Parties in July

I managed to book Oran Etkin's Band Kelenia for the next Voodoo Funk party at Union Pool. Oran has just put out their first record and been touring with it for the past couple of weeks. After the big success of Oran's last show with the Mandingo Ambassadors we are especially excited about this night.


Big thanx to everybody who came to the first Lagos Disco Inferno at Glasslands. I had such a great time. The place reminded me a lot of an illegal club in East Berlin named "Hohe Tatra" where I started dj-ing some 15 years ago. I haven't sweated like this in years... warm beer, concrete walls and no AC... I'm still feeling rejuvenated and honestly can't wait for the next one.

Aliens sighting

This last trip back to Africa was amongst the best digging experiences of my life. Not only did I find some really amazing vinyl, I also managed to license a whole bunch of very exciting Nigerian and Ghanaian records for re-release, amongst other things 6 tracks by an obscure cult band from Accra called The Psychedelic Aliens. I've been obsessing over this group since I first came across their 7" EP almost three years ago and now I also happened upon their second 45 that I think was previously completely unknown. Needless to say that it's absolutely incredible: A perfect crossover of Garage Psych Rock and Afro Funk. Raw fuzz-wah-wah guitar, Vox organ, vocals with loads of reverb, huge drum break... it really is unreal!

The cover of the 1969 recorded EP that I found in 2007

Below you see the label scan of the 45 I found a few weeks ago.
This track and 5 more will soon be re-issued on Academy Records as vinyl and CD in beautifully re-mastered, awesome-sounding quality..
If you dare, click on the label scan and hear a rough recording straight from the original 45. But better sit down first and have a cold beer ready. You'll need it.


This is a clipping from the program folder for the 1972 festival "Soul To Soul" courtesy of Uchenna from the always amazing and highly recommended blog With Comb & Razor. The Aliens played this festival alongside such stars as Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Picket and Santana. Don't waste your money on the film or record of this event as none of the African artists who participated are represented. Malek said that the band was being filmed while they played. Maybe this material is still collecting dust in the vaults of MGM...

Me with Malek Crayem (organ player of the Psychedelic Aliens) and my friend Damian (Nigerian record kingpin)

Nigerian Disco Mix

Here's a mix a made for the launch of the Lagos Disco Inferno party at Glasslands. The next date for this monthly event is Saturday July 18th.

Please click on the image to listen!
Thanx go out to Chris at Fully Fitted for hosting the mp3!

African Heat mp3 mix

Check out this mix I made including a couple of new discoveries from Ghana and Nigeria.

Special thanx go out to Jonas for hosting the mp3!

Please click on the image to listen:

00:00 The Uppers -dankasa
03:30 Roy Hamilton -jack jones
06:40 Gyadu Blay Ambolley -sikape
12:14 De Frank -waiting for my baby
16:33 The Cutlass Band -obiara wondo
19:08 The Strangers -two to make a pair
21:44 The Wellis Band -bindiga
25:06 Ogyatanaa Show band -saman poriwa
29:42 Superman Tony Safro -i beg
34:54 The Hygrades -somebody's gonna lose or win
38:00 The Visitors -i believe in funky music
42:37 Akwassa -be yourself
47:45 Obanichronism -disco in danger
53:00 Georges Anderson -baby you know i know