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LP
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COS 029LP
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"A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Don Laka began his career in the '70s and then joined the seminal jazz outfit Sakhile in the early '80s. Already an established musician by this time, Laka was at the forefront of exploring the latest synth sounds of the day. Being introduced to synthesizers by Harari's Alec Khaoli, Don soon began experimenting with different synths like the Oberheim, Juno, and Prophet 5 while using a Commodore 64 to sequence them. Constantly striving for the latest sounds, Laka's early explorations culminated in his debut solo album, I Wanna Be Myself. I went and did an album, recorded tracks at Downtown Studios [in downtown Johannesburg]. Most of the album, except for 'Let's Move the Night,' was done straight with a Fairlight at a different studio, of the guy that owned the Fairlight, Adrian Strydom. He was the only guy in the country who had a Fairlight, I think on the continent. 'This was the first commercial record made on a Fairlight in this country. I remember the other instrument I used was Jupiter 8, which was a very expensive Roland synth, and I used a Juno-60. I would layer them. The only thing I programmed was the drums. You can hear the snare sound, I think it was a mix of some cracked bottles and something that we just mixed.' Holed up in the studio, Laka remembers getting special input on I Wanna Be Myself from master bassist Bakithi Khumalo, who would also feature prominently on Graceland. 'I remember I played all the instruments on it. I played bass, I played all. Bakithi walked into the studio and I said, 'You know, I'm not a bass player. Baks, do you wanna do it?' And he nailed it, in one take!' Reissued for the first time is Don Laka's masterful album."
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LP
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OS 029LP
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After the re-discovery of Tranquil Eyes' 1985 Walks cassette in 2012 (OS 015LP) and the 2014 release of Frozen Ducks' work (OS 023LP), OnderStroom Records presents another dazzling project from Lex Grauwen. Cheiron is a collaboration between Grauwen, who plays all the instruments and produced all the music, and José van Waveren, who sings distinctively. Land After Life aims for the dancefloor with its high-energy minimal synth and electro stylings. In the mid-'80s Lex Grauwen was asked to participate in the Pas de Deux LP (1985), a legendary new wave compilation album featuring Bene Gesserit, Algebra Suicide, and Psyclones. Grauwen asked his high school sweetheart, José van Waveren, to join up for a few songs. "Land After Life" was chosen for the compilation and, years later, took on a life of its own on the internet. "Serenity World," recorded during the same sessions, is equally spellbinding and beautiful. It was released in an edited mix on the 1987 L'embrasse compilation cassette (Top Tape). The third song recorded, "Finally Free Four," is a previously unreleased solo composition by van Waveren. Grauwen and van Waveren had been making music before, though, and one of those older tracks is "No Trace," from '81-'82. Shortly after Pas de Deux, they tried to record some more tracks, but the demos were never really finished. A while later Grauwen asked Paul Oosterbaan of Tranquil Eyes and Ruud Braumuller of Beatnik Love Affair to help finish these tracks. The results are "Your Life, Your Body" (also a van Waveren solo piece) and "Ping Pong," the last recorded track. In the 2000s, van Waveren began performing as singer-songwriter devoted to French chanson.
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