RELEASE DATE: NOV 26TH 2021FORMAT: 180g Vinyl LPLABEL: Tidal Waves Music CAT NO: TWM82 BARCODE: 735202315262 Tracklisting: 01 Return to You02 Good Good Understanding03 Gettin Together04 I Believed Her05 Good Samaritan06 I Feel Funky07 I Dont Have to Worry08 Something in Mind09 I Want You10 Love Is the Only Way11 Gimme Some Lovin12 Talkin Talkin MATATA Independence[Black Friday 2021 Exclusive] LP 180g Vinyl(Limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. With Obi Strip) RSD Black Friday titles will be available to buy in-store from 9am on Friday 26th November 2021 and online from 8am Saturday 27th November 2021. Matata (which means trouble in Swahili) was an African funk band who took nightclubs by storm and jammed with some of the biggest giants in soul, jazz and Latin music. The band had its roots in the Congo although it formed in Kenya in the mid-sixties. Matata was based around the famous Starlight Club in Nairobi. The group retained elements of traditional music by incorporating instruments such as the ngoma (a large drum) and an eight stringed guitar-harp called the nyatitithis brought something different to their style and made for a unique sound. Each of the songwriters sang lead in their native tongues and this meant they used vocals in three African languages (next to the songs sung in English). As the sixties drew to an end Matata (sometimes also known as Air Fiesta Matata) were regulars on Kenyan television and enjoyed a national following.In 1971 when the BBC held a competition to find the best band in Africa, Matata submitted a song and came in first. They were sent to visit London, performed at the BBC and stayed around to do some gigs (after years of playing at the Starlight Club the band was tight and well-rehearsed). The timing was perfect because there was a serious cross-fertilisation taking place between musicians from many different genres and nationalitiesand this brought such vibrancy to cultural life in the capital. Matata arrived in London just as Assagai and Osibisa groups led by African musicians who also played a fusion of styles released their debut albums, paving the way for their peers.The band signed a two-album deal with the UK-based label President Records (who would go on to release Matatas Air Fiesta in 1972 & Independence in 1974). Several singles also came out of this and Matata scored hits in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. With a wealth of material and a dynamic live act to its name they would play packed gigs every night. The group was a visual, as well as musical feast and quickly became favorites at several well-known London nightclubs. Tours were numerous and the band played all over the world including having residencies in the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Hong Kong & Germany (where they got the chance to jam with Miles Davis in Cologne). There would be no further Matata recordings and sadly the band split after releasing their second album. Luckily, we are left with the unique documents that are Air Fiesta and Independence.The album we are presenting you today (Independence from 1974) comes swinging right out the gate with a set of no less than TWELVE monster tunes. Its a musical gumbo full of irresistible rhythms, punchy blasts, snappy vocal hooks, reverb-laden Santana guitar solos, a little reggae and Afrobeat filled horn arrangements, plus everything else needed to get dancers working overtime. On Independence the group leaned mightily on James Brown for their groove, and laid out a heavy, rock solid variation on JBs funk with an African percussion base of fluid congas and bongos at the core.Independence is a quintessential record that every serious collector or fan needs to have in his/her collection. Matatas marriage of percolating African rhythms delivered one butt-shaking, finger-popping club hit after another that can still fill a dance floor to this day. Hard funky soul with an Afrobeat backboneits all about the grooves here!Originally released in 1974 on President Records, Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first official reissue of this seminal Afrobeat/Afrofunk album. This unique record comes as a deluxe 180g vinyl edition (strictly limited to 1000 copies worldwide) with obi strip and featuring the original artwork. This reissue also comes with an insert featuring pictures of the band and extensive liner notes from award winning author John Masouri. Released exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday 2021 and available in participating stores on November 26, 2021. 180g Plus Insert See below for tracklisting