I was introduced to MELT 2000 by Tony Thorpe (KLF / Moody Boyz) in 1999 whilst working on an Airto remix project. Robert Trunz's philanthropic label had amassed a large catalogue of music & field recordings, focusing on tribal & spiritual sounds from South Africa. Robert also had an ear to sound system culture & was encouraging collaborations between his artists & producers such as Juno Reactor, Smith & Mighty, Biosphere, Roni Size & System 7.

By 2007 my Nanny Tango imprint was making headway with a series of 7" releases aligned to jazz-room & electro audiences. I wondered if a MELT 2000 remix album might be possible on similar lines. Robert was encouraging so I began co-ordinating Vibrations From The Motherland. We soon had a strong collection of mixes by Maga Bo, Spritual South, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Henrik Schwarz & others, ranging from tech-house to Bali-funk, dubstep, glitch, nu-soul & breaks. We also had some amazing visuals by the late designer Jon Kemp. But just as we were finalising the release, the financial crash of 2008 pushed everything off course. Without going into too much detail, the album was reluctantly shelved & soon after Nanny Tango closed shop.

Five years later Buried Treasure was set up & whilst it was always intended to offer a vinyl release, the label's focus had shifted towards esoteric electronics, library music & soundtracks. So the timing wasn't quite right until now. As one of three final Buried Treasure releases, the lost MELT 2000 remixes are presented on a vinyl LP as originally intended. It's also my hope that the album serves as an example of respectful collaboration across continents during an era of endlessly manufactured division.

Alan Gubby - Summer 2026

Track info:

Sangomas & Maga Bo feat. Teba
Suzan Hendricks' Sangomas are Zulu healers & herbalists from Soweto traditionally called upon to cure illness, social disharmony & spiritual difficulties. Abaphantsi is transformed into a frenzy of pounding percussion & sub-bass by Brazilian producer Maga Bo whilst South African MC Teba delivers a scathing lyrical assault on Western politicians & corrupt governments. How little has sadly changed.

Amampondo with Airto & Square One
Amampondo collaborated with Brazilian percussion maestro Airto Moreira on the "Outernational Meltdown" series in the mid-1990s blending African rhythms with latin, jazz and world music. Manchester producer Mark Wadsworth provides a deep house / baeleric electro makeover, having recorded for a variety of labels including Freerange, Yennah, Super Basic, Toko & After Hours.

Fidel Mpondo & Volver
Fidel Mpondo is a South African musician fusing traditional Xhosa music with Cuban & electronic sounds. Vincent Oliver / Volver creates intricate, warped dance music. Having studied music production & collaborated with close friend Nathan Fake, Volver's unique sound is influenced by Arab Strap, My Bloody Valentine & R. Stevie Moore.

Amampondo & Henrik Schwarz
A veteran of Germany's club scene, Henrik Schwarz is a deep house & classical producer revered by the likes of Gilles Peterson , Jazzanova & Sonar Kollectiv. He builds hypnotic layers of Amampondo's vocals & marimba, adding treated percussion & synths to create a pulsing afro-electro groove.

Busi Mhlongo & Soothsayers
The late, great Busi Mhlongo didn’t simply make music — she transformed it. Rooted in maskandi and Zulu traditions, she fearlessly fused rock, reggae, funk, and jazz, proving that traditional African music could be contemporary, experimental, and unstoppable. Soothsayers are a London based collective who reach far beyond the cliche's of world music, skilfully blending afrobeats, soul, dub & street jazz.

Mantombi Matotiyana & Mark de Clive-Lowe
Mantombi Matotiyana is a renowned South African musician, composer, and master of traditional Xhosa instruments including the umrhubhe musical bow, uhadi, and isitolotolo. Pioneering pianist and live remixer Mark de Clive-Lowe brings a deep-rooted jazz sensibility, building improvised beats, sculpting his sound and flipping melodies in real time.

Mayito & Revbjelde
Cuban bata player Mario Luis Pino / Mayito came to South Africa in 1995 to record with Amampondo on albums such as Madosini & Power To The Women. Under his shape-shifting Revbjelde moniker Alan Gubby adds hi-life guitars, electro bass, organ & additional percussion resulting in a futuristic Afro-Cuban dub.

Amampondo & Spiritual South
South Africa's world renowned marimba masters, Amampondo were founded in the Langa township, Cape Town in 1978. London based producer Mark Robertson / Spiritual South has produced several incredible Brazilian, Afro-beat & jazz-stepping remixes over the last 2 decades for labels such as Raw Fusion, Afro Art, Wah Wah & Gamm.

Vibrations From The Motherland is released as an 8 track, coloured LP with new sleeve art by John Mark Lapham. Available in record stores, via bandcamp & on streaming platforms from Friday 4th Sept.