Back catalogue: All genres

Review: A Dancefloor in Ndola, curated by East African DJ Kampire for Strut Records' 25th anniversary, is a great example at the broad sounds of classic East and Southern African music. With 13 tracks that span genres like Congolese rumba, South African bubblegum, and Zambian kalindula, the compilation pays homage to the rich musical heritage of the region. Kampire's personal connection to the music, shaped by her upbringing in Ndola, Zambia, adds depth to the compilation. Through her own edit of 'Ririmi Rotsombela' and personal liner notes, she traces her links to the music, creating a nostalgic experience for listeners. The compilation not only celebrates well-known artists but also shines a spotlight on women in African music from the 80s, including legends like Pembey Sheiro, Feza Shamamba, and Princesse Mansia M'bila. It's a testament to the diversity and richness of African music history. With its blend of classic tracks and Kampire's personal touch, A Dancefloor in Ndola is more than just a compilation; it's a cultural journey that highlights the beauty and significance of African musical traditions.

Review: Always keen to break new ground, Strut's latest compilation comes not from a well-known European or American crate-digger, but rather Kenyan-born, Uganda-based DJ Kampire. A Dancefloor in Ndola sees her look back to her time growing up in Zambia and specifically the music she heard and loved during these formative years. It's a great idea, executed brilliantly, with Kampire showcasing an enticing and highly entertaining mix of East and South African music from the 70s and 80s, including Congolese rumba and soukous, bubblegum, and kalindula, a guitar-led style native to Zambia. It's a joyous an eye-opening collection all told and notable for - aside from the high quality throughout - Kampire's decision to showcase a high number of tracks from legendary and little-known female artists. A genuinely essential collection all told.

Review: The translucent yellow vinyl reissue of Disco Not Disco: Leftfield Disco Classics From The New York Underground on Strut brings forth once again an exhilarating journey through the vibrant tapestry of the city's dance scene. Curated by Sean P and Dave Lee, the collection captures the essence of the era's experimentalism and innovation with full authenticity. From the infectious rhythms of Liquid Liquid's 'Cavern' to the hypnotic grooves of Loose Joints, each track pulsates with raw energy and eclectic creativity. With contributions from various key artists of the time, this collection serves as a timeless homage to the influential sounds that defined the underground disco movement while offering a captivating glimpse into New York's musical legacy.

Review: This record is the end of five years of hard work by the Strut label and Art Yard. It is a first-ever Detroit Artists Workshop Retrospective across two slabs of vinyl with jazz legends like Donald Byrd, Bennie Maupin, Yusef Lateef and more all making the cut. The music comes from lots of hard research in the archives of author, DJ and activist John Sinclair. The end product is this glorious retrospective of the influential Detroit Artists Workshop with tunes that span from 1965 to 1978.

Review: In the summer of 2018, Strut offered up a compilation that mined the extensive back catalogue of Disques Debs International, a Guadeloupe-based label that showcased the finest music to come out of the French-speaking Caribbean between 1950 and 2000. While that set focused on material released between 1960 and '72, this belated sequel showcases cuts featured on Henri Debs' legendary imprint between 1973 and '81. The musical palette is therefore even brighter, breezier and more sun-kissed, offering up cuts that touch on mambo, rumba, Zouk, tropical disco, reggae and the kind of cross-cultural fusions that belie easy categorization. As you'd expect from Strut, the selections are spot on and the re-mastered sound superb. In other words, it's another must-have release from Quinton Scott's imprint.

Review: Strut introduces the highly anticipated third volume in the Disques Debs International series, diving deeper into the archives of one of the greatest French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs, based in Guadeloupe. Founded by Henri Debs in the late 1950s, the Debs studio naturally doubled as a record label and ran for over 50 years, releasing more than 300 7" singles and 200 LPs, cementing it as one of the foremost record labels to prize Caribbean music history. Not just limited to Guadeloupean musicians but also Martinicians and Parisians, the likes of Jocelyn Mocka, Mariz, Dominique Parol, Christian Yeye and Alex Rosa make this a thixotropic record, mercurial and restless as it is rooted in forms of zouk, biguine, gwoka and, of course, the nascent electronica. This third volume flaunts the label's dynamic latter-day period, as it interpreted the analog electronic dreams of the 1980s.

Review: Strut's definitive vinyl edition of Nigeria 70 brings fresh vitality to a landmark compilation first released in 2001. This collection, renowned for its role in popularizing 1970s Lagos music, remains a vital exploration of Afro funk and Afro jazz, showcasing a vibrant cross-section of Nigerian music that extends beyond Fela Kuti's legacy. The reissue offers a rich tapestry of sounds that captured Nigeria's dynamic musical landscape. Starting with Monomono's 'Loma Da Nigbehin,' the album dives into deep, rhythmically complex Afrobeat grooves. Fela Kuti's iconic tracks 'Upside Down' and 'Jeun Ko Ku (Chop 'n' Quench)' highlight the revolutionary funk that defined the era, while Tony Allen's 'No Discrimination' from 1980 exemplifies the genre's evolving sophistication. The compilation's strength lies in its diversity. Tracks like Ofo & the Black Company's 'Allah Wakbarr' and BLO's 'Chant to Mother Earth' introduce psychedelic rock influences, while Joni Haastrup's 'Greetings' and Shina Williams & His African Percussionists' 'Agboju Logun' infuse disco and electro-funk elements into the Afrobeat foundation. William Onyeabor's 'Better Change Your Mind' offers a glimpse into how Nigerian artists engaged with global funk and synthesiser sounds. Nigeria 70 is a great example to the innovative spirit of Nigerian music in the 1970s, reflecting a rich interplay of local and global influences.