Tunes

Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars

Sierra Leone‘s Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and enflamed the passions of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. The band is a potent example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact. From their humble beginnings in West African refugee camps Sierra Leone‘s Refugee All Stars have performed on some of the world‘s most prestigious stages and matured into one of Africa‘s top touring and recording bands.

They have recorded an album inspired by the retro sounds they heard blasting out of radios in their younger years: old school reggae, funky African grooves and deep tribal chants form the musical underpinning of Radio Salone.

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Rocket Juice & the Moon - Rocket Juice & the Moon

Rocket Juice & The Moon was literally born high up in the skies. In 2008 Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Flea (RHCP) and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti etc) convened on the same flight to Lagos, to play and exchange musical ideas there, as part of the Africa Express collective. Relishing a shared enthusiasm for one another‘s work and bonding immediately, right there the triumvirate laid down the blueprint for Rocket Juice.

Over a three weeks at Albarn‘s West London studio, the trio recorded over two-dozen deeply funky instrumental grooves. Next they invited some extremely talented friends to collaborate, including legendary soulstress Erykah Badu. Tracks were then dispatched for mixing & mastering.

Rocket Juice and the Moon performed together for the first time on the 28th of October 2011 in Cork, Ireland, at the Cork Jazz Festival.

You could get both these discs at Basements Discs I‘m sure!