ISAAC BIRITURO & THE RAIL ABANDON / FÚN TONY FEAT. DELE SOSIMI

This summer sees the return of the unique collaboration between Ghanain xylophonist Isaac Birituro and British singer-songwriter Sonny Johns, AKA The Rail Abandon. Having created something of a buzz back in 2019 with their debut album Kalba – gaining support along the way from Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews and Tom Ravenscroft to name but a few – after something of a hiatus, the duo teased us earlier this spring with the Lapaz EP in preparation for their new LP, entitled Small Small, due in July.

Fún Tony, the second single to be taken from the album, features UK Afrobeat Ambassador and Nigerian Afrobeat musical maestro Dele Sosimi. Having grown up under the tutelage of Fela Kuti, Dele went on to become the Afrobeat legend’s musical director for his Egypt 80 band, and has since released numerous albums and collaborations, most recently with us on Wah Wah 45s. Fún Tony is a tribute to another musical director of Fela’s band, the late, great Tony Allen.