2016

Continuing the BBE 20th anniversary celebrations, one of their most sought-after back-catalogue gems gets a long awaited repress. Even in this digital age, the beating heart of modern R&B and hip-hop is still vintage soul, funk and jazz. Modern producers, searching for music of integrity, continue to scour dusty racks of records for inspiration. What Kon and Amir have done is make their lives easier. The first collection in the five part “Off Track” series, contains 28 superb songs that you’ve probably never heard of. From a disco tribute to Muhammad Ali to a slice of soulful South African jazz, this is music for the connoisseur.Musical treasure-hunters by trade, Kon and Amir have spent the past twenty-five years excavating record bins finding gems to pierce ears with. Fortunately, everyone gets to share in the riches of their labor with the reissue of their first offering from the popular The “Off Track” Series.The Off Track series built on the successes of their highly respected “On Track” series. Unlike the “On track” series, which featured short snippets of samples and breaks, the Off Track double series features full versions of some the best and rarest audible gems in their entirety.

While being a rare Patrick Adams and Billy Nichols production, Mary Clark’s “Take me I’m Yours” has in recent years become one of the most celebrated Disco tracks by contemporary Deejays. This borderline Gospel-Disco Gem has all the elements of a timeless Disco Cut, a driving bass line, powefully arranged strings and horns, but most importantly, a very soulful performance by Mary Clark. Like many of Peter Brown’s “affliate” labels, little is known about them or the artists recorded. Originaly released in 1980 on ‘La Shawn’, it is rumored to have been no more than 200 records originally pressed, making this one of the most sought 12 inches among collectors. However Leave it to someone like Dimitri from Paris who edited and included “Take me i’m yours” on his “The Kings Of Disco” compilation from 2004 to give this virtualy unknown song a new life and a whole new audience. Even as recently as last year, Mary Clark’s song of “devotion” made it’s way into a BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix, courtesy of Floating Points, and frankly, there’s probably not a bigger audience than that.

Following successful excursions into rare tropical and island sounds with the ‘Sofrito’ series, ‘Haiti Direct’ and ‘Calypsoul 70’ albums, Strut Records turns its focus to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius for a new compilation, ‘Soul Sok Séga’. Séga first developed as an insular music and dance form after slaves arrived on Mauritius (then île de France) from East Africa and Madagascar during the 17th to 19th centuries, using Créole language and rhythms played on the large ravanne circular drum, the triangle and the maravanne, a box filled with dried seeds. Séga was essentially frowned upon and marginalised by the Mauritian bourgeois until the 1950s when singer Ti Frère began to play a more Westernised fusion of séga. Through Ti Frère and his contemporaries like Serge Lebrasse, the music began to be popularised during the ‘60s and became fully accepted after the ‘Night Of The Morne’ event in 1964 as the Créole community asserted ist cultural identity. ‘Soul Sok Séga’ documents the heyday of séga in Mauritius during the 1970s as a new generation of contemporary artists broke through. Jazz, soul, funk and rock elements all began to be effortlessly infused into traditional séga folk roots to create some inspired fusions. A talented new wave of artists including Jean- Claude, Claudio, Marie Josée and Roger Clency became domestic stars and began to take the music to international stages for the first time. Meanwhile, cult artists like the James Brown-influenced Ti L’Afrique, Coulouce and Christophe all enjoyed a more brief but important moment in the spotlight. Since this era, séga has now been adopted as the national music of Mauritius and the original ‘70s music is a revelation for any fans of tropical music and world sounds. Strut’s album features extensive sleeve notes from long time Mauritian cultural champion, Percy Yip Tong, including new artist interviews, photos and original vinyl artwork. The compilation is by DJ duo La Basse Tropicale (Natty Hô and Konsöle), based in the neighbouring island of La Reunion. All formats (1CD / 2LP / digital) are unmixed, with all tracks never reissued internationally since they were originally available. An accompanying European tour featuring Ti L’Afrique, Jean Claude and Claudio with an all-star band of original musicians is planned for Summer 2016.KEY POINTS- first official international compilation documenting séga music from Mauritius- key artists involved in album and promotion including Ti L’Afrique, Jean Claude and Claudio- features exclusive artwork by Lewis Heriz and sleeve notes by respected Mauritian cultural journalist and promoter, Percy Yip Tong- strong addition to Strut’s tropical reissue range following the Sofrito series, Haiti Direct and Calypsoul 70- supported by DJ dates by album compilers La Basse Tropicale with plans for séga legends live tour during 2017