1983 post-punk / reggae masterpiece from Khartomb becomes the eighth release on Jason Boardman's indispensable BiD label! Khartomb's masterpiece "Swahili Lullaby / Teekon Warriors" was influenced by contemporaries of the time The Slits & The Raincoatsand and was originally released on 7" on 23rd June 1983. A Balearic secret weapon now available for aficionados everywhere with local lads Synkro & Talking Drums bolstering the release outstanding reworks to boot.

Despite initial interest following their Peel Session & support from Melody Maker and Zig Zag the band were unable to capitalise & "Swahili Lullaby / Teekon Warrior" remains their only vinyl release until now.
40 years later, the tracks have been exclusively licensed by BiD alongside the previously unreleased Pat Nevin favourite "Daisy High". 

"Swahili Lullaby" is an under the radar post punk jam with killer drums, dubby bassline and spidery guitar, topped off by a haunting melancholic vocal.

"Teekon Warriors" is a deep ode to the fallen, dope drums, angular guitar, tribal drums and a sweet vocal.

"Daisy High" was dubbed by John Peel as 'Subversive MOR' who are we to disagree? A haunting, flute peppered slow jam with a bossa feel & a sick guitar lick.

Synkro's Balearic Dub of "Swahili Lullaby" takes the original version and sends it to a transcendental spiritual realm, creating a future classic for sunrises and sunsets for the next millennium. The Talking Drums Redub of the same track tweeks, extends & amps up the dub pressure to maximum psychedelic levels.

Support from JD Twitch and Essential Space. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: JB lifts the lid on a truly inspired slice of John Peel championed, post-punk-reggae from London. The story is as delightful as the music - and credit to Before I Die for sourcing something that's both a true curio and highly listenable. If the "Spiky Dread" compilation were to issue a second volume - this would have to be on it!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Swahili Lullaby
A2. Teekon Warriors
A3. Daisy High
B1. Swahili Lullaby (Synkro's Balearic Dub Mix)
B2. Swahili Lullaby (Talking Drums Redub)

One of the key 45s in the output of Prince Jazzbo's Ujama label during the digital era of the late 80s - originally reissued via NYC's Deadly Dragon some 15 or so years back - gets a much needed new cut & press via Death Is Not The End's 333 series.

The late Earlando Neil aka Early B first started performing on soundsystems in the late 1970s, often appearing with his young apprentice Wild Apache, later known as Super Cat. It was alongside Cat that he is credited as a key driver behind the popularisation of the King Majesty and Killamanjaro stables in the early 1980s, following which he had a string of hit records for the likes of Harry J's Sunset imprint, Ossie Thomas' Black Solidarity and Jah Thomas' Midnight Rock label amongst many others.

Following a run of stellar LPs in the mid 1980s Early B's output began to wane as the sound of digital production began to take precedence, but not without firing off one the most killer shots ever recorded on a computerized rhythm for Jazzbo's Ujama in 1987. Reportedly the first time around for the hallowed Replay version, Imitator's subject matter takes aim at the new kids on the dancehall block ripping off the veterans, while he simultaneously pays hard-earned dues to the dancehall's foundation deejays such as Jazzbo himself, U-Roy, Big Youth, Dennis Alcapone, King Stitch, Trinity & Dillinger.

TRACK LISTING

1. Imitator
2. Imitator Version

It's fair to say that the inclusion of Iganda's sole 7" single "Mark Of Slavery" / "Slow Down" spread across the first two volumes of the "Midlands roots explosion" series, has not only greatly raised the profile of the band, but also sent the price of the original release through the roof.

TRACK LISTING

Mark Of Slavery
Slow Down