Review: BCUC - Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix) (On The Corner Records)

I don't think anyone will be surprised that Gaudi is a fan of BCUC, but they'd be really excited to hear that One The Corner have got the two together to remix a track called, 'Thonga Lami'!

As many of us are still trying to come to terms with the magnificent album from last year, 'Millions Of Us' (see review HERE), On The Corner Records share Gaudi’s remix of BCUC’s ‘Thonga Lami’ - it’s the first track from the Pete OtC’s ‘Door to the Cosmos’ compilation series 

Gaudi is one of the most prolific producers on the electronica, reggae, world and dub scene for many a year now, he's credited with over 20 albums and countless remixes.  So, if you're after some South African Township space dub punk funk Pig Bag to Sigue Sigue Sputnik this is the single of the year for you.

Shame it's just missed Halloween as the Zombies will Batt Danse (these guys - see review HERE) to both original and radio versions but if you're anything like me, you'd want to play 'em back to back for the the full eight minutes.

What an excelled release to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the label's first white label release (Pete, where's the Emanative remix?) and if you're lucky enough to be in the US anywhere near a BCUC Novermber tour date, you must go and see them.

Artist: BCUC

Title: Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix)

Release Date : 15th November, 2023

Catalog Number : OtCRDIGI2023

Label : On The Corner Records

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

EU / US Autumn/Fall Tour 2023 Dates

Oct. 26 - Le Rockstore, Montpellier, France

Oct. 29 - Womex, A Coruña, Spain

Nov. 4 - Holyoke, US @ Race Street Live

Nov. 5 - Somerville, US @ Crystal Ballroom

Nov. 9 - Chicago, US @ Logan Center For The Arts at Uchicago

Nov. 14 - San Diego, US @ Artpower! At UC San Diego

Nov. 15 - Albuquerque, US @ The Dirty Bourbon

Nov. 17 - Santa FE, US @ Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery

Nov. 18 - Taos, US @ Daleee at The Solar Center

 

Review: BCUC - Millions Of Us (On The Corner Records)

If you've ever wondered what Afro spiritual post punk funk avant-guarde experimental psych jazz from South Africa sounded like, this is it! 

We've already experienced 'The Woods' and 'Pieces Of Ish' as a single/toe dipping (see review HERE) but the album, 'Millions Of Us' is the full plunge in the ocean.

It doesn'f take long to get immersed in their Fela shamenism of 'Thonga Lami' or the break neck 'Ntuthwane' which you can see as a reinvented South African gumboot dance.

What you get in loads from this album is an energy that as mesmeric as the album cover artwork.

The album was recorded in Soweto and mixed in London.  And with that in mind, in some ways, this seems like the taking back of Malcolm McClaren's vision of 'Duck Rock' [1983] after 40 years with a rebrand of his Bow Wow Wow venture; could they have not squeezed in New York Dolls/Sex Pistols to complete the set?  That said, the title track, 'Millions Of Us', at nearly 20 minutes long, may have an inner Rotten/Johansen still looking for a kiss: "don't stop the music" as they say.

BCUC are a 7-peice band and they're on tour all through the summer - see gig and festival listing below - and expect to see this listed high in the 'Album Of The Year' lists and 'Millions Of Us' as track of the year.

 

Artist: BCUC

Title: Millions Of Us

Release Date : 2nd June, 2023

Catalog Number : -

Label : On The Corner Records

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: BCUC - The Woods / Pieces Of Ish (On The Corner Records)

As a warm-up for their forthcoming LP, 'Millions Of Us', On The Corner Records squeak out a digital single from the South African band BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness).

We've featured a variety of South Africa musicians of late like Felix Laband's album on Compost Records (see review HERE), the re-issue of Small's 'Don't Leave Me In The Rain' (see review HERE) and many more from EMAMKAY 'When The Sun Rises (review HERE) and deep house like one of the tracks of the year so far, Thakzin & Ray T's 'Don’t Let Me See' on Foliage (review HERE)

But this is closer to Bantu Spaceship (review HERE) but 'The Woods' is really rural gospel meets dancehall/hip hop with some great bass, vocals and rap in English and local dialect.

Then on 'Pieces Of Ish' has their tongue firmly in their cheeks as they take the ish out of us/themselves in a space chant that could be Art Ensemble Of Chicago inspired; taking it back to the motherland so to speak.

London's On The Corner Records have released material by Emanative, Colloutor, Penya in the past and in BCUC they have found a leftfield world jazz trance cross-over similar to Siti Muharam's 'Romance Revolution' but much harder so I expect this to be out of the woods this year.

Artist: BCUC

Title: The Woods / Pieces Of Ish

Release Date : 23rd March, 2023

Catalog Number : -

Label : On The Corner Records

Format: Digital