This time let me take you to an island on the East side of the Atlantic Ocean, just off the West coast from Africa: Cape Verde or Cabo Verde.

On Wikipedia you can read the following:

“The Cape Verde archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the islands, establishing the first European settlement in the tropics. Ideally located for the Atlantic slave trade, the islands grew prosperous throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, attracting merchants, privateers, and pirates. The end of transatlantic slavery in the 19th century led to economic decline and emigration. Cape Verde gradually recovered as an important commercial center and stopover for shipping routes. Incorporated as an overseas department of Portugal in 1951, the islands continued to campaign for independence, which was achieved in 1975.”

This week, Arp Frique’s new compilation ‘Radio Verde’ is being released – a compilation of 12 Cabo Verdean gems:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Radio-Verde-Cape-Verdean-Dancefloor-Music-Compiled-By-Americo-Brito-Arp-Frique/release/14104688

I’ve been following Arp Frique for a year now. I think it started with hearing ‘Nos Magia’ being used in the trailer for Rainbow Disco Club 2018:

I actually ended up going to Japan and RDC that year. I was blown away by the Japanese culture, food & history and loved the festival. I made some videos there, you can watch them on my Youtube channel if you want – but that’s not the point of this blogpost! 🙂 Cape Verdian music is 😉

After buying the Radio Verde compilation I started looking into music from Cabo Verde a little bit and found this short documentary about the specific Cabo Verdian sound, which all started with a cargo ship crashing nearby and bringing new musical instruments and technology like Moog synthesizers to the island. As you can see in the documentary, the Cabo Verdian’s had their own socio-political struggles to endure and music, as per usual, was a voice of the oppressed.

A Sweet Pain: The Rebel Synths of Cabo Verde

You can hear the following 3 amazing songs in the documentary:

Antonio Sanches – Pinta Manta

Joao Cirilo – Po D’Terra

Pedrinho – Odio Sem Valor

Analog Africa recently compiled the above songs and then some and I’m super keen to buy it soon: https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/space-echo-the-mystery-behind-the-cosmic-sound-of-cabo-verde-finally-revealed

Of course, you could also go for the original records but they can be a bit pricey – which is one of the reasons why I don’t mind a good compilation 😉

https://www.discogs.com/Ant%C3%B3nio-Sanches-Buli-Povo-/master/1338607

https://www.discogs.com/Jo%C3%A3o-Cirilo-P%C3%B3-Dterra-Ra%C3%ADzes/release/2740927

https://www.discogs.com/Pedrinho-Nhõs-Dêxa-De-Conta-Mintira/master/813971

Here’s another compilation with Cape Verdian music: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Synthesize-the-Soul-Astro-Atlantic-Hypnotica-from-the-Cape-Verde-Islands-1973-1988/master/1143443

I also need to make an honorable mention to Cesaria Evoria, she’s from Cabo Verde and a vocalist in one of my all-time favorite songs – Bia Lulucha:

Cesaria Evoria – Bia Lalucha

Now, what’s the link between Arp Frique and Cabo Verde? The answer is Americo Brito! Americo is Cabo Verdian and moved to Rotterdam back in the 70s where he started to pursue a career in music just like his fellow countrymen in the Dutch city.

I found 2 lovely songs while writing this blog:



Américo Brito – Sintado Na Pracinha



Américo Brito – Sabe Na Panama

He also plays with Arp Frique from time to time, as you can hear on their other compilation which features ‘Nos Magia’ with lyrics by Americo Brito, some epic fusion of disco, funk, Cabo Verdean and Carribean sounds and probably the most epic artwork I’ve ever seen on a vinyl:

https://www.discogs.com/Arp-Frique-Welcome-To-The-Colorful-World-Of-Arp-Frique/release/11872590

Colorful World Of Arp Frique Artwork

Stamp the wax did an interview with Niels Nieuborg from Arp Frique when the album was released:

Niels also did a mix which you can listen to here:

Some of Americo’s songs are also featured on the ‘Radio Verde’ compilation, like this groover with some sick Moog action:

Américo Brito & Djarama – Rapaz Novo é Malandro

Luis Hernandes played the Moog on the above song and Coracao Dum Criola on the ‘Radio Verde’ compilation features more Moog magic by him.

To finish this blog post I’d like to send you straight through to the Rush Hour website where you can buy the ‘Radio Verde’ compilation for €20.99 (absolute steal!) and read some more about the story of Americo, Radio Verde & Cape Verdian music. A similar text is found on the gatefold of the compilation, which also features some amazing artwork 😉

UPDATE AUGUST 2020: My friend Wessel aka Goodthingman did his dissertation on the history of Cape Verdean Music and did a nice (Dutch) interview that you can watch here.

https://www.facebook.com/radio.maxi/videos/589605225038075

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