LP

Favorite Recordings proudly presents Time to Decide, The first album by Al Sunny.Al Sunny is a young composer emerging from the French soul music scene. Soon after learning the guitar, he started composing and became involved in numerous projects and collaborations. Al has been influenced by pop, rock, and electronic music, always with a foundation in the “Black” and “Soul” sound.During his conservatory studies, he refined his knowledge and confirmed his desire to write and compose. The will to establish himself on a solo project became stronger and stronger. He quickly discovered deep inside himself the music that he truly loves, inspired by artists such as Tim Maia, America, Al Green, and Al Jarreau. Thru his guitar, he gives birth to the majority of his compositions and always seeks to bring the melody of his songs to the forefront. During his studies he met musicians including Florian Pellissier, then professor at the conservatory and a confirmed pianist who worked on various projects such as Guts, Anthony Joseph, Florian Pellissier Quintet, and Shola Adissa.It's then thanks to Florian that Al Sunny meets Pascal Rioux, founder and A&R of Favorite Recordings. Immediately seduced and impressed by his talent and the various demos that he listened to, Pascal invites the young musician to collaborate and produce an album within Favorite Recordings. Together they agree on a musical direction looking towards the West coast movement of the 70s and 80s. This direction includes influences like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Ned Doheny, of whom Al Sunny covers the classic “Get It Up For Love” on the new album.With Time To Decide, Al Sunny shows us the premise of his music style, infused with Blue-Eyed-Soul, Pop and Folk. Written and composed by himself, it’s in close collaboration with Florian Pellissier that his songs came to life. Under the guidance of Pascal Rioux and Favorite Recordings, the production of this album ensures a sound and a final result worthy of the best classics of the genre.

Following on from the Pasteur Lappe compilation "African Funk Experimentals" LP, we are really pleased to be re-visiting Pasteur with a repress of his second album from 1979, "Na Man Pass Man". The story begins in the 60s with a charming 19 year old Nicolas "Pasteur" Lappe becoming a sensation on Radio Adele in Douala, Cameroun. He goes on to become the editor of the Douala Gazette newspaper and become friends with other African music stars such as Tala AM, J Moboule and Fela Kuti. He also works tirelessly promoting new and upcoming local Cameroonian talent. After moving to Paris, a stint in journalism school and publishing a book of poems "Chansons Negres" he finally settles into a new life of music in Paris. His second album "Na Man Pass Man" is made in 1979 with the backing band and production collective called the Zulu Gang, which include Douglas Mbida (who went on to release several top flight albums himself) and Jacob Desvariaux (who went on to form Kassav). The album is full of diverse sounds; from driving funk, sweeping disco grooves, syrupy ballads, reggae, Jackson-five-esque pop to finger-lickin' soul. At its core though is the custom "Sekele" groove... a movement to encompass the dance, grooves and vibes from his native Douala. The album opens with Africa Seven favourite "Na Real Sekele Fo' Ya" which takes stabby moog bass synth to a whole new level of grooviness. "Follow Me To My Dreams" takes proceedings on a reggae tip as the Zulu Gang show us just how Reggae they can go. Its sleezy Rhodes and sax led jazz funk of "Mbale". Followed by "Missosi" a cautionary tale from our hero. Side B opens with another slice of slick African Reggae with "Babette D'O (Rastawoman)" – the Caribbean chops of Jacob Desvariaux getting a full exercise here. Its then "Back To Funky" with some dance funk. It features Maryse Lappe guesting on vocals too. The "Lead" track from the album "ABC" is next with its stomping afro, pop funk delightfulness. A 12" version was actually released in 1979 with a fine painting of our hero on the front cover. We close off the LP with the title track "Na Man Pass Man (Na Iron De Cut)". This features Pasteur singing and professing his tale of the trials of Africans and African Music over a rolling bass guitar groove. The nostalgic poet, with Africa at his essence Pasteur Lappe, we salute you.