In 1980s black South Africa, a local form of pop music evolved as the disco boom died down and slowly mutated.
It was often ubiquitously described as Bubblegum – usually stripped-down and lo-fi with a predominance of synths, keyboards and drum-machines and overlaid with the kind of deeply soulful trademark vocals and harmonies that South African music is famous for.
Compilers Miles Cleret (Soundway) and DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records) present a selection of 16 rare, handpicked 1980s cuts that highlight the period that nestles in between the ‘70s (where American-influenced jazz, funk and soul bumped shoulders with local Mbaqanga) and the ‘90s, when Kwaito and eventually housemusic ruled the dancefloors of urban South Africa.