Review: Florence Adooni - Uh-Ah Song / Otoma Da Naba (Philophon)

Fans of YATM and Philiphon will know Florence Adooni is a Frafra-Gospel singer from Northern Ghana who has collaborated with artists like Jimi Tenor, the Frafra-Gospel group Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy and North-Ghanaian Kologo master Guy One.

So it's always good news that theto follow-up 7" Jimi Tenor's 'My Mind' (see review HERE) is a super Highlife take on the classic 'southern freeeze' with some super sexy synth work.

Backed up with 'Otoma Da Naba' which translates as 'The Creator Has Done Well' that's got some 303 acid lines to it which could equally stand next to, say, Rekab's latest EP on Yore records, 'My Future & My Past' in what could be looked at as a Berlin vs. Köln battle.

Florence will be Europe this summer so if your looking for something exceptional for your festival or spot her on a gig listing, don't miss the opportunity to go and see her.

Artist: Florence Adooni

Title:  Uh-Ah Song / Otoma Da Naba

Release date: 10th May, 2024

Label : Philophon Records

Catalog Number : PH45034

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jimi Tenor - My Mind (Philophon)

To my mind, absolutely no introduction required for Jimi Tenor as he releases another single on Philophon label called, 'My Mind'.

Recorded at Philophon's Joy Sound Studios in Kumasi, Ghana (happy Ghana Independence day this week) Jimi (not known for his vocal strength) is joined by the 10 man strong Rubato Chorus.

You may recall 'My Mind' on Jimi's break-through album on Warp 'Organism' (1999) but smouldering nu-jazz futurism is replace by manic Highlife jazzdance with Tenor on blistering sax form (extended version recommended with the beautiful harp ending).

Backed with the an Afro-centric cosmic 60s library Ra-ist vibe of 'Love The The Language'; Jimi being fluent in this language.

It's a busy time for Tenor fans as Compost recently released 'Where The Wild Roam as a collab with Tomasz Guiddo (see review HERE and the Ale Castro Remix featuring on this months' Colour & Pitch Sessions mix - see below).

You'll have to be quick to catch the 7" as it's going to sell out fast as fans old and new will want to have this little piece of vinyl history.

Artist: Jimi Tenor 

Title:  My Mind

Release date: 8th March, 2024

Label : Philophon Records

Catalog Number : PH45033

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2024

Review: The Polyversal Souls - Sad Nile / Mam Pe'ela Su'ure (Philophon)

There are lots of Afro-infused releases for the dancefloor at the moment but one label that's a must to keep up to date with is the Berlin/Ghana based Philophon run by Max Weissenfeldt.

With their work at the "Joy Sound Studios" they've released some fantastic music over that past 10 years, mostly as 45 singles.

And this latest single is a dip into the past with The Polyversal Souls' 'Sad Nile' (taken from their 2015 debut album, 'Invisible Joy') that's been remastered and had some ethio-jazz tones added; Woody Herman meets Mulatu Astatke and who wouldn't want to hear that?

It definitely sounds more beefy than the original and on the b-side, in the same ball park, there's a instrumental version of Florence Adooni's 'Mam Pe'ela Su'ure' featuring the flute of Jimi Tenor who had been the musical figurehead of the label's jazzier side.  Watch out for those space synths too!

It's another 'must have' from this must have label but if you were going to push me to recommend other Philophon highlights (given that anything by Jimi Tenor is brilliant), anything by The Band Of Enlightenment, anything by Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy and Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids (in addition to their more widely known releases on the Strut label) but you really can't go wrong.

Artist: The Polyversal Souls 

Title: Sad Nile / Mam Pe'ela Su'ure

Release date: 17th March, 2023

Label Philophon

Cat. No. : CPH45030