Propagating a new era in Afrikaans rock bands, compilation Rock In Jou Taal WANTS YOU!
Posing Jan Blohm on the cover, as a personification of the famous American WWII recruitment poster of Uncle Sam, evokes a comic twist to this compilation. Faced with recruitment in the name of ROCK? Hell yeah, sign me up!
Competing with oh-so-many compilations out there, Rock In Jou Taal is like a fresh summer breeze after sitting in a stuffy office for too long. Taking some of the most popular Afrikaans rock bands and some of the not so well-known ones and putting them together on one album produces a humorous mixture of funky songs. If this is the new direction of the “compilation”, then count me in!
Rock In Jou Taal opens with Jan Blohm’s “Sê my weer” which sets the mood for the old school versus the new rock n roll to come. It also features hits from industry movers ‘n shakers including Ef-El’s “Sing my net aan die slaap”, Zinkplaat’s “Hondeklipbaai” and “Vinger Alleen” from Die Heuwels Fantasties.
A comic twist and a definite highlight are the Straatligkinders cover of Kurt Darren’s smash hit “Kaptein”, as well as Duskant Ombliksem’s “Doen dit in Afrikaans”. The latter’s really peculiar vocals and satirical lyrics make Duskant Ombliksem one of the most comic bands I’ve ever heard.
Not-so-household names like Diff-Olie, Abel Kraamsaal and Groot Oom John Tenoor also finds a space on this compilation. Diff-Olie’s “Rockpop” takes me back to my first KKNK experience where rooiwyn rockers like Akkedis and Spinnekop (Gian Groen’s first band) were the norm for Afrikaans rock bands. Ah, the good old days.