One for the Weekend: Vaudou Game & Clara Serra López

Watch the video for Vaudou Game's "Râler" feat. Clara Serra López off the new Fintou album out now via Hot Casa.

Fans of swingin' Afro-cumbia grooves should check Vaudou Game's great new Fintou album on Bandcamp right here.

Rare 80s Togo electro-funk by Roger Damawuzan gets reissued by Hot Casa

Singer/producer Roger Damawuzan cut four synth-soaked tracks for demo purposes which are finally available outside of Lomé thanks to Hot Casa.  

Here's the scoop...

Can we consider Roger Damawuzan as the first modern African beat maker? 

From his 1978 live tapes recorded with an Nagra analog deck at Otodi Studio, he remixed and rearranged at home with drum machine to complete the four-song album. 

Self produced in 1981 in Lomé (Togo), pressed as a limited promotional vinyl release (less than 100 copies), this album is a treasure trove! The style? a low-fi funky soul proto-hip hop sound, a soulful vision, years before the electro invasion took hold in Africa. 

Born in 1952 in Aneho (Togo), Roger is known as “The King of Gazo” (a traditional rhythm) and is one of the most popular singers of his native country. Roger studied in Collège Technique de Taddjin in Lomé and began learning music on the benches of the technical business college with young secondary school children. He started his career in 1968 as a member of The “Ricker’s”. Their first concert at the Goethe Institute” a special avant garde place ran by a German fund. 

“I love to listen to American soul, it was my main influence, even though we sang cha cha cha, bossa nova or jerk, I was always fascinated by James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Nash and later Jimmy Cliff. The creation of Les as du Benin came from an idea of band members from “Melo Togo” to play in different restaurants in a way to multiply the revenue.” 

Damawuzan’s first record was released in 1971.Ten years later, he remixed his own tape cause he "always want to work for the future." Roger is known as the James Brown of Lomé but he should also be considered a fabulous funky visionary! 

Check out the brilliant "Do You Know My Name" below. Get a copy of Roger Damawuzan's  Tropicana Souvenir, Vol. 2 via Bandcamp right here. 

Roger Damawuzan strikes again with Togolese funk whumper "Fine Fine"

Check out "Fine Fine," a new 7" release from Togolese funk great Roger Damawuzan backed by member of Vaudou Game. 

Here's the scoop...

Since his introduction in the 60’s, he has lit stages on fire, whether it be with The Rickers Orchestra or with The Melo-Togo Orchestra (taking home 2nd place for the first National Festival of Tologese Music). 

His first seven-inch vinyl, “Wait For Me,” is a holy grail for diggers all around the world. It was such a hit that Togolese music is and will forever be stamped by Roger Damawuzan. He was principal in introducing Gazo, Akpesse and Kamou rhythms to modern day soul music. Relentless and unstoppable, Roger Damawuzan is now making a comeback with a heavy funk 7 inch! 

Such a force of nature, this album could have been only captured, if not mastered, by one studio. The mission was accomplished by the legendary studio OTODI (Office Togolese of Discs) by solely utilizing analog equipment to breathe all of Damawuzan’s soul into this album. 

Such a force of nature, Roger Damawuzan could have been supported by only one group. Led by Peter Solo (who also plays guitar and sings backing vocals), the members of the Vaudou Game and Lomé’s most talented musicians are at Damawuzan’s disposal for this new DJ friendly vinyl release. Get a copy via Bandcamp right here. Listen to "Fine Fine" below. 

B-Side Wins Again: Orchestre Abass

For some reason, Togo's Orchestre Abass hid the party rockin' Haka Dunia on the flip of Operation Bye Bye in 1972.