Friday, October 30, 2009

Taking a break

Unforseeable problems at Glasslands lead me to cancel all my further events at this venue. Thanx to everybody who made this such a happening party all over this past summer, those were some memorable nights. I'm taking a break from dj-ing right now while laying the finishing touches on the Lagos Disco Inferno compilation. I'm also planning on taking a longer trip back to Africa early next year so I'm not actively looking for a new venue but there's always a possible that I might end up behind some turntables somewhere at some point... let me know if you want to be on my mailing list: frank@voodoofunk.com

Friday, October 2, 2009

Pax Nicholas & The Nettey Family

The Pax Nicholas LP was one of the first African records I ever found. It's also one of the rarest records in my posession as I don't know of anybody else who has ever seen or heard it. Which is a shame because this also is one of the best and most unique sounding Afrobeat records out there.

It was in Philadelphia in the spring of 2005. I had made a visit to Smith's Record store. All the high caliber funk 45s had been gone years ago (many of them into my own collection), but I wanted to say "hi!" to the owner Stanley Smith. When I mentioned that I was about to go to Africa to look for Funk records, he said "I have a stack of African LPs in my office, wanna have a look at them?"

I found a few nice pieces but the Pax Nicholas LP was by far the most interesting and unique record in the bunch. A few weeks later, I embarked onto a 3 year long digging trip through West Africa. Hundreds and thousands of records were added to my collection but the Pax Nicholas LP always remained somehow special to me.

I tried to track down Nicholas with the help of friends in Ghana and Nigeria but I couldn't find a lead. All it took in the end was a simple google-search and I had found him: Ironically, Nicholas Nettey had been living in Berlin since 1978. Nic was very enthusiastic about getting his record re-issued. I approached my old friends at Daptone Records about this and after having listened to some sound clips, they decided to make this their first African release.

When I asked Nic if there were any master tapes left, he told me that years ago, he had had a big fight with his brother during which they both ended up throwing the tapes at each other until they (the tapes) were totally mangled.

Thankfully, my copy of this record was in pristine and unplayed condition when I had found it so we were able to re-master from the original vinyl. This album will be in stores worldwide by September.

Please go to Daptone Records to find out more about this album and about Nicholas Nettey.

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 the mythical Ghanaian band 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)

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