Review: Charles Webster And The South African Connection - From The Hill (Stay True Sounds)

I love this quote, "If you play his remix of ‘Cafe de Flore’ (by Dr Rockit) even now at any venue in South Africa, it will erupt,” notes Stay True Sounds founder Allan Nicoll (aka Kid Fonque) so you see why they are all on this Charles Webster x The South African Connection 'compilation' of 13 combinations with him leading the way.

 

Any release on Stay True Sounds that involves Charles Webster is guaranteed a winner like the collaboration with Muzi on 'Bakulindele' (see review HERE) or the one with China Charmeleon and Girly, 'Many Blessings' (see review HERE) so now we've got the whole album of Afro-centric dance with the 13 track album, I can confirm, 'Charles Webster And The South African Connection - From The Hill', is going to be massive!

And this 'workshop' approach is a winner from the start as the emphasis is on the new right from the start with the opening track, 'Flame' with Thabo Tonqick; bizarrley the pair bonded over chats about cats! (Ed. I blame the tik-tok/Internet).

The Atmos Blaq track 'Free' drops in a trumpet call sounding the retreat from a hill far away (possibly) which tracks into the two Daev Martian collabs, 'Up The Hill', 'From The Hill' and the relief of 'Karoo' desert 'Rain' with Emamkay (he of 'Sense' - see review HERE) and Bokang Ramatlapeng.

The radio playlisters with go for the other Daev Martian pairing with Sio ('Film Me' - one of two 3 minute tracks on the album) whilst there's plenty for the dancefloor with 'Qiniseka' (Slve Msolo & sakhe the Conquerer), 'A Journey' (El Payo and Girly Mbambani), 'Part Two' (WAPO Jije) and 'Sweto Sunrise' ('FKA MASH - and also featured on the Colour & Pitch November Mix, see below) plus the boom-chicka-boom of 'The Artist' (Bokani Dyer) and the previous singles.

A great album and mark my words (that I've borrowed), some time in the future they'll be saying, "If you play Charles Webster And The South African Connection' [insert track], even now, at any venue [anywhere], it will erupt"; you've been told!

BUY LINK / LIMITED VINYL (shipping 28.01.26) :   https://charleswebster.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-hill

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions - November 2025

Artist: Charles Webster And The South African Connection 

Title: From The Hill 

Release date: 14th November, 2025

Label : Stay True Sounds

Catalog Number : STS

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Charles Webster X China Charmeleon feat. Girly - Many Blessings (Stay True Sounds)

To say Stay True Sounds stay true to thier sounds might be a truism, but when you've got the talents of Charles Webster on board, you don't really need much more of a recommendation!

Stay True Sounds amazed us with the Webster & Muzi track 'Bakulindele (see review HERE) and they're back with some heavily percussive 'Webster' action.

If you can remember back to the Doctor Rockit's 'Café De Flore' with the Charles Webster's 'Latin Lovers Mix' or my introduction to Kahil El'Zabar (Chicago legend of percussion) with the remix of 'Running In The Streets' (Mix One & Mix Two, 2004), you've been a fan of Charles Webster as ever since as he seems to know just the touch to make great tracks greater and he's definitely got the feel for the ever growing South African house scene with both 'Free' and 'Many Blessings'.

Girly is from Delft Western Cape and 'Many Blessings' celebrates the musical heritage of Jo'burg and Cape Town (Ed. watch out for them penguins) whilst Atmos Blaq, originally form Dobsonville in the Soweto area, is another talent that's evolving out of the 3-step movement.

Already picked up be Colour & Pitch Sessions (see below), this is blessed!

As featured:

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - May 2025

Artist: Charles Webster X China Charmeleon feat. Girly 

Title:  Many Blessings

Release date: 30th May, 2025

Label : Stay True Sounds

Catalog Number : STS

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp