Arp Frique returns with a record brimming with highlife, cosmic synths and New York disco elements, all via the Caribbean and Cape Verde. After the full album The Colourful World of Arp Frique for Rush Hour in 2018, this new 12″ explores funana and Caribbean zouk, this time with a more 1980s influenced approach (classic gear, classic influences from golden era Cape Verean music). One such legend of Cape Verde is vocalist Americo Brito, who is thankfully back on this release once again, as is vocalist and brilliant musician, Marissa Nyamekye – both illuminated The Colourful World of Arp Frique and their live performances.

The debut LP for Rush Hour was fun, fresh and scintilating, this one sounds like a diggers dream with its retro sound.

Rush Hour Records boss, Antal Heitlager, recalls: “I first got introduced to Arp Frique at the Magia Festival he organised in Rotterdam. Arp Frique had the sort of sound that was instantly familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on exactly where I heard it before. I wasn’t even aware of who created this music. Was this eighties music? Was it released somewhere before? And was that legendary Cape Verdean musician Americo Brito on vocals?

The meeting led to the 2018 recordings and thankfully Arp Frique are back again in 2020. WTM interviewed Antal in 2016 about his work reissuing music from Surinam with the Surinam Funk Force compilation on Rush Hour – he’s always on point.

There’s some great footage online of Arp Frique live, go check it out.

Arp Frique Bandcamp is here.

Rush Hour Store, based in Amsterdam, is here.