will set any dance floor on fire. Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Kiki Gyan – Keep On Dancing (Ghana, 1979, Boom Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/16sqt7osZJc

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

I Nottuni – Mi Bigote

( Lebanon , 1970s , I Notturni Self-Released )

posted on 31 / 08 / 2025

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Mi Bigote“, a Latin Mambo Jazz gem from Lebanon with catchy horns & organ parts, very unusual one-of-its kind track sung in spanish (maybe the first from that country ?) taken from the one-and-only super hard to find EP by the Lebanese band “I Notturni”, recorded in the 70s (I think, any informations are welcomed…), leaded by the composer & musician Khaled Choughari, that used to play in several night clubs of Lebanon (it was the resident band of “Casino Du Liban” for some times), Iran & Egypt.

This band was composed with :

Khaled Choughari : Music, Band leading ;

Ermanno Riccordi : Lyrics ;

Conductor : Tony Akkawi ;

Super obscure & hard to find record, one of the hardest to find Lebanese treasures, hope you’ll like it !

I Notturni – Mi Bigote (Lebanon, 1970s, I Notturni Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/MLOycy1U7dw

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Erick Cosaque, Voltages 8 – Guadeloupe, Île de Mes Amours

( Guadeloupe , 1978 , Capriccio )

posted on 24 / 08 / 2025

Following this former post, I wanted to share with you for today another masterpiece from Erick Cosaque, one of my favorite musicians from Guadeloupe island (French West Indies), recorded in France in 1978 with one of his early band, “Les Voltages 8“, that included some of the best Caribbean musicians from that era, such :

Erick Cosaque : Composition, Arrangements, Vocals ;

Christian Hubert Jean Romain : Percussion, Bass Guitar ;

Jean-Phlippe Ysmaël, Serge Marne : Drums ;

Henri Nanor : Backing Vocals, Cabasa ;

Francis Dendele : Percussion [Solo] ;

Metry-Avenant : Piano, Synthesizer ;

Michel Joiyo : Guitar, Bass Guitar ;

Jocelyn Sellapin : Percussion ;

Edouard Labor : Saxophone ;

Max Labor : Guitar ;

The song presented here, “Guadeloupe, Île de Mes Amours“, is an awesome melancholic Island Soul Jazz track with beautiful deep saxophone parts, dealing about the Caribbean diaspora from the West Indies exiled to France from the 50s in order to look for work, and the difficulties they faced with, far away from their hometown.

Cherry on the cake : this cute artwork by painter Yves Bussy – Enjoy !

Erick Cosaque & Les Voltage 8 – Guadeloupe, Île de Mes Amours (Guadeloupe, 1978, Capriccio)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/354qS_OqudU

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Antoinette Konan – M'Ackô

( Ivory Coast , 1986 , Antoinette Konan Self-Released )

posted on 01 / 08 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “M’Ackô“, a deep downtempo melancholic Afro Electro Synth Soul Boogie track from Ivory Coast, taken from the 2nd album of the Ivorian Diva Antoinette Konan & Self-released in 1986.

Alongside to Antoinette for the composition & production of the tracks, this LP includes some great musicians as Bamba Moussa Yang (arrangements) & the mythical Congolese composer & musician Sammy Massamba.

As good as it’s deep, hope you’ll like – Enjoy !

Antoinette Konan – M’Ackô (Ivory Coast, 1986, Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/uUYJdRpdq-c

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

DAO – Chen'n La

( Guadeloupe , 1984 , Disque DLM - KA )

posted on 20 / 07 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Chen’n La“, a gorgeous spiritual Bèlè Gwo Ka Jazz Soul track from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) with magnificent Flute & Synth parts, taken from the only self-released single of the Guadeloupean composer & musician Darius “DAO” Adélaïde recorded in 1984 in Paris (France) at the recording studio “Parisign”.

Alongside to Darius Adélaïde, this single features some of the bests Guadeloupean, Martinican & Parisian musicians of that Era, as :

Roger Raspail, Léon Leborgne : Drums (Boula) ;

Michel Alibo : Bass Guitar ;

Armand Acheron, Hengel Gaston : Percussion ;

Franck Simion : Calabash ;

André Adélaïde, Colin Serin, Eddy Dollin, Gabriel Courbera, Sha Rakotofiringa : Chorus ;

Matthew Russel : Flute ;

Fred Rovelas, Patrick Gros : Guitar ;

Harry Gatibelza : Piano ;

Patrick Ralichon : Synthesizer ;

In the same vein as the best West Indian Bèlè & Gwo-ka Jazz compositions (Belenou,  Gwakasonne, Fabriano Fuzion, …), hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

DAO – Chen’n La (Guadeloupe, 1984, Disques DLM – KA)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/nPIw–4KICQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Balik Taro – Macifone

( Mauritius , 1970s , A.I.T. Records )

posted on 06 / 07 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Macifone“, a deep bewitching 70s Island Soul Sega Fusion Folk track from Mauritius with a psychedelic twist, taken from the only single released on vinyl format by the Mauritian composer & musician Taroo Luc “Balik” Marlaine in the 70s, and backed by the famous Mauritian singer songwriter and musician Marclaine Antoine & his orchestra.

This piece is a perfect example of the incredible mix of musical genres and influences that could be found in the Indian Ocean already at that time, merging Sega Folk roots with more Pop, Rock & Soul influences – really hard to sing single nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Balik Taroo – Macifone (Mauritius, 1970s, A.I.T. Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/An220nDN-hc

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

African Grooves

A Time & Space Journey in the African & West Indies Countries