Released for the first time on CD is the long awaited retrospective of South Africa’s legendary original punk band, Wild Youth. This massive 23 track set includes all of Wild Youth’s late 70`s seminal singles, live and demo tracks plus several songs from the band’s alter ego outfit, The Gay Marines. Wild Youth are prominently featured in the film documentary “Punk in Afrika”, currently showing in key US and European film festivals.
Astral Daze 3 – Snapshots Of The South African Rock Underground
Volume 3 of our acclaimed Astral Daze series find us in the company of some well known ‘underground’ bands (Freedom’s Children, Abstract Truth, The Bats) and some lesser known luminaries of the psych rock era (The Gentle People, Finder’s Keepers, 004’s, Wakeford Hart). The compilation is rounded off with some real classics including engineer Peter Pearlson’s 2011 remix of Hawk’s ‘Here comes the sun’ and Sharon Tandy’s psych collaboration with UK rockers Fleur De Lys.
ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE AND SOUNDTRACK BRINGS RODRIGUEZ’S INCREDIBLE LIFE STORY AND 1970s MUSIC TO A NEW GENERATION
Soundtrack available everywhere starting August 13, 2012, through Columbia/Legacy
“The buzzworthy Sundance documentary” – Yahoo!
“An acclaimed new documentary goes hunting for the lost Dylan” – Grantland
“The tale is better than the telling – and the soundtrack’s better still – but music this monumental demands its moment. Now go and buy the album” – Matt Glasby Total Film UK
“I found the story in 2006. I was looking for stories, travelling around South Africa and America, and thinking the purpose was to sell them to Swedish TV, because I’d been working for Swedish TV before. I found this story and it was the best story I’d ever heard in my life and probably ever will; a great, great story.” Director, Malik Bendjelloul
We all know the lyrics, we may even have been a fan, but who knows what happened to the musician who brought us Sugar Man? SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN is the most improbable but true story you will ever witness on the big screen. Rodriguez, a mysterious Detroit singer-songwriter, became a source of hope and inspiration to the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa and then he disappeared – until two South Africans set out to discover what happened to one of the biggest music sensations this country has ever known. The thought-provoking new documentary film, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, will be screened exclusively at select Ster-Kinekor and Cinema Nouveau theatres on 31st August and is not to be missed!
Directed by Malik Bendjelloul, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN tells a story that begins with the 1970 release of Rodriguez’s debut album, Cold Fact.
Discovered in the late 1960s, Rodriguez impressed producers with his Dylanesque songwriting. As a charismatic and mysterious artist he built a strong local following and became a true folk hero in the purest sense.
While Cold Fact was critically acclaimed, it did not succeed commercially, and despite the release of a second LP, Rodriguez drifted into obscurity. Rumors of his fate were widely and wildly exaggerated, ranging from reports of escalating depression to a sensationally gruesome suicide onstage, involving self-immolation.
Meanwhile, the LP had made its way around the world to South Africa, where it was banned by an oppressive government. Copies were bootlegged and circulated, and Rodriguez inadvertently became the soundtrack of an emerging liberal youth, including many liberal Afrikaans musicians for whom Rodriguez became an inspiration for their own music.
Over the next two decades, Rodriguez became a household name in the country, where the number of copies of Cold Fact would have earned it platinum sales status.
Both sides of the story, Rodriguez’s life in Detroit and the subsequent impact of his music in the smoldering Apartheid era proved fascinating to Stockholm-based documentary filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul.
His subjects have included Kraftwerk, Björk, Sting, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Mariah Carey, U2, Kylie Minogue, Prince, and others. His short documentary films for Swedish Television’s international cultural weekly show Kobra, became the basis for such films as Men Who Stare At Goats (George Clooney) and The Terminal (Tom Hanks).
For booking information please visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi, or call our Ticketline on 082 16789. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz, or Facebook us at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.
You can also download the Nokia and Samsung Android apps and book from your mobile.
The soundtrack album on Legacy will compile tracks from Cold Fact and its follow-up LP of 1971, Coming From Reality, reissued to critical acclaim in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, a Red Box Films & Passion Pictures Production in association with Canfield Pictures & The Documentary Company, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, premiered in New York on April 24th at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The film opened in New York and Los Angeles on July 27th and will open in other markets throughout the month of August. For a complete release schedule, visit the film’s website at www.SearchingForSugarManMovie.com.
Searching for Sugar Man release cinemas:
1. Rosebank Nouveau
2. Gateway Nouveau
3. Cavendish Nouveau
4. V&A Nouveau
5. Brooklyn Nouveau
6. Garden Route Mall
7. Mimosa Mall
8. Somerset Mall
Searching for Sugar Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Tracklisting
1. SUGAR MAN
2. CRUCIFY YOUR MIND
3. CAUSE
4. I WONDER
5. LIKE JANIS
6. THIS IS NOT A SONG, IT’S AN OUTBURST: OR, THE ESTABLISHMENT BLUES
Searching for Sugar Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN is a film about hope, inspiration and the resonating power of music. In the late ’60s, two celebrated producers who were struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics discovered a musician in a Detroit bar. They recorded an album that they believed was going to secure his reputation as one of the greatest recording artists of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, it became a phenomenon. Two South African fans then set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation led them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. This soundtrack consists of a selection of songs featured in the film but originally found on Rodriguez’s records COLD FACT and COMING FROM REALITY. – Amazon.com
Tracks
1. Sugar Man
2. Crucify Your Mind
3. Cause
4. I Wonder
5. Like Janis
6. This Is Not A Song, It’s An Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues
A track off the album, Grootste Treffers by Radio Kalahari Orkes, a group that established themselves as favourites in the SA musical landscape through a series of hits and top selling albums starring actor and TV personality Ian Roberts as lead singer and world renowned writer Rian Malan as co-composer and lyricist.
More intelligent nu-pop off the album You’re Underfed, I’m Wonderful from this new band currently getting a lot of attention on the Johannesburg scene.
When Port Elizabeth-based TV host (Strictly Come Dancing), reality TV series judge (SA’s Got Talent) and multi-award winning performer and theatrical creator, Ian von Memerty embarks on a new project, he does it big – like on his first commercial CD, titled U R Fantastic .
Gary Thomas produced and engineered his Contraption Distoria album himself with only one special guest in the form of guitar hero Guy Buttery on this particularly eerie track.
Afrikaans Rap and Hip Hop is bursting onto the scene with names like Jack Parow, Brasse Van Die Kaap and Die Antwoord and now Pretoria band Bittereinder, here with a track off their album, ‘n Ware Verhaal .
This Pretoria based outfit ruled the country’s rock stages for almost a decade with their progressive nu-metal and tight live performances. Here’s a song from their latest self-titled album .
Impi, (not to be confused with John Kongos’ briefly lived band or Johnny Clegg’ seminal anthem) were mostly The Bats under a different name. To their ranks they added Sounds of Brass’ Peter Hubner, The Square Set’s Neville Whitmill and Hubner’s girlfriend Deni Loren. The group released one eponymously titled album which featured the track ‘Sun.’
Listening to it, one can see why The Bats chose not to release it under their usual name. It was far more prog rock influenced than most of their previous pop work and, perhaps they felt their fan base would not really like it. Starting out with a heavy beating drum (African rhythm), then weaving in a haunting pennywhistle before building up to the catchy chorus with a rich brass ensemble.
Unfortunately for The Bats, their alter ego did not really capture the hearts and minds of their pop fans, nor those of the progressive bands like Hawk, Abstract Truth and Freedom’s Children as the album did not do too well and faded into obscurity. Fortunately Benjy Mudie, the keeper of the South Africa rock flame, has just released the album on his Retrofresh label, so we are able to listen to ‘Sun’ and all the other tracks, and wonder why we didn’t go for it big time at the time.
It’s been a crazy year for Rodriguez. The documentary Searching For Sugar Man was one of the first films to be purchased (by Sony Pictures Classics) at Sundance and picked up two awards on the way (World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary and World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit). Be sure there is some cool Rodriguez news in the coming months! After being out of print for the last year, Rodriguez Cold Fact (LITA 036) is finally available again on vinyl and to celebrate, we’re giving away a copy of Cold Fact for this week’s Free Basin’ Fridays. – Light In The Attic
Music itself is going to become like running water or electricity. So it’s like, just take advantage of these last few years because none of this is ever going to happen again. You’d better be prepared for doing a lot of touring because that’s really the only unique situation that’s going to be left. It’s terribly exciting. But on the other hand it doesn’t matter if you think it’s exciting or not; it’s what’s going to happen. – David Bowie
UK beat combo’s sole South African album, originally released in 1970 includes the No.1 smash “Hey” plus all the original LP tracks and 2 bonus songs. Elements of early psych meets West Coast with quirky pop tunes. A real collectors item. – Fresh Music
Music Fan, Anton van Staden, has scanned this booklet issued by LM Radio reflecting their top hits of 1973.
The back cover was dedicated to an advert for a famous cigarette brand, but since I am not sure of the legalities of advertising tobacco products, I decided to omit it.
Extracts below are taken from sleeve notes for the Hits Of LM Radio 2CD set released by PT Music in 2009.
Do you remember a time in South Africa when there was no TV and no internet? Hard to believe that there ever was such a time, and that listening to the radio was actually one of the best ways to discover the latest and greatest music. The DJ’s cared about the music and they even had theme tunes. Springbok Radio was OK, but the station that teenagers really embraced with enthusiasm was LM Radio, based out of Lourenco Marques in neighbouring Mozambique.
LM Radio was privately owned and operated, and served a vast audience of young people by transmitting pop and rock music which was not heard on the state-controlled SABC stations. The music was everything and DJs like David Gresham, Darryl Jooste, Long John Berks, Peter De Nobrega (and many, many more), were real personalities who played music that they really liked and the fans appreciated it.
The radio station in Lourenco Marques first started broadcasting in the 1930s, but it was in the late 1950s that it underwent a major format change to cater for the younger generation.
The LMRadio.org website says it best; “LM Radio, as it was popularly known, was renowned for its Top Twenty chart show, the LM Hit Parade, and played a major role in promoting South African artists and their music.”
In 1975 LM Radio became Radio 5, and then 5FM, but the spark of independence was no longer there and whole generations have grown up in South Africa without hearing music radio at its best. – Brian Currin
Top TV in South Africa has three audio (radio) channels dedicated to South African music as part of their basic package.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, no talking, no adverts, no station IDs … just music, and only South African music.
Channel 542 is called SA Gospel and features a variety of SA Gospel artists including Deborah, Rebecca and Amadodana Ase Wesile.
Channel 543 is called SA Traditional and should appeal to a slightly older audience. Styles range from Boeremusiek to Afro Jazz to Classic Rock.
Channel 544 is called SA Modern and will appeal to the youth. The latest hits mixed with recent popular dance and rock songs. Almost all the recent SAMA nominees and winners can be heard as well as up-and-coming new artists.
Die Mystic Boer – Valiant Swart (Dis ’n Groot Avontuur)
Die Mystic Boer by Valiant Swart
I can’t help but think of The Doors’ ‘Riders On The Storm’ when I hear this song. Not that ‘Die Mystic Boer’ is a rip off of Jim Morrison’s classic, it’s just that it has a similar texture to it, and, on certain versions where Simon ‘Agent’ Orange is given free rein on the keyboards, the rich organ sound certainly owes something to Ray Manzarek. The fact that the cover of ‘Die Mystic Boer’ album features a man on a horse with a guitar furthers a ‘Riders’ ambiance.
Valiant hung out with the legendary Koos Kombuis (whom he met during his military service) but was not really part of the Voëlvry movement that brought Afrikaans rock music to the nation. However, in 1996, he released the album ‘Die Mystic Boer’, and became the leading light of the next phase of Afrikaan Rock music. The title track of the album
quickly established itself as not only an important Afrikaans blues song but also an important South African song. The lyrics are poetical, the music mystical and bluesy and the song is magical.
It is worth checking out some of the recorded live versions of the song such as that on the cassette only release ‘Voetstoets‘ and the ‘Tassenberg All Stars‘ (the first one) album.
op ‘n vaal vlakte
het ons hom die eerste keer gewaar
hy’t snaaks gedans en weggeraak
in ‘n waas van walms en wind
daar was klowe in die verte
en die son was nog jonk
en grys voëls het ons dopgehou
toe ons onder die oggend vir mekaar geknik het
ons gaan hom jag
die newels het gewink
die dag het geruik na nuwe bloed
en gebreek
veertig dae en veertig nagte
soek ons die mystic boer
maar soos die perde van middernag-gedagtes
bly hy op sy hoede en loer
oor sy skouer
ons loop deur die leegte
met ons oë vasgepen op ‘n stofwolk
waar sy voete die aarde ontstig het
met passies vol punk en plesierigheid
die môrestond het ons blinkgesmeer met vars hoop
op geluk en wysheid en vreugde
en vure vol verskeidenheid
en lig
na die berge, na die klowe, na die spelonke
dwarrel die gees
terwyl ons, die jagters, hom bestorm
met nette en tralies
en tyd
veertig dae en veertig nagte
soek ons die mystic boer
maar soos die perde van middernag-gedagtes
bly hy op sy hoede en loer
oor sy skouer
die grense van ons mission
was slegs die wind en weer
die bliksems en donders wat bangpraat
en reën bring om stof te kanselleer
hoe groter die drang na ontmoeting
met die koning van die nuwe asem
hoe woester die tog
en hoe stiller
daar was ‘n skaduwee om merker te speel
en ‘n uptempo rouklaag die magnet
en visioene van nuwe dinge
was oral
veertig dae en veertig nagte
soek ons die mystic boer
maar soos die perde van middernag-gedagtes
bly hy op sy hoede en loer
oor sy skouer
skielik was daar niks
behalwe ‘n vaal vlakte en die son
was ons alleen met water en jeans
die danser was weg
teen middernag was die maan treurig en mooi
en die grond het gesmaak na sout
en toe die nuwe oggend opstaan uit die berg
het grys voëls ons dopgehou
so as jy hom sien, en jy wil hom soek
doen dit gerus
want dis ‘n groot avontuur
alhoewel jy eindig
waar jy begin het
veertig dae en veertig nagte
soek ons die mystic boer
maar soos die perde van middernag-gedagtes
bly hy op sy hoede en loer
oor sy skouer met ‘n vreemde grynslag
en dans in die nánag met die maan
oor sy skouer met ‘n oog wat uitdaag
kom nader, kom vra my my naam
International cosmetics powerhouse, Almay, have used South African quintet, Fire Through The Window’s “Do Do Do” in their latest television campaign featuring spokesmodel and actress, Kate Hudson.
Fire Through The Window are no strangers to advertising. Their songs have been used before in local ads; twice by iPod, twice by Shox and once each by Mr Price & SL Magazine. The Almay campaign will last for a minimum of two years and will be aired on television screens internationally. The advert has already been spotted on screens in the USA, UK and South Africa.
“This is pretty much the biggest thing that’s ever happened to us”, says co-vocalist, Sinead Dennis. “We’ve had placements in local campaigns before, which has been awesome and extremely beneficial for us, but having an international ad placement is pretty crazy. It is so surreal and it feels good just to know that people over there might actually get to hear us.”
The above chart is akin to a horse-and-buggy company making a chart that shows what would have happened to their business if cars were never invented—and then using that chart to sue Chevy for the difference. – Alex Moore
The crumbling empire known as Warner Music Group simply isn’t worth $2.5 billion (or more), at least according to one heavyweight Wall Street analyst. “Beyond the vanity element that drove Guy Hands/Terra Firma’s disastrous acquisition of EMI, we simply do not see a reason why someone would pay $2.5 billion for WMG, particularly with EMI for sale as well,” the hard-hitting Rich Greenfield opined early Thursday morning. “We continue to believe EMI’s music publishing asset is far better positioned than Warner/Chappell.”
Experience the true spirit of Cape Town’s musical heritage with Jazzing and Jiving, the album that captures the spirit of this magnificent city with a host of accomplished musicians.
A classic live track off this South African pop-folkie’s powerful Shifty album, Hand Around The Heart, on which her incisive vision and wit expose the fabric of white South African suburban life.
Red Earth & Rust’s is a compelling new voice in the singer/songwriter genre, with powerful storytelling and soulful lyrics with its new double album Dark Mercy and Wrestling the Angel, from which this song is taken.
A track off the album, Singalong African Kidz a very special collection of original children’s songs crafted by renowned singer/songwriter Wendy Oldfield.
The double CD called ‘Sui’ by this Cape Town trio famed for their improvisational and inspirational musical creations, is regarded as one of their best.
Kwesta is a young rapper and Buttabing Entertainment’s newest signing who recently released his debut Hip Hop album Special Rekwest here with his first single off the album.
Old schoolers think albums don’t sell what they used to because of theft. The real story is albums don’t sell because not enough people care. The audience is scattered. Then again, it’s easy to reach everybody online. You can gain great success. – Bob Lefsetz
There’s plenty of good music out there, and plenty of struggling artists waiting to be discovered. The Grammys may never honor them, but at this point, who cares? – Andy J Smith
Sugar Music 