Release
Ghana Special (and other Soundway releases)
Those Soundway guys have done it again and now you have not one but three new compilations to enjoy. You’d expect a compilation series to maybe include one new edition each year but after this year’s scorching Panama! 2 Miles Cleret and the gang have found enough time and quality material to introduce a third volume of Central American moods and grooves. The label’s much loved Ghana series returns too, with a double CD effort called Ghana Special which covers Highlife, Afro and Blues from between 1968 and 1981. It features artists like The Big Beats, The Barbecues, Boombaya and many more and is a great place to start for newbies who are burning out on funk. Also worth mentioning that this is a style that has been adopted by recent visitors Vampire Weekend, so if you like them, proceed without caution. Finally, and perhaps my least favourite of the three is the Tumbele! Compilation which centres around the French Caribbean and Creole sounds like Binguine. I certainly wish I had this one in the bag when I played with Monsieur Camembert a few months ago. It’s great stuff, but just goes a little outside my comfort zone and in to the squeezebox department at times.
