The Features Of Life – Evolution n°1

( Mauritius , 1970s , Disques Capricorne )

posted on 23 / 02 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Evolution n°1“, an heavy Psychedelic Island Rock Soul Instrumental from Mauritius (Indian Ocean) with awesome guitar parts, taken from the 2nd single of the Mauritian band “The Features Of Life” recorded in the 70s on the well-known label “Disques Capricorne“.

The band included great artists from the Indian Ocean, such : Eric Nelson, Raoul Lacariate, Seekien, Atouck.

One of the heaviest song from Mauritius of that era, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

The Features Of Life – Evolution n°1 (Mauritius, 1970s, Disques Capricorne)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/gZ9panQ-Zgg

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Ifang Bondi – Atis-A-Tis

( Gambia , 1978 , Disques Griot )

posted on 09 / 02 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Atis-A-Tis “, an astonishing 70s Psychedelic Afro Fuzz Soul Folk Funk track from Gambia, taken from the first Lp recorded by the mythical Gambian band “Ifang Bondi” (“Be Yourself” in Mandinka, variant of the Mandingo language spoken in Gambia, Senegal & Guinea-Bissao), formed in 1973 after the disband in 1970 of the 60s group “The Super Eagles” (more infos & sound here ).

The band included the following musicians :

Pap Touray : Lead Vocals, Percussion ;

Pa Musa Njie : Bass, Backing Vocals ;

Samson Gassama : Congas, Drum (Sabar) ;

Karamo Sabaly : Drum (Sabar), Congas, Percussion, Drums ;

Pa Alien Njiel : Drums, Drum (Sabar) ;

Bai Janha “Sweet Fingers” : Guitar, Backing Vocals (Background Vocals) ;

Badou Jobe : Guitar, Percussion ;

Kunon Jarjutay : Keyboards, Wind (Cowhorn), Percussion, Backing Vocals ;

Ali Harb : Saxophone, Flute, Vocals, Drum (Sekereba) ;

Really deep groovy 70s Psychedelic Manding with Folk influences, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Ifang Bondi & The Afro Mandingue Sound – Atis-A-Tis (Gambia, 1978, Disques Griot)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/zrcpOFWVtII

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Rayissa Meguerdichian – Mer Yerevan

( Armenia , 1970s , Araz )

posted on 05 / 01 / 2025

 

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mer Yerevan” (“Մեր Երեվան” in Armenian), an uptempo dope Freakbeat Mod Jerk Soul Surf track, recorded in the 70s in Beirut (Lebanon) by the Lebanese Armenian composer & singer Rayissa Meguerdichian (“Ռաիսա Մկրտչյան” in Armenian).

Unfortunately no infos about the backing musicians who play on the album, so any infos are welcome.

Another great example of how prolific the 70s Armenian musical scene was, managing to merge folk roots with Pop Rock influences – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Rayissa Meguerdichian – Mer Yerevan (Armenia, 1970s) / Ռաիսա Մկրտչյան – Մեր Երեվան

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/ERN7r7z7FJo

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

One World – Mind Searcher

( Nigeria , 1978 , EMI Nigeria )

posted on 03 / 11 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mind Searcher“, a deep Psychedelic Afro Rock Soul Funk track with mesmerizing horns & organ parts, taken from the 5th and last album of the Nigerian band “One World“.

Produced by the legendary Orion Iruoje, recorded by the famous engineers Kayode Salami & Monday Oki and released in 1978 on the mythical Nigerian record label “EMI Nigeria“, this album includes the following musicians :

Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar : Anii Hofnar Umebuani ;

Bass Guitar : Samuel Ifeanyi Eze McKing ;

Congas : Tony Francis ;

Drums : Geoffrey Omodhebo ;

Engineer : Emmanuel Odenusi ;

Guitar : McPharson Aguta ;

Liner Notes : Tony Amadi ;

Organ : Clement Amaechi ;

Percussion, Vocals : Samuel Nkem Mathews ;

Vocals : Gab Chuma Ozani ;

One of my personal favorite band from that era & country, quite hard to find nowadays in decent – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

One World – Mind Searcher (Nigeria, 1978, EMI Nigeria)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/YvyuLrfx9_k

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

The Comrades – Kpulu Gene

( Nigeria , 1978 , Clover Sound )

posted on 02 / 10 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Kpulu Gene“, a mind-blowing psychedelic Afro Soul Rock track with deep organ & guitar solos, taken from the 2nd LP of the legendary Nigerian band “The Comrades” recorded in 1978 on the collectible label “Clover Sound” and produced by the mythical Ben Okonkwo.

Bass Guitar : Basil Cherri Udeh ;

Drums, Chorus : Ferdinand Ohans ;

Keyboards : Justline Akuata ;

Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Chorus : Emma Tex Ikediashi ;

Vocals, Congas, Percussion, Chorus : Smart Lee Onwumere ;

This album is getting hard to find nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

The Comrades – Kpulu Gene (Nigeria, 1978, Clover Sound)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/DTl9TfeOMcQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge

( Togo , 1970s , Disques Aziza )

posted on 01 / 09 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Xede Nge“, a beautiful deep melancholic Afro Soul Jazz Ballad with gorgeous acoustic guitar parts, first recording of the mythical Togolese composer & musician Roger Damawuzan, taken from the only compilation of the in demand Togolese/Congolese/Beninse label “Disques Aziza“, pressed in Ghana and intended to promote the first releases of some artists of the label.

Composed by Vincent Agbodo, this song was initially released as the A-Side of the first single recorded in Nigeria by Roger and out on Gerard Akueson‘s label “Akue“, with his famous Afro Jerk Garage track “Wait For Me” on the B-Side, that I’ll post a bit later !).

Cherry on the cake : this amazing cover art – Enjoy !

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge (Togo, 1970s, Disques Aziza)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/cyR0r-CSChQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Aktion – Centepede

( Nigeria , 1977 , Clover Sound )

posted on 28 / 08 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Centipede“, a devastating Psychedelic Afro Rock Soul from Nigeria with killer fuzzy guitar parts, taken from the 2nd album of the Nigerian band “Aktion” (also known as “The Action 13“, recorded in 1977 in Nigeria and out on the collectible label “Clover Sound“, known for its cult Nigerian 70s & 80s Afro Rock albums.

This album includes some of the best musicians of that era, like :

Vocals : Essien Akpabio ;

Bass Guitar : Renny Pearl Nwosa ;

Congas : Frank Abayomi ;

Drums : Geoffrey Omodehbo, Ben B. S. Alaska ;

Guitar : Jimmy Lee Adams ;

Percussion : Lemmy Faith Nwani ;

Synthesizer, Organ, Piano : Zeaky M. George ;

Instant stormer, taken from a really hard to find LP nowadays – Enjoy !

Aktion – Centepede (Nigeria, 1977, Clover Sound)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/_LJe3sUKGBs

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Force – Stand Up

( Lebanon , 1984 , Force Self-Released )

posted on 18 / 08 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Stand Up“, an outstanding instant catchy Rock Soul Jazz track with mesmerizing synth & solo guitar parts, taken from the 1st album of the cult Lebanese band “Force“, self-released in 1984 by the band on K7 format only & distributed in very limited quantities.

Recorded & engineered at the legendary “By-Pass Studio” in Beyrouth by Bernard Karam & the mythical composer & musician Ziad Rahbani during the civil war, the band included :

Lead Guitar, Vocals : Walid Itayem ;

Bass, Vocals, Backing Vocals : Abboud Al Saadi ;

Drums, Vocals : Emile Boustani ;

Guitar : Kevork Missirian ;

Were also involved in the recording session :

– Keyboards : Ziad Rahbani ;

– Backing Vocals : Monica Assly ;

The lyrics of that track, composed 40 years ago during the Lebanese civil war, couldn’t sound more relevant than today :

« There’s a jungle living outside my door, and I’m part of it ».

Extremely hard to find nowadays, one of the Lebanese musical holy grails, hope you like it – Enjoy !

Force – Stand Up (Lebanon, 1984, Force Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/IAYtNZzgjwM

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo – Africa Vi

( Benin , 1970s , Oloruntola )

posted on 14 / 08 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Africa Vi“, an outstanding deep psychedelic Afro Soul Funk track with splendid breezing guitar solos, taken from the sole album of the obscure Beninese band “Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo” leaded by the Beninese composer & musician Bonheur Gangbo.

Recorded in the 70s at the legendary recording studio “Satel” located in Cotonou and out on the label “Oloruntola” (maybe the only release of the label ?) it was composed by the following musicians :

Leader, Vocals : Bonheur Gangbo ;

Acoustic Guitar, Vocals : Cossy Vignikin ;

Bass Guitar : Bokelo J. Apithy ;

Drums : Epiphane Zinsou, Latifou Agboton ;

Lead Guitar : Guy Léoncio Zannou ;

Organ : Camille Zannou ;

Percussion : Anafi Boke, Olivier Boke ;

Vocals – Isaac Dossou ;

To notice : most of the members of that band were actually the same than the band “Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo” presented in that previous article here .

Mesmerizing tune, one of my favorite of the genre – hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo – Africa Vi (Benin, 1970s, Oloruntola)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/i9JgZ3hfho0

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Le National Badema – Ciro

( Mali , 1977 , Le Kiosque D'Orphee / Mali Kunkan )

posted on 23 / 06 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Ciro“, an astonishing mesmerizing Afro Folk Soul Jazz track with catchy horns, taken from “Tira Makan” the first album of the Malian Orchestra “Le National Badema“, recorded in 1977 on the mythical French label “Le Kiosque D’Orphée“.

Directed by the Malian composer & musician Amadou Ba Guindo and produced by Falaba Issa Traoré, this band was previously known as “Las Maravillas De Mali“.

Ciro“, the track presented here, is a song from the Songhaï people living near the Niger river, between Sahel & Sahara region. It deals about a young courageous farmer fighting with birds for the defense of his wheat fields – Enjoy !

Le National Badema – Ciro (Mali, 1977, Le Kiosque D’Orphée)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/ZFauMXLvTbk

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

African Grooves

A Time & Space Journey in the African & West Indies Countries