Back in '95, Up, Bustle And Out dropped this little gem of an album called The Revolutionary Woman Of The Windmill (La Bandolera Del Molino) / An African Friendship (Une Amitié Africaine). If you’re into Latin vibes with a splash of electronic downtempo goodness, this one’s for you. Released under Ninja Tune—which, let’s be real, is always a stamp of cool—it’s got that chill, experimental edge the UK label was known for back then.
Now, I gotta say, two tracks on this release stuck with me like gum on a shoe. First up, “An African Friendship (Une Amitié Africaine).” Man, this track feels like wandering through a bustling market somewhere sunny and far away. It’s got these warm percussion beats layered over what sounds like field recordings or maybe even snippets of conversation. You can almost picture people laughing and haggling in the background. It’s not just music; it’s more like stepping into someone else’s story for four minutes. That mix of organic and electronic? Pure magic.
Then there’s “The Revolutionary Woman Of The Windmill (La Bandolera Del Molino).” This one hits different, alright. There’s something about the way it builds—slow at first, almost lazy—but then BAM, it throws in these sharp brass hits and deep basslines that make your head nod whether you want it to or not. It’s kinda hard to describe, but imagine if a spaghetti western met a jazz club in some alternate universe where everyone’s sipping mojitos. Yeah, it’s that vibe. Honestly, whenever I hear it, I feel like grabbing a hat and strutting down the street like I own the place.
What makes this album stand out isn’t just its sound—it’s how personal it feels. Like, you can tell these guys weren’t just throwing stuff together in a studio; they were really trying to capture moments, stories, feelings. And yeah, sure, 1995 might seem ancient now, but trust me, this record still holds up. Maybe because it doesn’t try too hard to be trendy or polished. It’s raw, unapologetic, and full of heart.
Here’s the thing though: listening to this album makes me wonder… did they actually visit Africa or Spain while making it? Or were they just dreaming big from their UK studio? Either way, hats off to them for pulling it off so well. Oh, and fun fact—whenever I play this around friends, someone inevitably asks, “Is this new?” Nope, my friend. It’s older than most streaming services. Funny how time works, huh?
