Mulatu Astatke is a busy man.  We've always known this, but after speaking with him recently, we realized that he has even more on the horizon than we were aware of.  He recently spoke with our own Quinton Scott about his upcoming film soundtrack, opera (!), and education center.  Kind of makes us feel like a bunch of slackers... Head to Okayafrica to read the full interview.

Strut conclude their essential three-part excursion into the archives of South African music... Volume 3 is a long overdue retrospective of the rich jazz scene happening in South Africa! The album features many of the recognized South African jazz greats like saxophonist Dudu Pukwana and drummer Early Mabuza, the potent soul jazz grooves of The Heshoo Beshoo Group and The Drive and some of the many artists creating unique fusions like Philip Tabane's Malombo mixing African drums and hand percussion with guitar, vocal and flute. This is important music, a defiant statement in the face of unimaginable cultural repression.

On Volume 1 of Next Stop... Soweto, we focused on traditional South African music. The second volume treads into the fusion of these sounds with western funk, soul, psych & more. Below, find a track from the powerhouse group Mahotella Queens (whose sublime "Zway Kumusha" is one of the highlights of Volume 1), who according to the album's liner notes, were pressured into a more contemporary direction by their label. Not ones to bend over easily though, the track (the title of which translates to "Come On, Hippies") calls out South African youth for leaving behind the values of their parents. What's more timeless than letting the young whippersnappers have a piece of your mind? And over a track like this, we certainly can't complain. Volume 2 of Next Stop... Soweto is out May 11th.

The Mahotella Queens- Wozani Mahipi by Strut

It's been a long time coming, but we're extremely pleased to announce that our Next Stop... Soweto project is out this week. Compiled by the always incredible Duncan Brooker and Francis Gooding, the three part release covers a wide spectrum of South African music from the traditional Mbaqanga, Township and Jive featured on Volume 1, to more modern takes and fusions on Vols. 2 & 3. The album is streaming all week on AOL Spinner, and we're confident that once you hear it, you'll know why we're so excited. CLICK HERE to stream.

I probably don't have to say how much pride Strut takes in assembling packaging and liner notes for our releases that reflect the quality of the music, and offer some insight into the time and place it was recorded. That said, we're especially proud of the notes for Next Stop... Soweto, and we wanted to share some of these fantastic images. Check out a short clip featuring music from the album, and a sample of some of the photos in the liner notes. It'll brighten your day, guaranteed.