Next Stop Soweto Vol 4: Zulu Rock, Afro-Disco and Mbaqanga 1975-1985

The years between 1975 and 1985 marked the violent beginning of the end for the apartheid era. Mandela was still in jail, and South Africa became increasingly ungovernable as the Soweto Uprising of 1976 was followed by upheavals across the country. And the music was equally defiant. South African sounds were still little known in the West, but musicians in South Africa were taking note of Western styles, and the fusion of homegrown mbaqanga with funk, disco and rock led to some remarkable and rousing songs. This is the fourth album in the excellent Strut series and it's packed with intriguing tracks. Elias Maluleke & Mavambe Girls but have a gutsy approach that echoes the great Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens, and their song ‘Khombo Ranga’ is driven on by a stirring bass line. TY Boys have a similar rousing style that matches echoes of mbaqanga with stomping Western dance influences. Elsewhere, there's sturdy African-edged funk from The Actions and The Movers, rock riffs from Xoliso, and a brass-backed township workout from Margaret Singané. The title might make it sound like a mere curiosity from over-plundered archives, but it's well worth checking out.