Citizen Dale - Platters That Matters Vol.4 - A'fro Down (MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) 2010-08-08 "Hey Julien, I hope that this message finds you well and as busy as ever. The mega African mix you just put up is shit hot! Anyway, I must have been on the same wavelength as you as the new mix I've been working on is afro-centric: Platters that Matters - Vol. 4 - A'fro Down! This fresh mix of original African hit-makers and afro-rhythm inspired ass-shakers is sure to hit you in the feet! You'll feel the heat & groove to the beat when you check out what is being laid down in this most...

Segun Bucknor - Who Say I Tire
(2xCD/2xLP) Vampisoul VAMPI123, 2010-06-14

The most complete compilation to date of this key figure in the history of Nigerian music! In the early 70s, Segun Bucknor and his bands The Assembly and The Revolution developed their own African expression of soul and funk music with a strong identity and a social and political conscience. Liner notes by African music expert Max Reinhardt (BBC Radio 3's "Late Junction"). Another great title in Vampisoul's Nigeria series: Tony Allen, Orlando Julius, Fred Fisher, Victor Olaiya...

Various - Nigeria Afrobeat Special - The New Explosive Sound in 1970's Nigeria
(CD/3xLP/Digital) Soundway Records SNDWCD021/SNDWLP021, 2010-02-22 (CD) / 2010-03-01 (vinyl)

Nigeria Afrobeat Special is the fourth addition to the Nigeria Special series, a project initiated by Miles Cleret, owner of the Soundway Records label back in 2004. The triple LP features five bonus tracks not available on the CD....

Various - Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration Of Fela Kuti
(4x10" boxset/CD) Now-Again/Stones Throw NA50566, 2010-02-23

Fela's music, and that of his organization inspired musicians across the global village when Afro-Beat was new and novel. This compilation focuses on the music Fela inspired – whether by fellow Nigerians recording alongside him in the early 70s, neighbors in Ghana, then-modern Colombian cumbia ensembles inspired by the man who injected a new feel into the Yoruban rhythms that formed cumbia's base, Trinidadian steel bands or the select few organizations left that have maintained Fela's fury in the new millennium. Compiler Egon has written extensive liner notes – and sourced never before seen Fela photos and other ephemera - for this project, included in the hardbound book that contains the CD and in a large-format booklet in the 4 x 10” vinyl box set.

Segun Bucknor - Poor Man No Get Brother: Assembly & Revolution 1969-1975
(CD/2xLP) Strut STRUTACD005/STRUTALP005, 2002-03-11

Strut return to the Lagos archives with a definitive look at another of Nigeria’s finest Afro-funk / Afro-soul pioneers and political commentators of the 1970s, keyboardist Segun Bucknor.

Working around Nigeria during the ‘70s in the shadow of the great Fela Kuti, Bucknor’s approach was intelligent and understated, varying between hard blasts of funk and extended, Afro jazz-based moods reflecting on Nigerian society with his bands the Assembly (1968 to 1970) and the Revolution (1970 to 1974).

"We were trying to have an identity. With that came the shaving of the hair, unbuttoned leather waistcoat, chains. The decision to shave my head was because of Egyptian history. The Egyptian nobles had just a little bit of hair at the back. It was part of trying to recreate that, saying that ‘we’re going back’.”

Bucknor’s music was politically and socially aware with tracks like ‘Son Of January 15th’ summing up life after the country’s Civil War of the mid-60s, but equally covered relationships (‘Love And Affection’, ‘La La La’) and messages to other bands of the time (‘Who Say I Tire’). Musically adept and lyrically deep, this is some of the best and most accessible music to come out of 1970s Nigeria.

Part of Strut’s ‘Nigeria 70’ series of artist albums.