Artist: Johnny Dopper and the Rubber Soles
Album: Saterdag in Afrika
Label: Gallo
Year: 2007
Reviewed By: Woodstock Slim

With four English tracks and six Afrikaans tracks, this album shot to the top of my list for great South African Records. This album shows such a lot of integrity and zeitgeist I don't know
how I've missed it. Wow!
The Music sounds largely Reggae but they call it "Serious Jive-Music" and you realise the uniqueness of their sound the more you experience the subtle bits of Kwela and Jive from the 50's wash over you. This album explores what you know, who you are and calls on you to decide the impact you have on fellow South Africans and then the rest of the world. Every song tells a true and deep story. There is nothing animated about Johnny Dopper and the Rubber Soles, these guys are serious musicians and will rise quickly to stardom as they are a tour de force this country might not be ready to deal with. Who knows...

Boere Reggae is a genre you don't often find in the mouth of the South African but it will soon become a house hold term with rising bands like Beheerkamer Onbeman also Koos Kombuis,Valient Swart and Skalla Brak made generous contributions to Boere Reggae and will do in the future, I'm sure. Karl Muller, Sipho Mthiyane, Hari-Hari Mnyandu, Zekha Cordosa en Johnny Dopper shows us how it's really done on their album "Saterdag in Afrika". My favorite bits are the choruses where everyone in the band harmonizes and the blend of voice are unique in every way and call attention to every song unlocking its melodic secrets and deep set lyrics from a time long ago.There is a definite historic storytelling about the music and lyrics. "Saterdag in Afrika" does not sound contemporary for some strange reason. It sounds like the music was unearthed from years ago. Maybe early 80's but sounds fresh as she goes too... yum! With every listen you hear new things, new melodies, new reminders. This album is ahead of its time.