SE Rogie's a hell of a guitarist – a real standout even in the legendary African scene of the 60s – and he's also kind of a one-man combo, adding in some rhythms and vocals along with his lines on the electric guitar! This set brings together a range of different singles that SE recorded and issued on his own Rogie label, mostly during the 60s – wonderfully groovy tracks that often just feature vocals and guitar, the latter of which does a tremendous job of moving between rhythm and solo moments! A few cuts add in additional instrumentation, but never too much – and titles include "Long Live Our Woman Mayor", "Are Sorry For You", "Not When I'm In Town", "Waitin Make You Do Me So", "Nor Look Me Lek Dat", and "Kpindigbi". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing music you've probably never heard before – all from the tiny island of Mauritius in the 70s, and served up in a stunning mix of funk, blues, and soul! The grooves here are very offbeat – with rhythms that belie the island's location in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, mixed with more contemporary touches on electric guitar, bass, and keyboards – set to lyrics that are often sung in French, usually with these haunting changes and oddly melancholy modes – all of which makes for music that's every bit as emotively powerful as it is downright groovy! Strut Records have always turned us on to new and unusual sounds – but this time around, they've really done something special – and the collection is one of our favorite releases ever from the long-running label. Titles include "Afro Mauricien" by Georges Jean Louis, "Mo Mari Fini Alle" by Catherine Velienne, "Elida" by Michel Legris, "Mone Lasser Dire Toi" by Harold Berty, "Bhai Aboo" by Claudio, "Mo Parrain" by Christophe, "Manuel Bitor" by John Kenneth Nelson, "Eliza" by Georgie Joi, and "Soul Sock Sega" by Ti L'Afrique. LP, Vinyl record album

You might not be able to understand the lyrics, but you'll definitely be moved by the instant charm of Malaysian rocker Adnan Othman – a singer who works here in a groovy blend of fuzzy guitar, mod rhythms, and all the other great sounds we love from late 60s French and British tracks of the time! In fact, there may be more French elements at work here than some of the more typical Anglo-influenced singers in Southeast Asia at the time – especially those romping rhythms and jangly guitar lines of the yeh-yeh generation, which really get these tunes moving even before Othman comes in with his vocals. By the end of the set, Adnan's expanding his sound a bit – moving from the work with The Rhythmn Boys that takes up most of the collection, to singing with The Wanderers and Flamingoes – all documented nicely in the notes and images in the package. Titles include "Bila Kah Gembira", "Doa Ku", "Bershukor", "Sapu Tangan", "Hari Bahagia", "Berlenggang", "Merana", "Mormah", and "Hidupu Tambah Gembira". LP, Vinyl record album