This year, Geneva-based record label Les Disques Bongo Joe are celebrating 10 years of existence. They are doing so with 2015–2025 Les Disques Bongo Joe: 10 Years of Sonic Explorations, a new compilation featuring some of the artists who’ve appeared on the imprint so far.

It’s a fine reminder of just how many important releases they’ve been involved with, and how eclectic their roster has been, with artists including Altın Gün, Madalitso Band, Meridian Brothers, Chouk Bwa & the Ångstromers and Orchestra Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp all passing through their doors. They’ve also proven themselves adapt at finding sounds from yesteryear, releasing compilations of music from São Tomé and Príncipe, and Algeria, as well as two dynamite releases of Azerbaijani Gitara.

Tres Disques

To mark Les Disques Bongo Joe’s anniversary, we asked label boss Cyril Yeterian to pick out three releases that have helped define the label

Altın Gün

On (2018)

“This album marked a historic turning point in the label’s history. Its huge success helped to make the label known around the world in its early days. The band has been touring the world non-stop since. I still remember the day Jasper Verhulst and Nic Mauskovic walked through the door of our store in Geneva a few hours before going on stage as members of Jacco Gardner’s baroque psych-pop band. In the months that followed, both of them would present us with their new musical projects [Altın Gün and The Mauskovic Dance Band, respectively].”

Various Artists

Léve Léve: Sao Tomé & Principe sounds 70s-80s (2020)

“When I was 19, I spent a month on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe to familiarise myself with the cocoa and coffee cultivation techniques for which this remote country is renowned. I never imagined at the time that I would one day run a label that would shine a light on the musical history of these islands for the first time. This was made possible thanks to the tireless work of Thomas Bignon, aka DJ Tom B, a specialist in Lusophone cultures, and his invaluable local collaborators, as well as the musicians of this incredible scene.”

Meridian Brothers

Cumbia Siglo XXI (2020)

“I’ve always been a big fan of Eblis Álvarez, and I told him that Bongo Joe could be the home for some of his albums, which is what ended up happening. We have strong connections with the music scene in Bogota, and it made perfect sense for us to showcase these incredibly creative artists.”