Tag: Current

The first single to be taken from Big Boss Man‘s third album ‘Full English Beat Breakfast‘.

The 2002 self-titled album debut from The Bongolian. A record box essential for any DJ which since its release has found a wide appeal from Dance and Hip-Hop to rare groove and funk and 60’s dancefloor fans. Containing the sort after 45 ‘Bongohead’ and other tracks which are still live favourites at The Bongolian live shows. Unavailable on LP for several years, but now back in stock by popular demand.

Nasser Bouzida AKA The Bongolian, is the main man from the group from another Blow Up artist Big Boss Man This is Nasser in his element, taking us on a musical journey of dirty bongo driven Funk and spaced-out Latin Soul.

The album was written, arranged, performed and produced entirely by Nasser at his home studio, where he recorded on analogue 8 track in down time from working with Big Boss Man. On hearing the recordings Paul Tunkin agreed to release the recordings on Blow Up and suggested The Bongolian as a name for the then untitled project. Tracks were subsequently mixed on a 1970’s Raindirk Desk and transferred to 24 track tape in Willesden by Nick Terry. The album was mastered by Simon Heyworth at Sanctuary. With Simon and Paul editing and sequencing the final mastered tracks into the finish release.

Released in Autumn 2007, ‘Outer Bongolia’ is the third album from Nasser Bouzida a.k.a ‘The Bongolian‘. This is Nasser in his element as he embarks on a psychedelic musical trip to the outer regions of the Funk galaxy, taking in spaced-out heavy Bongo rhythms and Latin Soul along the way – all 100% Original Dancefloor Rhythms (no samples).

Instruments featured include the Hammond Organ, Bongos, Synthesisers, Vibes. Written, arranged, performed and produced entirely by Nasser at his Ramshackle Studios, the album was mixed by Nick Terry (Klaxons, SMD) at The Premises in Hackney, London.

The second single to be taken from the latest album from The Bongolian ‘Bongos For Beatniks‘

Released in 2005 ‘Winner’ was the long-awaited follow-up to Big Boss Man‘s 2001 debut ‘Humanize’. Winner continues the trip through 60’s Funk and Heavy Hammond Organ grooves, along the way taking in Bongo/Fuzz in ‘Everybody Boogaloo’, Latin Soul in ‘Complicated Lady’, French Beat in ‘Tu As Gaché Mon Talent Ma Cherie’, Floor-fillers such as ‘Kelvin Stardust’ Boogaloo in, er, ‘Boogaloo’.The album was produced by the band and Morgan Nicholls (The Streets / Muse / Gorillaz). Morgan the son of Immediate Records’ in-house songwriter Billy Nicholls, had a ready supply of 60’s instruments in the studio that were fully utilised, being choc-full of groovy stuff to add to the BBM session: The Who’s Hammond was heavily featured as was Steve Marriott’s first guitar, with Clavis and Wurlitzer all being added to the recordings.

Since its release, tracks from Winner have featured on several European and US compilations, whilst Kelvin Stardust was recently extensively used for a Renault ‘Fluence’ music placement whilst also featuring in an episode of hit US series Ugly Betty. The band extensively toured around Europe around the release, proving a bit hit in Spain, Italy, France and Russia in particular.

The eighth single from Silvery, released after and taken from the second Silvery album ‘Railway Architecture‘.

‘Bongos For Beatniks’ sees the welcome return of The Bongolian, AKA multi-instrumentalist and Big Boss Man front man Nasser Bouzida. His fourth album under The Bongolian moniker continues the musical journey where 2007’s Outer Bongolia left off, bringing us back down to Earth possibly via France circa 1967 via 2011, in a wildly eclectic rare groove fusion of Funk Soul Hammond Beat Jazz and a Sci-Fi Boogaloo. Dig it.

The first single to be taken to radio from the album ‘The Riviera Affair‘ (Feburary 2011) was featured on BBC 6 Music Nemone’s Lunchtime Loves where Nemone interviewed Nasser before the sell-out Blow Up HMV Next Big Thing concert that evening. Receiving other radio support from Gideon Coe and Craig Charles also at BBC 6 Music, and proving a strong favourite with club DJ’s around the UK.  The track was also featured as a Sky Sports Soccer AM track of the week.  The second single ‘Give It To Me (On The Left Side)‘ the furiously paced bongo-crazed Hammond happening also received good radio play ahead of the album release, both singles along with many album tracks are proving strong favourites on the Blow Up club dance floor.

Over a decade ago Nasser Bouzida disappeared into his studio and created a solo set of recordings which resulted in the birth of his alter ego The Bongolian. Drawing on his influences of Funk, Soul and Jazz, Nasser produced an inspired selection of recordings underpinned by grinding percussion and heavy Bongo rhythms.  The eponymous debut ‘The Bongolian‘ was released early in 2002 to much critical acclaim, and was followed by the albums ‘Blueprint‘ (2005)  and by ‘Outer Bongolia‘ (2007) which also scored a licensing deal with KSR Records in Japan. The albums have become record box essentials for DJs, finding a wide appeal from Dance, Hip-Hop, rare groove and funk 45s fans.  Nasser has assembled a high calibre five piece live band to take The Bongolian on the road, where they have toured USA, UK and Europe. Whilst the recordings are still a solo affair still being created by himself in the studio.

In 2012, the debut album from Fay Hallam & The Bongolian ‘Lost In Sound‘ was released on Blow Up Records. A collaboration between the two artists, with Nasser Recording,  performing and arranging alongside Fay Hallam who wrote the albums songs.

The first single to be taken from the latest album from The Bongolian ‘Bongos For Beatniks‘

The seventh single from Silvery, released just after to the second Silvery album ‘Railway Architecture‘.

The fifth single/EP from Silvery, the EP features a new version of ‘The Nishikado’ as well as a new version of ‘Identity’ (original versions appearing on the debut Silvery album ‘Thunderer & Excelsior‘), as well as the brand new songs ‘Murder Holes’ and ‘Public Purse’.