Being the first of a string of brand new projects, this eponymous first album sees Soundway taking a slightly different direction in 2012 and beyond. Championed mostly for their work in un-earthing and re-releasing classic, rare and vintage tropical recordings, Soundway have started signing new acts that have drawn on and been inspired by the kind of music found on the label’s groundbreaking compilations and re-issues.

What originally started out as a radio show designed to promote new African music has slowly evolved into a collaborative project crossing continents.

Whereas nearly all of kuduro (Angolan electronic music) has no links with its country’s musical heritage, it is deeply engrained in Batida’s music. Sampling tracks from 1970s Angola, Batida is a reinterpretation of Angola’s musical past, bringing it firmly into the modern day.

Batida’s high energy live show features dancers, live samples, percussionists, MCs alongside visuals and images (both archive and new) of Angolan streets, war and fragments of tribal life.

1. Pronto pra Batida feat. MCK
2. Algeria
3. Yumbala feat. Circuito Feixado
4. Tirei o Chapéu feat. Ikonoklasta
5. Puxa feat. Beat Laden
6. Bazuka (Quem me rusgou)
7. Tribalismo feat. Circuito Feixado (CD ONLY)
8. Ka Heueh feat. Ngongo
9. Saudade feat. Bob da Rage Sense
10. Cuka feat. Ikonoklasta

The majority of their songs were based around a 6/8 rhythm influenced by the music of the Ewe people from the South East of Ghana and Western Togo. With themes that draw heavily on traditional folklore and deep philosophy the album has a heavy feel that sets itself well apart from the much of the lighter happier highlife of the previous decade. Alongside Fela’s first few albums, Blo’s Chapter One and Mono Mono’s Give The Beggar A Chance this was one of the very earliest Afro – Rock LPs released in West Africa and has remained out of print for nearly forty years. Projection One never got a release in the band’s home country of Ghana and apparently sailed way over most peoples heads at the time. Very much like the debut Hedzoleh Soundz album that Soundway re-issued in 2010 (another Ghanaian band that were recorded in Lagos, produced by Iruoje on the recommendation of Fela Kuti) the only copies that made it back to Ghana were the few that the band took back themselves.

Soundway will release Projection One here in it’s full original format on gatefold vinyl as well as on CD for the first time: remastered and accompanied by liner notes that contain the reminiscences of band leader Nana Danso (who subsequently founded and now runs the Accra-based Pan African Orchestra).

Tracklist:

1. Darkness
2. Gondzin
3. Edzayawa
4. Naa Korle
5. Amanehun
6. Abonsan
7. Obuebee
8. Adesa

Disc 1 tells the story of some the earliest Colombian cumbia recorded, a genre that captured a nation, spreading from its birthplace on the Caribbean coast in land to central Colombia and the capital Bogota. Disc 2 sees the evolution of cumbia. Greats of Colombian music like Alberto Pacheco, Toño Fernandez & Anibal Velasquez brought the music forward, bringing new influences and instruments to the genre. What had once been considered the music of the underclasses had risen up as the new sound of a nation.

After five years of becoming slowly submerged in Colombian musical culture, learning the accordion, setting up a band and a studio, and scouring the country in search it’s recorded legacy, Will ‘Quantic’ Holland (Quantic Soul Orchestra & Quantic y su Combo Barbaro) has compiled the fruits of his labour into this unique compilation that tells the story of cumbia in the years of the phonograph record’s supremacy. Along with good friend and head of Soundway Records, Miles Cletet, Will Holland has condensed hundreds of 78s, 45s and LPs into just over two and a half hours of the finest Colombian cumbia.

Both vinyl editions come with a bonus track and are limited to 1500 copies.

“The whole album is simply stunning with a superb track listing” Laurent Garnier

“These CDs put history not in the museum but firmly in the middle of the dancefloor.” The Telegraph – Pop CD of the Week

“It’s a magnificent cumbiapedia.” The Observer

“Joyful tropical madness.” MOJO

‘The Original Sound of Cumbia’ Medley by Soundway

Tracklist

Disc 1 / SNDWLP032A

1. Gastón (El Isleño) con El Conjunto de Jaime Simanca – La Cumbia Está Llamando
2. Conjunto Los Rumberos – Cumbia del Puerto
3. Lucho Peréz – Judith
4. Alberto Pacheco y su Conjunto – Sembrando Café
5. Rafeal Yepes Crespo con sus Negros de la Región – Nubia en la Playa
6. Santander Flores – Capital Cebuista
7. Ruffo Garrido y su Conjunto – El Pájaro Prieto
8. Conjunto Ritmos del Caribe – La Fullera
9. Anibal Velásquez y Su Conjunto – San Jacinto
10. Orquesta Ritmos de Sabanas – Montería
11. Baldomero Urieles con Efrian Burgos y su Conjunto – Amor del Magdalena
12. Los Alegres del Valle – Samaria
13. Conjunto Martínez – Cumbia Fonsequera
14. Silvio Guzman y Conjunto Jose M. Peñaranda – Canto a Betty
15. Pedro Salcedo y su Orquesta – La Vaca y El Caporal
16. Los Alegres Bucaneros – Cumbia Bucanera
17. Gildardo Montoya y Conjunto Los Rumberos – Fabiola
18. Guillermo Munoz y Conjunto Típico del Magdalena – Cumbia de Todos
19. Cresencio Salcedo – Me Quedo con el Viejo
20. Lalito y Conjunto Colombia – Flores de Colombia
21. Nacho Paredes con Los Vaqueros Sabaneros – Dulce Lamento
22. Los Ases del Ritmo – La Margarita
23. Emiro Caicedo y su Combo – Los Cumbiamberos
24. Hugo Racedo y su Conjunto – Cumbia del Magdalena
25. Trio Serenata – Cumbia Sobre El Mar
26. Los Indígenas – Sangre Goajira
27. Toño Fernandez – La Muerte
28. Los Hermanitos Ferreyra – Cumbia del Mar

Vinyl bonus track

Angel Martinez con Los Sabaneros – Cumbia Alegre

Disc 2 / SNDWLP032B

1. Betopey – Cumbia del Carnaval
2. Conjunto Miramar – Reina de Cumbias
3. Los Cumbiamberos de Chorrera – La Millera
4. Andrés Landero – Rosa y Mayo
5. Los Tigres con Morgan Blanco – La Culebra
6. La Cumbia Soledeña – Tambo, Tambo
7. Jaime Simanca y sus Fandangueros – Cumbia Negra
8. Aniceto Molina y su Conjunto – Cumbia Candela
9.Banda Bajera de San Pelayo – Descarga en Cumbia
10. Alberto Pacheco – Guayabita Colorá
11. Banda 11 de Enero de Murillo – La Cachona
12. Lucho Campillo y su Conjunto – Rastrillando
13. Carlos Román – El 4 y 5
14. Banda 2da de Laguneta Córdoba – Tracionera
15. Satanás y su Grupo – Cumbia de La Montaña
16. Toño Fernández – La Guacharaca
17. Lucho Yepez – La Gaita del Pato
18. El Pholy Combo – El Porro es Hermano De La Cumbia
19. Grupo Costa Brava – A Baranoa
20. Elías Morón y su Conjunto Vallenato – Playas Embrujadas
21. Chico Cervantes – Cumbia Colombia
22. Anibal Velásquez y su Conjunto – Cumbia Bogotana
23. Alfonso Puerta y su Conjunto – Pescadores del Mar
24. Miguel Durán – Elionora
25. Celia Estremor y su Grupo de Baile Cantao – El Secuestro
26. Hermanos Tuiran – Lluvia
27. Unknown – El Niño Llora

Vinyl Bonus Track

Heber Macias – Cumbia Linda

From an early stage in their career it was the African influence that set Black Truth Rhythm Band apart from other West Indian bands. Formed in 1971, the group looked further a field than the USA for their influences, more specifically to Africa, even going as far as giving themselves African names and dressing in African clothes. At the time finding African records in the West Indies was particularly difficult, making the bands choice of influences even more rare.

In 1975 Imo took his musicians into the studio to record the album ‘Ifetayo’. Imo played bass, kalimba, conga, flute and percussion as well as lead vocals.  The album was released the following year in 1976 and despite being released in the US, remained an underground, albeit unique and forward thinking record that has remained out of print for years now.

‘Ifetayo’ was to be the only release from Black Truth Rhythm Band but Imo continued his music and love of African rhythms, going onto record with Fela Kuti in 1988 and later on perform with members of Fela’s Egypt 80 band.

All formats comes with a non-album bonus track. The vinyl edition comes with bonus 7″

Tracklist

1. Ifetayo
2.You People
3. Save D Musician
4. Kilimanjaro
5. Aspire
6. Umbala
BONUS TRACK (CD & LP VERSION): Imo

Soundway have been championing Joni Haastrup since day one featuring tracks on both the ‘Nigeria Special!’ and ‘Nigeria Rock Special!’ releases. Most recently Joni appears as a guest keys players on Black Goddess, an Afro-jazz soundtrack collaboration with Remi Kabaka.

Joni formed MonoMono in 1971 with his friend and bassist Baba Ken Okulolo, guitarist Jimmy Adams and percussionists Candido Obajimi and Friday Jumbo. The band recorded seven original tracks for their debut LP, a drastic departure from the soul covers of the 60’s groups in Nigeria but a logical progression from the jazz-rock fusion saturating the London scene. Joni’s keys on the lush, meandering title track ‘Give the Beggar a Chance’ reminds one of Ray Manzarek (The Doors) while on ‘Kenimania’ he wails like an African counter-point to the Skatalites’ master organist Jackie Mittoo. Written in London and recorded in Lagos, the album was released in 1972.

The LP version comes with a bonus 12″ vinyl

“It’s poignant that there now bands who would kill to replicate his dizzly slack afro-soul sound.” The Telegraph

The World Might Fall Over – MonoMono by Soundway

Track list

1. Give the beggar a chance
2. Ema kowa lasa ile wa
3. The world might fall over
4. E je ‘A Mura Sise
5. Find Out
6. Lida Lou
7. Kenimania

Vinyl bonus tracks

A: Adele
B1: Wake Up The Dead Onez
B2: Layipo

Amid the OPEC oil embargo, Watergate and IRA bombs, the sound of MonoMono’s follow-up record, 1974’s ‘Dawn of Awareness’, took on the bluesrock grooves of Santana and Hugh Masekela but with their own unique Yoruban flavor. A deeply spiritual record, ‘Dawn of Awareness’ was Haastrup’s reaction to what was going on in the world around him. One hears echoes of the Allman Brothers’ ‘Revival’ on MonoMono’s ‘Awareness is What You Need’ and after listening to ‘Plain Fighting’ you could easily imagine the band sharing the stage with the Doobie Brothers at an East Side San Jose street festival.

The LP version comes with a bonus 12″ vinyl.

“Hugely accessible LPs which may keep the sampling lawyers busy.” UNCUT

Track list

1. Plain Fighting (Your life is what you make of it)
2. Ipade Aladun
3. Get Yourself Together
4. Awareness Is Wot You Need
5. Make Them Realise (Everybody’s gotta be free)
6. Tire Loma Da Nighbehin

Vinyl Bonus Tracks

A: Water Pass Gari Pts 1 & 2 edited together
B: Kenimania (7″ version)

The soundtrack, Soundway’s deepest venture into experimental afro-jazz, was composed and produced by one of Nigeria’s most successful and original musicians Remi Kabaka (who has played with Steve Winwood, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney and Ginger Baker amongst others).

The record was originally issued in both Nigeria and Brazil, but recorded in Lagos, using four of the Nigerian music scene’s most innovative players: Remi Kabaka himself, alongside Biddy Wright, saxophonist Dele Okonkwo and Mono Mono frontman Joni Haastrup.

The resulting soundtrack created by these prestigious musicians is a truly unique and experimental afro-jazz recording that has been out of print for many years, until now.

“One of the finest moments in Nigeria’s experimental Afro-jazz scene – at least until Soundway unearth a better one.” Time Out

Black Goddess (from Black Goddess 0ST) by Soundway

Track list

Side A

1. Brothers & Sisters
2. The Quest
3. Slave March

Side B

1. Black Goddess
2. The Quest (Piano solo)
3. The Warrior

Born into a musical family in 1938, Michi, a musical-child prodigy of sorts, began playing the cabarets, casinos and cathouses of Cartagena in the late 1950’s. By 1967 he had formed his Combo Bravo (the band consisted of two trumpets, Michi on tenor sax and clarinet, guitar and piano, electric bass, tumbadora, timbales and a young Joe Arroyo on vocals) and began to play live alongside other exciting young groups such as Toño y su Combo, Los Seven del Swing and Puerto Rico y su Combo.

Along with infectious dance porros and cumbias, Michi y sus Bravos specialized in rumbling guaguancós, descargas and hot covers of early salsa and boogaloo hits. Michi’s LPs on Discos Fuentes, brilliantly produced and recorded by Mario ‘Pachanga’ Rincón, were packed with fast-paced dancefloor burners featuring pumping bass, insistent montunos, sax solos and nasty metallic percussion.

“Dance grooves as rough and ready as their surroundings.”
MOJO

“Sweaty, bustling Latino party music”
The Wire

“Michi Sarmiento is the MC of sassy, sexy salsa.”
Songlines

Aqui Los Bravos! The Best of Michi Sarmiento y su Combo Bravo 1967 – 77 by Soundway

Track list

1. El Sonerito
2. Aqui los Bravos
3. Cumbia Raja
4. Vamos Negra
5. El Arruyo De Macuya
6. A Los Sicodelicos
7. Mirame San Miguel
8. La Vaca Nueva
9. Tumbando
10. Hong Kong
11. El Negro Y Ray
12. Se Fue la Cumbia
13. Suena Ahora
14. Caprichosa
15. Son Retoson
16. Purificacion

Compiled by Roberto Gyemant with the help of Colombian resident Will ‘Quantic’ Holland and Miles Cleret, Cartagena! focuses on the extraordinary life and career of Curro Fuentes, the youngest brother of the family responsible for the Discos Fuentes label.

Cartagena! features 19 tracks and is presented on CD and double gatefold LP, designed by Lewis Heriz. Both CD and LP include detailed liner notes and offer insights from Will Holland’s interview with the late Curro Fuentes.

“Wailing clarinets and delirious, sleazy saxes evoke a sense of Benny Goodman-style swing gone wild in the tropics.”

The Telegraph

“Cumbia compilations of this consistently high quality are pretty thin on the ground.”

The Independent on Sunday

Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia and Descarga Sound of Colombia 1962 – 1972 by Soundway

Tracklist

1 Rosendo y su Banda – Me Voy Pa’La Costa
2 Puerto Rico y Su Combo – La Cumbia Del Pescador
3 Orquesta Sonora Curro – Patuleco
4 Rosendo Martínez y su Orquesta – El Alegron
5 Cantina y su Combo – Santa Marta Cumbia
6 Lucho Bermudez y su Orquesta Sabanera – Arroz Con Coco 7 Orlando Fortich y su Orquesta – Yolanda
8 Homero y su Combo Con Pacho Galan y la Sonora Curro – Oye Negra
9 Clodomiro Montes y el Super Combo Curro – Puerto Rico Zumbando
10 Los Seven Del Swing – Silencio
11 El Gran Romancito y El Super Combo Curro – Honolulu
12 Crecencio Camacho y El Super Combo Curro – Santana En Salsa
13 Clodomiro Montes y El Super Combo Curro – Traigo Salsa
14 Lalo Orozco y su Combo Sabroso – Salsa Sabrosa
15 Lucho Bermudez y su Orquesta – Fiesta De Negritos
16 Alex Acosta y su Orquesta – La Gozadera
17 Los Seven Del Swing – Celoso
18 Rufo Garrido y Su Banda – Viejos Tiempos
19 Alex Acosta y su Orquesta – Cumbia Del Monte

Vinyl Bonus track

20. Pipe Guarin y sus Sabaneros- El Corronchon-Chon

As Soundway’s entry point into the Asian music world, The Sound of Siam CD and double LP offers a unique vantage point to the most experimental period in Thai musical history. The 19 tracks reflect the outcome of a twentieth century journey from Thai classical to Luk Krung and Luk Thung – music that incorporated western influences such as jazz, surf guitar, ballroom and even Latin and African.

The music maps changing social demographics, the movement of people, culture and language from countryside to city and all during a period when the record labels were at their most experimental.

My favourite comp of the year, really well sequenced & very entertaining – thumbs up all round. Mr Scruff

This is funky garage rock topped with idiosyncratic Thai vocals. If you want to know what an oriental Stone Roses would sound like, check out The Petch Phin Thong Band. Uncut 4/5

A fascinating trip through an alternate musical universe of Bangkok funk, traditional sounds and even reggae lilting nodders. Clash Music

Possibly my favourite retro release of the year but I would expect no less from Soundway. Congratulations again, and again, and again…Mary-Anne Kennedy (World on 3)

The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam 1964 – 1975 by Soundway

Tracklist

1. Chaweewan Dumnern – Lam Tung Wai
2. Chaweewan Dumnern – Lam Toey Chaweewan
3. Onuma Singsiri – Mae Kha Som Tam
4. Thapporn Petchubon, Noknoi Uraiporn, Thongthai Tin Isan – Isan Klab Tin
5. Ream Daranoi – Fai Yen
6. Panom Nopporn – Sao Ban Pok Pab
7. Plearn Promdan – Wan Maha Sanook
8. The Petch Phin Thong Band – Soul Lam Plearn
9. Waipod Phetsuphan –Ding Ding Dong
10. Saknatee Srichiangmai – Nom Samai Mai
11. Yenjit Porntawi – Lam Plearn Toh Lom Nhao
12. Chaweewan Dumnern – Sao Lam Plearn
13. Dao Bandon – Mae Jom Ka Lon
14. Sanae Petchaboon – Pen Jung Dai
15. Thong Huad & Kunp’an – Diew Sor Diew Caan
16. Sodsri Rungsang – Uay Porn Tahan Chaydan
17. Kawaw Siang Thong – Kai Tom Yum
18. The Viking Combo Band – Pleng Yuk Owakard
19. Dao Bandon – Tang Ngarn Si Nong

Vinyl Bonus Track: Soi Saeng Daeng – Hi Five