The picture on the album cover is enough to convince you how cool these guys were. Beginning as a group that played in bars around Bulawayo, then Harare, and then growing to become award-winning musicians creating an urban Zimbabwean sound and identity as the winds of change brought independence belatedly to the country.

In the early days, the Green Arrows, fronted by the huge personality of Zexie Manatsa, were well known for encouraging their audiences to drink as much beer as possible, often playing gigs that lasted from Friday night through to Sunday morning. But the group and their audiences were on an extraordinary journey and as the decade unfolded the Green Arrows music began to push boundaries, combining the old traditional sounds and languages with real musicianship, politics and creativity.

This compilation showcases tracks that the Green Arrows recorded from 1974 -1979. The first half taken from the Chipo Chiroorwa LP (1974) — the first LP ever to be recorded in the country and which includes the track ‘Musango Mune Hangaiwa’ which still holds the record for the longest stay at No1 in Zimbabwean music history. The second half comes from the Waka Waka Selection of singles recorded between 1976 and 1979 when the group began to explore the political landscape in their music and express what everyone was hoping for and challenging at the time.

Throughout the years and now throughout this album the group experimented with their sound using the ‘wahwah’ pedal which the group became famous for, the all-electric sound, combined with Zimbabwean and southern African languages and rhythms and a rebellious but absolutely masterful approach.

Some standout tracks include the instrumental ‘No Delay’ that has the soft guitar lilt of southern Africa but the phrasing sounds like the precursor to an early rock sound from America. ‘Madzangangara Dzimu’ displays the chimurenga sound so familiar from Thomas Mapfumo are: crystal with guitar being plucked as the mbira is traditionally — but funked up with phrasing and effortless guitar. ‘Hurungwe’ is a cheeky number, call and response accompanied by chirpy electric guitar and rhythm section — you can just see couples jumping up to dance to this one all those years ago.

Green Arrows 4 Track Recording Session is released 23rd April 2007 on Analog Africa/ AACD 061