Eternally awe-inspiring imprint Awesome Tapes From Africa have dug through the vaults again and extracted yet another Magnificent Audiotape Originating From the First Continent. And, true to the giving spirit of summer, they’re ready to share their bountiful auditory riches with you, loyal listeners! This time, they’ve emerged with the sunny folk sounds of 1985 Côte d’Ivoire; that’s right: Jess Sah Bi & Peter One’s low-key, acoustic-heavy, Americana-flecked classic Our Garden Needs Its Flowers is back! The reissue drops on vinyl, CD, and digital formats August 17.
Remastered by ATFA engineer Jessica Thompson, Our Garden Needs Its Flowers originally thrust its creators into stardom throughout West Africa in the late ’80s. The album was inspired both by the charming, homespun sounds of classic American country and folk music and the traditions of Ivorian village songs, but it focused thematically on the political turmoil of the region; as such, it featured songs sung in French, Gouro, and English. Its tranquil vibe and twangy, acoustic guitar-driven instrumentation differentiated it from the energetic dance music sweeping the Ivory Coast and surrounding countries at the time. Take note of the soft vocal harmonies in “Clipo Clipo” and the timeless slide guitar in “Apartheid,” for example — both of which you can listen to below.
If those breezy jams seem like something you’d be into, you can also pre-order Our Garden Needs Its Flowers in any and all formats here, and check out the full tracklisting below. And, of course, I implore you to be forever grateful that Awesome Tapes exists to soundtrack your summer daydreams like this! Before you click “play,” say: “Thank you, Awesome Tapes From Africa!”
Our Garden Needs Its Flowers tracklisting:
01. Clipo Clipo
02. Katin
03. Kango
04. Minmanle?
05. Our Garden Needs Its Flowers
06. Apartheid
07. African Chant
08. Solution
More about: Jess Sah Bi & Peter One
