Dread, Beat and Punk inna Parktown

The earliest line-up of National Wake including Paul Giraud and Mike Lebese
Michael LBS - its an LP that was on my wants list for over 20 years. More memorable than the music is the reflection it throws on the early eighties in Jo'burg, South Africa. And it's a stepping stone of sorts, marking a place on the musical landscape between the afropunk of National Wake, the conscious afro-jazz sounds of groups like Tou, Afrika and the Malopoets and the Soweto reggae bands Splash and Dread Warriors. Michael Lebese made this LP but never took the band or songs live. A number of the songs (Corner House, Going Away, and Sitting on the Beat) were composed by National Wake, a band that Michael started out in with Ivan Kadey. For more on National Wake check my old posting on the band and the times. There is a great audio documentary on National Wake here as well as further detail at the Facebook site Ivan has set up.


Michael Lebese
I've always had it in my head that Michael chose to give himself the moniker LBS after LKJ. Note the Tapper Zukie LP on the cover. There was even a record store in Jo'burg called Vinyl Jah-nkies. But the true story of pre-Lucky Dube reggae in South Africa is for another time.



Michael LBS - Greetings From Africa (RRC 2246, 1981)
1. Standing in the Sun
2. We Make it Happen
3. Alexander
4. Sitting on the Beat
5. Cornerhouse Stone
6. Africa's Request
7. Do You Leave Us So
8. Feel In Love
9. Going Away
Produced by Herbert, engineered by Phil Audiore and Graham Handley at Satbel
Band The Stars, all composed, mixed and arranged by Michael Lebese
Thanks Punka Gerald and Ivan Kadi K.O., cover by Dan Roberts
LINK

Groovin' Again

Back and in the groove again! Picked up the CD re-issue of the first proper Thomas Mapfumo LP, Hokoyo which was put out earlier this year by Water. Great to have it back on the shelves but they should have asked around for a decent copy of the LP to get a better transfer. The vinyl imperfections are too a little too noticeable on the CD and don't add any value or authenticity. What a pity as this deserves a lot more respect.


My all time favourite men's harmony group from South Africa, the Manhattan Brothers with Mbombela. I found this as a Danish single pressing with the recording coming from the US-released LP Out of Africa Always Something New. Sterns put out a brilliant compilation some years back. Seek it out here. There a lot about them on the web but this link has some nice pics.


Finally and confusing for some...this is not the Hugh Masekela version of the Letta Mbulu UK jazz dance hit What is Wrong with Groovin'. I couldn't get the turntable up and running today because I was trying to sort out a DVD of the series Fishing with John. Anyway, instead its Aredze from Letta Mbulu, a killer dancefloor track. I seriously suggest making a visit to Electricjive who continue to drop all killer, no filler South African selections.

Just when is the sabbatical?

Thank goodness. I am taking two weeks off! So happy holidays. In the meantime check out this incredible South African blog "ELECTRICJIVE" that has just dropped some rare grooves from Hugh Masekela, Harari and Barney Rachabane.

Keep the spear burning!

"The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents, but usually refer to one of the following activities or events:
Official or unofficial observances of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations or festivities
- A general leave of absence from a regular occupation for rest or recreation
- A specific trip or journey for the purposes of recreation or tourism
People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacation or holidays are often used spent with friends or family.
A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break." (from WIKI)

Friday night Ikeja dash

At the tail end of my whirlwind Nigerian trip I arrived back from Abuja to the Lagos hotel on Friday at around 4pm wondering what to do with my free time before flying back to London on Saturday morning. I mentioned the location of a record store I wanted to visit to my work colleague who advised me that it would take far too long to get to Ikeja and that it would be unsafe. I knew about the traffic out of VI to Ikeja but wasn't about to give up a chance to go to the original location of Fela Kuti's Kalakuta Republic and the Fela Music Library. Consulting with the hotel staff about the location and with drivers proved less than promising before I negotiated a deal with one of the drivers who was confident that staff at the Sheraton in Ikeja would know. There were some lost in translation moments..."The Fela Store" becoming "Fela's compund" and similar but eventually after 3 hours from VI to Ikeja we located the TriAngle chicken restaurant and then moved slowly towards the Ikeja bus-stop asking as we drove. The driver was worried about his taxi and I was insistent about not turning back after having come this far. Eventually we located a shoe repairman who confirmed the alley where the store was and with success in front of us we headed off down a dark alleyway. Then we found the store. Mr T wasn't in and his generator wasn't working but plenty of original Fela LPs on sale in various conditions.



Thursday night in Abuja at the Hilton, hotel band playing covers and this and that...took a request from me for Sweet Mother, good to see it liven up the area...then later Don Bruce (Abuja's self styled James Brown) took us through the Staple SIngers "I'll take you there", James Brown's "Licking Stick" and then some dodgy versions of Rivers of Babylon and No Woman No Cry...by then time to bail out.