Ayalew Mesfin stands aside the likes of Mulatu Astake, Mahmoud Ahmed, Hailu Mergia and Alemayehu Eshete as a legend 1970s Ethiopia. The music he created with his Black Lion Band is amongst the funkiest to arise from Addis Ababa.
His life in Ethio-groove is now collected in a five album series – each album is sold individually and as part of value-priced OBI-wrapped “box set.”
If you’re looking for something to take up 45 minutes of your time and you’re tired of watching quasi-celebrities troll people on Twitter, then you can immerse yourself in the deep dive that is World Psych, with Egon’s mix, now up at Spotify. It’s a live mix of psychedelic and progressive rock tracks from the all over the world, as the title hints, and it includes selections from bands we’ve reissued – including German Oak and Paternoster. Like Egon’s previous mixes, it includes a lot of tracks that haven’t yet made it to digital distribution services.
Tucked in the back corner of a linen closet in Macon, Georgia since 1979 sat a box that very few people knew existed. Lost and presumed forgotten, this box contained reel-to-reel tapes of the lost album by the band that issued the lauded Black Gold as The Mighty Chevelles in 1977. By 1979, while transitioning to the name Music Makers Band, the band entered Capricorn Studios and recorded this previously-unreleased disco funk opus, finally issued as You Can Be as part of the Now-Again Reserve series.
Kenny Dope’s album mix for “You Can Be.”
Nearly all songs have been remixed from the original multi-track masters by Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez. Bonus second LP contains instrumentals and Kenny’s extended edits of selected tracks – available only to subscribers. Georgia funk and soul historian Brian Poust details the band and album’s story in detailed liner notes in an oversized booklet. Download card for WAV files included with LP.
Gilles Peterson is on a break from his regular radio show at Worldwide FM. He asked Egon to put together a two hour show delving into 18 years of the Now-Again catalog. Listen to the mix here. The music ranges from sweet soul to deep disco to psychedelic rock to Spiritual Jazz. If you’re a long time fan of this label, you’ll hear some of your favorites – if you’re a new convert, you’ll probably hear some music you’ll find transcendent.
The Brazilian guitarist’s third album for Now-Again, featuring 10 original compositions. Shades of Baden Powell, Hermeto Pascoal, Carioca, Tenorio Jr., Rosinha de Valença.
“To call it magic would be too dismissive of the work Do Nascimento has put into translating both the stunning natural landscapes and rich musical history of Brazil from his perceptions to this album. Blood, sweat, deep love all play vital roles…” – Pop Matters.
Prelúdio is the third album Now-Again Records has issued from the thrilling, young Brasilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento. Produced by Mario Caldato, Jr. and Luther Russell and engineered and mixed by Caldato and Jason Hiller, this album features do Nascimento’s longtime drummer Ricardo “Tiki” Pasillas. (more…)
