Various - Love Is Love

Mississippi Recordings - Compilation
US, Late 2006
Folk / Rhythm & Blues / Highlife

Extremely good compilation of sub-saharan folk and rhythm & blues from many countries and eras (1955-1972) by the folks of Mississippi Recordings. Not just a collection of rare tracks but the kind of comp that transcends genres.

You may have heard about Portland's legendary Little Axe Record shop, even if, like me, you've never been to Portland. The shop was created by Jed Bindeman and Warren Hill, 2 of the huge music nerds behind Mississippi Recordings, one of the most legit comp and reissue labels of the 2000's. A label that truly reflect the energy of the obscure music blog era that ended brutally in 2012 when the FBI shut down Megaupload (long story...).

Released in the heydays of blogs like Holy Warbles or Mutant Sounds, this Mississippi Recordings' compilation of guitar-based R&B and folk from all around south and east sub-saharan African countries stood the test of time brilliantly: it does not reflect a trendy obsession for a genre nor is a collection of African music "hits" (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about... ugly comps of Nigerian boogie, Brazilian jazz-funk, etc.). It's hard to remove one song from this Love Is Love compilation, one standout hit: "vibes over hits" is the ethos that was followed then, and is still the ethos behind some of the best comps released in recent years (Dj Sundae & Julien Dechery's Sky Girl or Time Is Away's compilations).(NM / NM)

Tracklist

1. Alemayno Eshintay –  Love Is Love
2. S.E. Rogers – Toomus Meremereh Nor Good
3. Peter Tsotsi, Nashil Pichen & The Equator Sound Band – Pole Mus
4. Miss Smodern – S'moder
5. Leribe – Sax Jiv
6. William Siwale & Friends – Castle Bee
7. Jimmy Amukamua – Khukhaua
8. W. John Ondolo – Kerena
9. George Kazoka – Ulayinda Kubot
10. W. John Ondolo – Tumshukuru Mungu
11. Elija Ishmael – Jumbe Nipelek Kwetu
12. Unknown Artist – Chemirocha