Rebel Up’s Best-Of-2018 music lists

It’s that time of the year again, the best-of-the-year lists! It has been an amazing year for Rebel Up, the start of our record label, all the wild parties & events in Brussels, allover Europe and even down into Morocco. Big up to everyone who supported us in any way possible this year, at our nights, with our releases and actions. Best wishes for the end of the year and up to an even better 2019!

Here our lists of favorite albums, compilations and EP’s, according to the Rebel Up Nightshop radio show, our dj sets and other influences.

* Albums of 2019 *

AMMAR 808 – Maghreb United (Glitterbeat Records)
BCUC – Emakhosini (Buda Musique / NYAMI NYAMI records)
Ayuune Suley – We Have One Destiny (Rebel Up / Makkum Records)
Babylon Trio – Habibi (Rebel Up

Moulay Ahmed El Hassani – Atlas Electric (Hive Mind Records)
Damily – Valimbilo (Bongo Joe Records)
Samba Coco Raízes de Arcoverde – Maga Bo apresenta: Coco Raízes de Arcoverde (Kafundó Records)
Zanmari Baré – Voun (Buda Musique

Susobrino – Mapajo EP (Global Hybrid Records)
Malphino – Visit Malphino (Lex Records)
Fanna-Fi-Allah – Muraqaba (Buda Musique)
Deena Abdelwahed – Khonnar (InFiné)

and many more > > >
Gaye Su Akyol – Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir (Glitterbeat)
Phoenician Drive – Phoenician Drive (SK Records)
Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti – Ekuka (Nyege Tapes)
Stella Chiweshe – Kasahwa: Early Singles (Glitterbeat)
Capitol K – Goatherder (Faith And Industry)
Sofiane Saidi & Mazalda – El Ndjoum (Carton Records / Airfono)
Bégayer – Terrain A Mire, Une Maison Rétive, Contrainte Par Le Toit (Bongo Joe)
Baloji – 137 Avenue Kaniama (Bella Union)
Docteur Nico – Dieu de la Guitarre (Planet Ilunga)
Baba Commandant – Siri Ba Kele (Sublime Frequencies)
Memo Pimiento Electric Orchestra – A Todo Dar (Rebel Up)
Luc Mishalle & Marockin’ Brass – Beats & Pieces (Rebel Up)
Mubashira Mataali Group – Mubashira Mataali Group (Blip Discs)
Bernard Orchestar – Le Futur du Passé (Coucou Label)
Cyril Cyril – Certaine Ruines (Born Bad Records)
Novalima – Ch’usay (Wonderwheel Recordings)
Chancha Via Circuito – Bienaventuranza (Wonderwheel)
Sarah Davachi – Let Night Come On Bells End The Day (Recital)
Pierre Sandwidi – Le Troubadour De La Savane 1976-1980 (Born Bad Records)
Saint Abdullah – Ta Tash (Boomarm Nation)
Khalab – Black Noise (On the Corner)
Fofoulah – Daega Rek (Glitterbeat)
Senyawa – Sujud (Sublime Frequencies)
Ahmoudou Madassane – Zerzura OST (Sahel Sounds)
Etran de l’Aïr – No1 (Sahel Sounds)
Sons of Kemet ‎– Your Queen Is A Reptile (Impulse! Records)
Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth (Young Turks)
Mdou Moctar & Elite Beat – Mdou Moctar meets Elite Beat In a Budget Dancehall (Boomarm Nation)
Indianizer ‎– Zenith (Edison Box)
Guy One – #1 (Philophon)
Zuli – Terminal (UIQ)
Formation Boyz – Ukuvuka (GQOM OH)
Kwi Bamba & l’Orchestre de Gama Berema (Ouch Records)
Alasdair Robert, Neil McDermott & Tartine de Clous – Au Cube (Okraina Records)
Basa Basa – Homowo (Vintage Voudou)
Hany Mehanna – The Miracles of the Seven Dances (Radio Martiko)
Jowaa – Asokpor 1​.​0 (Akwaaba Music)
Bamba Pana – Poaa (Nyege Tapes)
Merope – Naktes (Granvat)
MISS RED – K.O. (Pressure)
Dur-Dur Band – Dur Dur of Somalia – Volume 1, Volume 2 & Previously Unreleased Tracks (Analog Africa)
Tallawit Timbouctou – Hali Diallo (Sahel Sounds)
Troupe Ecole Tudu – Oyiwane (Sahel Sounds)
Liraz – Naz (Dead Sea Records)
Sonido Gallo Negro – Mambo Cosmico (Glitterbeat)
Altin Gun – On (Bongo Joe
Feeling Kréyol – Las Palé (Strut)
Tasos Stamou – Musique Con Crete (Discrepant)
Sugai Ken – てれんてくだ – tele​-​n​-​tech​-​da (Discrepant)
Muqata’a – Inkanakuntu (Souk Records)
The Dwarfs of East Agouza – Rats Don’t Eat Synthesizers (Akuphone)
Jungle By Night – Livingstone (New Dawn)
Qhizzo – Gqom Plug (Akwaaba Music)
Tonga Boys – Vindodo (1000HZ)
Ericamour Yovogan & Quentin Nicolaï – Wututu (Tanuki Records)
Naujawanan Baidar – Volume 1 (Radio Khiyaban)
John Johanna – I’ll Be Ready When The Great Day Comes (Faith and Industry)
Kaba – Kaba (Chouette)

* Compilations *
Arabstazy – Under Frustration Vol 1 (Shouka / Rebel Up)
V/A – Nouvelle Ambiance (Nouvelle Ambiance)
V/A – Two Niles to Sing a Melody: The Violins & Synths of Sudan (Ostinato Records)
V/A – Zamaan Ya Sukkar (Radio Martiko)
V/A – Music of Southern Laos (Akuphone)
V/A – Music of Northern Laos (Akuphone)
V/A – Saz Power (Ironhand Records)
V/A – Disques Debs International vol. 1 (Strut)
V/A – Hystereofônica Vol. 3 (Tropical Twista Records)
V/A – Diatribes (University of Tropical Sound)
V/A – 10 YRS LATER: A Global Club Compilation (Lowup)
V/A – Discophilia Belgium: Next​-​door​-​disco & Local Spacemusic from Belgium 1975​-​1987 (Sdban Records)
V/A – Kafundó Apresenta Coco Raízes de Arcoverde REMIXED (Kafundo Records)
Uproot Andy – Bumper to Bumper (Studio 189)

* Singles & EP’s *
Apichat Pakwan – Leh Dub (Animist Records)
Chouk Bwa & The Angstromers – Electric Mambo (Angstrom Records)
Cigarra – Ato EP (Tropical Twista Records)
Conjuntos Jovens Africanos – Nhu Djon / Volta Pa Terra EP (Ostinato)
Cornelius Doctor & Tushen Raï ‎– Lights Of Khonvoum (HARD FIST)
Dengue Dengue Dengue – Son de los Diablos (ENCHUFADA)
Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek – Oy Oy Ermine EP (Bongo Joe)
ESINAM – Esinam (Sdban Records)
Go Dugong – Vidita EP (Global Hybrid Records)
Hava Bektesi & Love-Songs ‎– Bukuroshja e Lales / Delay EP (Hans E. Platte)
KOKOKO! – Liboso EP (Transgressive)
Lee Dodou & The Polyversal Souls – Basa Basa EP (Philophon)
The Mauskovic Dance Band – Down in the Basement EP (Soundway)
Miss Red – Dagga / One Shot Killer EP (Pressure)
mUnO – Coplas Teluricas EP (self released)
OK Jazz / KO Jazz – Luvumbu Ndoki / Ludiata Nangwi EP (Planet Ilunga)
ONIPA – Open My Eyes EP (Wormfood)
Qwasa Qwasa – C’est quoi ça? EP (Lowup)
Sheitan Brothers ‎– Breaking Trad EP (Zelaian Disco Club)
V/A – Princes Of Abzu موالي أبزو (Hard Fist)
YĪN YĪN – Dion Ysiusk EP (Bongo Joe)

Thu 14 Sept > Rebel Up curates Nuits Sonores electro Arab night @ BRASS, Bxl (FREE IN!)

This thursday 14 sept, Rebel Up helps curating the Nuits Sonores opening night @ the great BRASS venue in Forest, with an electro-Arab lineup with artists from Egypt, Iraq, Morocco/Belgium and sounds from Somalia!

Islam Chipsy & EEK
Islam Chipsy and his band EEK are a three-way force of nature from Cairo, Egypt described by those who’ve been caught in the eye of their storm as one of the most exciting live propositions on the planet. At the core of the group lies electro chaabi keyboard pioneer Islam Chipsy, whose joyous, freewheeling sonic blitz warps the standard oriental scale system into otherworldly shapes, as flanked by Mohamed Karam and Mahmoud Refat raining down a percussive maelstrom behind dual drum kits. His 2 releases on Nashazphone /100 Copies Music say it all, bombastic body music!
https://soundcloud.com/islamchipsyeek

Arkan Mushtak Synth Trio
Arkan Mushtak arrived in Belgium as a refugee of the war in Iraq. During his Baghdad childhood he has been shaped into a talented keyboard/piano player and composer by master composer Noor Sabah. He is accompanied by fellow Iraqi musicians Walaa Saad (vocals and oud lute) and Saif Al-Qaissy (darbouka percussion and backing vocals). Together they play a mix of contemporary Iraqi music styles, such as chobi chobi, dabke and electronic hybrids. The trio will release an album on the new Rebel Up Records label in late 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRPxENS1zu8

YZ
Sufi singer YZ grew up in the Flemish suburbs and developed his vision of ancient Arab art by pouring over a thick layer of electronics. This epic synthesis comes close to the perfect soundtrack of a retro-futuristic road movie in the desert.
https://yz-music.bandcamp.com/

Somali Sounds
Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie of Berlin label Ostinato Records dive in their East African archives to familiarize us with the flourishing period of Somali music. A sharper selection of rarities of old, from afro funk to unstoppable groove, from jazz to Somali disco, songs that reflect the international character of the Horn of Africa and take you from the hotel Curuuba in Mogadishu to the dirty streets of Hargeisa to the banks of the Gulf of Tadjoura to Djibouti.
https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/

Jabo
The revelation of the Belgian global bass scene Jabo (Jawad Boumalek) grew up in Aalst. As a member of the Brussels collective / label Lowup Records, he spent hours in the studio creating his remarkable sound, a return to the roots where the influence of Moroccan and Arabic music fuses with the sound of contemporary bass, resulting in traditional rhythms with a strong dose of electro-harissa spice. The work of Jabo was highly welcomed by big names of electronic music, such as A-Trak, Diplo and Dj Snake.
http://www.lowup.be/jabo/

host; Rebel Up SebCat
You know what to expect from Rebel Up by now > a fired up dancefloor set of pan-Arabic beats & spheres.

Also see the interview / video with Rebel Up SebCat.

All info >
FB event / BRASS website

Hear latest Rebel Up Nightshop radio show, with a special on the Nuits Sonores @ Brass night.