Roots Archives Forum

Return of Jesco wrote:@ highplaindrifter, Lumumbo by Bonny and Skitter (on Soul Jazz Studio One Roots vol. 1) mentions the Congo in the lyrics and is a deep roots nyabinghi-style track. Very serious song though, not really what you could call party music!

Good suggestion, Jesco. That one is actually on the playlist. It WILL in fact fit this kid of party. It's not so much upbeat dance stuff as simulating the deep sounds of Congo and African-inspired Roots and Dub.

You can easily draw a few songs off the "From The Heart of the Congo" (aka "African Roots") album by Seke Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo, directed by the Upsetter.

Also, be sure to check the new "Massavana" album by Bi.Ba Bingy Band (with Roberto Sanchez on the controls) from Madagascar. Very tight set, carrying the full richness of the African soil.

Wonder if Darker Shade of Black and its fearsome dub counterpart Darker Black would also fit the bill - available on Soul Jazz Jackie Mittoo - the Keyboard King at Studio One and the recent Studio One Dub Fire set.

Mosiah wrote:You can easily draw a few songs off the "From The Heart of the Congo" (aka "African Roots") album by Seke Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo, directed by the Upsetter.

Also, be sure to check the new "Massavana" album by Bi.Ba Bingy Band (with Roberto Sanchez on the controls) from Madagascar. Very tight set, carrying the full richness of the African soil.

Hi, Mosiah. Good call. The Molenga/Kawongolo album, along with the Congos album are the twin inspirations for this project, so we're on the same wavelength.

But the Massavana album...I'd never heard of it. I YouTubed that album and listened to some teasers. Great recommendation, I love it! I'm going to get that and play some of those tracks. Not only some tracks for the party, but also a new band I've never heard of. Thanks!

Return of Jesco wrote:Wonder if Darker Shade of Black and its fearsome dub counterpart Darker Black would also fit the bill - available on Soul Jazz Jackie Mittoo - the Keyboard King at Studio One and the recent Studio One Dub Fire set.

Hi Jesco. Yeah, I just located the dub version (by Dub Specialist if that's the one you're referring to). I think the Dub version fits pretty well and I'm adding it to the list. I'm going for a deeper, dubber sound so the original Mittoo doesn't align as much with what's in my head or with the rest of the playlist.

However, coincidentally, Yabby You's 'Darker Shade of Black' has been a staple of my playlists over the years. I don't think there's any relation to the Mittoo track, but I LOVE the Yabby You track.

East Of The River Nile - Augustus Pablo

Definitely got lots of Augustus Pablo on there. I've included some shots of the current playlist for y'alls amusement,

You should find fitting tracks on early Wackies Dub records. For example:

Roots Underground / Tribesman Assault
African Roots Act One
Free For All

Lost Shoe wrote:You should find fitting tracks on early Wackies Dub records. For example:

Roots Underground / Tribesman Assault
African Roots Act One
Free For All

Lost Shoe, nice suggestion. I'd forgotten about Addisa Ababa Dub. That track in particular is hot, perfect for the Congo Jungle night. I'm going through my Wackies collection right now and will look to add some albums I don't have. Just started off with Wackies Selective Showcase Volume 1 and thinking this definitely fits the bill.

Kiddus I - Graduation In Zion
Addis Rockers - Enter Addis Ababa
Johnny Clarke - Roots Natty Congo
Jackie Mittoo - Merry Go Round (heavy!)