AMANDLA – Amandla (A-Disc, 1980)

Other languages, English vocals, instrumental, spoken word
International relevance: -

Man, does the A-Disc curse go deep! Not only did they release train loads of emotionally debilitated rock music and pseudo progg, they also managed to sneak out this entirely redundant slab of ANC themed South African music.

Now, I'll readily admit I'm not a fan of South African music in general (I very much prefer the hard-boiled grooves of Northern Africa), but I can nevertheless discern when South African music is passionate. And this just isn't. It's amazing really how A-Disc could turn everything they touched into cosmic dullness.

If I am to say one nice thing about it (although I'm certainly not obliged to), ”Ngwaba Wanga” (=”my child”) is a half-decent slightly jazzy thing that could have been released on a lesser Black Jazz Records disc. But don't take that as an excuse to check this album out. I just said it to look kind. 

Welele Mandela
Ngwana Wanga 

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Göteborgsrock/Ytterrock (Pang, 1982)

 
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *

A ghastly various artists compilation released on the infamous Pang label in 1982, consisting of B grade Gothenburg bands. As often with albums of this kind, it's stylistically all over the place, with really terrible middle-of-the-road rock by Midnight, some spineless reggae by Malta Feber, hard rock by Nya Ambulansen that only deaf people can enjoy, and some untalented new wave/punk by F.K.M. I doubt that there's anything like Blå Schäfer completists in this world, but if there are, their two tracks are surely the most interesting in this lot (but they suck too).

Full album