Strut reissue the first ever internationally released studio album from 2014 by one of the all-time legends of Nigerian music, Orlando Julius, in a mouth-watering collaboration with London super-group The Heliocentrics.

At his club residency in Ibadan, Orlando Julius was one of the very frst to begin fusing US R&B with traditional highlife during the mid-‘60s with his Modern Aces band. His ‘Super Afro Soul’ album from ’66 set the blueprint for a whole generation of Afrobeat and Afro funk stars and, in an illustrious career, Julius met and played with Louis Armstrong, The Crusaders, Hugh Masekela and Lamont Dozier among others, famously co-composing the classic ‘Going Back To My Roots’ in 1979 whilst based in the USA.

Recorded at the Heliocentrics’ fully analogue HQ in North London, the band follow their memorable collaborations with Mulatu Astatke and Lloyd Miller by taking Orlando’s sound into new, progressive directions, retaining the raw grit of his early work and adding psychedelic touches and adventurous new arrangements. They also contribute live favourite, the James Brown cover ‘In The Middle’ and a series of memorable shorter interludes.

Orlando Julius with The Heliocentrics’ ‘Jaiyede Afro’ is reissued on 2LP gatefold featuring new photos from the recording sessions by Alexis Maryon and full track by track interview with Orlando Julius. The release is supported by ongoing worldwide tour dates.