Ring The Alarm playlist January 12

Sulata - Never
Riot Jazz Brass Band - HudMo medley
Lance Ferguson - Smokey Joes La La
Preston Love - Omaha Bar-B-Que
Lou Pride - Phoney people
Patrizia and Jimmy - Trust your child
Wild Magnolias  -Soul soul soul
The Dap-Kings - Nervous like me
Dixie Cups - Iko Iko
Betty Harris - Mean man
James Brown - Take some, leave some
Geno Washington - Different strokes
Barbara Acklin - Aint no love
Aretha Franklin - Rough lover
Donnie Elbert - Sweet baby
Little Esther - Hound dog
Billy Stewart - Billy's blues pt1
Melvin Jackson - Funky skull
Oliver Sain - London express
Bernard Edwards  -Your love is good to me
Peaches & Herb - Roller skatin' mate pt1
Pointer Sisters - Thinking of you
Ardijah - Give me your number
Shannon - Give me tonight (dub version)
Audiosauce - Bee bo
Supergroove - Bloody shame (DLT remix)
Aaradhna - Keep my cool
Delroy Wilson - Get ready (12" mix)
Jo Jo Bennett - Canteloupe rock
Instigators - Five-o
Dub Connection - Mike quality
Ballistic Bros - Prophecy reveal
Lance Ferguson - Am I wrong

Ring The Alarm playlist January 5

Massive Attack - Weather the storm
Freddie Cruger - Something good
Boozoo Bajou with Top Cat - Killer
Rae and Christian with The Congos - Hold us down (Groove Corp remix)
Roy Ayers - Running away (12" version)
Galaxy - Visions of tomorrow
Lonnie Givens - The heat is on
Beside with Bernard Fowler - Odeon (dance mix)
Pete Shelley - Homosapien (12" elongated dancepartydubmix)
Sheila E - Love Bizarre
Jill Jones - For love
Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers - Hey Jude
Arlean Brown - Impeach me baby
Lonnie Mack - Memphis
Phil Upchurch Combo - You can't sit down pt1
Bo Diddley - She's fine, she's mine
Keil Isles - Monkey stomp
IQU - Witchcraft
King Kapisi - Subcranium feeling inst
Ladi6 - Royal blue (Silent Jay, Sensible J and Leigh Fisher remix)
Isaac Aesili with Aaradhna - With you in my bed
Julien Dyne - Design
Karl Hector and the Malcouns - Push na ya
Y-Bayani - We are the Band of enlightenment, reason and love
Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Crosstown traffic
Issa Bagayogo - Filaw (Senor Oz remix)

Y-Bayani new single out Jan 11

From Philophon: "With his third single release, Y-Bayani (pronounced like Why-Bayani) shows clearly that he is the most intriguing roots-reggae sensation coming out of Ghana.

Here, he’s backed again by the lushly grooving Band of Enlightenment, Reason and Love.


‘Asembi Ara Amba’, sung in Fanti language, is an old Fanti story about having bad luck if you see a vulture up in the sky.

As Y-Bayani sees one suddenly and for no reason he gets in trouble with the police. Being held back in the police station he finally takes his chance to escape into freedom while the police men taking a nap.


On ‘We Are The Band of Enlightenment, Reason And Love’ the group presents their personal anthem. The song is a cinematic journey, taking off with a mighty horn theme, followed by a mantric chant. A bijou symphony for sure."


Out January 11th on 7" vinyl/digital.

Ring The Alarm playlist December 29

MAW - Zoe
Lukid - Fela
Diabolical Liberties - Beg friend
Lord Echo with Lisa Tomlins - Creator has a master plan
Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine of your love (Groove Corp remix)
African Head Charge - Off the beaten track
Horace Andy - Cuss cuss (RSD dub)
Estere  - Cruel  Charlie
Troy Kingi - Golden shoes
Marvin Gaye - Praise
Breakstra - Show you the way
Idris Mohammed - Don't knock my love
Honeydrippers - Impeach the president
Chairmen of the Board - Pay to the piper
The Esquires - Get on up
Ann Sexton - Let's huddle up, let's cuddle up
Bobby McClure - Doing it rite on time
Barbara Lynn - Don't be cruel
Archie Bell and the Drells - Jammin' in Houston
Uncle Louie - Full tilt boogie
Cherelle with Alexander O'Neal - Saturday love
Kraftwerk - The telephone call remix
Heaven 17  -We don't need this fascist groove thang
Nona Hendryx - Keep it confidential
Solephonic - What's your style?
Opensouls - Stickmen inst
DJ Vee with Mighty Asterix - Neva mind
Cave Circles  - My heart is a beating drum

Ring The Alarm playlist December 22

Paul McCartney - Check my machine
Orange Juice - Rip it dub (Dicky Trisco edit)
Futura 2000 with The Clash - The escapades of Futura
Eric B and Rakim - I know you got soul
Grand Wizard Theodore and the Fantastic Romantic 5 - Can I get a soul clapp
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band - 1 Thing
Dur Dur Band  -Yabaal
Dengue Dengue Dengue - Semillero
Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids - Tinoge Ya Ta'a Ba
The Diabolical Liberties - Omar's deliverance
Troy Kingi - Time lapsium gangtasium
Khruangbin - People everywhere (still alive)
Julien Dyne with Ladi6 - Hours
Arthur Jackson  -The philosophy of chop funk pt2
Charles Wright - You are the one for me
Arelan Brown - Impeach me baby
Aretha Franklin - Won't be long
Look at my soul with Rueben Ramos - Boogaloo en Monterey
Inez Andrews - I hear music
Bobby Bland - Sad feeling
Five Stairsteps and Cubie - Little young lover
Shogun Orchestra - Sword of doom
Leonard Charles - Neil's rainbow
Lewis McCallum with Deva Mahal - Take a step back
DLT - Black panthers
Team Dynamite with Che Fu - Coconut lime
Katchafire - Rude girl (Macro and HSD jungle mix)

Ring The Alarm playlist December 15

Grover Washington Jr - Masterpiece
Johnny Hammond  - Tell me what to do
Ramsey Lewis - African boogaloo twist
Dr Tree - Eugino D
O'Donel Levy - Marbles
Charles Mingus - II B S (RZA remix)
El Michels Affair - 4th chamber
Tina Turner - Whole lotta love
People's Choice - I likes to do it
Booker T and the MGs - Day tripper
Freddie Scott - You got what I need
Charles Bradley  -No time for dreaming
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Aint no chimneys in the projects
James Brown - Santa Claus goes straight to the ghetto
Funk Machine - Soul Santa pt1
Concept Neuf - The path (Sofrito edit)
Les Difficiles de petion vile - Fe'm comnfiance (Tropical treats edit)
Owiny Sigoma Band - Nabed nade ei piny ka f
Cesaria Evora - Angola (Pepe Braddock mix)
Mala - Como como
Rhythm and Sound with Sugar Minott - Let Jah love come
Beat Pharmacy with Spaceape - Ghostship
Fat Freddys Drop - Mother mother (Theo Parrish translation)
Moodymann - I can't kick this feelin' when it hits

Ring The Alarm playlist December 1

Chaka Khan - I feel for you
Womack and Womack - Teardrops
Gwen Guthrie - Peanut butter (12" version)
Lizzie Mercier Desloux - Lady o'kpele
Magic Fever - Magic circle express
Eric Lau - Final chance
The PutBacks - In the dirt
Bill Doggett  -Pimento
Len Barry - Bullseye
Jr Walker - Shake and fingerpop
The Magic Tones - Together we shall overcome
O'Jays - 992 arguments
Ann Peebles - Beware
James Brown - Aint it funky now
The Delegates - Pygmy pt1
Idris Mohammed - Express yourself
The Meters - Chug chug chug-a-lug
Little Sister - Stanga
Paper Tiger with Steve Spacek - The cycle
Recloose - Solomon's alive
War - Cisco kid
Salmonella Dub - Platetechtonics (Groove Corp remix)
Unitone Hifi - Sneeze off
International Observer - We know
Beastie Boys - Don't play no game that I can't win
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band - Hoola hoop
iZem and K.O.G. - Change (inst)
Julien Dyne with Ladi6  - Hours
Avantdale Bowling Club - Quincy's march
Shogun Orchestra - Sato san
Mike Fabulous - There's something about Africa

Paper Tiger x Steve Spacek

Having previously collaborated with the likes of Shafiq Husayn, Chester Watson and Foreign Beggars, electronic space funk outfit Paper Tiger return from an explorative journey to the dark edges of the cosmos with their long-awaited third album ‘Rogue Planet’.

‘The Cycle’ (the first single to be lifted from this new offering) features the unmistakeable vocal stylings of the legendary Steve Spacek.

The single officially arrives on November 30 via Wah Wah 45s, and backed up by b-side cut, "Quick Wash," and a remix of "The Cycle" by Shy One.

K.O.G a.k.a Kweku of Ghana and Moroccan/French beatmaker iZem drop single

"Pura Vida Sounds, the brand new imprint set up by GUTS, presents Change, a collaboration between the Ghanaian singer K.O.G a.k.a Kweku of Ghana and the Moroccan/French beatmaker iZem a.k.a In Ze Early Morning. The meeting between the Ghanaian singer and the French beatmaker is not a story of acronyms but rather of a fruitful venture between two expatriates who, from their new found homes, capture perfectly their surrounding vibrations.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist, born in Accra (Ghana), resident in Sheffield (UK), K.O.G is constantly innovating. Leader of his own monstrous afro funk band K.O.G and The Zongo Brigade (see them at Transmusicales 2018 and album on Heavenly Sweetness March 2019) and lead vocalist for Onipa, K.O.G is a creative force, relentlessly touring and collaborating across a range of styles, from afro funk to house, dancehall and reggae to jungle, with forthcoming releases with Afriquoi (UK), Umoja (Netherlands), Jus Now (Trinidad/UK), Congo Natty (UK/Jamaica) and more.

Guitar-schooled in Spain, it is in Brazil and Argentina that iZem collaborated on multiple projects before landing in Dublin, behind two turntables and a mixer and finally ending up in Lisbon. After his first album, released by Soundway Records, the French and Moroccan beatmaker maintains his permanent connection with Portuguese-speaking music from South America and Africa. iZem and K.O.G are two connoisseurs of sound, experience and experimentation, that have previously collaborated with Nina Miranda (Smoke City), State of Mind, Riddimtion and Selekta Chestar."

Out now, on 7"/digital

Conch vinyl popup on Dec 8th

The Conch Pop Up Record Shack returns in time for Xmas on Sat 8th Dec. New & 2nd hand vinyl from  Stinky Jim, Dusty Crates, The Other Crate & Cian. Kicks off 10am thru til 4pm...... Cash only.

Ring The Alarm playlist November 24

100% kiwi music today cos BaseFm is rocking out at Grey Lynn Park Festival with a cool local showcase...

Scratch22 - Shivani Strut
DLT with Billy TK - Duel of the assassins
Opensouls - Rise up pt 1
Isaac Aesili with Iva Lamkum - Chemistry
Alphabethead - Buzz
Mara TK - Run
Quincy Conserve - Same old feeling (Peter Mac edit)
Prince Tui Teka - Heed the call
Billy TK and Powerhouse - Move on up pts1&2
Lewis McCallum - Fly or die
Mark de Clive Lowe - Melodious funk
Nathan Haines with Sonny Sagala - Lady J (video mix)
Unification  -Guru
Salmonella Dub - Problems (Sonsine dat little thing dub)
Dam Native - Behold my kool style
Che Fu - Misty frequencies (Manuel Bundy remix)
Tha Feelstyle - Su'amalie
Bic Runga  - Something good (Submariner mix with Tha Feelstyle)
Julien Dyne - What you say
Tubbs with Dallas - Five day night (Fat Freddys Drop remix)
Unitone Hifi with Bobbylon - Turn around
The Yoots - Me he manu rere
Maori Hifive - Poi poi
Patea Maori Club -  Ngoi ngoi
Snap - Sidewalk city (dance mix)
Houseparty - Dangerous love (dance mix)
Sandy Mill - Light of day

Ring The Alarm playlist November 17

William Onyeabor - Atomic bomb
Hugh Masekela - Don't go lose it baby
Kid Creole and the Coconuts - Mister Softee
Trouble Funk - Drop the bomb
Prince Charles and the City Beat Band - Rise
Lord Julien - Shades
Betty Davis - Anti love song
Timmy Thomas - Opportunity
The Emotions - I like it
Dusty Springfield - Stay awhile
Jimmy Hughes - Slippin' around with you
Barbara Lynn - You're losing me
Stovall Sisters - Yes to the Lord
Soul Brothers Six - Thank you baby for loving me
Larry Laster - Go for yourself
Esther Phillips - Just say goodbye
Roy Ayers - Boogie back
Gil Scott Heron - The revolution... (Tahira rework)
Nomo - Nova
Lee Dodou and the Polyversal Souls - Basa basa
Tony Allen - No discrimination
Oscar Sulleys Nzele Soundz - Bukom
Jimi Tenor - Mystery spot
Estelle and Joni Rewind - Uptown top ranking
General Levy - Champagne body
Freestylers and Navigator - Ruffneck
Ragga Twins - Spliffhead
Che Fu and the Krates - E Tu

Philophon compilation out December

Philophon is a very cool little label started in 2014 by drummer Max Weissenfeldt (Poets of Rhythm, Whitefiled Brothers), releasing a handful of 7" singles.

He'd had the idea for a label for some time, and says " Only my move from Munich to Berlin brought the decisive turn. I joined the gamelan group of the Indonesian composer Gutama Soegijo, and it was at that time that a space was set up in his spacious studio and offered for sublease.

"Here I had found a place where I could build something. Soon I started working with Stibbo Spitzmüller as a technician to do the first recording experiments. At that time, I was also in Ghana a lot and started singing about our stuff - including Roy X aka Jimmy Taylor, the youngest son of highlife legend Ebo Taylor. During my travels through Ghana, I also discovered the kologo virtuoso Guy One and the Frafra Gospel King Alogte Oho. Back in Berlin, I had wonderful recordings of these three talents in my pocket - the desire to release them was great."


"Bitteschön, Philophon!" presents a best of selection taken from the so far fifteen 7" releases by the Berlin-based label Philophon. Greats as Jimi Tenor, Alemayehu Eshete and Hailu Mergia as well as new discoveries such as Guy One, Alogte Oho and Y-Bayani echo on "Bitteschön" the wide spectrum of the Philophon catalogue.

Philophon puts its emphasis on authentic local styles - from heavy grooving Ethio-Jazz coming out of Addis Abeba to cheerful Frafra-Gospel, as it is celebrated in Bolgatanga/Northern Ghana. Most recordings took place where the music is located - and that's the recipe for Philophon's productions: go to the source and dive into the real.

Out Dec 7th on LP/CD/digital

New Misled Convoy, out Nov 23

New music from Mike Hodgson aka Misled Convoy. Mike has worked as one half of Pitch Black.

"After finding a Russian language vowel sounds 7” box set in a charity store, Hodgson researched which nations had sent astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The 7'' became the vocal bed for the title track "Sixteen Sunsets", which was then augmented with vowel sounds from the other nations who have also inhabited the ISS. 

"The title is inspired by the phenomenon that, every day, due to orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes, the residents of the ISS witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets."

Ring The Alarm playlist November 10

Sola Rosa - King of hush
Bongmaster - Brothers and sisters
The Believers - Mr hot pants
Willie Hutch - Come on and dance with me
Crown Heights Affair - Say a prayer for two (US remixed version)
Modified Man - Accidental return
Nicolette - Waking up remix
Ardijah - Which way is up
The Temptations - Don't let the Joneses get you down
Sunny and the Sunliners - Get down
Senor Soul - Some got it, some don't
Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters - Cry baby
Rose Mitchell - Baby please don't go
Janet Jackson - Got til its gone (Jay Dee remix)
Kenny Dope - Can you handle it pt1
James Brown - There was a time (Kenny Dope remix)
Charles Bradley - Aint it a sin, Why is it so hard?
Antibalas - Che che cole makossa
Karl Hector and the Malcouns - Omebele (makossa)
Che Fu - Random (Mu aka DJ Fitchie remix)
Mono Massive - Make it slow
Eli Goularte - Meu samba (Nicola Conte remix)
Nina Simone - Seeline woman (MAW remix)