sumy: tryin to survive

Limited CD reissue of this Surinamese cult funk album, originally released in 1983 and reissued on vinyl in 2014. With an estimated 500,000 inhabitants, Suriname has always had a lively music scene. Although the country is little known internationally, it has a very strong influence on the Netherlands, where many Surinamese people live. Music from Suriname is mainly known for its kaseko (which evolved out of the traditional kawina music) and soul music, but the Surinamese have also been active in other genres such as pop, funk, and jazz. Between 1976 and 1983, Suriname had a lively soul scene, with the output varying from eccentric soul tracks to more up-tempo disco and boogie crossovers. These tracks have since become increasingly rare and hard to find. Kindred Spirits' 2012 compilation Surinam! Boogie & Disco Funk from the Surinamese Dance Floors 76' - 83' gave a proper introduction to these hidden gems and included the tune "Soul with Milk," from Sumy's Tryin to Survive LP. This 1983 boogie and disco-funk album is now available again to a wider audience, as a limited CD edition with two bonus tracks. Tryin to Survive is truly one of a kind... Expect atypical, pounding rhythms; striking guitars; and stabbing keyboards and synths. This reissue precedes more digging efforts, the resurfacing of more Surinamese funk tracks, and the 2015 release of another Surinam! compilation.