AYOBAYO BAND - Phuza Face (1990)

Music Team/Roi/Red Label, RLLP070

Producer: Zenzele 'Sister Monica' Magwaza

Engineer: Danny Bridgens

Recorded at: Syntrax Studio

Composed by ZE Mtungwa and produced by Eddie Magwaza, here using the name Zenzele ‘Sister Monica’ (also the name of one of the tracks on this album), who was also behind V.O. and Fast Move but died in the early 90s. The band typified the new pantsula sound that prefigured kwaito, alongside The Hard Workers and others. Over 100% electronic grooves vocals relied of chanting and rapping rather than singing, hence the word ‘rap’ being prominent on the cover, despite this not being a hip-hop album. The term ‘Phuza Face’ refers to the effects of heavy drinking, as was also used by Banjo and others.

AYOBAYO BAND - Sorry Bra (1989)

Roi/Music Team, RLLPC061

Producer: Zenzele 'Sister Monica' Magwaza

Engineer: Mr Mixer

Composed by: ZE Mntungwa

Recorded at: 338

"The eighties saw the mushrooming of 'Mapantsula' dance groups both in urban and rural areas. In 1987 almost every group was dancing to J.M. Silk's album 'Hold On To Your Dream'… Local record companies responded to this with groups like The Hard Workers, Ayobayo Band and Makhweru. The Hard Workers' album Ayoba-Yo featured the hit 'Take Away' composed by Mphix on Music Team's Red Label. The success of the album saw the formation of the group Ayobayo Band, which released albums like Hey Ta Da engineered by Danny Bridgens on the same Music Team label." (Mojapelo, 2008:76). 

On Sorry Bra the band puts out impressive, mostly instrumental electronic dance music that foreshadows the rise of kwaito a few years later. Other tracks include 'Majida', 'Drunken Man', 'Homeless Man', 'Giyane Special' and 'Durban Station'. The band also released Phuza Face (not to be confused with Banjo's album of the same name). 

* Mint copies of this album are for sale here