NEWS

Analog Africa is a new series from Alula Records featuring rare legendary recordings from seminal bands that formed the explosive Zimbabwean music scene in the 1970s. The Green Arrows, lead by the immortal Zexie Manatsa, dominated the Zimbabwean music scene in the 1970s. This extraordinarily progressive group took the country by storm, fusing the different rhythms of the region into one unique and ebullient sound • A milestone in Zimbabwean music history! “Lost ’70s Zimbabwean Afro-rock that’ll make you grin. Guitarist Stanley Manatsa’s wah-wah is just plain nasty.” – Spin (****stars)

Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, "The Lion of Zimbabwe,” Thomas Mapfumo, is Zimbabwe’s biggest star, one of the most legendary and best-selling African artists of all time • In 1973, Mapfumo helped form the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band and, for the fi rst time, began to shift his music away from Westerninfl uenced rock and explore the traditional music of his Shona people, transcribing the scale of the traditional instrument mbira (or thumb piano) to guitar with his guitarist Joshua Dube. “Zimbabwe rock’s heady trademark electric guitar style: a breathless, loopy, dampened plucking that mimics traditional mbira thumb-piano melodies.” –Rolling Stone (****stars)

Maria Kalaniemi is Scandinavia’s most accomplished and celebrated accordionist, winning the prestigious Golden Accordion Award in 1983 and recording several critically acclaimed albums on the Hannibal, Xenophile, and Northside labels. In addition to her rich catalog of solo albums, Kalaniemi has been indispensable as a part of top ranked Finnish folk groups such as Aldargaz, Niekku, and Zeta Bop.
“Maria Kalaniemi is a versatile technical sorceress with the five-row button accordion, capable of improvising sonic wonders for the avant-garde, and then playing tradition-minded polkas, waltzes, and tangos for folk dancers.” — MUSIC HOUNDWORLD

Norland Wind. The landscape and music of Donegal, the Celtic northwest of Ireland, provides the inspiration for many compositions of the trio featuring harpist Thomas Loefke. Haunting harp instrumentals written by Loefke or by Clannad lead guitarist Ian Melrose alternate with Gaelic and Anglo-Irish songs mostly composed by singer/guitarist Kerstin Blodig. Thomas's lyrical harp, the clarity of Kerstin's expressive voice, Ian's sensitive guitar work, along with vocal harmony and compact arrangements, blend to create a uniquely evocative and emotionally powerful sound: Celtic acoustic music which successfully merges the traditional and the modern.  

Check out the Alula Visions web site here: Alula Visions.

About Alula Records

Alula Records explores contemporary world music from all over the world with the desire to share their excitement and discoveries. The label's roster includes Celtic artists from Ireland and Scotland, world beat from the Middle East, world fusion from Japan, contemporary Gnawa music from Morocco, flamenco guitar from Spain, Gypsy rumba from Spain and southern France, Estonian folk music and multiple artist compilations. Also venturing into contemporary American roots music and Alula will feature American artists whose work represents the amazing musical roots and flowerings of our own cultural diversity.

Alula Records pays special attention to detail, from first class CD packaging to state-of-the-art sound quality.  We have already won several national and international awards for the quality of its music and cover artwork. In 1998, Alula Records was named a runnerup for World Label of the Year in the Crossroads Magazine Music Awards.