SEALED

BBE present the second release under BBE Africa, Too Tough / I'm Not Going To Let You Go from Rim and Kasa / Rim and The Believers.Following hot on the heels of our well-received reissue of his first album, Rim Arrives, we now present the two other key records that have made this a cult figure for lovers of both African music and ‘disco’ in its widest sense. Too Tough, a superb three track EP from 1982, on Sum-Sum Records, was credited to Rim and Kasa, whilst he issued the cracking 12” I’m Not Going To Let You Go as Rim And The Believers for Harmony Records the following year.Too Tough kicks off with Shine The Ladies, an epic Afrodisco jam in call and response format, with the female lead vocals (Ms. Anita Berry) prompting a series of replies from the backing vocalists, setting the scene for a series of exciting solos set against a backdrop of punchy horns and swirling synths, tenor sax, guitar, drums (introduced with chants of ‘Play me some drums!’) and vibes all take a turn before the track fades out, clocking in just short of nine minutes. Next up is Love Me For Real, reminiscent of August Darnell with its girlie vocals and Latin flavour, ending with a mad swirl of synths and Rim’s own vocals. And lastly, I’m A Songwriter is cosmic Afro-reggae, bringing to mind Roy Ayers in his Fela phase, given a mad punk-funk twist … this one has to be heard to be believed!The mood changes with I’m Not Going To Let You Go, which eschews the female chorus for an altogether mellower, instrumental ride, veering from out-there cosmic synth vibes to loungey jazz piano. It’s original flip, Peace of Mind, raw Afro-boogie track with a male vocal, is also included.Those of you who had been searching in vain for Rim’s oeuvre for some years now having had it handed to you on a platter (well, two platters, actually), will be pleased to know that there is yet more material from the man Rim Kwaku Obeng to come from us at BBE … watch out for the digital-only release of four previously unreleased cuts from this legend of Afro-disco, taken from a long-lost acetate!

Southern California / Escondido native, BRIAN ELLIS, rattles the world with "IN THE DARK"! 8 electrifying song arrangements that offer a glimpse of the hi-beams peeking through the creative doorway of BRIAN ELLIS' imagination. Each song is a exciting ride through sonic fantasy, starting with "BOOGIE BOX" which unlocks the dimension with hyperbolic drum and bass arrangements, and welcomes you into a world of explosive funk ! Now that you're in tuned into the plane of this MODERNFUNK, you can enjoy the ride on the back of BRIAN ELLIS' "BANANA SEAT" and glide into the future with the ease of sensational chords that hold the melody at the highest peak, revealing a view of a masterful arrangement that's like watching stars fall out of the sky with the one you adore! "IN THE DARK" is the compass that allows listeners find themselves, while getting lost in the groove! "FLIPPED" off is the light switch that allows us to travel through the mysteries of "IN THE DARK" this masterful FUNK takes your hand and blasts off into zone only BRIAN ELLIS can navigate to, finding yourself dancing among the stars! "MOONLIGHT SHADOWS" an original dialogue that's a electrifying reflection of the sound of the Pacific West Coast! We throw it back into high gear and cruise down a very special lane of "ONE TWENTY", the sophistication of this FUNK runs in a class of his own, a model of funk that accelerates pass average initiatives, and races creativity with a high octane guitar solo to the end! There's no end to a good thing, love is infinite, as displayed with the cool piece "Digital Love" which brings in listeners for a a sonic embrace with soothing chords and guitar licks that don't shy away from the funk at its core, thanking listeners for riding on a journey through creation with BRIAN ELLIS! "SAITO" acts a encore that seals the "IN THE DARK" experience with a feature with SASAC, these two masterful planes meet in the stars to deliver listeners back to the pyramids! BRIAN ELLIS - IN THE DARK !

Gatefold 2xLP + 2xCD Strut follow up their hugely successful Marshall Allen-curated "In The Orbit Of Ra" compilation with a newly curated set from the immense 125 LP back catalogue of jazz maverick, DIY philosopher and self-professed member of an "angel race", Sun Ra. 'To Those Of Earth... And Other Worlds' is a hand- picked selection from BBC 6 Music DJ Gilles Peterson. “Sun Ra and the Arkestra were the original DIY group. What went on in 1970s punk with self-pressed records and hand-drawn artwork – Ra was doing that in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The music was phenomenal - Sun Ra was the man, the ultimate artist for any vinyl collector.“ Gilles Peterson Strut follow up their hugely successful Marshall Allen-curated ‘In The Orbit Of Ra’ compilation with a newly curated set from the immense 125 LP back catalogue of jazz maverick, DIY philosopher and self-professed member of an “angel race”, Sun Ra. ‘To Those Of Earth… And Other Worlds’ is a handpicked selection from BBC 6Music DJ Gilles Peterson, long-time champion of Ra’s music and the UK’s leading tastemaker for jazz-based sounds. It serves as perhaps the best introduction yet to the music of Sun Ra for a whole new generation of converts.Sun Ra was a one-off in the annals of jazz. As author Robert L. Campbell describes, “He claimed to be the last of the swing band leaders, yet dosed classic songs with LSD. He wrote poetry about the “coming space age” and claimed to be a citizen of Saturn. He dressed himself and his band in goldlame and lectured on the Creator’s message to the cruel and deceitful Earthman. He named himself after an Egyptian God. Was this guy for real? Sun Ra was very much for real.”For the CD version, Peterson picks personal favourites, classics and unreleased tracks and weaves them into a flowing piece across 2CDs, showcasing the incredible variety of Ra’s work. Alongside the familiar tones of ‘Love In Outer Space’, the modal classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and a heavy version of ‘We Travel The Spaceways’, he brings in the off-kilter croon of ‘Dreaming’, a 45 given to him personally by the late John Peel, alongside an unreleased 1987 bossa take on ‘Astro Black’, the experimental dub ambience of ‘Adventure-Equation’ and the defiant anthem, ‘Blackman’.The 2LP features full length versions of selected tracks from the mix while the digital version features a full unmixed selection with Peterson’s mix available within the album bundle. Sleeve notes on physical formats come from Gilles Peterson with a full Ra career biography by author Robert L. Campbell. The album also features previously unseen photos from the archives of Val Wilmer and Jorg Brecker alongside full musician line-ups and session details.