Check out this brand new video revealing the new project from the UK deep house legend Charles Webster and his collaboration with South African artist Muzi. Intimately recorded, we see the process behind their single 'Bakulindele', as good an example of contemporary SA house music as you will find. The single is released today on Kid Fonque’s awesome Stay True Sounds label and it promises much for the album to come! Watch / Read / Listen.
Read More
Singular Visions - a random rundown of recent single releases (Feb 2025)
Is it Spring yet? As usual, a diverse selection this month but I suppose the one thing they all have in common is their fusion of ideas and cultures, a fluidity of influences that creates something new and fresh. Music from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, ESINAM & Sibusile Xaba, Nadeem Din-Gabisi, Céline Dessberg, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly, João Leão and Joe Armon-Jones. Enjoy!
Read More
‘Reflections of Pinters' - a musical journey through memories of Houghton Festival 2024
Looking warmly back to Houghton Festival 2024, this mix is a reflection, a mash of memories of the kind of sounds you might hear at Pinters, a zone of musical discovery away from the tougher electronic sonics that pepper the beautiful festival site, Pinters is where the organic, the esoteric and the hilarious (Reggie Watts being all three) converge. Obviously there were loads more DJs and live acts than just our (Truth & Lies) curated bits but the mix I’ve put together is a blend of tracks that I played, some I wished I’d played, some inspired by other DJ’s sets and a sprinkling of artists who performed live over the long weekend including Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, Sven Figee, Reggie, Harper Trio and Alabaster DePlume.
Read More
Diepkloof United Voice 'Harmonizing Soweto: Golden City Gospel & Kasi Soul from the new South Africa' (Ostinato Records)
During lockdown you may have been lucky enough to catch the viral phone video of nine young South African men singing a heart-bursting song called ‘Too Late For Mama’ a capella in a darkened room. These wonderful singers are Soweto’s Diepkloof United Voice and thanks to New York’s Ostinato Records (who discovered them via said video), they now have a debut album coming out in November. The word ‘essential’ gets way overused in the hype game of musical releases but this really is. The combined voices of this new generation of Mzansi gospel singers is a gift. Read / Listen..
Read More
Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats from Apartheid's Dying Years compiled by John Armstrong
The ‘Bubblegum’ sounds of 80’s Black South Africa was a broad church of celebratory dance music fuelled by new technology and an escapist need to party during the last hellish years of the vile Apartheid regime. Somehow some of the happiest sounding music ever was created during the hardest of times and this forthcoming compilation by legendary curator John Armstrong for BBE contains the signposts for what would become SA’s particular brands of House music (Kwaito, SA House, Amapiano, Gqom etc). We asked John a few questions about the background to the record. Read / Listen
Read More
Thabo Tonick 'Mama' (Stay True Sounds) - PREMIERE!
Stay True Sounds is one of the best South African house labels out there and on the eve of the release of their latest compilation, we are pleased to premiere 'Mama' by Thabo Thonick - a gorgeous slice of super deep house reminiscent of Pépé Bradock’s ‘Deep Burnt’.. Read / Listen
Read More
Tell No Lies 'Hide Nothing' (Aut Records) - a review
Tell No Lies are an Italian avant-jazz outfit led by pianist and composer Nicola Guazzaloca and they have a new studio album that traverses modal, free and South African inspired jazz with ease, fire and substance. We asked our friend Mauro Ferreiro, a producer and writer from Dominican Republic to share his thoughts on this excellent new recording. Read / Listen.
Read More
EMAMKAY 'When The Sun Rises' (STY TRU BTS) - single premiere!
Need some warmth and sunshine? Voila! We have the pleasure of hosting the premiere of 'When The Sun Rises' from South African MC & producer EMAMKAY . A sunlit dose of positive conscious vibes on a bed of beautifully played live jazzy hip hop with vocals from himself and the soothing soul voice of Bokang Ramatlapeng. The first single from his forthcoming album on Kid Fonque’s STY TRU BTS label is what we need right now. Read // Listen
Read More
Photo: Justin Turford
Abdullah Ibrahim at The Barbican (EFG London Jazz Festival 2022) - a review
A remarkable and emotional evening with South Africa’s greatest living jazz musician, Abdullah Ibrahim. A Cape Town legend with the entire story of his life and country at his fingertips, played the piano without amplification to a sold out Barbican Centre for the 30th edition of the EFG London Jazz Festival and it was a singular experience that will live with me forever. Read / Listen
Read More
Felix Laband 'The Soft White Hand' (Compost Records) - a review (& track preview!)
South African producer and artist Felix Laband’s new album for Compost Records is a unique combination of 4/4 grooves, cut-up techniques and social commentary. Blessed with bright as day production and a visual artist’s eye for the obtuse, it’s an exceptional listen. Includes the first play of ‘7 Rise 7 House’! Read / Listen
Read More
The Paxton/Spangler Septet 'Ugqozi' (Eastlawn Records) - a review
With over thirty years of studying and playing the uniquely joyful jazz of South Africa, RJ Spangler and T-Bone Paxton once again take their septet on a beautiful trip through the music of some of SA’s greatest composers. Compositions from Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim and Brotherhood Of Breath have new dimensions explored and there’s even a fresh take on Fela’s ‘Water Get No Enemy’ that sounds like Brian Jackson is jamming with the King of Afrobeat. A great release. Read / Listen
Read More
Roots 'Roots' (Frederiksberg Records) - a review
Frederiksberg Records do it again! The reissue of this 1975 album of joyous South African soul-jazz is a must for lovers of unhurried and happy Soweto grooves that manage to seamlessly reference township musical styles and the new Afrocentric atmosphere of mid 70’s urban USA…. Read / Listen here
Read More
Photo: Justice Mukheli
Urban Village 'Udondolo' (Nø Førmat!) - a review
The debut album ‘Udondolo’ by the Soweto four-piece Urban Village is a wonderful multilingual journey of positivity through a diverse palette of South African folk traditions and modern musical forms. Maskandi, Zulu Rock and Marabi to funk and jazz, an identity shaped by the melting pot of the metropolitan squeeze of Johannesburg’s most famous Township. This is a peach of a record and will be released next week on the brilliant French label Nø Førmat!. Read / Listen here……….
Read More
Xoliso 'Shingwanyana' (SHARP-FLAT / BBE) - a review
A killer 1974 album of pump-action grooves and outsider psyche sounds out of Pretoria, South Africa given the top shelf reissue treatment from SHARP-FLAT and BBE….listen / read more….
Read More