sun, skyy, earth wind & fire..., brooklyn-based igbo (indigo green brown orange) reflect an elemental foundation of classic 70s and 80s funk and soul through a prism of hip arrangements and decidedly modern production befitting the diverse set of talented stage performers and composers they are. a sun-drenched celebration of life and musical positivity, their sonic palette evokes the same brilliant and playful colors as their name, the two songs presented here (on 45 for the first time) bursting with irresistible charm. it s a breath of uplifting fresh air in today s hyper-serious club landscape.

a collection of new tunes from ben lamar gay. limited pressing on dawn cherry coloured vinyl.

a collection of new tunes from ben lamar gay. regular pressing on black vinyl.

bbe revives two rare igbo highlife albums.

first ever reissue of an early 80s igbo highlife masterpiece by nkem njoku. pressing on 180 gram vinyl.

how do you follow up a stone-cold afro funk classic like village boogie? simple. gather together some of the hottest players in nigeria, take them down to the phonodisk studios in ijebu igbo and let them loose on a bunch dancefloor fillers you spent the last four years ‘road testing’ in kaduna. and don’t forget to get lady franka and mariam pledge in on backing vocals. those girls know how to fire up a party. it helps, of course, if you’re steve ‘dudu’ black. steve had a god-given knack for writing combustible dance tunes and the contacts in the industry to get the likes of willy nfor, willy roy and felix lebarty to make them explode. from the opening track, ‘osasuima’, the heat never stops. on ‘no stopping me now’ and ‘ololufe/ stay the night’, it’s almost too hot to handle. polished in a studio in london while musical youth recorded pass the dutchie in the next room, happy birthday to u is the gift that keeps on giving – an irresistible blend of highlife, afro beat and afro funk that is guaranteed to start a party on any dance floor.
(peter moore)