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MR. BONGO

Luke Una

Mr Bongo Edits - Volume 2

A cosmic coming together that sees two of Luke's secret weapons, re-edited and re-contextualised by the man himself to provide optimal dancefloor euphoria. A stalwart of the underground for nearly 40 years, Luke has become an appointed leader of the late night disenfranchised, with an unquestionable ability to pick records that make minds tick. Not least through his two E Soul Cultura compilations released on Mr Bongo over the past two years.

A taste that traverses genres as much as it does emotions and decades, who better to give an insight into the tracks he has chosen to edit, than the man himself. "I've been an avid collector of afro-beat house, techno and underground black heart disco since before the basement soul days of Electric Chair 30 years ago. Both these bombs were very much holy grail finds, plucked from the last four decades of digging in random crates of dusty vinyl all over the world."

First up, Thandi Zulu & The Young Five's interpretation of Pure Energy's early '80s disco power play - 'Love Game'. With a distinctive South African synth bass and killer keys combo, Luke explains the original has this "bonkers alchemy of heavy machine soul, uptempo rawness and a majestic disco evangelism", making it ripe for a re-edit.

On the B side, Lionel Pillay's Jazz dancer 'Plum'. "The original was a relentless 18- minute raw jam", Luke states, "which despite its late '70s South African origin kinda reminded me of a 1986 Chicago piano House record".

"These edits strip the tracks back and rebuild them, giving them more sonic weight with that looped up drum jacking militancy from the days of Chicago, combined with a boosted sense of transcendental, psychedelic, cosmic disco. They have always had such an explosive reaction on so many dancefloors including the heavier electronic club, so it felt only right to reshare them".

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Two sneaky cuts from Lord Luke's studio cache. There's no stopping him at the moment!

TRACK LISTING

1. Thandi Zulu & The Young Five - Love Games (Luke Una Edit)
2. Lionel Pillay - Plum (Luke Una Edit)

Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel

The Globefower Masters Vol.2

    Glenn Fallows and Mark Treffel released their frst album, 'The Globefower Master Volume 1', on Mr Bongo in September 2021.With its lush, warm and timeless productions paying homage to classic 60s and 70s soundtrack composers, it was very well received and struck a chord with the scene's connoisseurs Louder Than War emphatically stated, "It's impossible not to like The Globefower Masters Vol. 1.", with Gigwise echoing that praise "slickly compelling retro vibes". The Globefower Master Vol. 2 is the slightly edgier and more grown-up sequel to Mark and Glenn's 2021 debut album. For this excursion, the Brighton-based duo wanted to lean a little further into their European flm soundtrack infuences, with particular inspiration mined from the works of Stefano Torossi, David Shire, and Roger Webb. This expansion of their sound builds upon the rich tapestry of cinematic funk a la David Axelrod, Serge Gainsbourg and Morricone that fashioned Vol. 1.Here, the arrangements, melodies, and harmonies have been refned; only what is needed is left. Pulled into its vortex for the ride. This record doesn't pull any punches. The recordings are drenched in visual imagery; they stimulate the senses and invite the imagination to roam. Ethereal, hazy memories of lost summers are triggered; the beauty of listening to music when driving along a deserted road in the Italian countryside lined with cypress trees heading towards the sun, and beyond. As the musical journey progresses, we even take a voyage to another planet. Whether these memories are real or constructed recollections of scenes from flm and television, the tracks evoke a feeling of nostalgia and comfort. Like all the best music, 'The Globefower Masters Vol. 2' takes us out of ourselves even if it's only temporarily. To consolidate the shape of the sound, drummers Timmy Rickard and Ollie Boorman (who also featured on Vol. 1) and John Maiden (Tricky collaborator) sprinkled their magic and forged their stamps onto the recordings. Collaborating with other talented musicians contributed to the picture Mark and Glenn wanted to paint. The 'Globefower Master Vol. 2' is a ftting tribute to the music they love and care deeply about and a glorious addition to their musical world.

    TRACK LISTING

    1.  Vibe Sharp 
    2.  Echo The Oread 
    3.  Remember Empathy 
    4.  Calico Suite 
    5.  Ely To Chi 
    6.  Orquesta Es Vedr 
    7.  A Voyage North
    8.  Moogs Over Jupiter 
    9.  Convention IV 
    10.  Darkness Beneath 
    11.  Walked For Days



    Stimela

    Rewind

      It was originally released only in South Africa on Gallo / CBS Records, although a 12" featuring the track 'I Hate Telling A Lie' was previously released on Plum Records in 1983. It has now become a sought-after item due to its addictive and original-sounding Balearic disco / cosmic boogie-esque nature. Stimela were a popular and successful Mbaquanga / fusion outfit led by the guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and arranger Ray Phiri; who was previously a member of the legendary band The Cannibals. The musicians would go on to gain global fame after featuring on Paul Simon's iconic 'Graceland' album and the mega tour that followed.

      Kicking off the EP is a magical track that floored us from the first moment we heard it and one that has since become a Mr Bongo firm favourite. 'I Hate Telling A Lie' is a slow, infectious building groove that sits somewhere between lowdown jazz-funk, soul, reggae and gospel with shades of new wave pop and Balearic. It's a truly stunning track that is hard to pigeonhole and all the better for it. Another highlight from the EP is the monster instrumental, synth-boogie sound of 'I Love You'; championed by DJs such as Jeremy Spellacey (Crown Ruler). This hypnotic groove bubbles to perfection and is a slo-mo chugger extraordinaire. We hope you dig it as much as we do. Much sought-after South African gem. Led by Ray Phiri, previously of The Cannibals. Balearic disco, boogie, pop crossover.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. I Hate Telling A Lie
      2. Where Did We Go Wrong
      3. I Love You
      4. Shaka Doo Ba

      Within Melbourne's burgeoning cinematic-soul scene, which includes breakout acts Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, mysteriously sit The Pro-Teens.

      Helmed by prolific drummer and percussionist Hudson Whitlock, who also plays in both aforementioned bands, this breakaway studio project involves an interchangeable collective of incognito, Melbourne-based, esteemed instrumentalists playing under outlandish pseudonyms such as "'Dead Honest' Dean Amazing" and "Libby Clique-Baite". Symbolically led by keyboardist "Snooch Dodd", new album 'I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly' is the latest musical concoction from Whitlock's eccentric brain, marrying the soul/funk roots of sample culture with the principles of boom-bap hip hop.

      Incorporating the colourful comic book stylings of MF DOOM and Kool Keith, or the dark and exotic flavours of Gravediggaz and The Wu-Tang Clan, The Pro-Teens also take cues from their composing heroes Galt MacDermot, Richard Evans and Marc Moulin. The Pro-Teens bop, zip, whip and fling on this phantasmagorical journey - an unorthodox patchwork of cinematic soul, hip hop-guided funk breaks, vivid instrumental textures and film score-esque moods.

      The Pro-Teens work on the same analogue recording model adopted by the tight-knit College Of Knowledge label, self-recorded and produced with the rag-tag crew of musicians putting tracks down live to tape in crammed attic studios and sharehouse recording spaces.

      The first limited pressing of 'I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly' was released on the 'College Of Knowledge' imprint in late 2020. It was one of the highlights of the year at Mr Bongo HQ who loved the concept and felt this tripped out masterpiece from Melbourne needed to be heard well beyond those lucky enough to have bagged those limited first copies.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly
      2. No One Understands Me (I'm Og)
      3. Spray It, Don't Say It
      4. Convo
      5. Peppery Weapons
      6. Snooch Is Too Busy For This Shit
      7. The Pro-Teens Ruined My Life
      8. Ya Gotta Love This City
      9. I Hate Turbulence
      10. Greta Thunburg
      11. Elephant On The Wall
      12. Slow Fast

      Tom Brock

      I Love You More And More - Reissue

        Re-issue of a soul masterpiece from 1974. 'I Love You More and More' by Tom Brock was Tom's only solo album release, but what a beautiful classic it is.

        For some, it is up there in the pantheon alongside their all-time treasured soul favourites such as Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On'. Produced by the legend Barry White and released on 20th Century Records in 1974, it features the lush hallmark orchestration, heartfelt songs, and funky yet slick playing you'd expect from a White production. Like a dusting of sugar onto the top of the cake, the record also features the stunning arrangements of the great pianist, arranger, composer, and producer Gene Page, whose musical career left an impressive and prolific legacy.

        'I Love You More and More' received another lease of life when it was resurrected for a new audience after having been sampled by Jay-Z, Mos Def, C.L. Smooth, and others. The record is solid throughout, but the song 'There's Nothing in This World That Can Stop Me From Loving You' proved to be an extra-bright star in the sky and it formed the base to Jay-Z's 2001 hit 'Girls, Girls, Girls'. The sampling of Tom's work triggered the collectors, diggers and DJs to explore his record and to transfer their passion for it onto their followers too. Tom Brock passed away in 2002, but left behind his sensational soulful voice on a handful of amazing dusty 7" singles, several assorted productions recorded by other artists, and this absolute winner of an album, which will be cherished for years to come.

        TRACK LISTING

        1. Have A Nice Weekend Baby
        2. The Love We Share Is The Greatest Of Them All
        3. There’s Nothing In This World That Can Stop Me From Loving You
        4. I Love You More And More
        5. Naked As The Day I Was Born
        6. That’s The Reason Why (I'll Love You Until The Day I Die)
        7. Shame Me, Wake Me
        8. If We Don’t Make It Nobody Can


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