Adam Chini
Night Drive

No one had been through those doors in years. Unchanged, seemingly untouched, just a Guard watching over it, one wondered whether the place would ever see the light of day again. Built in the 70s by Scotch, there were only twenty such places in the entire world. Twenty studios, all identical. Most had undergone a digital makeover in the 80s, but not this one; situated in Lomé, this studio had stayed true to its original form. Silent and uninhabited but waiting for one thing, and one thing only: for the sacred fire to be lit once again. That of the Togolese Recording Office, is studio OTODI for those in the know. Through thick layers of dust, the console was vibrating still, impatient to be turned on and spurt out the sound so unique to analog. That sound is what Peter Solo and his band Vaudou Game came to seek out. The original vibrations of Lomé’s sound, resonating within the studio space, an undercurrent pulsing within the walls, the floor, and the entire atmosphere. A presence at once electrical and mystical sourced through the amps that had never really gone cold, despite the deep sleep that they had been forced into. In taking over the studio’s 3000 square feet, enough to house a full orchestra, Vaudou Game had the space necessary to conjure the spirits of voodoo, those very spirits who watch over men and nature, and with whom Peter converses every day. For the most authentic of frequencies to fully imbibe this third album, Peter Solo entrusted the rhythmic section to a Togolese bass and drum duo, putting the groove in the expert hands of those versed in feeling and a type of musicianship that you can’t learn in any school. This was also a way to put OTODI on the path of a more heavily hued funk sound, the backbone of which maintains flexibility and agility when moving over to highlife, straightens out when enhanced with frequent guest Roger Damawuzan’s James Brown type screams, and softens when making the way for strings. Snaking and undulating when a chorus of Togolese women takes over, guiding it towards a slow, hypnotic trance. Up until now, Vaudou Game had maintained their connection to Togo from their base in France. This time, recording the entire album in Lomé at OTODI with local musicians, Peter Solo drew the voodoo fluid directly from the source, once again using only Togolese scales to make his guitar sing, his strings acting as channels between listeners and deities…

This is the debut album from the Nancy-based quartet NCY Milky Band.The four musicians deliver unique jazz experiments at the crossroads of 70's french groove and modern electronica. The album covers a wide range of moods, switching from cheerful anthems with goofy synths to slow jams in which the saxophone breezes a deep feeling of nostalgia. With Burn’IN, NCY Milky Band are bringing a refreshing and original touch to the upcoming french jazz scene.

Mona Musique is the imprint from Nick V, curator and resident DJ behind longstanding night Mona. First and foremost the vinyl-only label is an embodiment of the Parisian parties that have been bringing together Voguers, Waackers and club dancers for more than a decade. Consistently flying the flag for House music for over 15 years, Lea Lisa is one of those understated DJs responsible for pushing the sound forward, regardless of electronic trends. A mainstay through her residencies in Lyon and Toulouse and integral involvement in respected record store Innerdisc, Lea Lisa has been cultivating her production skills for some time behind the scenes, until now.A longtime friend of label boss Nick V, playing each other's parties back in 2004, she launches her production career with Walking La Mona the second release on Mona Musique. Inspired by the work of her mentor Larry Heard and her close friend Kerri Chandler, “Imagine That” is classic House: simple, effective but above all emotive. Complimented by the haunting deep tones of Rich Medina, his conscious spoken words echo discontentment around the current political (and global) climate. Reminiscent of the early 90s but with a revived spirit is “Intention”. Certainly one for the dancefloor, it is Lea Lisa’s subtle production work in the beats, synths and organs that make the difference here.

Loya is a new project by French producer Sébastien Lejeune, which allows him to research his own cultural heritage, as a native of La Réunion.For the past five years, Loya has been exploring the musical environment of the sister islands of the Mascarenes (Indian Ocean), breaking down the boundaries between electronic music and traditional music in a globalized world. Growing up in the great melting pot of La Reunion, Loya was exposed to a number of cultures and rhythms that fueled his curiosity. Settling in metropolitan France in the mid-90s, Loya’s first encounter with electronic music happened upon discovering acts such as Autechre, Plaid and Boards of Canada. Soon, Loya was drawing from Intelligent Dance Music and bleep techno to build complex rhythm arrangements and ethereal melodies. Throughout this research, Loya gradually managed to tame the erratic nature of his machines to summon states of trance that reminded him of the music he grew up listening to as native of the Mascarene.From this route through the meanders of contemporary electronic music, Loya developed a trademark sound based on triple time beats, pointillist sound design and a taste for experimentation. Such distinctive features can already be heard on his first self-produced album Eruption, released in 2014 and the EP Indian Ocean, released in 2016 on Mawimbi Records, although Corail is his most accomplished work and a testament of his clear talent.Exploring the blue depths of the Indian Ocean with the fluency of a native, the ten compositions of Corail unfold like an archipelago. Showcasing the talents of traditional musicians such as Mauritius ravanne icon Menwar and Madagascan accordion master Régis Gizavo, Corail finds a fine balance between the soft, velvety ripples of modular synthesizers and the rawness of frantic percussion motifs and local field recordings.

** Available exclusively at The Pusher **Favorite Recordings proudly present its new series of 7" reissues with the following concept: each side dedicated to one Funky French track coming with its original artwork. You just have to flip it!On the first side, you'll get the amazing track "Funky Biguine" by West Indies band Crystal. Originally compiled by Charles Maurice on French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 2, the original eponymous album still goes for crazy prices. And there's a reason for that: "Funky Biguine" will bring the heat on the dancefloor with its enchanting synth bassline, its West Indies influences and melodious Funk arrangement. Don't miss the synth solo in the end!On the other side, you'll find a reissue of "Looking For You" by J.E.K.Y.S from the island of Réunion. The song has just started and you're already overwhelmed by the strong bassline and the sirens of this French boogie anthem -despite this one has English lyrics. Originally, you'll find it compiled by Charles Maurice on French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 3. Expect lovely harmonic progressions and perhaps a more spacey groove, as in these beautiful bridges leading to chorus where the lyrics blend perfectly with the synthesisers line and Fender Rhodes.

Humans is the new album from sought after international touring band the London Afrobeat Collective. From Europe to Africa, Glastonbury to Nigeria’s annual ‘Felabration’ festival, LAC deliver party music born of their truly global DNA. The nine-strong collective from England, Congo, Italy, France, Argentina and New Zealand combine diverse influences such as Fela, Parliament Funkadelic and Frank Zappa to create an eclectic sound drawing on funk, jazz, rock, and dub to create something addictive and unique. Their 2015 album Food Chain, received widespread radio support on stations such as BBC 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Radio 2, as well as glowing reviews in The Sunday Times, London Evening Standard, Blues & Soul and Songlines Magazine to name just a few. The new album Humans, (featuring artwork by Ben Hito, renowned for his designs for Parliament / Funkadelic), is a collection of anthemic songs with socially conscious lyrics, set to bold brass lines and hypnotic danceable grooves. In 2015 the London Afrobeat Collective toured Nigeria, appearing several times on national TV and performing in front of ten thousand people at the New Afrika Shrine during ‘Felebration’. They are no less respected in their home town, having collaborated with the likes of Dele Sosimi and supporting legends such as Ebo Taylor, Fred Wesley And The New JB’s, Tony Allen, and Fela’s son, Femi Kuti. LAC are now globally recognised for what they really are: not a tribute, but an ever evolving, international band of expert musicians, continuously inspiring each other as they create distinct, sincere and powerful music. Humans is an accomplished work with international flair and cultural relevance from London to Lagos.