For today, I’d like to share with you “Pastorelle (4ème figure)“, a deep bewitching bland of traditional Antillean Folklore, Gwoka & Soul track from Guadeloupe (French West Indies), taken from the 1st album of the Guadeloupean legendary Gwoka player, drummer & composer Marcel Lollia (better known as “Vélo“) recorded in 1968 on the mythical French Antillean label “Celini Disques – Aux Ondes”

Gwoka (also known as Gwo-Ka or Gros-ka) is a traditional musical genre, dance, and cultural practice of Guadeloupe combining ka drums, Creole singing and dance.

Velo is considered by the most as a Gwo-ka Master, and recorded with the bests French West Indian artists of that era such as Alain Jean- Marie, Robert Loyson, Paul Blamar, Emilien Antile,  Jean-François Fabiano, Guy Conquette & Artheme Boisbant.

One of my favorite track of the genre, always nice to see people dancing on it when I play it during my DJ set or radio show – Enjoy !

Marcel Lollia dit “Vélo” – Pastorelle (4ème figure) (Guadeloupe, 1968, Aux Ondes)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/FdlnZT59cn0

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I’d like to share with you “Ntchizenguè”, a mellow balearic 80s Cosmic Synth Soul track from Gabon taken from an obscure LP recorded in 1981 in Libreville (country’s capital) an produced by the famous Gabonese composer & musician Jean-Yves Messan in order to promote the sole recordings of 5 young talents (Jean-Louis Evoung, Douma Dominique, Jean-Claude Boutoto, Gnanga Moukoula Dominique & Pépé-Ngalet).

Out on the label “Zika Production” (on which were released some great albums by the Congolese superstar Abeti Masikini), the song presented here is my favorite from this album – sad the artist didn’t released more material after that (any more informations on this release + artists would be warmly welcomed !).

Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Pepe-Ngalet & Les Jeunes Espoirs – Ntchizenguè (Gabon, 1981, Zika Production)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/S-LIjk-Ag-o

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former article, I’d like to share with you “Wollou“, a sublime deep psychedelic 70s Afro Manding Fusion Soul Synth Folk track from Gambia, taken from the second album (my fave one !) of the mythical Gambian band “Guelewar Band of Banjul“, founded by composers & musicians brothers Laaye & Moussa N’Gom, and that included some of the bests Gambian & Senegalese musicians of that era as :

Laaye N’Gom : Leader, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals ;

Moussa N’Gom : Lead Vocals ;

Njok Malick Mike Njie : Bass ;

Moussa Njobdi Njie : Guitar ;

Adu Sallah, Alive Badara Cham N’Gom, Koto Sunu Icoto N’Gom : Percussion ;

Laaye Sallah Ombor : Tenor Saxophone ;

Bas Lo Fara Biram : Alto Saxophone ;

Recorded in 1980 in Dakar (Senegal), this album (“Tasito”, or “self-sufficiency” in Mandinka Senegambian langage) is one of the very firsts produced by Ibrahima Sory Sylla, who’d become later one of the most prominent figures of African music, and would pave the way for the emergence of West Africa’s greatest groups and artists (Gnonnas Pedro & Africando, Orchestra Baobab, Gets de Dakar or Ismaël Lô) though is label “Syllart Records”.

This album was released at the time on both labels “Productions Jambaar PJ” (for Senegalese market distribution) & in France on “Le Kiosque d’Orphée” (famous Paris-based record manufacturer/label, where every artists could pay to get a number of pressings, making it an alternative for a private press autoproduction)

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by painter Senegalese Djibathen Laye Sambou, one of my personal hero when it’s about African album sleeve design (remember Orchestra Bawobab Gouye-Gui de Dakar & Ousmane “Ouza” Diallo ones ?) – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Guelewar Band of Banjul – Wollou (Gambia, 1980, Productions Jambaar)

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

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Gizie“, a sweet 70s Ethio Soul Folk Jazz track with bewitching piano & guitar parts, taken from the 1st single of the Ethiopian composer & singer Bahta Gebre Hiwot, with the help from Gebreab Tefera (words) & Girma Beyene (musical arrangements).

It was released in 1973 on “Amha Records“, prominent & legendary record label owned by Amha Eshete and that released more than a hundred of Ethiopian singles and dozen albums between 1969 & 1975, including some by mythical musicians Mahmoud Ahmed or Mulatu Astatke.

Those Ethio gems are getting harder & harder to find nowadays, especially in such clean condition, so hope you’ll like it Enjoy !

Bahta Gebre Hiwot – Gizie (Ethiopia, 1973, Amha Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/aAoxbvuorM8

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I’d like to share with for today “Life’s Gone Down Low“, a gorgeous hybrid slow 70s Afro Soul Reggae Funk track from Nigeria with catchy organ parts, composed by the Nigerian twin sisters Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu better known as “The Lijadu Sisters”.

This song is taken from their 2nd album, recorded at the legendary “DECCA Studios” in Lagos city, and released in 1976 on the mythical Nigerian record label “Afrodisia“.

It includes the following musicians :

Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu aka The Lijadu Sisters : Writtings, Arrangelments, Lead Vocals ;

Biddy Wright : Lead Guitar, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Bass Guitar, Producer ;

Felix Shittu : Alto Saxophone ;

Johnny Woode : Keyboards ;

Ade Jolaoso : Bass Guitar ;

Cherry on the cake : this beautiful artwork by the mysterious “Ideas Organisation” !

One of my favorite Reggae Soul track from the African continent, discovered though the excellent Afro Rock compilation “The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s, Nigeria” released in 2010 by the renowned reissue label “Soundway”.

I’ve been lucky enough to find an original copy in pristine condition during one of my several record digging trop in Cameroon the same year, but that’s another story..

Hope you’ll like this song as I do, enjoy !

The Lijadu Sisters – Life’s Gone Down Low (Nigeria, 1976, Afrodisia)

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

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Misere“, an outstanding deep 70s Afro Soul Slow Funk track from Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaïre) driven by killer horns & organ parts, taken from one of the numerous singles recorded in the 70s by the legendary Congolese composer & musician Georges Kiamuangana Mateta aka “Verckys”, and backed by the almighty Orchestre Veve.

Sung in French, this song deals about African people suffering, poverty, exploitation & misfortunes, and which, sadly, still rings all too true today.

You can easily source American Soul music influences here, as it sounds like an Otis Redding song.

Quite invisible those days, glad to share it with you – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Verckys & L’Orchestre Veve – Misere (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970s, Editions Veve)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/IBmiGhYuJn0

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I’d like to share with you “Yatchiminou“, an uplifting catchy 70s Afro Synth Boogie track from Ivory Coast, taken from the first LP of the famous Ivorian composer & musician N’Goran Hyacinthe (known as Jimmy Hyacinthe in tribute to his idol Jimmy Hendrix, since N’Goran developed a string pinching technic of playing guitar) who modernized the Goly traditional Ivorian rhythm.

This album was produced & recorded between Paris (France) & Abidjan (Ivory Coast), at the same time he formed & leaded the Parisian band “Bozambo” composed with great Pan African musicians.

After recording several albums in the 70s & 80s, he returned to Ivory Coast in the mid 80s and became the artistic director of  the legendary local label “La Société Ivoirienne de l’Industrie du Son” (SID).

Dancefloor sure shot, instant feel-good summer track, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Jimmy Hyacinthe – Yatchiminou (Ivory Coast, 1979, Discogram)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/LHx8005Ay-M

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Ego-Ibo“, a deep 70s Afro Psychedelic Soul syncopated track from Benin, taken from the 2nd LP recorded in 1979 by the Beninese band “Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo“, leaded by the composer & musician Happy Ruffin and that was very active as a studio backing band in the late 70s & early 80s and who played for big Beninese musicians & composers of that era.

This album was released on the mythical Beninese record label “Albarika Store“, and included the following musicians :

Happy Ruffin : Composition, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writings ;

Jean-Louis Avognon : Backing Vocals, Guitar ;

Herman F. Laleye : Bass Guitar, Leader ;

Armand Pognon : Lead Guitar, Organ ;

Georges d’Assomption : Congas ;

Marcellin Laleye : Drums ;

Highly recommended LP, killer from start to finish – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo – Ego-Ibo (Benin, 1979, Albarika Store)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/dP67GYkWIGI

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I’d like to share with you “Marie“, a sweet 70s Afro Benga Soul track from Kenya with Latin flavors that turns into a great Soukous from the 2nd part of the song, taken from one of the numerous singles recorded in the 70s by the Kenyan band “Super Mambo Jazz“.

Deep & catchy gem from East African, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Super Mambo Jazz – Marie (Kenya, 1970s, A.I.T. Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/6aVZj0fnL5I

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I’d like to share with you “Aonte” (“Yesterday” in Cape Verdean Portuguese), a killer Afro Coladera Disco Synth Funk from Cabo Verde with a nice Funana twist & violin parts, taken from an album recorded in 1986 in Paris (France) by “Tabala“, an 80s band of legendary African & West Indian musicians based in Paris who recorded 10 albums under the management of Cameroonian television presenter and businessman Contsy Eka.

Mythical musicians Abel Lima (from Cabo Verde, Africa) & Gordon Henderson (Dominica Island, West Indies) are in charge of this 8th volume of the series for the composition + lead vocals (Abel Lima) & arrangements (Gordon Henderson).

Tricky to find album nowadays that contains several dance floor gems as this one – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Tabala (Abel Lima & Gordon Henderson) – Aonte (Cabo Verde, U.S.I. Production Distribution, 1986)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/NdUOkQB5wDY

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

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

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

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

Armand de Preseau