exiledrecords

Until recently, it was thought that we had heard all there was to hear from Sa�da Bonaire. The German studio project�s 1980s recordings had been compiled on the now cult-classic double LP Sa�da Bonaire, released by Captured Tracks in 2013. Though the group had continued working until 1994, founder Ralph �von� Richtoven had firmly stated that all of their post-1986 work was lost. Released now for the first time ever, 1992 compiles the band�s long-lost early nineties material. Produced between Bremen and New York City, the 12 songs presented here capture the group�s attempts at steering their trademark fusion sound (reggae, afro-funk, Eastern music, and sultry German female vocals) into uncharted nu jazz, trip-hop, and house territories.

It�s no surprise, given both the time lapse and the fluid nature of the project, that these recordings differ sonically from the 1980s material. 1992 finds Sa�da Bonaire folding new influences from the time (house, hip-hop, rap) into their eclectic sonic universe. Vocalist Andrea Ebert�s soulful voice �the result of a church choir background and an early love of American soul and jazz music� offset Stephanie Lange�s laid-back, more German-sounding vocals. This unique interplay bolstered the band�s new direction - evident in their inspired takes on JamesBrown�s �Woman� and Syreeta Wright and Stevie Wonder�s �To KnowYou Is To Love You�. The American influence was also made literal via contributions by renowned DJ Matthias Heillbronn and rapperJimmy Lee Patterson, both of whom lent some stardust to the tracks at Fran�ois Kevorkian�s Axis Studios in NYC.

Unfortunately, the demo recordings were considered too bizarre for 1990s record label standards, and as a result were never published. As with all things Sa�da Bonaire, the discovery of these discarded recordings feels like a sort of magical impossibility. It�s been nearly ten years since the release of the last compilation, and thirty since the recordings were originally captured. That they still manage to sound fresh and avant garde is a testament to Sa�da Bonaire�s flair for creating pop music for past, present, and future outsiders.