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Yale Evelev was brought in as co-owner and chief A&R man in 1990 and between them Byrne and Evelev have steered the Luaka ship on an idiosyncratic music course over the last 21 years, a major achievement for any label, especially considering the recent turbulent times for record sales which have hit the independent sector hardest.

Uneasy major label connections were finally severed in 97 with the demise of V2 records and with it a welcome relief from label pressure to sign the next Talking Heads rather than re-issue forgotten soul oddities like Shuggie Ottis, revive the career of ignored Brasilian psychedelic mavericks like Tom Ze or release snappily entitled compilations like the legendary ‘The Only Blip Hop Record You Will Ever Need Vol. 1’.

This compilation is a timely reminder of what a creative led record label looks like after 21 years. The one and only Jorge Ben kicks off proceedings with his breezy samba soul before Shuggie Otis reminds us why he could have been one of the soul greats. Mr. Byrne contributes with the spoken word soulful summer listening of ‘Fuzzy Freaky’ and Marcio Local, one of the present kings of samba soul, drops a track from his excellent recent album.

The compilation is worth the price alone for the incredible Afro funk of Moussa Doumbia which somehow had evaded my radar. The Masters At Work produced Los Amigos Invisibles hit us with some Latin disco and Moreno Veloso, son of Caetano, shows us his quirky vision for Brasilian music. Cover band supreme, Nouvelle Vague sing Blondie as Irakere lay down more Afro funk just before Susana Baca bares her Afro Peruvian soul. Afro soul queens Zap Mama are here along with the country crooning of Jim White before Brasil and the ever-fresh Os Mutantes tie the compilation up nicely.

Start to finish the compilation is quality and a timely reminder what a record label can do when run by creatives rather than accountants, trust me it’s a wonderful thing. Here’s to another 21.

Luaka Bop Website