Wah Wah’s first release of the ‘011 sees the much anticipated follow up single to the Hackney Colliery Band’s club smasher “Money”, released last Summer. The East London collective’s version of Toto’s soft rock classic “Africa” has been tried and tested on dance floors worldwide for many months, and it’s release of 7-inches of heavyweight wax is the perfect way to mark the start of Wah Wah 45’s potentially biggest year so far! And if that wasn’t enough, there’s the added bonus of the deep, Mulatu inspired, soul jazz stormer “Right Foot Up” on the flip.

Recorded in our favourite recording studio, The Fishmarket, by Ben (Nostalgia 77) Lamdin and produced by our very own Simon ‘Capstone’ Little, this is a loud, heavy and beautiful capturing of the most storming brass bands in the UK right now.

For more info on the Hackney Colliery Band check out their artist page!

See reactions below – and please leave your own comment in the box, we love your feedback!

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REACTIONS!

“Tops! Thanks as always chaps. Just arrived in time for the Feb issue of DJ Mag!” Found Sounds (DJ Mag, UK)

“Lovin’ the Africa rework…lovelee  ” Mad Mats (Raw Fusion, Sweden)

“I love the Toto brass cover! Amazing release! Full support!” Dusty (Jazz&Milk, Germany)

“Shit, this Africa remake is tight! Just bought it, will play it 1000 times!” Sir Nenis (Top Billin’ Music, Finland)

“Just wants needed after hard day down the pit.  It makes the sun shine over Hackney and puts a smile on my face.  Will def be playing on SOASRADIO.ORG Hackney Globe Trotter radio show.” Russ Jones (Hackney Globe Trotter, UK)

“Another Wah Wah smasher!” Tom Weiland (Seven Samurai, Vienna)

“Another nice one to add to the ever-growing collection of Brass Band covers! Cheers guys!” Aaron (Bstrd Jazz, USA)

“A world sound smasher that will drive my listeners at Rai (Italy’s national broadcasting corporation) dead crazy!” Francesco Adinolfi (Rai 1, Italy)

“Got my 7″ today from the shop and it is absolutely brilliant!!” Lovemonk Borja (Lovemonk, Spain)

“The HCB Africa tune is sure to get a couple heads turnin. It’s funny, I haven’t heard the original of that track since I was a kid it seems and for some reason I thought Peter Gabriel did it but that one off band called Toto  Had to watch the video on youtube last night and man was that hilarious!” Jason Pulaski (Ubiquity, USA)

“What a right rabble dabble! A nice cockney knees up by the sounds of it, and great fun too!” Raw Deal (Groove Sanctuary, UK)

‘”Africa” is such a brilliant tune. Thanks for sending. Will be charting and playing this for sure!’ Angel Mishev (Reel Feel Clubnight, Bulgaria)

“Absolutely loving this release, I was a big fan of “Money”, and think that this is a great step forward for HCB in terms of production & focus (Money had the medley aspect, which gave it somewhat of a novelty factor….) At a recent gig I played ‘Africa’ twice – once mid-set, and again as the last tune of the night. Reactions were excellent both times, dropping it mid-set led to smiles and sparked conversation between total strangers, and as the night’s finale it became an instant brass band karaoke classic,with many on the dancefloor doing their vocal Toto thing over the top. Everybody likes a cover version, but it has to do something quite different to the original, and ‘Africa’ achieves this in spades. I like ‘Right Foot Up’ too, I think it fits in as a mid-tempo jazz freakout, and will fit nicely into my sets as a join the dots between jazz and funk. Thanks!” DJ Baby Dave (Dublin)

“Not much to say really, knew I would love these tracks before I listened to them. Played Africa on Sundays show and not surprisingly had a flood of emails in asking about it. Wicked track and HCB becoming by far my favorite brass band out there.” King Tee (Ireland)

“Been waiting for this one. Loving it recorded almost as much as the live version. Great! “Right Foot Up” also really nice!” Snorre Seim (Butti 49, Norway)

“What a lovely warm analogue release. Love the harmonies, the trumpets and the original instrumentation. Some things I actually miss in the digital music world at the moment. Keep up releasing high quality stuff! Matt Desch (Bogaloo Radioshow, Germany)

“Heavy heavy heavy!!!!” Ross Wakefield (Part-time Heroes, UK)

“Thanks! I will support it from next Sunday in my programme.” Josef Sedlon (Radio 1, Cz)

“Wow! I think probably one of the songs I hate the most: Toto’s ‘Africa’ and yet somehow in the hands of HCB, it’s supremely listenable – double “yay” for the B-side. Thanks for the promo – will unleash it on  an unsuspecting audience on next’s week show and no doubt play out…. somewhere! Paris (Groovescooter Records, Australia)

“It seems that every Hackney Colliery Band’s release is becoming a surprise, a way to rediscover brass bands. I appreciate the original tune, but the version of Toto’s “Africa” is simply great”. Santiago Tadeo Cervera (www.acidjazzhispano.com, Spain)

“Africa..what can i say…super nice brass band reinterpretation of Toto !!! Full play !!! Markus Milz (Further in Fusion, Germany).

“I never did like Toto’s version back in the days, but this one is truly nice. The flipside is a winner too, keep up the good work Wah Wah!” Georgios Paroglou (Greece)

Party starter “Money”, produced and mixed by the amazing Capstone, has already received Radio 1 airplay from Gilles Peterson and has been on the wants list of DJs worldwide for some time! And with the cracking original cut “What’s The Time, Mr. Wasp?” on the flip, this is sure to be a huge release for this massively talented outfit. The fattest brass to come out of the East End since Pat Butcher!

Let us know what you think in the comments box – we love to hear your reactions!

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Reactions so far:

“I’m excited about the Hackney Colliery Band! Why?” Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1)

“Could well be the strongest single to date for the Wah Wah camp, that basically does what the Hot 8 Brass Band did for Tru Thoughts, or what Matthew Herbert did for the very British Big Band sound. Take the heritage of the colliery band/Salvation Army, mix with Mike Westbrook and divide by the National Youth Orchestra and you get the HCB. Their cover of ODB’s ‘Got Your Money’ adds weight to the cause. Go get.” Found Sounds (DJ Magazine)

“‘Money’ is a no-brainer, easy sure-shot, simple and plain!” DJ Monk-One, NYCT (USA)

“That Hackney Colliery Band is ridiculous. Can they get out to California very soon?! Played “money” on this week’s show, quite a pleasure to play and will be dishing this one out to the masses many more times.” Jason Pulaski (Ubiquity / Kuci 88.9FM, USA)

“I`m loving these Hackney Colliery tunes, that’s perfectly my sound for sure! Great work and another dope wah wah 45 release!!! Will be getting lots of spins for sure.” Karsten John (Vinyl Vibes, Germany)

“I think the Hackney Colliery must have been before my time, but their band is still sounding fat and very funky. “Money’ is on the money. Can’t say fairer than thout!” Russ Jones (Hackney Globe Trotter / Future World Funk)

“Beautifully funky, already spinnin over lisbon skies and today on Noobai Soul cafe weds dj set. Saucy!” DJ Tiago Santos (Spaceboys, Lisbon, Portugal)

“Wow! What an amazing great summer tune this is…Love it…Will play it everywhere.” Phil Wicked Jazz Sounds (Holland)

“The Hackney Colliery Band seven is a winner! It was my last track at Hi-Fi terapi last Saturday. People were going wild and screaming for more bad ass brass!!” Eivind Olsvik (Hi-Fi Terapi, Norway)

“Money is a monster tune ! Will play on my openair show (SOAS) airing next week (500 downloads per week) …and my occasional forays behind the decks at Favela Chic!” Chris Greenwood (Stop Making Sense)

“Can’t wait to play HCB at my regular Sunday afternoon in Hollywood. I love seeing their expression change from “What’s this?” to “Is this what I think it is?” to “This is fucking great”.” DJ Dave Young (Los Angeles, USA)

“Really feeling this! Can’t wait to play “Money” out!” Ross (Part-Time Heroes)

“I ruddy love the Hackney Colliery Band, heavy.” Capstone (Wah Wah 45s / Tru Thoughts)

“Brilliant releases as always. “Money’ will rock summer dance floors 100% sure. It’s a pleasure to support such talented brass bands on my radio show!” Enrique Domenech (Fusionova Radio)

“What’s The Time, Mr. Wasp?” I’d say it’s time for another drink! Love that drunken horn vibe on his b-side – it’s like they’ve staggered out of a Hackney pub at the beginning, and marched off down the road happy as Larry.” Paris Pompor (Sydney Australia)

“Money reminds me of the street art that The Hot 8 Brass Band brought to my attention. Contender for our next show. Now on frequency every week!” M.path.iq (Germany)

“Loving the concept of a Colliery band coming off the Hackney marshes with two quality cuts of Jazzziness to impress us with loving it.” DJ Abbo (Starpoint Radio)

“Pure fun! Nice brass sounds!” Markus Milz (Further In Fusion)

“The funkiest brass band I have heard in a while and both tracks brought a huge smile to my face!” Georgios Paraglou (Greece)

“HCB stepping up and showing all the brass bands out there how it should be done! ‘Money’ already spun on the show and will be getting repeats all summer long” King Tee (Elbow Rooms)

“Had the privilege of seeing the Hackney Colliery Band perform at the Wah Wah Joint at VIbe Bar before moving to Canada.  I knew from your reaction at the show that they would be added to the already stellar Wah Wah artist line up.  Best of luck with the release, it will without a doubt do very well, hope it makes you lots of MONEY!” DJ Tom Mannix (Canada)

“I love the HCB! Would be great to see them in Brighton!” DJ Kappa (Brighton)

Radio play from Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1), Jason Pulaski (Kuci 88.9FM, USA), Markus Milz, Further In Fusion, Ennio Styles (3RRR, Australia), Pete Isaac, Jelly Jazz (Phonic.fm), Phil Lvene (Eclecticjazz.com), Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio 102.6FM, Portugal) & Enrique Domenech (Fusionova Radio)