Review: RAH & The Ruffcats - Wake Up (Yoruba Soul Mixes) (Sonar Kollektiv)

Back with our sun god RAH & The Ruffcats, the  party goes from 'Orile To Berlin' to Africa as always superb Osunlade gives us four Yoruba Soul mixes that'll bring heat way beyond this summer.

You'll recall Sonar Kollekitv released the album, 'Orile To Berlin' last year (see review HERE) as RAH is originally from Orile, Lagos who had joined up with supergroup backing band, The Ruffcats (from Berlin).

More recently there was the Kid Fonque 'Refix' remix of the track 'Rodeo' (as selected for last months' Colour & Pitch Session mix - see below) but the label has gone the extra mile, something Osunlade has done regularly throughout his career) with 'Wake Up' in instrumental and vocals versons of 'Wake Up (They Are The People Of The Myths)' featuring the Afro-space futurism poety King Khan as Yoruba Soul and Club Mixes.

If you know King Khan, "Berlin's garage rock legend", don't worry as we are firmly in the Afrobeat world of dancefloor funk with the warning to 'Wake Up' and if I was pushed, I think I prefer the pecussive heavy mellowed out ruff(cat)ness, if that's not a contradiction, of the Yoruba Soul Instrumental but all three tracks are powerful.

So different to the label's Jono McCleery album 'Reconcile' (see review HERE) or Leon Raum's album (see review HERE) but that's why we love 'em as you never know what they are going to do next.

P.S. A little birdy tells me 'next' will be something very special from Jazzanova - Can't wait! 

 

Title: RAH & The Ruffcats 

Title: Wake Up (Yoruba Soul Mixes)

Release date: 27th February, 2025

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK510D

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: RAH & The Ruffcats - Orile To Berlin (Sonar Kollektiv)

As if to celebrate the Euro 2024, RAH & The Ruffcats party from 'Orile To Berlin' this summer.

Wah Wah 45s' championed 'From London To Lagos' (see review HERE) and Fela Kuti's own right hand man, Dele Sosimi (see HERE) and now Sonar Kollekitv have gone all Afrobeat as RAH (original from Orile, Lagos) and joined up with supergroup backing band The Ruffcats (Berlin).

The vocals are in a combination of English and Nigerian and cross between soul, funk and Afrobeat with the added 'seal' of approval as the nine tracks have been produced by Jochen Ströh (he of Ebo Taylor's classic 'Love & Death').

There's certainly some Ebo in RAH's vocals ('Agidi') and the band are just as tight as Afrobeat versions of Timmion's Cold Diamond & Mink or Daptones Menahan Street Band. 

There's a couple more with guests, the slightly dubbed 'Wake Up (They Are The People Of The Myths) featuring the Afro-space futurism poety King Khan (in an Anthony Joseph way) and the sultry jazz sax of 'Inside Out' featuring Melane on vocals.

Fans of Fela, Taylor, Pat Thomas, Sosimi, BBE Africa and similar will love this and it is setting a high crossbar this summer.  Prepare to have; 'MoonSun', 'Ide Osun (Mantra)', 'Sorry' and 'Kaya' on repeat

So different to the label's last release, Feiertag's EP. 'ON/OFF' (see review HERE) but you can tell from the cover artwork the Sun Ra connection with the planets - Rapturous Apollo Helios is about to move your world.

Title: RAH & The Ruffcats 

Title: Orile To Berlin

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK487D 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp