Now-Again Records

Madlib Medicine Show In San Francisco, June 7th: The Sound of Zamrock

Buy Tickets: Madlib Medicine Show: The Sound of Zamrock.

Madlib has championed Zamrock’s heroes for some years now: his Beat Konducta in Africa release leaned heavily on samples from the likes of WITCH and Paul Ngozi and the Ngozi Family; his DJ sets feature rarities from the scene; he and the rapper formerly known as Mos Def have been discussing a trip to Zambia to record a collaborative album. At this special Madlib Medicine Show, Madlib will not only put together a DJ set that weaves his trademark hip hop beats in and out of funky and fuzzy Zamrock classics, but he’s brought WITCH’s last remaining member, bandleader Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda from Zambia to San Francisco to 1015 Folsom to perform Zamrock Live! on June 7th for the first time to a public audience in North America…. Ever.

Also on the bill is Egon, Madlib’s partner in Madlib Invazion, and, as any visitor to this site is almost certainly aware, the man behind the resurgence of interest in the Zamrock movement via anthologies of the giants of the scene: WITCH, Rikki Ililonga, Musi-O-Tunya, Paul Ngozi, Chrissy Zebby Tembo and, soon to come Salty Dog, Mike Nyoni, Born Free and The Peace.

As Now-Again ramps up its undertakings to document the lost gems from this isolated yet genius movement in 2013, they happily partnered up with Urban Outfitters to bring a Zamrock inspired collection into the chain this spring. With Urban Outfitters, Now-Again brought Chanda and his Zamrock Live! – which has been making the European festival rounds – to Hollywood this past month for a private show, but this is the first time that Zamrock Live! can be accessed by the ticket buying public.

At the show, Madlib will be selling a limited edition 7” EP containing selections from his forthcoming Rock Konducta album on Madlib Invazion. The 7”s – white labels, housed in a custom designed Jeff Jank sleeve – were only manufactured in a run of 300 copies.

More Info/Rock Konducta preview: Rappcats.com

Video: Heliocentrics “Collateral Damage”

Try to figure this one out. An impressionist’s take on one of our favorites from the Helios’ 13 Degrees of Reality album, created by the good folks at the UK’s Plastic Horse.

Egon: Interview/Mix at Dust and Grooves

A while back, we told you that Egon was photographed amidst his record collection for photographer Eilon Paz’s Dust and Grooves project. Well, now Paz has published an extensive interview and a streamable mix highlighting selections from Egon’s collections. Check it out at the Dust and Grooves site now.

This July: Heliocentrics Live In London At Soundcrash

Have you ever seen the Heliocentrics live? Well, we won’t lie: we’ve only ever seen them as a trio, in Paris, of all places – as substitutes for Madlib, of all people – but damn was the power of that show enough to reverberate in our craniums until this day. So, with that said: if you happen to be within a reasonably priced plane or train ticket to London, you owe it to yourself to see them at Soundcrash this July 9th.

Buy Tickets: Heliocentrics at Soundcrash, July 9th.
Buy The Album: Heliocentrics 13 Degrees of Reality on Rappcats.

Apple and Three Oranges – Free and Easy, The Complete Works

Edward “Apple” Nelson is best known for the small clutch of 45s he released under the Apple and The Three Oranges name on local Los Angeles labels in the 1970s.
His run with his own Sagittarius contains six unimpeachable soul and funk numbers released under the Apple and The Three Oranges banner and one issued under his own name, Ed. (sic) Nelson. We at Now-Again are privileged to present Nelson’s complete works in our Free and Easy anthology. His is some of the most unique American funk and soul music we’ve ever come across.

Download: Apple and Three Oranges – Free and Easy.