An uber-rare album from Orlando Julius & The Afro Sounders – recorded at Ginger Baker's studio in Lagos and originally (apparently quite scarcely) released by Philips in 1973 – wonderful stuff and on par with the excellent material the group recorded in the handful of previous years! The sound is terrific, still fresh and live sounding, but recorded with the best studio technology Julius had access to to date. The drums and percussion are prominent in the mix and so is the bass – with punchy, soulful brass, organs and passionate vocals. Wonderful! Tracks include "Yio Si Da Miliki Beat", "Afro Instrumental", "Osika Ranti", "Buje Buje", "Aseni" and "Kete Kete Koro". CD

A stunning collection of work from Bola Johnson – a key figure on the scene in Lagos in the years before Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade! Johnson's style here really shows Nigerian music at the crossroads – upbeat elements of early highlife informing the rhythms with plenty of lean guitar lines and percussion, but topped with all these great jazzy elements over the top – almost as if Johnson is bringing forth an older style of R&B inspiration in the horns, while letting things sound very contemporary in the rhythms! The mix is a bit like some of the wonderful hybrids that were happening on the London scene in the late 50s and early 60s – and the lyrics here often share a similar mix of politics and humor. The package is long overdue – and collects together rare early singles on Philips, with a great set of notes and other titles. Titles include "Somebody Find Me Trouble", "Oh My Baby Josephine", "Obiriki Aye N Yilo", "Koto Ye O", "Buroda Mase", "Kilode", "Mimo Mimo Loluwo", "Lagos Special", "Meme Latori", "Nigeria Drive On The Right", and "Pappa Rebecca Special ". CD