Janko Nilovic JJ Whitefield Igor Zhukovsky
Cosmos Giants

One of the greatest enigmas of the music scene in mid to late 1970s Harare was The New Tutenkhamen, a band which played an eclectic brand of Zimbabwean township music combining traditional rhythms and western influences. The band included some luminaries of Zimbabwean township music. Elisha Josamu was an alumnus of the fabulously-named Hallelujah Chicken Run Band (alongside Thomas Mapfumo), and Green Jangano’s long-running Harare Mambos, and would later form Two Plus Two with bassist Christopher “Chex” Tavengwa. Jethro Shasha played the drums, and would arguably become the New Tutenkhamen’s most famous export, making continental waves working with likes of Salif Keita. Paul Sekerani played the rhythm guitar, with Amos Chatyoka on the organ, while the enigmatic Maggie Mbuli provided vocals and F. Manda played the sax. The New Tutenkhamen recorded I Wish You Were Mine at Teal Records, produced by Crispen Matema, a talented jazz drummer in his own right who had played drums on the all-time classic Skokiaan, and had backed Louis Armstrong on his 1960 Rhodesia visit. Combining the heavyweight producing talents of Matema and the writing chops of Josamu, The New Tutenkhamen band created an album showcasing various musical styles popular at the time. From the afro-jazz jam session aesthetics of “Tutenkhamen Theme”, “Big Brother Malcom” and “Forever Together”, to the almost Van Morrison-sounding “Sunday Morning”; from the upbeat rock ballad “True Love”, to the funk-infused dance song “Togetherness”; from the bouncy jazz exhortations to work hard in “Ane Nungo”, to the brassy, raunchy foot-stomper “Me & Dolly”. The title track “I Wish You Were Mine” is a ska-infused ballad that wouldn’t be out of place in post-war Birmingham, while the star of the show is “Joburg Bound”, itself a fast-paced rock piece with Motown undertones and funky guitar lines. As a collective effort, I Wish You Were Mine provides a fascinating insight into a fraught time in Zimbabwe’s history, and the bands plying their trade through the turmoil, making music for young people, by young people.

Favorite Recordings proudly presents Time to Decide, The first album by Al SunnyAl Sunny is a young composer emerging from the French soul music scene. Soon after learning the guitar, he started composing and became involved in numerous projects and collaborations. Al has been influenced by pop, rock, and electronic music, always with a foundation in the “Black” and “Soul” sound.During his conservatory studies, he refined his knowledge and confirmed his desire to write and compose. The will to establish himself on a solo project became stronger and stronger. He quickly discovered deep inside himself the music that he truly loves, inspired by artists such as Tim Maia, America, Al Green, and Al Jarreau. Thru his guitar, he gives birth to the majority of his compositions and always seeks to bring the melody of his songs to the forefront. During his studies he met musicians including Florian Pellissier, then professor at the conservatory and a confirmed pianist who worked on various projects such as Guts, Anthony Joseph, Florian Pellissier Quintet, and Shola Adissa.It's then thanks to Florian that Al Sunny meets Pascal Rioux, founder and A&R of Favorite Recordings. Immediately seduced and impressed by his talent and the various demos that he listened to, Pascal invites the young musician to collaborate and produce an album within Favorite Recordings. Together they agree on a musical direction looking towards the West coast movement of the 70s and 80s. This direction includes influences like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Ned Doheny, of whom Al Sunny covers the classic “Get It Up For Love” on the new album.With Time To Decide, Al Sunny shows us the premise of his music style, infused with Blue-Eyed-Soul, Pop and Folk. Written and composed by himself, it’s in close collaboration with Florian Pellissier that his songs came to life. Under the guidance of Pascal Rioux and Favorite Recordings, the production of this album ensures a sound and a final result worthy of the best classics of the genre.

Here's the third installment of Sofa Records' Disco Single series! Featuring four standout tracks from Algeria's 1980s music scene, this collection showcases the cultural diversity and creativity of the country.Listen here. Galouli Enshara (A1) and Zourini (B1) are two captivating pop-boogie-funk tracks by Khaled Barkat, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist from Algiers. Produced by Khaled himself in 1986, and recorded at the esteemed brothers Torki’s studio in Algiers along with his friends—and talented musicians —Yazid Fentazi, Redouane Ayoub, Mustapha Mekerkeband Mhenni Benlala. The album, if he had a certain success (Khaled Barkat is considered as a pop music iconin his country)was somewhat overshadowed by the popularity of other genres in Algeria, such as raï music. We're thrilled to put if for the first time on vinyl! And spread this music to a wider audience. Dub El Hammam (A2) is by raï vocalist Cheb Tati, hailing from Oran. In the 1980s, as raï gained recognition in the global music industry, Tati was brought to London in 1989 to record an album with reggae/dub producer Denis Bovell. Among other tracks, this heavy, top-notch 1980s digital dub track resulted from their collaboration.Last but not least, the final track on the single is sourced from the only known recording of Asif, a Kabyle band from Lille formed by three brothers. The band was created in the late 1970s, and the selected track, Tafsut (B2), was recorded in 1985. A beautiful pop-boogie tune that we considered a marvelous conclusion to this single.This record was made in collaboration with Les Disques Bongo Joe. All tracks are fully licensed.

** Available exclusively at The Pusher **Komos presents Soul Unity by Byard Lancaster.'From Sex Machine to A Love Supreme’ was Byard Lancaster’s musical motto.The saxophonist and flutist from Philadelphia has released cult albums under his own name from the late 60's until his death in 2012 and features on recordings from Larry Young, Doug Hammond, Sunny Murray among other major jazz musicians. He also co-founded the mythical band Sounds of Liberation with his friends Khan Jamal and Monnette Sudler. Soul Unity is a devotional journey through Great Black Music, from Africa to Coltrane, from Spirituals to Now, searching for the Source behind the forms. It features Byard Lancaster's close friends Khan Jamal from ‘Sounds of Liberation’, Keno Speller from ‘Lafayette Afro-Rock Band’, Alfie Pollitt, former musical director for Teddy Pendergrass and Men On A Mission, a Gospel quartet.Produced by Antoine Rajon, now A&R of Komos, it was recorded in one take on a sunny Saturday afternoon of 2005 in Philadelphia at Morning Star Studios. First vinyl edition, remastered and cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery.