The Black Tones feat. Death Valley Girls vs. Chrissy Zebby Tembo

Check out The Black Tones & Death Valley Girls update of the Zamrock scorcher "Trouble Maker" by Chrissy Zebby Tembo.

One For The Weekend: Ngozi Family w/ Chrissy Zebby Tembo

Here's another Zambian Copperbelt ripper from the Ngozi Family, the fave Zamrock group of Chisenga and Tyler The (re) Creator!

Here's the scoop...

“Zambia's Zamrock movement that exploded in the 1970s ... provided young musicians access to European and American music, and created a unique sound. At its root, Zamrock melded fuzz-toned psychedelia, chugging garage rock and roiling funk with a broad mix of African cadences and beats.... enlivening a scene that included bands like Musi O Tunya, Amanaz and the Ngozi Family.” — The New York Times

Zamrock was a bona-fide rock scene, with albums released through independent labels based in Zambia. This music scene was complete, encompassing the genres of rock, acid folk, fusion, Afro-beat, South African jazz and traditional Zambian melodies. It quickly became a uniquely Zambian movement, befitting of its name. WITCH, Paul Ngozi and Amanaz sound nothing like other rock music from the African continent or elsewhere.

Now-Again has been reissuing the essential records from the Zamrock scene since 2010. This is the first commercial release of this Ngozi Family album that only ever made it to the test-press stage - it is part of an extensive campaign centered around Paul Ngozi and his band; all releases are licensed directly from the Estates of Paul Ngozi and Chrissy Zebby Tembo.

WITCH's rare Zamrock 70s singles tracks collected on "Fool's Ride" comp

WITCH's tough-to-find Zamrock singles have been thoughtfully compiled by Egon Alapatt on the "Fool's Ride" album from Now-Again out now.   

Here's the scoop...

The last of WITCH’s Zamrock to finally see wide commercial release – their uber-rare 7″ singles collected as an album. Pressed on deep purple coloured vinyl – Now-Again’s officially sanctioned Black Friday Record Store Day 2025 Release!

Zamrock was a bona-fide rock scene, with albums released through independent labels based in Zambia. This music scene was complete, encompassing the genres of rock, acid folk, fusion, Afro-beat, South African jazz and traditional Zambian melodies. It quickly became a uniquely Zambian movement, befitting of its name. Chrissy Zebby Tembo, Paul Ngozi and Amanaz sound nothing like other rock music from the African continent or elsewhere.

WITCH issued five albums as a Zamrock band. With ‘Fool’s Ride,’ we have collected the band’s uber-rare 7″ singles and present them as the final, golden-age WITCH LP.

WITCH’s first two, self-produced albums – ‘Introduction’ and ‘In The Past,’ released in unison with the birth of the commercial Zambian recording industry – are exuberant experiments in garage rock, and are as influenced by the Rolling Stones as they are James Brown. Their third album,’Lazy Bones!!,’ is the band’s masterpiece – a dark, brooding psychedelic opus that makes equal use of wah-wah and fuzz guitars, that relies as heavily on the stomping feel of hard rock as it does the syncopation of funk. The band’s last two albums – ‘Lukombo Vibes’ and ‘Including Janet,’ recorded after the band toured with Osibisa – make use of traditional Zambian rhythms and folk melodies. They are the most “afro-rock” of WITCH’s oeuvre. 

Get a copy of WITCH's "Fool's Ride" album on limited-edition purple wax while it's still available via Bandcamp right here.

WITCH - Fool's Ride

1. Talking Universe

2. Evil Woman

3. Sweet Sixteen

4. Up The Sky

5. Toloka

6. 81st Crowd Confusion

7. Fool’s Ride

8. Chifundo

“Toloka/81st Crowd Confusion” “Talking Universe/Sweet Sixteen” “Up The Sky/Evil Woman” 7″ singles produced and arranged by WITCH. Recorded at D.B. Applications, Lusaka, Zambia in 1975.

“Toloka/81st Crowd Confusion” 7″ originally released on Teal Record Company/Zambezi Records ZTZ 4.

“Talking Universe/Sweet Sixteen” originally released on Teal Record Company/Zambezi Records ZTZ 6.

“Up The Sky/Evil Woman” originally released on Teal Record Company/Zambezi Records ZTZ 9.

‘Fool’s Ride/Chifundo” 7″ single: Produced by Teal Record Company. Arranged by WITCH. Recorded at Sapra Studios, Nairobi, Kenya on September 21, 1976. Engineered by Detlef Degener.

Originally released on Teal Record Company WITI.

Midweek Mixdown: Egon from Now-Again

Now-Again Records head honcho Egon spins a heady 44-minute selection of Zamrock and psych from his own stash right here.

Check out Egon's 2013 interview with Eilon Paz for Dust & Grooves right here. 

Just out from Now-Again Reserve is a 3LP set from Del Jones' Positive Vibes "Court Is Closed"... get it right here while you can!

Watch the WITCH video for "Avalanche Of Love" off their Zango album

"Avalanche of Love" is off the forthcoming Zango album – out June 2 – from reconstituted Zamrock crew WITCH. 

You can pre-order a copy of the new WITCH album Zango on limited 'Zambian full moon yellow' vinyl right here.

Midweek Mixdown: JJ Whitefield at Bar Charlie in Munich and more!

Check out JJ Whitefield's entrancing hour-long set at Munich's Bar Charlie followed by some crackly Zamrock finds below.  

Listen to some Zamrock on the Spectrum Road radio show here and a bit of krautrock here and there. 

More Zamrock rarities uncovered by Jason "MoSS" Connoy

The limited-run Rock Sound compilation focuses on lesser-known Zambian crews which never released full-length albums. 

Here's the scoop from Strawberry Rain...

The most difficult project we’ve done to date, this compilation features some of the most obscure Zamrock bands to ever record.  None of these bands went on to release albums, some have remained in obscurity even within collectors circles in Zambia.  There were only released on 7″ singles like the snotty, proto-punk ‘Watchout’, a number from the post-Amanaz Drive Unit, a group consisting of Amanaz members and legendary bassist Ricky Banda.  Blistering fuzz guitars like the 3 1/2 minute solo on Hulk Raiders ‘Mans World’ that can go toe to toe with any guitar solo released during the period. ‘Shoot’ from Mother Breed, a band who went on to record a series of singles which we will be releasing as a full length album in the future, and others like Mabanga Band, The Ghost Band, Heroes Band, Osauka Band and The Real Savages. The first in a series of compilations featuring obscure Zambian groups that will cover Rock, Disco, Folk and Afrobeat.  Highly recommended for fans of the genre.  Limited to 350 copies in paste-on cover. Get it while you can from Rappcats mailorder right here. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Dr. Footswitch

Dr. Footswitch is an alias of Zamrock legend Teddy Khuluzwa aka Teddy Jagger. 

 

Happy New Year from Paul Ngozi

Getting your 2019 started right in Zamrock style with Paul Ngozi's "Happy New Year" 

Wooden Shjips @ The Horseshoe, Sunday

San Francisco's Wooden Shjips may soon be taking a detour into Zamrock.