MINT

For its third release, Chuwanaga goes back in the past with the reissue of “(Where Is The) Sunshine” by Kalima, a rare 7” originally released in 1981 and produced in Baltimore by Afro-American pianist and producer Derrick Amin. Part I on the A side and part II on the B side form a real journey, a beauty in its own style fusing jazz, soul and spirituality as well as political values.Back in the mid-seventies Derrick Amin brought together young musicians from his Afro-American Muslim community in Baltimore. He tells us: “all black music in America is a response to racism and slavery” and “(Where Is The) Sunshine” was their own answer, “a plaintiff query of one immerse in darkness. The darkness of lies, lies that deny the humanity, justice, and equality of people.It’s the impetus of this song”. He adds: “Kalima means “Word” or “Langage” in Arabic. The name was inspired by a quote from Imam W.D. Mohammad (the late Muslim American leader and erstwhile successor to Nation of Islam founder, Elijah Muhammad) who once said: “Words make people””.With its splendid vocal parts (thanks to vocalist Sabreen Shareef), a unique major-to-minor chord progression, subtle synthesizer melodies in the chorus and amazing electric piano and sax solos, it really is a very special release. It’s been discovered in a Motor City Drum Ensemble’s jazz set with Gilles Peterson at the J.A.W. Family Reunion in Berlin back in 2016. Still, one must not forget its yet poetic still political message now shared once again with the world. The question asked by Kalima sadly still remains as relevant in 2018: Where is the sunshine?

Yellow vinyl 12" limited to 300 copies

The Mexican platform Comunité returns with its second outpost in the form of a Various Artist package showcasing some of the core players featured on the 2018 bill of the festival. Through a heap of selected works of both regulars and newcomers – COM002 offers a glimpse of the festival’s signature curation of eclectic tastes, from prime-time floor fillers blended in with experimental acoustic sorcery.The 12” kicks off with a notorious collaboration between two regulars of the Tulum-based event: Tijuana’s Soul of Hex mind-bending classic approach to house music amalgamated with Mule Musiq’s Kuniyuki and his complex synth work – culminating in Dampe, a 7 minute joint-effort between Mexico and Japan. A2 continues in the vein of Cuba’s Alpha 606 – a fresh artist debut on the label. Through staggering hi-hat work and filtered synth pad beds, the Miami based artist showcases his signature electro style that blends An undoubtable latin rhythmic influence with drum machines and LFO-grooved melodies forming “Shadow”.On the flip side, Mexico City’s techno veteran Itzone takes the floor with an introductory ambient piece featuring a vocal narrative that highlights inspirational and mystic concepts–serving as both an interlude as well as a commencement to the rest of the package. Comunités regular JoSep takes on the torch afterwards, providing his always floor-ready 4/4 hypnotic debauchery and shining a light On one of the festival’s core aesthetics. Closing off the second instalment of the label, Mexico City’s AAAA offers his signature plate of modular synthesis-based experiments, welcoming into his realm of apocalyptic concepts simultaneously to a soothing closure of the record; a magnifying glass into one of Mexico’s front-running creational platforms.

One-sided hand-stamped red vinyl 10"