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12"
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LCT 005EP
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Skyf Connection was a short-lived project by long-time friends Anthony Mthembu and Enoch Nondala. At the time they were working for Annic Music, an independent label run by married couple Anne and Nic Blignaut. Although the label was known mostly for Zulu, Sotho, Tsonga and other traditional styles, they had a few disco releases on the label including groups like Keith Hutchinson's Focus and Enoch's discovery Lena, who went on to have huge success under the name Ebony a few years later. In 1984, when an artist didn't show up for a booked session they decided to make use of the studio time and began working on a demo. At the time Anthony and Enoch had been playing for a year at a new club called Gamsho, located on a farm on the outskirts of Kliptown Soweto. Along with Blackie Sibisi, Sepate Mokoena and Elijah "chippa" Khumalo they made up the resident house band. The demo they recorded at Blue Tree Studios was going to be their product they could use to promote their brand of the American sound. They then took the demo to Universal Studios where their friend and trusted engineer Jan "fast fingers" Smit was working. It would be here that they would polish their demo into something they could take to their bosses and have pressed. Equipped with a DX 7, Linn Drum, and some Juno synthesizers they were on their way. The result was four funky party anthems with synth work like no other recording at the time. From start to finish the four tracks portray what would have been a standard night at the Gamshu. "Let's Freak Together" has powerful lyrics encouraging people to let go of their worries, put aside any differences and let the music bring everyone to freak and dance together. The whole album is about the joy we can all feel when we share the same moments and how music can bring people together in a unique way, a philosophy shared with the original nightclubs of 70s New York. Enoch would ditch live music altogether and immerse himself in studio work, starting full time as a house producer and A&R for the recently formed Ream Music. He would go on to produce hit albums for pop artists like Percy Kay and Makwerhu but made his mark discovering countless artists that would become stars in the traditional market.
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12"
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LCT 002EP
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Second release for La Casa Tropical. In the early '80s, Mbaqanga stars The Soul Brothers formed a touring group first named Jaws after member Jaws Dlathu, later named Bayete with their first recording. After a failed debut, Bayete went into the studio with Jerry Mhlanga and Decibel Music, the English division of De La Music interested in capitalizing on disco. "Blue Monday" is a cheap sounding drinking song. "Open Your Heart (Vula)" has a natural feel reminiscent of the pre-MIDI, early '80s disco sound, perfectly blending synths and keyboards, funky guitar, and the amazing vocals of Jabu.
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12"
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LCT 001EP
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Synth heavy South African disco boogie from the mid-80s. First issued near the end of the synth-pop era, this release takes the B-sides off the mysterious group Satari's first two singles recorded at Johannesburg's legendary Satbel and Ovation Studio. Their first release was a new take on a song they had recorded for their hit EP. On the B side was a steady 4/4 beat with fat bass synth and the quick funky keyboard licks of Don Laka. For their second release they used a tactic common amongst producers ten years prior during the reign of the 7" single.
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