2018

Reissue of this rare soundtrack. Stunning composition.. Salvanini at his best.

This is a personal favourite here at Preservation HQ. First release on 7" vinyl single with the monster modern soul track 'No More'. B side is the AOR winner, 'Coming from The Heart'.Freeway was a US modern soul group from the Oregon area, active from 1979 to 1984.

Estonian archival label Frotee’s 6th release “Suvi ei jää” by Heidy Tamme is available again as 7” single with new B-side for the Balearic heads.While “Suvi ei jää” is a cover version of Roberta Flack’s song “What a Woman Really Means”, it was given new Estonian lyrics which eloquently describe the summer season and its brevity (title translates as ‘Summer Doesn’t Stay’). It’s sung by popular Estonian singer Heidy Tamme, recorded in 1982, and arranged by Tiit Paulus, one of the best Estonian jazz guitarists. After original release of 7” in 2015, Frotee has discovered another version of the title track. Tiit Paulus had played guitar over instrumental version of “Suvi ei jää” and this version is now essential for our balearic summers.

Listening to the music of Al Doum & Faryds is always like staying in the pristine nature of an exotic desert island, in the sacred harmony of a New Organic Society; imaging all brothers and sisters singing and dancing in the unity of the brotherhood. This is the message of love and joy that seems to pervade the fourth album of the Milanese band.Compared to previous works, the substantial characteristics of the sound remain a powerful rhythmic basis and the prestigious skill in the poly-rhythmic dynamics; everything is however moved towards accents of more markedly jazzy ancestry. Basically the Faryds absorb and re-elaborate with remarkable insights disparate elements and influences of certain Electric Jazz or Rock- Jazz-Blues of the ’70 (Miles David, Dr.John, Graham Bond, Jeremy Steig) and Spiritual Jazz (Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, Brother Ah), marrying them with the forceful instances of certain Afro-Free (Pyramids, Alkebu-Lan) and the more Freak-Jam plots typical of Space Rock. The sense of complete unity is also rooted in the balanced synergy and chorality of the instruments, which enjoy a perfect osmotic reciprocity and complementarity. A very important role is played by the entry of Fender Rhodes that chromatically emphasizes the parts as counterpoints and hypnotics ostinatos chased by the dense timbral mixtures of alto-sax and flute (Light Up) and roaring wah-wah guitars with flowing acid trajectories. The Holy Magic of the Faryds can lead to states of hypnotic trance in the inner abyss of infinite echoes (Drums Odyssey), open spaces of whirling freepsychedelia with unbridled and hyper-vibrating dilatations (Satieva), give moments of intense ritual concentration with accurate inserts of choral-religious invocation (Unity Is Brotherhood and Weed And Love) or more solemn orchestral sections with precious brass arrangements (Solchi). A pure joy scented with warm oriental radiance is reached with a touching final Raga-Folk (the titletrack) for sitar, acoustic guitar, percussions and rattles, chant and clapping hands. It’s the ideal evocation of music for the heart, mind and body in a journey of total pranic breath. Spirit Rejoin is the celebration of a new collective soul, a great cathartic ritual and an endless party with birds, plants and all the animals in the circle of devotion.

After a couple of sparking, floor-oriented releases by UK luminary Henry Wu and head honcho Pablo Valentino, MCDE Recordings continues its explorations of dance music spectrum with a brand new offering, right on time for the summer.Now batting is nomadic beatsmith Hugo LX, who develops a new chapter in his multi-faceted discography with this 5 track opus, ranging from classic house to disco flavored jams, detouring through the ambiant and jazz fields, always with a certain eastern vibe to it. With great help from his regular contributors on bass, keys and horns, he delivers a soundscape that aims to be vibrant, powerful, yet sensual and most of all, prove to be timeless

Debut album by dutch act Altin Gün, offering an exciting mix of Turkish folk, psychedelia, funk and rock.Altin Gün was found ed by Dutch bass player Jasper Verhulst (a.o. Jacco Gardner's band), who is fascinated by Turkish '70s artists such as Selda, Baris Manço and Erkin Koray. Together with Ben Rider (guitar), Nic Mauskovic (drums), Jungle By Night's energetic percussionist Gino Groeneveld and Turkish musicians Merve Dasdemir and Erdinc Yildiz Ecevit, he revives the spirit of the Turkish '70s scene and also includes influences from western rock.

With our Africa Airways series flying high we felt it is time to introduce a new compilation focusing on the unique contribution from some of Africa's most recognised female artists and some lesser known ones for good measure. We are excited to be launching this on Women's Day 2018 as our way to highlight the incredible, yet under-acknowledged musical contribution that African women have given to the funky sounds of Africa. Taking our cue from the Alice Walker essay "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens", the creative sparks that inspired this collection of songs were formed in their Mothers' Gardens by Mothers who paved the way for their daughters to keep the creativity of black women alive through their strength and resilience. Whilst we have a bit more of a message with this one, we wouldn't be Africa Seven if it wasn't damn funky at the same time!We kick things off with the infectious sound of South-African Letta Mbulu. Letta started her career playing alongside fellow heavyweights Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela as cast members of King Kong in the 1950's and has since gone on to become one of the most influential south-African artists, even featuring on Michael Jackson songs, as well as being recognised for her contribution both musically and to that of the country's liberation struggles. With a crate-digger, secret weapon version of her classic Kilimanjiro single, "Kilimanjiro, Take Us Higher" is longer and has all the disco groove and delight you need and desire from such a star.Uta Bella takes over from Letta, with a powerful Africa Seven return. "Enyin" is a glamorous disco scorcher heightened by glittering keys and irresistible West African vocals. One of Nigeria's unsung pioneers, and first female pop bandleader, Mona Finnih continues the flow with an effortless boogie number "Ani Kewa Jo" which just keeps on giving for nearly 7 glorious minutes. This devastating 80's number "Nou Ke Sa Inmew" from Cida Desvarieux follows up Uta and is dealt in two halves. Firstly a hit of beautiful vocals and slap bass controls the floor before handing over to the powerful guitar riffs and horns which groove out for the rest of this number. Wrapping up the first side with a classy reggae inspired number "Time Waits For No One" is Christy Essien, the grand dame of Nigerian pop, who was never far away from the issues affecting women in the Nigerian music industry.Side two, enter Togolese singer Akofa Akoussah causing a storm with "Tango", delicate at times yet with a ferocious, unforgiving energy. Next a more obscure offering from Carmen Ezumah with vintage afro goodness in the form of "Tala Tala". Moving on, we have the Nigerian Lijadu sisters (dubbed "the West African Pointer Sisters") with one of their most notable hits "Danger". Our penultimate offering is another dose of obscurity, sandwiched between two greats, with Kenyan Bakambi N'Kela's uncompromising "Kilimanjoro".Mothers' Garden finishes the way we started. With another one of Africa's leading ladies and music royalty, Miriam Makeba. Nicknamed Mother Africa, Miriam is famed for her huge musical contributions, her role in fighting the apartheid and for becoming a UN Ambassador. "Xica Da Silva" is a cover of Jorge Ben and the slow, hypnotic rhythm allows for the power of Miriam's voice to shine through.