Last year, we shared a special New Year’s carol from South Korean psych-legends He 5. This year, we’re digging a bit deeper and offering you a rather bizarre single by Zambian guitarist, singer and songwriter Paul Ngozi. This song, the b-side to his “Happy Christmas” single, is a departure from the hard-edged garage-psych of the Ngozi Family’s early recordings – but it’s the perfect companion for your New Year’s revelry. Sorry about the crackle – imagine it’s the bubbles popping in your champagne flute!
Download: Paul Ngozi: “Happy New Year”.
And, if you missed it last year:
Download: “He 5: “Auld Lang Syne”.”
You might have heard that we struck a deal with Lee Anthony to issue a 2 CD/DVD, 4 LP anthology that covers the breadth of his legendary Little Rock, Arkansas-based imprint True Soul Records. We’ll post more news soon about these March and April releases.
In the meantime, we (re)discovered this incredible James Brown cover by True Soul star Thomas East – issued in the early 80s on the True Soul subsidiary ARTX. And, well, we couldn’t help but make it available for y’all this holiday season. Merry Christmas from all of us at Now-Again!
Download: Thomas East “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto.”
For those of you who’ve just found out about our favorite Swiss producer Dimlte (maybe through his Now-Again-released Prismic Tops EP or his Stones Throw podcast), you’re probably waiting for his soon-to-be-released My Human Wears Acedia Shreds 10″ EP – which we announced a couple months ago.
In the meantime, Dimlite has plans to keep you happy. Over at Ehstrawlogy.com, he’s giving away songs he recorded with Prismic Tops vocalist Elan Tamara…. and here, in a Now-Again exclusive, you can download a Dimlite Christmas Carol (actually, a cover of the Prefuse 73 song “Cloud Mireya.”). Maybe it’s just that he’s over in the snowy Alps, and we’re here in rainy Calfornia – but this sounds damn Christmas-y to us!
Download: Dimlite’s “Vacant.”
It’s not been the best year for reissues of global obscurities, but Now-Again’s boss Egon profiles five essential anthologies at NPR, including Numero Group’s investigation into Chicago-soul great Syl Johnson, pictured above. Plug in, listen and, above all, try to support those imprints doing God’s-work in issuing these albums.
Link: Egon’s Top 2010 Reissues at NPR.
Download: The Hykkers “Deiyo Deiyo” from Soundway’s The World Ends here.
Buy it here.
Panbers – “Haai”
The Brims – “Anti Gandja”
Bad News – “Rollies”
Shark Move – “Evil War”
Golden Wing – “Hear Me”
AKA – “Do What You Like”
IVO’s Group – “That Shocking Shaking Day”
Ariesta Birawa Group – “Didunia Yang Lain”
Terenchem – “Jeritan Cinta”
Benny Soebarjda and Lizard – “Candle Light”
Superkid – “People”
Koes Plus – “Mobil Tua”
The Gang of Harry Roesli – “Don’t Talk About Freedom”
Black Brothers – “Saman Doye”
Rasela – “Pemain Bola”
Freedom of Rhapsodia – “Freedom”
Rythm Kings – “The Promise”
AKA – “Shake Me”
Duo Kribo – “Uang”
Read more about the anthology here.
Download high res cover art here.
