Dig into Rare African Grooves from the 70s/80s by Ostinato Records

The early days of Ostinato Records involved looking a lot at the maps of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Using our understanding of history to determine where the major crossroads for music would be with regards to African music in particular. Africa is a continent that is so deeply connected with almost any place; it is bound to produce an extraordinary melting pot of music many have yet to hear. It's not so much music as it's a rich history of manipulating sound. If you see the world by placing Africa at the center and how it has both absorbed and exported styles of music, you have a wonderful roadmap to places and projects that will leave a mark on the world of music.

Our road map was simple: West to East, starting with Haiti in the Caribbean, then moving towards West Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands, Senegal, and off to East Africa—to Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan, and Djibouti.

One of the earliest memories I have is driving around the swirling hills of the Haitian countryside while putting together our label’s first release, Tanbou Toujou Lou. I had the privilege of seeing much of Haiti. From its beach-towns to cities and rural areas… All in an effort to fully understand the breadth, vastness, and stunning history of Haiti’s infinite catalog of music. That approach—one of deep immersion into a place, society, and culture—was what has guided **Ostinato Records**production trips and working philosophy to be able to produce the most revealing, real, and authentic representations of a country and its people and stories. All told through the medium of sound and world-class music.

The image we have in our heads about many countries—be it Somalia, Haiti, or Sudan—is not one of our own choosing. We are bombarded with images, stories, films, and voices who paint an image that barely represents even one percent of the truth about negatively portrayed countries.

Anthony Bourdain believed you change this narrative through cuisine. While that’s an excellent way to experience humanity, there is a universality and timelessness about music that truly shifts the perception of a place. The records on Ostinato Records have sought to set the story straight. Quite simply: music is the best evidence we have for an alternative understanding of history and the present. We believe storytelling through music creates a lasting image of a misunderstood place.

When Sweet As Broken Dates arrived in 2017, not only was it nominated for a Grammy, but its portrayal of Somalia was such a drastic shift: the album’s story began replacing the negative stories about Somalia we have become accustomed to on news sites worldwide, especially in the West. That’s the power of storytelling through music.

Some great tunes that shatter preconceived notions are Zotobre's “Lagen,” Manuel Gomes' “Jelivra Bo Situacon,” **Aamina Aamar**i's “Men Are Cruel and Kind,” Abu Obaida Hassan's “Qamar Al Massa,” Kamal Tarbas’ “Forget Those That Divide Us,” Grupo Pilon's “Rabes,” almost anything from The Dancing Devils of Djibouti, and 4 Mars' “Dhulka Hooyo.”

A story becomes more powerful the more it is told, heard, or seen. Tracklib allows producers from around the world to work with these raw tunes to produce songs with aesthetics that can reach a broader audience interested in more contemporary genres of music. Those who remain curious about the originals and sources.

Visiting Sudan is one of life’s great pleasures. You know it’s an ancient place that’s been greeting travelers for millennia because their hospitality has been honed to an art form. To visit a musician’s home there like Emad Youssef is an even greater honor. Plenty of tea, sweets, and the sweetest of all: a chance to hear them jam in a private, comfortable setting like their home. You’ll be surprised how much better many musicians play when they’re just relaxing at home as opposed to being put in a studio or so…

The sounds are so unique. Few outside their immediate regions have had an opportunity to truly listen. Our catalog bursts with an east-to-west diversity: Vodou jazz from Haiti, cosmic synth disco from the Cabo Verde Islands, Afro-Cuban electric guitars and trumpets from Senegal, the looping rhythms laced with violins and synths from Sudan, the smoldering keys and brass from Somalia and Djibouti… All the way to rawer accordion-driven dance music, softer South-American-inspired acoustic music, and hypnotic Nubian tambour sounds. Deep flavors to dig into.

Over the next year, you can expect a mix of archival work and contemporary recordings. Ranging from hypnotic jazz from Northeast Africa's Red Sea coast, Nubian electronic dance music, digital rhythms from Somalia's Banadiri coast, and some very special voices from South Africa.