Stimela – Rewind (Mr Bongo)

Mr Bongo bring the heat with this 12″ reissue of serious late night Balearic business from 1980s South African fusion group Stimela

When Stimela’s Rewind 12″ arrived from Mr Bongo I was pretty sure I didn’t know it. But after dropping the needle on “Hate Telling a Lie” I was thrilled to realise it was that track I’d heard Charlie Dark play recently (unless I’d dreamt it was him). It’s a Balearic banger of the highest order, the sort of tune you can hardly believe exists and can also be obtained – in this case thanks to Mr Bongo’s vinyl-only reissue. The fact that the b-side of this 1986 EP also boasts late night wonky masterclass “I Love You” seems almost impossible. Stimela were a South African fusion group who later found fame working with Paul Simon on Graceland, but it’s these tracks they should be celebrated for. In short, you need Rewind in your life.

“Hate Telling a Lie” leans into a major groove, staying right on the edge of letting go for its slow burning, high intensity duration. Sitting somewhere between Donald Byrd’s Places and Spaces and The Joubert Singers’ “Stand on the Word”, this is soul-funk as post-disco with a gospel engine for the E Soul crowd. Hands in the air, hearts on sleeves and giving it up on the cosmic dancefloor then.

“Where Did We Go Wrong” dials down the epic with some somnambulant soul to perfectly suit those end of the night, smoke machine assisted moments. Stimela then ramp up the heat again on the flip with “I Love You”. It’s a propulsive, synthesised beast of an instrumental that could be Herbie Hancock reworked for Andrew Weatherall. The DJ favourite phrase ‘taking you on a journey’ might be a little worn out, but it really does apply here. Consider a journey without a destination though, as it’s all about getting lost in the music.

Rewind at Mr Bongo Bandcamp

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