Strut proudly presents the first release in almost a decade from the legendary Senegalese group Orchestra Baobab with Made In Senegal.

Few groups embody the spirit of African music like Orchestra Baobab. Formed over 50 years ago as the resident band of the Baobab Club in Dakar, their timeless fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Wolof griot traditions, mbalax, Congolese rumba and jazz continues to resonate across generations and continents. Now, the celebrated big band marks a new chapter in their illustrious history with Made in Senegal, their first new studio album since Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng in 2017 for World Circuit. Released on respected imprint Strut Records in conjunction with Madoky Music, the new album celebrates home, heritage, love and resilience and was recorded entirely in Dakar.

Undeterred by the passing of several key founding members over the past decade, the orchestra has evolved organically, with sons, nephews and longtime collaborators carrying the legacy forward. Today’s line-up blends veteran musicians with a younger generation determined to preserve Baobab’s enduring sound. Long-time members Thierno Koité (saxophone / bandleader), Taga Koité (drums) master percussionist Moussa Cissokho and Yahya Fall (rhythm guitar) are joined by lead vocalists Zacharia “Papino” Koité and Korka Dieng (the band’s first female frontwoman), bassist Malick Sy, guitarist René “Bolero” Sowatche, and saxophonist/trombonist Wilfrid Zinzou, continuing the orchestra’s tradition with discipline, warmth and unmistakable groove.

On Made In Senegal new songs sit effortlessly beside re-imagined classics. Lead single ‘Togne Bakhoul’ composed by late Baobab vocalist Rudy Gomis is a poignant ode to his wife and ‘Tioro Bye Samba’ reprises a classic Thione Seck song while ‘Casamance’ celebrates the culturally rich Southern Senegalese region, homeland of several Baobab members. ‘Baobab 50 Ans’ marks the 50-year anniversary of this indomitable group.

Made In Senegal is another modern Baobab classic combining a fresh approach with roots fixed firmly in Senegal’s rich traditions. It is the perfect time for a new generation to discover the elegant, hypnotic sound of one of Africa’s greatest ever big bands.

TRACK LISTING

Vinyl:
A Side
A1. Ana Maria
A2. Baobab 50 Ans
A3. Tioro Bye Samba
A4. Sibo Odia

B Side
B1. Togne Bakhoul
B2. Wida
B3. Gorgorlou
B4. Ndiaga Niaw

CD:
1. Ana Maria
2. Tioro Bye Samba
3. Souvenir
4. Togne Bakhoul
5. Sibo Odia
6. Wuti Xaliss
7. Ndiaga Niaw
8. Casamance
9. Wida
10. Baobab 50 Ans
11. Gorgorlou
12. Senegal

Afro-Latin electronic producer, global-sounds inspired DJ, and bassist for Little Simz, Marla Kether returns with her highly-anticipated second EP 'Luso', released on Strut Records.

Featuring a hand-picked selection of collaborators from across her creative circle, Marla continues to craft genre-bending bangers rooted in African, Brazilian, and UK sounds. The 5-track EP spans Batida with grime rapper Mez, Afrobeat with rapper Reek0, Broken Beat with Sofia Grant and a Samba House anthem with Margaridas.

With 'Luso', Marla brings her musical worlds together into her most fully realised project to date. Written and developed between Lisbon and Brasilia, the EP reflects the movement, collaboration and cultural exchange that shaped its creation.

“As a producer that first recorded during lockdown, this project was a l about getting musicians into a studio and rea ly celebrating the unbeatable energy of live recording,” says Marla of 'Luso'. “I wanted the music to feel human, warm and alive, rooted in rhythm, connection and joy.” Live percussion, bass, vocals and electronic production move together throughout the EP, creating music built for clubs, headphones and festival stages alike. Marla weaves together Brazilian musical traditions, Broken Beat, Afro Portuguese Batida, Afrobeat and jazz-inflected club music into a deeply rhythmic and emotionally rich body of work.

At its core, 'Luso' is a celebration of community, movement and musical freedom a release shaped by travel, collaboration and the energy of shared spaces. The result is a bold statement from an artist entering a new creative phase. With 'Luso', Marla Kether confirms herself as one of the most exciting cross disciplinary artists emerging from the UK underground today. The 5-track digital release is expanded to 9 tracks on the Vinyl LP, which includes the full EP on the A-side, and extra instrumental versions of each vocal track on the flip. Mixed by Joe Cook, mastered by Joe Wyatt, produced by Marla Kether.

TRACK LISTING

1. A Jam In Paranoá
2. Reverse Ft. Sofia Grant
3. Run The Track Ft. Reek0
4. Blessing Ft. Mez
5. Libera Ft. Margaridas
6. Reverse (Instrumental)
7. Run The Track (Instrumental)
8. Blessing (Instrumental)
9. Libera (Instrumental)

Strut proudly presents an expansive deep dive into the world of Quatermass Sound Lab, the prolific under-the-radar East London studio founded and run by producer, engineer and The Heliocentrics co-founder Malcolm Catto.

Over the last two decades, Catto has quietly established himself as a sought-after sonic architect in contemporary music. Revered for his analogue-first approach, he has built Quatermass Sound Lab around vintage recording equipment, valve preamps and live performance, creating recordings that feel warm and timeless. Equally inspired by punk, hip-hop, psychedelic rock, jazz, funk and electronic music, Catto has developed a production style that rejects genre boundaries in favour of instinct and atmosphere.

Describing himself as "50% musician and 50% listener," Catto approaches each session as a collaborator rather than a conventional producer. That philosophy has made Quatermass Sound Lab a creative home for an extraordinary range of musicians, from established innovators to emerging voices. His remarkable discography spans collaborations with Yussef Dayes, DJ Shadow, Madlib, Quantic, Mulatu Astatke, Orlando Julius, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids and countless others, each project using analogue wizardry to shape bold, contemporary recordings with a character all of their own.

This collection opens the Quatermass archive for the first time, gathering previously unreleased recordings, alternate versions and mixes that chart Catto's evolution as producer, drummer and sonic instigator. Tracks include the abrasive, post-punk electronics of Snapped Ankles' ‘Shopping Parade’, French rap experimentation on Wet Enough’s ‘San Pé’ and the richly textured psychedelia of Vanishing Twin's ‘Backstroke’. Catto’s work with jazz and global sounds features with Divine Earth’s visceral ‘Free Soul’ and extended pieces by Venezuelan futurists Insólito Universo and Lausanne Afrobeat collective Professor Wouassa while undiscovered artists include the brilliant UK band Toyface with their epic ‘Potter’s Wheel’.

More than a producer retrospective, Quatermass Sound Lab is a portrait of an artist whose fingerprints can be found across some of the most adventurous records of the last twenty years.

TRACK LISTING

LP Tracklisting:
1. Snapped Ankles - Shopping Parade (Malcolm Catto Mix)
2. Cyril Cyril - Les Gens (Malcolm Catto Mix)
3. Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto - Rest In Blue (Early Version)
4. Toyface - Potter’s Wheel
5. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - Late Nights & Heartbreak
6. Wet Enough - San Pé (Malcolm Catto Mix)
7. Divine Earth - Free Soul (Malcolm Catto Mix)
8. D.O.K. - Valediction
9. Vanishing Twin - Backstroke (Malcolm Catto Edit)

CD Tracklisting:
1. Snapped Ankles - Shopping Parade (Malcolm Catto Mix)
2. Cyril Cyril - Les Gens (Malcolm Catto Mix)
3. Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto - Rest In Blue (Early Version)
4. Divine Earth - Free Soul (Malcolm Catto Mix)
5. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - Late Nights & Heartbreak
6. Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - Beginning Roots
7. Insólito Universo - Tonada Del Guante (Malcolm Catto Mix)
8. Professor Wouassa - Bande De Kokos (Malcolm Catto Mix)
9. J.J. Whitefield - Chilli Chicken (Malcolm Catto Mix)
10. Vanishing Twin - Backstroke (Malcolm Catto Edit)
11. Wet Enough - San Pé (Malcolm Catto Mix)
12. D.O.K. - Valediction
13. Chris Ward - Spinning Out
14. Toyface - Potter ’s Wheel

Strut presents 'Nigeria 80', the next essential chapter in the legendary 'Nigeria 70' series, diving deep into the explosive sound world of 1980s Nigeria.

Following the global impact of 2001's 'Nigeria 70', which helped introduce rare Nigerian recordings to international audiences, 'Nigeria 80' continues the journey, unearthing a rich, restless, and wildly creative decade of music from Lagos to Enugu. Despite economic instability and restrictive political conditions in the 1980's, Nigeria’s music industry flourished, driven by a growing network of independent labels such as Tabansi and Phonodisk, which championed local artists and expanded creative freedom. The 1980s also marked a significant rise in visibility for female artists, with trailblazers like Onyeka Onwenu helping to reshape the landscape and open doors for a new generation of performers, writers, and producers.

'Nigeria 80' showcases the extraordinary breadth of this era, with all tracks reissued here for the first time. The compilation brings together essential recordings from across Nigeria’s musical spectrum: highlife greats Victor Uwaifo and Nico Mbarga appear alongside Paulson Kalu, whose personal favourite 'Akugbue Nwa Ewu' stands out as a prime example of the style. Prince David Bull’s 'Soko Soko' (later reinterpreted in Starboy’s Afrobeats hit 'Soco') features as a key touchpoint between eras. Segun Adewale delivers a driving juju workout, while Lekan Animashaun, longtime bandleader of Africa 70, contributes a late-era Afrobeat classic produced in collaboration with Fela Kuti.

The compilation also highlights more experimental and hybrid sounds, from I.C. Rock’s proto–hip hop gem 'Advice' to Evi-Edna Ogholi’s self-produced reggae statement 'The World'. The set closes with 'Apama' by Ibealaoke Chukwukeziri, the 'Apama Boy' from Achi in eastern Nigeria, featuring hypnotic vocals and percussion from his Anaedeonu band.

TRACK LISTING

LP Tracklisting:
1. Akugbue Nwa Ewu – Paulson Kalu & His Stars 25 International
2. Ocheme Mia – Prince Nico Mbarga & His New Rocafil Jazz
3. Ayubele – Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Titibitis
4. Advice / Oge Chi Kanma – I.C. Rock
5. We Have Got It – Mansour
6. The World – Evi-Edna Ogholi
7. Soko Soko – Prince David Bull & His Professional Seagulls Dance Band
8. Ije Love Pt. 2 – General Franco-Lee Ezute & His Harmony Kings International Band
9. Yo-Pop Music – Segun Adewale & His Superstars International
10. Se Rere – Lekan Animashaun
11. Apama – Ibealaoke Chukwukeziri & His Anaedeonu Band

CD Tracklisting:
1. Akugbue Nwa Ewu – Paulson Kalu & His Stars 25 International
2. Ocheme Mia – Prince Nico Mbarga & His New Rocafil Jazz
3. Ayubele – Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Titibitis
4. Eyi Yato – Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band
5. We Have Got It – Mansour
6. Advice / Oge Chi Kanma – I.C. Rock
7. The World – Evi-Edna Ogholi
8. Oke Mi Ye – Stella Monye
9. Se Rere – Lekan Animashaun
10. Apama – Ibealaoke Chukwukeziri & His Anaedeonu Band
11. Yo-Pop Music – Segun Adewale & His Superstars International
12. Soko Soko – Prince David Bull & His Professional Seagulls Dance Band
13. Ije Love Pt. 2 – General Franco-Lee Ezute & His Harmony Kings International Band

Strut Records proudly presents a new reissue of the original Afrobeat classic 'Low Profile (Not For The Blacks)', recorded and composed by Afrika 70 saxophonist and bandleader Lekan Animashaun and produced by Fela Kuti. After years touring the world as Fela’s baritone saxophonist, Animashaun stepped forward to lead the legendary Egypt 80 band following Tony Allen’s departure, remaining the group’s musical director until Fela’s death in 1997. He continued on subsequent tours with Seun Kuti until 2016. Lekan began recording his only solo project, Low Profile, in 1977. The album was composed and recorded across sessions at home in Nigeria and on tour with Fela, who both produced the recordings and added keyboards to the album’s title track. ‘Low Profile (Not For The Blacks)’ referenced a government campaign during the country’s 1970s oil boom: “It was inspired by a speech by Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s military Head of State, when he urged black people to keep a low profile about their wealth and not to behave in a vulgar, arrogant way,” explains Lekan. “I argued that low profile is not just for the blacks, as everyone is human, regardless of race.” On the flip side, the simmering Afrobeat anthem ‘Se Rere’ (which translates as ‘Do Right’) delivers Animashaun’s message of living with integrity: do right, and you will reap what you sow. The song later became the band’s opening number during Fela’s live performances both in Nigeria and internationally throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Despite recording beginning almost two decades earlier, Low Profile did not receive an official release until 1995, when it finally surfaced on Fela’s Kalakuta label. One of only a handful of albums led by core members of Kuti’s band, Low Profile captures a pivotal moment in Afrobeat history. Over time, the original has become a rare and highly sought-after record, and this new reissue places the spotlight back on a modest but influential Nigerian legend. Strut’s reissue features the complete original artwork, is fully remastered by The Carvery, and includes brand new liner notes by Lekan Animashaun himself.

TRACK LISTING

1. Low Profile
2. Se Rere

Strut Records proudly presents the first definitive expanded reissue of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow', Sun Ra’s 1977 session recorded at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Arkestra were at the peak of their powers in 1977, releasing revered albums like 'The Soul Vibration Of Man' and 'My Favorite Things' with Arkestra regulars Marshall Allen, Danny Ray Thompson, Michael Ray and Luqman Ali among the core musicians. Ra also continued his touring in Europe with historic gigs in Italy. During this period, Arkestra live performances were often loosely structured into thematic blocks that moved from reflections on jazz history to cosmic “space narrative” sections featuring collective chants, extended Africa/Egypt-inspired grooves and selections from the Great American Songbook. This recording brings in all of these features with re-imagined versions of standards like ‘Take The “A” Train’, ‘St. Louis Blues’ and title track ‘Over The Rainbow’ alongside rarely recorded Ra compositions like ‘Make Another Mistake’ and ‘Amen Meni Many Amens’. Ra conducted improvisations to guide the listener seamlessly from one musical scene to the next. As Sun Ra himself described it: “It’s like a party—we enjoy ourselves and everybody’s invited to enjoy it with us.”

The original version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow assembled a handful of clearly delineated tracks drawn from the flow of two complete concert recordings, re-arranged out of sequence. Strut’s new edition restores previously excised material and preserves more of the natural transitions between pieces, offering a fuller glimpse into the distinctive aesthetic of Sun Ra and his Arkestra.

TRACK LISTING

3LP Tracklisting:
1. Shadows Of Infinity 
2. Pleiades 
3. Discipline 27 
4. Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo
5. Equation Of The Myth
6. Neptune 
7. Yesterdays
8. St. Louis Blues 
9. The Mystery of Two
10. We Live To Be
11. Amen Meni Many Amens 
12. Saturn Speaks
13. Images In A Mirror
14. Take The ‘A’ Train
15. Make Another Mistake 
16. Bluebird Shuffle
17. Outer Reach Intensity Energy / Cosmos Rendezvous
18. Next Stop Mars
19. Over The Rainbow 
20. I’ll Wait For You

2CD Tracklisting:
1. Shadows Of Infinity
2. Pleiades
3. Discipline 27
4. Equation Of The Myth
5. Keep Your Sunny Side Up
6. Saturn Speaks
7. Neptune / The Voice Of Ebah
8. Yesterdays
9. Yeah Man!
10. King Porter Stomp
11. Lightnin’
12. St. Louis Blues
13. The Mystery Of Two
14. Bluebird Set #2 Piano Solo
15. We Live To Be
16. Bye Bye Blackbird
17. Gone With The Wind
18. Amen Meni Many Amens
19. Take The ‘A’ Train
20. Images In A Mirror
21. Outer Reach Intensity Energy /Cosmos Rendezvous
22. Bluebird Shuffle
23. Next Stop Mars
24. Over The Rainbow
25. I’ll Wait For You
26. Make Another Mistake

Strut presents the second studio album from Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express and a firm favourite with Auger aficionados, the “little known masterpiece” 'A Better Land' from 1971. Marking a clear evolution from their more jazz-rock leaning debut, the band shifts into a mellower direction on these tracks, echoing the feel of Befour released in the Trinity's later years. 'A Better Land' embraces warmer, more melodic and understated compositions, primarily written by guitarist Jim Mullen. With its languid and spacious approach, the album brings an grounded message to make the most of the simple pleasures in life with a hopeful, but wary, eye to the future. Musically, Auger brings acoustic guitars, country rock melodies and three-part vocal harmonies into his musical palette. Key tracks include the groove-driven title track ‘A Better Land’, the sparse ‘Dawn of Another Day,’ (sampled by Air and Black Milk among others) while ‘Fill Your Head With Laughter’ returns to Auger's trademark driving Hammond-led sound, akin to early Traffic.

The record features the Brian Auger’s unique sound on organ and electric piano, joined by Jim Mullen on guitar, Barry Dean on bass and Robbie McIntosh on drums and percussion, with Auger, Mullen and Dean all contributing vocals. Mullen co-wrote seven of the album’s nine tracks, with additional contributions from Alan Gorrie (later of Average White Band). These songwriters should take immense pride in their work as Auger’s favourite singer of all time, Sarah Vaughan, recognised the quality of these compositions by covering three of them; ‘Trouble’, ‘On “Thinking It Over’, and ‘Tomorrow City’ for her 1972 album 'A Time in My Life'. This new official Strut reissue is curated by Greg Boraman of Impressive Collective in collaboration with Brian and Karma Auger. Fully remastered by Cosmic Audio, it is presented as a high-quality single LP replica edition.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dawn Of Another Day
2. Marai's Wedding
3. Trouble
4. Women Of The Seasons
5. Fill Your Head With Laughter
6. On Thinking It Over
7. Tomorrow City
8. All The Time There Is
9. A Better Land

Strut Records presents a brand new reissue of the 1975 Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express original album 'Reinforcements'. A gem from the later years of the Oblivion Express band, 'Reinforcements' sees Auger evolve from his early ‘70s jazz-rock fusions towards smoother jazz funk sophistication, continuing his journey from the previous year’s 'Straight Ahead'.

With two former Oblivion Express drummers joining Average White Band, there are obvious comparisons to draw as several tracks lean into groove-driven arrangements and polished mid-’70s production.Never one to follow a predictable path, Auger crafts a steadfast, stylish album that captures the evolving sound of the era, offering a rich snapshot of mid-’70s British soul and jazz-funk.

A fan favourite, the album also marks the return of vocalist Alex Ligertwood (later of Santana), whose soulful delivery is a highlight of many Oblivion Express recordings.

He is joined by Jack Mills (guitar), Lennox Langton (percussion), Dave Dowle (drums), and new addition Clive Chaman (bass, flute) – a family affair with their various kids joining for the cover shoot, the full cast adorned in an array of fine mid-‘70s tank tops.

Album highlights include the heavy funk instrumental jam ‘Brain Damage,’ a dynamic, keyboard-driven showcase of Auger’s virtuosity alongside the burning latin jazz workout ‘Something Out of Nothing’ and soaring closer ‘Future Pilot’ taking us from our present day troubles to “thread the skies to a new location.”

‘Big Yin’ is a heartfelt tribute to former drummer Robbie McIntosh following his untimely death. As with all Auger albums, the energy is nothing but positive and soulful – his back cover quote states “May the love you bring to this world be reflected upon you.”

This new Strut reissue of 'Reinforcements' is curated by Greg Boraman of Impressive Collective in collaboration with Brian and Karma Auger. Fully remastered from the original tapes by United Archiving’s Bill Smith, it is presented as a high-quality single LP replica edition.

TRACK LISTING

1. Brain Damage
2. Thoughts From Afar
3. Foolish Girl
4. The Big Yin
5. Plum
6. Something Out Of Nothing
7. Future Pilot

A defining recording of the era, 'Sikyi Highlife' bridges tradition and innovation at a pivotal moment in Ghanaian music. Deeply rooted in the classic 1950s–’60s highlife sound, K. Gyasi drew inspiration from the ancient sikyi drum-dance of the Akan people of southern Ghana, shaping the album’s rhythms around its distinctive pulse.

The vocal arrangements echo the traditional Akan modal style, grounding the music firmly in Ghana’s cultural heritage. Yet 'Sikyi Highlife' is equally forward-thinking. As electric guitars became standard in highlife during the 1960s, the 1970s ushered in further experimentation. The Noble Kings broke new ground as the first highlife guitar band to incorporate keyboards and a full horn section into their sound, expanding the genre’s sonic possibilities while retaining its rootsy spirit.

Gyasi’s approach was part of a broader indigenisation movement among Ghana’s electric highlife bands in the post-independence era. Inspired by the nation’s ‘African Personality’ ethos and reinforced by Afrocentric messages arriving from American soul and funk, artists began reclaiming traditional forms within modern arrangements. Contemporaries included Koo Nimo, who revived the older palmwine style, and drummer Nii Ashitey, whose Wulomei band pioneered a folklorised Ga highlife sound from 1973.

Like many musicians of his generation, Gyasi was a passionate supporter of Ghana’s independence movement. In 1963, he travelled as a musical ambassador alongside Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, performing across North Africa and the USSR and carrying Ghanaian culture onto the world stage.

The Noble Kings’ mid-’70s line-up featured some of the country’s finest musicians, including guitarist Eric Agyeman (who led the band at the time), Thomas Frimpong on drums and vocals, Ernest Honny on organ, and bassist Ralph Karikari - who was renowned for his innovative technique of translating the rhythms and tonal language of the traditional talking drum onto electric bass.

Upon its original release, 'Sikyi Highlife' became one of the biggest-selling albums of the 1970s for Essiebons, earning Gyasi the affectionate honorary title of “Dr” from his devoted fans. Today, the album remains an evergreen classic, still cherished across Ghana and beyond.

TRACK LISTING

1. Yede Aba
2. Mene Menua Mienu
3. Sabarima
4. Ebia Nie
5. Amintiminim
6. Siakwaa
7. Nana Agyei
8. Efie Ne Fie
9. Nyankonton Nko Nyaa
10. Kwankwaasem Nti
11. Egya Ananse Yi Wonan Baako
12. Kwaadede Meyare Merewu
13. Eda A Mewu

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2026 EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

Strut proudly presents Nuclear War, a powerful collaboration between UK collective The Heliocentrics, Sun Ra Arkestra legends Marshal Alen and Knoel Scott, and vocalist Bilal - issued on limited-edition “hazardous” orange and yelow vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2026.

The Nuclear War recordings stem from a rare session at Malcolm Catto’s Quatermass Sound Lab in January 2015. The group had assembled in London to rehearse for their performance at Giles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards, where Alen received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Catto the John Peel Award. With The Heliocentrics’ trademark raw, psychedelic energy as the backbone, the ensemble captured a series of reimagined Sun Ra classics in a spontaneous, one-off studio moment, and these tapes that have remained unheard in Catto’s archive until now.

The 4-track EP features a sinuous take on Ronnie Boykins’ ‘Angels And Demons At Play’, originally recorded in 1960, a strident version of ‘Where Pathways Meet’ which was originally created for the much-loved Sun Ra Lanquidity album in 1978, and a dense and deep re work of 1972’s ‘Astro Black’ featuring Bilal’s incredible otherworldly vocals. The title track ‘Nuclear War’ is re-worked into a cavernous groove featuring Heliocentrics vocalist Barbora Patkova. Nuclear War is mixed by Malcolm Catto, mastered and cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, and designed by Alex Evans of Reason For Being Studio.

As the world sinks deeper into screens and algorithms blur the line between creation and imitation, Nubiyan Twist return with 'Chasing Shadows', a record that reclaims the pulse, warmth and spontaneity of human connection.

The band’s fifth studio album is a rich and restless blend of jazz, afrobeat, hip hop and electronic textures, exploring the space between the organic and the digital. It’s music that moves, sweats, and breathes, made by real people in real rooms with heavyweight features bringing together varied voices from the music community which they inhabit.

Bandleader and producer Tom Excel explains: “We wanted to make something that felt joyous and defiantly human — something that couldn’t exist without that connection between people. You can get an AI to write a fugue in seconds, but it can’t capture the chemistry and chaos that happens when musicians lock in together. 'Chasing Shadows' is our way of holding onto that.”

Folowing 2024’s acclaimed 'Find Your Flame', praised by Roling Stone, Jazzwise, NPR and more, 'Chasing Shadows' pushes the band’s sound further into new soulful territory under Exce l’s expert guidance, featuring bright new vocalist Eniola and a glowing cast of icons and innovators. Malian star Fatoumata Diawara lights up the title track on a powerful slice of Afrobeat, Joe Armon Jones leads the dub workout ‘Rhythm Of You’ and the band take it back to their hip hop roots on great colabs with The Pharcyde’s Booty Brown, Ghanaian MC M.anifest and London dancehal favourite, Mr Wi liamz.

On 'Chasing Shadows', Nubiyan Twist continue to look outwards with their music but keep the focus firmly on humanity and positivity. It is an album which crosses continents and which shamelessly celebrates our co lective strength.  

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: An effervescent mix of super soulful vocals and smooth bass licks, crisp percussion and a positively uplifting end result. Deeply rooted in jazz and soul music, but with the lifting kick of Afrobeat and the laid-back chill of modern R&B.

TRACK LISTING

1. Azimuth
2. Chasing Shadows (Ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
3. Red Herring (Ft. Bootie Brown)
4. How Far (Ft. M.Anifest)
5. Sunlight
6. Message (Ft Mr Williamz)
7. Mlonje: Voices Joined (Ft.The Zawsoe Queens)
8. Echoes
9. Body Flows
10. Threads (Ft. Patrice Rushen)
11. Rhythm Of You (Ft. Joe Armon-Jones)

Strut Records highlights a landmark in British jazz-rock with 'Second Wind', the 1972 album from keyboard visionary Brian Auger and his powerhouse group Oblivion Express. Capturing a fully matured lineup, the record finds Auger expanding his fusion language - bridging jazz sophistication, funk-driven rhythm, and soul-infused songwriting with the clarity and fire that defined his early ’70s work.

Though Auger’s roots lie in the lineage of hard-swinging jazz organ and the improvisational fire of the ’60s British scene, he has never been an artist content with tradition. With 'Second Wind', he moves further into a hybrid language that fuses rhythm with harmonic depth and groove, without sacrificing sophistication. His playing is expansive yet precise, translating the electricity of live performance into a studio work that breathes with immediacy.

At the heart of this era of Oblivion Express is the telepathic rapport among its members. Vocalist Alex Ligertwood (in one of his earliest major recordings before Santana fame) brings a soulful intensity that feels both grounded and forward- looking. Second Wind contains tracks that have become deeply significant in Auger’s discography - original compositions 'Second Wind', and 'Truth' to name a few - but it was Auger's high octane revisioning of Eddie Harris' 'Freedom Jazz Dance', (adding new lyrics to the original instrumental) that genuinely broke barriers. The track became a DJ friendly classic and highlighted the groups deeply original approach.

The rhythm section of Barry Dean and Robbie McIntosh balances weight and fluidity, giving Auger the space to stretch across Hammond organ, Rhodes, and keys with characteristic boldness. Their collective sound is one of seamless motion: jazz-inflected lines swelling into rock-driven crescendos, funk-leaning grooves locking with vocal hooks, moments of quiet clarity emerging between bursts of improvisation.

'Second Wind' stands as a pivotal moment in Auger’s discography: a record that bridges the exploratory spirit of his earlier projects with the more groove-oriented approach that would soon bring international attention. More than five decades later, it remains a vivid document of a band carving out its own language. Music born of instinct, collaboration, and a restless desire to push beyond the expected.

TRACK LISTING

1. Truth
2. Don’t Look Away
3. Somebody Help Us
4. Freedom Jazz Dance
5. Just Me Just You
6. Second Wind

Strut Records presents a fresh look at 'Oblivion Express', the 1971 album that marked Brian Auger’s shift into a new musical frontier. After years spent shaping the sound of British jazz-soul with the Trinity, Auger stepped into the new decade with a leaner, electrified ensemble and a renewed sense of purpose. This record captures the moment that transformation took shape.

'Oblivion Express' introduced a sound that was distinctly Auger’s own. Rather than echoing the fusion emerging in the United States, Auger developed a language rooted in the UK’s jazz underground, culminating in a spaced out jazz- rock / prog-fusion album awash with larger than life drum fills and Auger’s virtuosic organ playing. Between bassist Barry Dean and drummer Robbie McIntosh the album moves effortlessly between tight, articulated phrases and broader, improvisational passages. The trio’s interplay forms the backbone of the album and sets the tone for the sound that would define the early years of the Express.

Album opener 'Dragon Song' launches with a restless drive that immediately signals Auger’s new direction. Auger chose to record this version of John McLaughlin’s piece (his friend and former bandmate in 'The Niddy Griddys') after hearing McLaughlin’s album Devotion during its mix at New York’s Record Plant Studios. Auger was blown away, recalling, “Oh my god, this is amazing. I wanted to record that myself - and I did!”. Pieces like 'Total Eclipse' demonstrate the 'Oblivion Express’ command of dynamic contrast, and title track 'Oblivion Express' explores the cinematic and compositional prowess of the group through stripped back, building moments vs. explosive melodic breakdowns. Riff-heavy 'The Sword' later became known through Madlib’s usage in 2014 tracks 'Yeti Movie' and 'Parodies'.

In retrospect, 'Oblivion Express' stands as a jazz leaning, prog-rock masterpiece and foundational moment in Auger’s catalogue. It captures the starting point of a new sound that is more focused, more urgent, and fully committed to the possibilities of jazz-rock at the dawn of the seventies. The album remains a vivid document of a band discovering its identity and setting the stage for the further array of influential releases that would follow.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dragon Song
2. Total Eclipse
3. The Light
4. On The Road
5. The Sword
6. Oblivion Express

Strut proudly presents the debut album from producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Momoko Gill. Fresh from her critically acclaimed collaboration Clay recorded with cult electronic artist Matthew Herbert, Momoko steps forward in her own right for the first time with her remarkable debut solo album. Momoko has long been one of the UK electronic and jazz scene’s best-kept secrets.

A self-taught drummer, producer, songwriter, and vocalist, she has brought her unique touch to collaborations with Alabaster DePlume, Matthew Herbert, Coby Sey, Tirzah, and Nadeem Din-Gabisi (her musical foil in An Alien Called Harmony). Extensive touring behind the drum kit, at the keys and in front of the mic have honed her compositional and production instincts. With Momoko, Gill emerges into the spotlight with an album that is entirely her own. Throughout, you can hear the stylistic flavours of jazz musicians as much as singer-songwriters, experimental artists and electronic producers. Though Gill rejects imitation, sculpting her sound through feel and expression rather than tradition. Based in London and having grown up in Japan and the US, Gill channels her breadth of perspective through her musical ideas and storytelling, with a unique voice developed through instinct, collaboration and solitary study.

The album’s eleven tracks take in a wide spectrum with the jazz-infused groove of ‘No Others’ and harmony-drenched, reflective ‘Heavy’ contrasting with the dark, confrontational sound of 'Shadowboxing' leading into an eerie left-field instrumental beat, ‘Test A Small Area' and the impressive 50-person choir on ‘When Palestine Is Free’ (which includes heavyweights Shabaka Hutchings, Soweto Kinch, Alabaster DePlume, Coby Sey, Marysia Osu and more). It is a deeply personal and poetic recording and showcases the full uncompromising range of Momoko’s vison, presented in her own voice. Momoko was produced by Momoko Gill, recorded at Total Refreshment Centre, mixed by Matthew Herbert and mastered by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Super smooth, beautifully languid jazz-tronica that could just as easily be played at a dinner party as a smokey, packed lounge club. There are touchstones all over the musical spectrum, but it's really hard to pin down anything as a definite influence. Wonderfully heartfelt, evocative jazzy songwriting. A startlingly lovely outing.

TRACK LISTING

1. SATELLITE
2. NO OTHERS
3. HEAVY
4. REWIND/REMIND
5. SHADOWBOXING
6. TEST A SMALL AREA
7. 2CLOSE2FARR
8. ANYWAY, I’M DROWNING
9. WHEN PALESTINE IS FREE
10. RIVER
11. INEFFABLY

'Ajomasé' is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980 on his own label CAP, Strut are proud to now bring this unique album back to the racks. Lawal’s style was forged through decades of high-level percussion work with the likes of Stephen Stills, Barbra Streisand, George Clinton & Funkadelic, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Vangelis and Ginger Baker’s Air Force band. Dissatisfied with existing genre labels and production norms, Lawal began recording his own album in 1976 at Vangelis’ own studio in London’s Marble Arch before switching to long, drawn-out night shifts at Surrey Sound Studios, using downtime between The Police’s sessions for Outlandos D’Amour.

Lawal meticulously self-produced, composed, and overdubbed the album over four years, assembling an elite group of musicians from both Nigeria and the UK. The instruments used were often hand-built, including a powerful one-of-a-kind drum carved deep in the Nigerian bush. “This music is not about trends, about what is commercial or a “sound” of a particular moment,” explains Lawal, “it is about music to be felt, that gives pleasure. It is nurturing and meditative." Although record executives didn’t know how to categorise Ajomasé, the people responded.

Legendary DJs like John Peel and Janice Long gave it UK radio play – a rarity for African records at the time. Demand skyrocketed and, with Rough Trade stepping in to distribute the vinyl, the album found an international audience. In 1982, Peter Gabriel personally invited Gasper to perform at the first WOMAD Festival, leading to a new era of live performances and global recognition. Yet despite its impact, 'Ajomasé' has never been reissued – until now. This new edition brings a spiritually resonant, rhythmically rich and genre-defying work to a new generation of listeners. featuring liner notes by Gasper himself and audio remastered from original tapes by Whitfield Street Studios and The Carvery.

TRACK LISTING

1. Jeka José
2. Kita Kita
3. Eronu
4. Ajomasé
5. Awon Ojise Oluwa
6. Oro Moro
7. Saikoskro

Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.

Featuring masterful new arrangements of some of his classic compositions, Mulatu Plays Mulatu finds Mulatu revisiting the sounds that helped to change the face of Ethiopian music during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The album was recorded between London and Addis Ababa, working with his long-standing UK band, a tight, intuitive ensemble honed through years of live performance, alongside cultural musicians resident at his Jazz Vi lage club in Addis. Mulatu Plays Mulatu realises Mulatu’s long-term vision of Ethio-jazz, intricately balancing Western jazz arrangements with the rich sounds of traditional Ethiopian instruments including the krar, masenqo, washint, kebero and begena. Throughout the album, he reshapes familiar material with rich textures, expanded improvisations and a deepened rhythmic complexity, creating a body of work that feels as vital and contemporary as it does steeped in tradition. Familiar compositions like ‘Yekermo Sew’, ‘Netsanet’ and the celebratory ‘Kulun’ are reinvented here as elegant big band performances.

“Ethio-jazz brings us together and makes us one,” explains Mulatu. “This album is the culmination of my work bringing this music to the world and pays respect to our unsung heroes, the original musical scientists in Ethiopia who gave us our cultural music.”

Bridging continents and generations throughout his 50-year career, Astatke now offers us an invitation to hear his music again, with a completely fresh perspective. Ethio-jazz, like its creator, is always in motion.

Mulatu Plays Mulatu was produced by Dexter Story and features contemporary artists LA-based artists Carlos Niño and Kibrom Birhane. The album was recorded and mixed by Isabel Gracefield at RAK Studios in London and by Dexter Story in Addis. The inspired album artwork was created by acclaimed Oslo-based Ethiopian artist, Wendimagegn Belete with photography by Alexis Maryon.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: The Ethio-jazz godfather returns for a brand new album, clearly showing how his dedication to the preservation of classic Ethiopian music has shaped the appreciation of it throughout the world. One of the true legends and pioneers, in the finest form of his stellar career.

TRACK LISTING

LP
A1. Zelesenga Dewel
A2. Kulun
A3. Netsanet
B1. Yekermo Sew
B2. Chik Chikka
B3. Motherland
B4. Yekatit

CD
1. Zelesenga Dewel
2. Kulun
3. Netsanet
4. Yekermo Sew
5. Azmari
6. Chik Chikka
7. The Way To Nice
8. Motherland Intro
9. Motherland
10. Mulatu
11. Yekati

Occasionally, you find music outside the commercial mainstream, outside of everything – the music of visionaries, eccentrics, inventors, loners. Moondog, Daphne Oram, Harry Partch are from this mould. And so too is Lori Vambe. Strut present a new single vinyl reissue of Vambe’s sought-after privately pressed album from 1982, 'Drumland Dreamland'. A self-taught drummer, inventor, and sonic experimentalist, Vambe holds a unique place in British music. The creator of his own instrument, the drumgita (pronounced ‘drumguitar’) or string-drum, he aimed to create music that had never been previously made to pursue access to the fourth dimension and forge a radical new musical language - intuitive, polyrhythmic and metaphysical. 'Drumland Dreamland' is deep and haunting; a dense tapestry of layered percussion, time-warped tape loops, and spiralling drumgita figures, a l underpinned by hypnotic improvisations from Brazilian pianist Rafael Dos Santos. It is both ecstatic and unsettling, a landmark recording in black British experimental music.

Lori Vambe was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and his father, Lawrence Vambe, was a noted Zimbabwean journalist and author. Moving to London in 1959, Vambe immersed himself in the Brixton squat movement of the early 1970s, teaching himself to drum and creating a short-lived performance group, The Healing Drums of Brixton (with sculptor Alexander Sokolov and outsider musician Michael O’Shea). Vambe later had a dream-vision involving a feeling of ecstasy while playing an unknown instrument that extended from his own umbilical cord which would manifest itself as the drumgita. 'Drumland Dreamland' is one of his two privately produced home recordings during 1982 alongside Drumgita Solo, both released on his own label Drumony.

'Drumland Dreamland' has been faithfully reproduced from the original artwork as a single vinyl LP and is remastered by The Carvery.

TRACK LISTING

1. Drumsong (One)
2. Drumsong (Two)
3. Drumsong (Three)
4. Strumelody
5. Drumelody (One)
6. Drumelody (Two)
7. Ydolemurd
8. Hum Drum Dring (One)
9. Hum Drum Dring (Two) The Freedrum Song

Originally released in 1979 on his independent Saturn label, 'Sleeping Beauty' captures Sun Ra and his Arkestra at their most soulful and serene. A masterclass in cosmic jazz, the album blends lush grooves, celestial soul, and meditative funk with Ra’s singular spiritual vision — a sound both grounded and otherworldly.

The album emerged during an extraordinarily fertile period for Sun Ra in late-‘70s New York. Between 1978 and 1982, Ra “occupied” Variety Recording Studios on West 42nd Street, often staging marathon sessions following late-night Arkestra gigs around the city — from the Village Vanguard to Sweet Basil and even a wedding in Central Park. These were not just recordings; they were rituals. Ra and his core players — John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, June Tyson, Michael Ray, and others — would begin sessions mid-morning, often continuing past midnight, much to the dismay of the studio owner. Out of this creative whirlwind came some of his most enduring work, including 'A Fireside Chat With Lucifer', 'On Jupiter', and 'Sleeping Beauty'.

Across its three tracks, 'Sleeping Beauty' showcases the Arkestra’s gentler side. From the dreamy sway of 'Springtime Again' to the funk-deep uplift of 'Door Of The Cosmos' and the title track’s meditative drift, this is music that floats, beckons, and unfolds. It’s a record of hypnotic beauty and quiet power — cosmic jazz for dreamers and seekers alike.

This new edition features a selected version of the hand-drawn original cover, embossed with the Sun Ra logo and housed in a heavyweight card sleeve. Liner notes come courtesy of Arkestra member Knoel Scott and Sun Ra authority Paul Griffiths. Remastered by Technology Works.

“Music is a language. You see, it’s not notes — it’s a language of the spirit. That’s why it’s so important.” – Sun Ra

TRACK LISTING

1. Springtime Again
2. Door Of The Cosmos
3. Sleeping Beauty

Berlin-based Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez presents a sonic journey into the electrifying world of Picó—the vibrant and dynamic sound system culture that has defined the streets of Cartagena and Barranquilla for decades. More than just a musical movement, Picó is a way of life, a bold expression of identity, community, and resistance. From its roots in the working-class neighbourhoods of Colombia’s Caribbean coast to its deep connections with Africa and the Caribbean, this compilation captures the pulse of a culture where music is played at full volume, rhythms travel across oceans, and dance is both a form of celebration and storytelling. For those unfamiliar, Picós are hand-painted sound systems, often adorned with dazzling colours and striking imagery, each with its own name and sonic identity. These mobile discos became the heart of neighbourhood bailes, where the sounds of champeta, highlife, soukous, mbaqanga, zouk, soca, and cumbia would turn every street corner, market, and terrace into a dancefloor. Initially built by local craftsmen using modified speaker components, Picós became legendary for their powerful bass and exclusivity, with DJs sourcing rare vinyl from African and Caribbean ports and rebranding them with unique piconemas—new names adapted to local slang, making the tracks instantly recognisable within the community.

This compilation brings together a carefully curated selection of these rare and sought-after tracks, tracing the deep-rooted musical exchanges between Colombia, West and Central Africa, and the Caribbean. Featuring artists like Los Corraleros De Majagual, Peacocks International Highlife Band, Pedro Lima, Zaïko Langa Langa, and more, the album also includes edits by Edna Martinez, reimagining these timeless rhythms for contemporary audiences while staying true to their original spirit.

TRACK LISTING

1. Wulomei – Takoradi
2. Conjunto Ana N’Gola – Puxa Odoette
3. Zeal Onyia & His Music – Egbe Ne Lueli
4. Los Corraleros De Majagual – Remanga
5. Aquí Suena – Abel Llinas
6. Peacocks International Highlife Band – Igbala Oso
7. Pedro Lima Et L’Orchestre Os Leonenses – Philomene
8. The Shoe Laces – Isitha Somunthu
9. Claudio Y Su Combo – Como Sea
10. Pa’ Entro Mi Gente – Ángelo El Auténtico
11. Zaire – I’m Tired Of Living In The Shack
12. Afous - Anavdhou (Edna Martinez Extended Edit)
13. Zaïko Langa Langa – La Tout Neige (Edna Martinez Edit)
14. Erick Cosaque Et Les Voltage 8 – Ajaccio (Edna Martinez Remix)
15. Picó Sin Fronteras – Abel Llinas
16. La Calandria – Como Duele Una Traición
17. African System International – Amina
18. Carlos Díaz Y Su Orquesta – Tres Meses De Vida
19. No Puedes Conmigo – Ángelo El Auténtico

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2025 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 12TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 14th.

Strut Records is proud to announce a new official reissue of 'Simigwa' by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, launching a series of releases on Strut celebrating the legendary Ghanaian label Essiebons.

Essiebons, founded by Ghanaian music producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie in 1959, is one of Ghana's most important independent labels featuring prominent artists such as Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, C.K. Mann, and Ebo Taylor. Ambolley’s Simigwa is a groundbreaking album, recognised as a Ghanaian classic and boasting one of the most iconic covers of the 1970s. Originally released in 1975, the album introduced Ambolley's unique 'Simigwa' style, which combined highlife with funk and soul, influencing the evolution of a new generation of Ghanaian artists.

This new Strut LP reissue features an exclusive interview with Ambolley himself, offering fresh insights into the creation of this classic album.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s innovative fusion of highlife with influences from American soul and funk solidified his position as a key figure in Ghana’s vibrant 1970s music scene. His solo career followed work with iconic bands such as Houghas Extraordinaires, Meridians of Tema, Ghana Broadcasting Band and the Uhuru Dance Band. Inspired by the legendary James Brown, Simigwa delivers infectious rhythms, dynamic horn sections, bold vocal stabs, and mesmerising percussion breaks. An enduring classic for all fans of highlife and Afro-funk.

TRACK LISTING

1. Kwaakwaa
2. Akoko Ba
3. This Hustling World
4. Toffie
5. Adwoa
6. Fa No Dem Ara

Strut introduces the highly anticipated third volume in the Disques Debs International series, diving deeper into the archives of one ofthe greatest French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs, based in Guadeloupe. Founded by the visionary Henri Debs in the late ‘50s, thelabel and studio operated for over 50 years, releasing more than 300 7” singles and 200 LPs, making it a cornerstone of Caribbean music history.

By the dawn of the 1980s, Henri Debs had already established himself as a prolific producer, with a record of releases unmatched in Guadeloupe and Martinique. From its humble beginnings with a 2-track tape machine in the back of a clothes shop, Disques Debsevolved into a powerhouse, boasting a state-of-the-art studio in downtown Pointe-à-Pitre, retail shops for records and musical instruments in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Paris, a nightclub in Gosier, and international distribution deals reaching Europe, the U.S.,and South America.

Disques Debs played a pivotal role in shaping modern Caribbean music. The label bridged traditional genres like biguine and gwoka with contemporary styles like cadence, compas, and zouk, the latter becoming a global phenomenon in the 1980s with contributions from iconic acts like Kassav’ and Zouk Machine. The period also saw Disques Debs champion a new generation of artists while maintaining ties with legendary figures from earlier decades.

Volume 3 in this series spotlights one of the label’s most dynamic and influential periods as it expanded its global reach during the1980s. Across 2 LPs, the release features a curated selection of tracks from the Disques Debs circle, highlighting both emerging talents and established artists who defined the era.

This collection not only celebrates Henri Debs’ unmatched legacy but also offers a snapshot of Caribbean music’s golden age, cementing Disques Debs as a cultural institution.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sadi Lancreot – Dou Se Vou Ki Siwo
2. Max Et Henri – Sé Pou Demen
3. Dominique Panol – Come On Baby
4. Mariz – Si On Jou
5. Jocelyn Mocka Et Kassav – Mizik Maladi
6. Christian Yéyé – Misyé Zanndo
7. Ramon Pyrmée – An Mwe
8. Expérience 7 – Bel Toubonman
9. Ka Lévé – Apre Nou Byen Cheche
10. Horizon - Neg Mawon
11. Ti Celeste – Testaman
12. Yo – Fo’w Maye
13. Alex Rosa – L’appel Des Champions
14. Gwo Siwo – Bèlè

Strut proudly reintroduces a classic from the Topomic catalogue, Ice’s ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, officially available on vinyl for the first time.

After relocating from the United States to Paris, Ice began performing regularly in the city’s Barbès district, a vibrant area with a large North African immigrant community. The band’s heavy Afro-funk sound caught the attention of producer Pierre Jaubert, leading them to become the resident session musicians at his independent Parisound studio.

Immersed in the local influences, Ice began integrating African-inspired chants, textures, and rhythms into their distinct funk style. In 1973, the group recorded their debut album, ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, a psychedelic funk exploration that hinted at the evolving sound that would later define them as the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band and, eventually, Ice once more.

Produced by Jaubert, the album brings some powerful social commentary on claustrophobic tracks like ‘Too Little Room’ and ‘Suicide’, under-pinned by a determination to succeed despite the adversity.

Remastered by The Carvery.

TRACK LISTING

1. Too Little Room
2. Suicide
3. One Chance
4. Love Can
5. There’s Time To Change
6. Put An X On The Spot (In The Sky)
7. Losin’
8. Dgunji

Strut is celebrating the holiday season with an exclusive reissue of The Qualities’ 1961 single, 'It’s Christmas Time' b/w 'Happy New Year To You!' Originally released on Sun Ra’s Saturn label, this mysterious harmony group 45 captures a unique moment in music history.

Alongside his renowned jazz work in Chicago, Sun Ra experimented with harmony groups from the mid-‘50s to the early ‘60s, before his move to New York. “I had two main vocal groups at the time,” Ra recalled. “One was called the Cosmic Echoes. And the Cosmic Rays too. It was around the same time that John Gilmore joined the band. I saw the possibility that they could be really great so Ibegan to coach them; they were connected with a barber shop, but I taught them other things.” John Gilmore added, “We’d go down to the barber shops and rehearse some groups. Sun Ra had them singin’ some beautiful stuff. I think he probably was saving the from themselves. He heard them, heard their potential, snatched them off the street, and started making them do something constructive.”

This rare festive single from The Qualities, likely recorded around 1956, features Sun Ra as co-composer on both tracks alongside Saturn Records co-founder Alton Abraham. Sun Ra might also be the harmonium player on these recordings. Although two more songs by the group appeared on a Norton Records collection of Ra-related vocal numbers, these are the only known recordings by The Qualities.

Featuring two newly restored and remastered tracks thanks to Technology Works and housed in an exclusive new 7" picture sleeve designed by Liam Large

TRACK LISTING

1. It’s Christmas Time
2. Happy New Year To You

Comprising an exceptional line-up featuring Bex Burch (fresh from her debut solo album on International Anthem), Sarathy Korwar, Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Unknown To Known), Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming / Soccer96) and Al MacSween (Kefaya), the new recordings showcase Flock’s ability to push the boundaries of the composition process and craft unique tracks based on their collective spirit.

Recorded amidst the serene landscapes of the Welsh countryside during 2022, 'Flock II' emerges as a compelling departure from their debut album, which was captured in a single day at London's Fish Factory. Nestled within the enchanting environs of the Druidstone, a mystical coastal retreat in West Wales, the group embarked on an immersive week-long recording session. Here, they crafted unique "jump-off" devices for each musical piece, drawing inspiration from unconventional structures and atmospheres.

From diagrams utilising shapes and repeated patterns to a revolving lamp throwing out dappled light and a mobile app creating intense strobe effects in front of each musician, each device set a state of mind and a unique approach to their compositions.

Studio Owz, housed in a converted country church, provided an ideal setting for their creative exploration. The resulting compositions, ranging from intense to hypnotic, invite listeners to embark on a deeply personal voyage, weaving their own narratives amidst the ethereal soundscape.

The fruits of a strong and joyful bond between five of the UK’s finest musicians, ‘Flock II’ stands as another essential recording without genre or category. Cover artwork illustration is courtesy of the brilliant Muhammad “Rofi” Fatchurofi, providing the ideal nebulous artistic foil to Flock’s creation.

TRACK LISTING

1. Druidstone Incantation
2. Turned Skyward
3. Cat’s Paws Effect
4. Meet Your Shadow
5. Large Magellanic Cloud
6. No One Is Spared Who Goes Down The Deep Well
7. Dance Until You Shatter Yourself
8. A Thousand Miles Lost
9. Capillary Waves
10. Edge Of Empty 

Strut proudly presents a special edition repress of the groundbreaking ‘Nigeria 70’ compilation, now available on translucent green vinyl 3LP to celebrate the label’s 25th Anniversary.

First released in 2001, Nigeria 70 was a pioneering compilation that delved deeply into Lagos' vibrant music scene, where local artists blended highlife and traditional rhythms with soul, funk, rock, and jazz. While Western audiences were already acquainted with Fela Kuti, this album highlighted other influential Nigerian musicians and bandleaders of the '70s: Joni Haastrup, Peter King, Segun Bucknor, Bala Miller, Blo, King Sunny Ade, Tunji Oyelana, and many more. Subsequent volumes continued to explore the rich landscape of Afrobeat, juju, funk, and soul, unearthing a treasure trove of Nigerian tracks.

‘Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos’ showcases the vibrant diversity of the Lagos scene, reflecting the eclectic musical influences of the time. The compilation includes elements of psychedelic rock, from the heavily fuzzed-out sounds of Ofo & the Black Company's "Allah Wakbarr" to BLO's hauntingly serene "Chant to Mother Earth." The influence of late 1970s and early 80s disco can be heard in tracks like Joni Haastrup's 1977 "Greetings" and Shina Williams & His African Percussionists' 1984 electro-funk track "Agboju Logun," all while maintaining a strong Afrobeat foundation.

Beloved by collectors and dancefloor enthusiasts, Nigeria 70 is rich with soul, humanity, and a broad spectrum of the region's musical talent. It has inspired a new wave of labels and releases, introducing the 1970s Lagos scene to a new generation of soul, funk, and dance music fans.

This special edition of ‘Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos’ features the original artwork and liner notes, pressed on translucent green vinyl across 3LPs.

TRACK LISTING

1. Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders – Alo Mi Alo (Parts 1 & 2 )
2. Segun Bucknor & His Revolution – La La La
3. Lijadu Sisters – Orere Elejigbo
4. Peter King – Shango
5. Sahara All Stars Band Jos – Enjoy Yourself
6. Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70 – Jeun Ko Ku (Chop 'N' Quench)
7. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders – Ifa
8. Ofo The Black Company – Allah Wakbarr
9. The Funkees – Dancing Time
10. Monomono– Tire Loma Da Nigbehin
11. Bala Miller & The Great Music Pyrameeds Of Afrika – Ikon Allah
12. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes – Akayan Ekassa
13. Shina Williams & His African Percussionists – Agboju Logun
14. Gasper Lawal – Kita Kita
15. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats – Ja Fun Mi (Instrumental)