Umoja

707

The evolution of Awesome Tapes From Africa nearly rivals the stories of the artists it’s helped bring to prominence. Begun in 2006 as a blog hosting MP3s of African artists little known outside the continent, it is now a label reissuing lost classics. Next out of the crate is Umoja’s (Swahili for ‘unity’) 1988 EP 707. Smart ’80s disco meshing minimalist clicks with African rhythms, its six tracks make for a joyous collection of clever pop, taking its cues from both the sounds of Soweto and Sheffield. Deemed subversive on its release amid South Africa’s grim regime of the ’80s, this reissue allows the fresh, vibrant collective to shine anew. Paul Stokes Find it: www.awesometapes.com