Mr Bongo started life in 1989 as a small record shop underneath Daddy Kool’s Reggae Store on Berwick Street in London. They were the first shop to sell vinyl releases from independent hip hop labels such as Def Jam, Rawkus, Nervous and Big Beat outside of the USA. They also became an established bearer for hard-to-find, classic Latin music, particularly Brazilian, outside of the Americas. Over the following years Bongo moved three times within Soho and opened in Shibuya, Japan. They moved their offices to Brighton in 1999.
25+ years on they now have a recording roster featuring some of the best Brazilian, Latin, reggae, African and Jazz music by artists including Terry Callier, Jorge Ben, Joyce, Seu Jorge, Prince Fatty, Incredible Bongo Band and Marcos Valle. At the end last year they opened up a new store in Brighton. We are incredibly excited to announce that Mr Bongo have agreed to do a monthly feature of their top 5 in store picks. Below are their 5 favourite records in store this February. First up for February we have two awesome reissues from Superfly Records in Paris.
Click the album covers to listen!
Andrew Wartts – There Is A God Somewhere
‘One of the best gospel LPs out there, really low-fi, great hop hop drums. An essential purchase.’
Shamek Farrah – First Impressions
‘One of the rarest and sort after Strata East releases, demand and price for this record have been rising recently so this high quality Japanese made reissue with OBi strip is much welcomed.’
Various Artists – Screamers Bangers & Cosmic Synths
‘Just repressed on black vinyl comes Stephen Marshall’s Screamers, Bangers & Cosmic Synths compilation. An odd ball selection of obscurities and gems, really varied in styles. The office favourite is the Nigerian disco track ‘Only You’ by Steve Monite.’
G.S.Schray – Gabriel
‘We’ve had this one on repeat, the first release for new London-based label Last Resort born from the NTS Radio show of the same name. A fantastic ambient/new age esque LP from G.S.Schray originating from Akron, Ohio in US. This record was his label of love taking over a year to finish.’
‘Joe King Kologbo & The High Grace Sugar Daddy is a dope 15 minute Nigerian disco-funk work out, with a long break and amazing synths. This has been a firm favourite with our own Ville Marttila and Nick The Record in their dj sets. Now released for everyone on Strutt’s new Original Masters imprint.’
