Mad Honey
Setback

This 2015 reissue from Awesome Tapes From Africa is the whole reason founder Brian Shimkovitz started the blog and the label that grew out of it. Some 13 years before, Brian found a cassette copy of Obaa Sima in Ghana, leading to the foundation of the ATFA blog and long-running effort to track Ata Kak. 4 years after ATFA became a label, Brian finally tracked down the musician and was granted permission to reissue Obaa Sima, using the second-hand tape purchased in Ghana as the source. The seven tracks on this LP are a winning tinny combination of highlife, rap, pop, and more. Not everyone's cup of tea but I think it's sensational.

Meanjin's own producer + DJ extraordinaire Sampology AKA Sam Poggioli returns with this must-have LP! A culmination of the ideas previously heard on his last two EPs 'Natural Selections' & 'Mt Glorious', Sampo almost entirely pivoted away from a heavy sampled-based production into a largely live affair - with string quartets, woodwinds, 20-piece choirs, vibraphones, double bass, various pianos and synths... Like lots of Sampo's work, it's joyful, bouncy, textural and gorgeous front-to-back listening. Recorded from scratch in either his home studio or on his travels over the past four years, 'Regrowth' is the perfect album to sink into, thanks to its rich and colourful production. HUGE TIP!

Much anticipated re-release of the only album by the South African disco-funk outfit, Kumasi. Smiling C delivers with a 2x12” compilation pressing - ALL killer, no filler. Huge dance floor bombs with that special South African tinge. TIP!!

Athens of the North serves up something of a lovely curveball here with their first-ever beat tape. It is the work of Scottish beatmaker and hip-hop producer Jaisu, who has long been a friend of the label. He crafted this record in his studio in Niddrie from beats already put out on the Athens label. In loading up his MPC with such great source material, he was always sure to serve up some great sounds and so it is - these are lived-in, real, raw beats that have lo-fi fringes, soul vibes and a certain sense of timelessness that stands each track apart. Dooooope!