SANKOMOTA - The Writing's On The Wall (1989)

Flame/CCP, FLAME(V)4064631   
Producers: Frank Leepa & Tsepo Tshola   
Engineer: Fab Grosso

Another long-time institution of SA music, Sankomota blended jazz, soul and pop to create timeless, sophisticated tunes that could've been put out yesterday. Formed in Lesotho by Frank Leepa, Moss Nkofe and Tsepo 'the Village Pope' Tshola, who was part of Hugh Masekela's Botswana-based band Kalahari.

"While in London with Hugh Masekela, Tshola met Julian Bahula (Malombo) who encouraged him to bring Sankomota to England. Subsequently Sankomota stayed for a long time in England, performing and developing their product. Some of their albums are The Writing's On The Wall, featuring Tsepo's composition 'Papa', and Exploration - A New Phase (1991) featuring yet another Tshola composition, 'Stop The War'." (Mojapelo 2008:214)

SANKOMOTA - Sankomota (1983)

Shifty, SHIFT 1.

Producer/Engineer: Lloyd Ross

Composer: Frank Moki Leepa

Recorded at: Shifty Mobile, Lesotho

Classic album on underground independent label Shifty, later re-released on CD on Tic Tic Bang (BANGCD06).

Personnel:

Frank Moki Leepa – Guitar, Lead Vocal, Perc

Maruti Selate – Bass, Backing Vocal, Perc

Moss Nkofo – Drums, Backing Vocal, Perc

Extra Musicians In Lesotho:

Sunshine Mokoena – Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Sponky Tshabalala – Percussion

Jhb: Rick Van Heerden, William Ramsay, Eirfaan Gillan (Tenor Sax), Stompie Monana (Trumpt, Flugelhorn), Warric (Sony… Trombone, Perc), Lloyd Ross (Additional Guitar, Keyboard, Perc.)

"About the recording: this collection of songs was recorded on location in Lesotho by Shifty Mobile Studios. As Lesotho is not blessed with any music recording facilities of its own, this is to the best of my knowledge, the first LP ever to have been produced there. Initial tracks were compelted within 10 dayswith brass and additionals going down in Johannesburg. Shifty mobile is an 8 track onto ½" facility housed in a caravan."

Irrelevant typo: while the cover says “Sankomota”, on the album itself, spelling is "Sankomoto".