Fresh Music - RetroFresh: 2000-2002 Releases

This is some good shit!

RETRO FRESH is an imprint label dedicated to the preservation of classic South African pop & rock music of the last 30 years…each release, many available for the first time on cd,has been digitally remastered with bonus tracks including live, studio out takes,demos and unreleased songs. Where possible the original artwork has been retained but has been extended to include great pics, in-depth liner notes written by some of the country's leading music journalists, rare memorabilia and artist commentary. All releases are artist approved.

So from the Afro rock sounds of Hawk and the bluesy wail of Otis Waygood to the ethotronic funk of éVoid and the psychotic psychedelia of Falling Mirror RETRO FRESH brings you the best musical memories…

2002 releases


	Album Title - Live At Jamesons Jameson's made The Cherry Faced Lurchers. When the band got a residency there in 1984, it was the moment at which a rather ramshackle band pulled itself together. By July 1985, when Lloyd Ross of Shifty Records put Live at Jameson's down on tape, they were an extraordinarily tight three-piece with a repertoire of songs exceptional for their strength - and their rollicking sense of fun.
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	Album Title - Lank Sweat! "Lank Sweat" brings together for the first time on disc not only all the original tracks from the classic "No Sweat" album but seven tracks from the unreleased second album, all digitally remastered in the true Retro tradition... and its on these tracks that he can hear just how far the Sweatband had progressed from the original album… songs like "Down in Africa", "Just an emotion" and "Nobody else" are a gigantic quantum leap in every department and further underscores the fact that in John and Wendy the band had a songwriting team and dynamic live duo that was the equal of any major international group. So here it is ... the ultimate and complete Sweatband retrospective ... Lank Sweat 'bru!
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album Title - The Best Of The Helicopters Formed in Vereeniging in the early 1980s by singer/songwriter Bernard Binns, The Helicopters burst onto the SA music scene with the infectious hit song Mysteries & Jealousy. Signed to WEA Records by industry stalwart Benjy Mudie, the band went on to have numerous Top Ten hits which included Whisper Your Secret, Only For You and Don't Want to Live in Hollywood.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album Title - Uncomplicated Dreams Fusing elements of rock, pop, theatre and mime into a unique and heady musical brew. Ella Mental trailblazed their way through the mid 80's with great songs like "See yourself (Clowns)", "Pressure" and "Magic Mother"…who can ever forget their phenomenal live performances! Digitally remastered and available for the first time on CD the band's debut album"Uncomplicated Dreams" includes all the original songs plus the rare 12" e.p. tracks, the stunning live performance of "See yourself (Clowns)" at 1985's Concert in the Park and a pair of new songs from the band's archive.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album Title - Galactic Vibes The most influential South African rock band of the psychedelic era and perhaps of all time - renowned for their live extended aural exploration of rock, early electronica and tribal rhythms. Long sought after by collectors worldwide and finally officially released "Galactic Vibes includes the jaw dropping live version of "The Homecoming" plus "1999", "Seahorse", "That Did It" and more ... some great rare pics and liner notes included.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album Title - Zen Boulders / Storming of the Loft Long hailed as one of the most innovative rock groups of the 80's, Cape Town's Falling Mirror released two albums in late 1979/80. Here together for the first time on one album are the debut "Zen Boulders", including the hits "I am the Actor" and the original version of "Makin' out with granny" twinned with the followup epic"The storming of the Loft" which features "If I was James Dean", "Neutron Bop" and the chilling "We build a big fire". If you are fan of the Mirror then this 2 on 1 release is just up your street!
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Various Artists It was the 80's in South Africa ... in the midst of political and cultural oppression there was a musical revolution happening and some of the greatest rock 'n pop music of the decade was being made: 18 fab bands including Tribe after Tribe, Ellamental, éVoid, Petit Cheval, Spectres, Via Afrika, Helicopters, Asylum Kids, Psycho Reptiles, The Dynamics and more. 18 bands ... 18 great songs all on "Rocking against the system".
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album Title - On loan for evolution Cheeky, trashy, sleazy, fired up post punk from four teenage girls and a guy who defined the 'new wave 'explosion of the mid 80's....best remembered for their fired up live shows and a handful of classic pop hits like “Its so luvverly”, “A lot of things”, ”Nightmare” and their wickedly edgy version of XTC's “Complicated Game”. All the hits are included plus an unreleased gem in “Out of tune”, the proverbial ton of rare photos and liner notes by the band's then manager Graham Boynton.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Time to SUCK (1970) The loudest, most controversial and obnoxious revolutionary fist-in-your-face rock album of the early 70's. Suck's rapacious musical rampage through a conservative South Africa in 1970 is stuff that legends are made of!... "Time to SUCK" is all howling feedback guitars, explosive drumming, an axe-wielding bassist and muscular vocal antics.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Here comes the Rot... (1986) éVoid's second album "Here come the rot...", was recorded in London in 1986 and includes all the original gems like "Dance the instinct", "Fashion War" and "Sgt Major" plus an additional five bonus tracks including "Kwela Walk" and "Telem and Godon". The artwork has been extended to include tons of new pics from the band's extensive photo archive plus updated liner notes. This digitally remastered reissue is the perfect companion to the band's timeless debut album.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - In the Arena (1977) Circus were one of the most exciting live progressive rock bands of the mid 70's. In lead singer Bernie Miller the group had a showman that rivaled Jagger, Freddy Mercury etc... add some of the hottest players in the country and some great songs like "Speed Queen", "Long legged lady" and their heartstopping version of "Conquistador" and you get an album that 26 years later still sounds as majestic as it did back then. Digitally remastered by the band themselves and packed with rare photos and incisive liner notes.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Best Kept Secrets No one who was around in the turbulent mid 80's could ever forget the powerful stormtrooping pop of Dog Detachment. Culled from their three albums with added rare tracks "Best kept secrets" is the best of a band that did not believe in compromise. This reissue is boosted by the inclusion of several additional songs in MP3 format plus stacks of great pics, in perspective liner notes and stunning artwork.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Johnny calls the chemist (1985) Never available before on CD "Johnny Calls The Chemist" is perhaps Falling Mirror's finest work... brooding, dark and slightly unhinged lyrical imagery fused with some of the most searing rock guitar this side of the universe. Songs of madness, obsession and alienation not to be listened to in the dark, alone! Includes the classic title track plus an unreleased track, two in-studio demos and for Mirror fanatics... the rare "Johnny…" video clip as a enhanced feature.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - The Dynamics (1982-1986) It's time to switch on and jive ... again! Musically, The Dynamics were fun, jubilant and refreshing , blending post-punk ska and hard-edged new wave with African township mbaqanga and inflections of rhythm 'n blues, soul, mainstream pop rock and more. This 18 track retrospective includes all the band's anthems: the inimitable "Thugs", "Siyabonga", "Pot Black" and "This weekend" plus informative liner notes and tons of fabulous pics from the archives.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Conspirare - The very best of.. (1980 - 1994) Before Tori Amos, PJ Harvey and Tracy Chapman there was Lesley Rae Dowling…With a voice that could melt ice and songs that painted aural landscapes Lesley Rae is perhaps the finest singer songwriter ever produced in this country.Conspirare brings together 18 songs spanning two decades including the hits "The Spaniard"; "Living without conversation", "Possession", "Grips of emotion" and "Innocent child".
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Otis Waygood Blues Band (1970) They were invaders from the North and they set South Africa alight with their unique barnstorming brand of high octane blues rock.. they were Otis Waygood and rock was never the same again! Digitally transferred from the original vinyl their seminal debut album includes classics like "You're late Miss Kate" , "Watch 'n chain", "I cant keep from cryin'" and their burning version of "Fever". This reissue features three bonus tracks as well as a fascinating essay by noted author Rian Malan plus newly discovered photos.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - African Day (1971) "It's dark and still in the chief's village protected by the mountains of the great southern regions of Africa"... so began the greatest Afro rock epic concept album ever made. Hawk's debut album is music that legends are made of with it's fusion of acoustic music with African rhythms. This reissue includes the 17 minute title track, "Kissed by the sun", their evocative version of "Here comes the sun" and four bonus live tracks from 1971 plus the usual rare photos and in depth liner notes.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - Via Afrika (1983) Via Afrika's debut album was one of the most innovative and frontier blazing pop albums of the times and has been digitally remastered by the band's vocalist/leader Rene Veldsman : all the storming tunes are here including the timeless "Hey Boy:, "Chiggi Chiggi" and the stompin' title track. Featured on this reissue are the rare US 12" remixes as well as an additional non album track "A rose is a rose"…also included are liner notes and previously unpublished photos of the band.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website


	Album title - éVoid (1983) Digitally remastered from the original analog tapes éVoid's classic album features all the massive hits that made them the hottest pop band of the decade ; "Taximan" , "Shadows" , "Junk Jive", "I am a fadget" and "Urban Warrior". This reissue is boosted by the inclusion of an additional five bonus tracks including three new songs plus an extensive essay on the band as well as fabulous rare photos from the éVoid archive.
	Pics Track List Downloads Liner Notes Buy CD (International) Buy CD (South Africa) Website

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