Bleep

The Kwaito resurgence continues apace with this latest reissue. Originally a bubblegum pop group who had a string of hits in the 80s, Volcano heard the winds of change blowing in the early 90s. They switched up their sound to incorporate the new Shangaan disco craze sweeping their home country of South Africa, and in doing so they stumbled upon ‘Vanonyana Lava’. Mixing the chunky grooves of Kwaito with the band’s well-oiled pop sensibility, the track has become something of a collectors’ item since its release in 1993. Fortunately, upstart Jo’burg label Afrosynth have set it to wax so that a new generation can fall in love with the tune. The flipside is another rare-as-hen’s-teeth gem. Afrosynth boss DJ Okapi has long been rinsing 1995 Kwaito anthem ‘Chappies’ by short-lived group The Beat Gangsters in his sets. Now you can too.