From the highlife, disco and rock sounds of 70s Nigeria to the golden age of Panamanian music, Benin’s Afro-Latin grooves, Colombia’s champeta and all other forms of tropical and Afro sounds imaginable. Soundway’s mission is to present the very best in obscure a-sides, b-sides and album cuts that have remained unavailable… until now. “Ten years ago, while taking a break from his telesales job and traveling through Ghana, Miles Cleret heard a local DJ spinning some obscure African funk, soul and blues records. After having his mind blown by the tracks, which were in danger of fading into obscurity and never reaching ears further afield, he decided to start Soundway Records and release rare world music compilations. After a handful of trips to Ghana, Miles had enough material for his first compilation.. When it notched up 5,000 sales he decided to release a second collection and Soundway has since put out over 25 records ranging from scratchy calypso and cumbia from Panama through to psychedelic Afrobeat from Nigeria.” DAZED AND CONFUSED Listen to owner of Miles Cleret chatting with Bleep’s Alex Wilson about his first trip to Ghana and why there are bronze sculptures scattered around Benin City, Nigeria. London based Afro-funk outfit KonKoma will release their self-titled debut on Soundway Records on June 25th. Rooted in 1970s Ghana the group was produced and formulated by saxophonist Max Grunhard and producer Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77). The idea was to create a band around two highly esteemed Ghanaian musicians – Alfred Bannerman and Emmanuel Rentzos. Both are mercurial talents who over the years have graced the stage with the likes of Bobby Womack, Hugh Masakela and Peter Green as well as being long term members of the Afro-rock band Osibisa, but it wasn’t until KonKoma that the two old friends have had a band built around the two of them. The full line-up of KonKoma consists of Emmanuel Rentzos on vocals and keyboards, Reginald ‘Jojo’ Yates on vocals, mbira, sepriwa and percussion, Alfred ‘Kari’ Bannerman on guitar and vocals, Nii Tagoe on vocals and percussion, Jose Joyette on drums, Derrick McIntyre on bass guitar, Scott Baylis on trumpet, Max Grunhard on alto and baritone saxophone and Ben Hadwen on baritone saxophone and flute. The album was recorded by Banedic Lamdin at Ironworks Studios, Brighton, Fishmarket Studios, Willesden & Wax Studios, Shoreditch, mixed by Mike Pelanconi at Ironworks Studios, Brighton, and produced by Max Grunhard, Benedic Lamdin and KonKoma. KonKoma adds a progressive edge to their rich blend of Afro-funk, jazz, soul and traditional African rhythms as well as acknowledging the 70s recordings that spawned the sound. Produced by Max Grunhard and Ben Lamdin, the album was recorded and mixed by Mike Pelanconi (aka Prince Fatty) in Brighton. Guitarist Alfred Bannerman, founding member of teenage Afro-rock band Boombaya (featured on the Soundway compilation Ghana Special) has remained one of the mainstays of the UK’s African music scene for more than 20 years. Keyboardist Emmanuel Rentzos has been playing alongside his fellow Ghanaian since the early 1970s when he was the lead singer of the young Ghanaian outfit Santrofi’s band. Once Max and Ben had won the support of Alfred and Emmanuel, Ghanaian musicians and now key members of KonKoma, Nii Tagoe and Reginald ‘Jojo’ Yates came on board. Additional artists that feature on the album include Eno Williams who provides backing vocals on ‘Handkerchief’, ‘Lie Lie’, ‘Me Kyin-Kyin’, ‘Senkyire’, ‘Gimme Nashi Goro’ and ‘Another Day’, Jaelee Small and Tracy Campbell who provide backing vocals on ’Handkerchief’, ‘Lie Lie’, ‘Me Kyin-Kyin’, ‘Senkyire’ and ‘Gimme Nashi Goro’, Anthony Hayden who plays trombone on ‘Accra Jump’ and ‘Me-Kyin-Kyin’, Fulvio Sigurta who plays trumpet and flugelhorn on ‘Senkyire’ & Aaron Liddard who plays baritone and alto saxophone on ‘Lie Lie’.