Fresh And Brand New

Ticklah : Si Hecho Palante & Nine Years
taken from the album "Ticklah vs. Axelrod" on Easy Star (2007)

Amp Fiddler : Scared / Afro Butt (Interlude)
taken from the album "Afro Strut" on Genuine (2007)

Black Moth Super Rainbow : Sun Lips & Rollerdisco
taken from the album "Dandelion Gum" on Graveface (2007)

Of course I love old and dusty vinyl, but I also feel obliged to share the recent highlights from my iPod. Here's proof that the same things I've always loved about records are still thriving in some lesser-known releases. Deep dubby dynamics meets soulful spanish songstress in "Si Hecho Palante" - that's Mayra Vega on vox, same lady who voiced the Antibalas remake of "Che Che Cole". Ticklah, who some may know from his participation in Afrobeat supergroup Antibalas or his hand in producing "Dub Side Of The Moon", is one of the nastiest reggae & dub producers out there right now. Any fans of King Tubby & Scientist absolutely need to buy this album.

Once again, Amp Fiddler comes through with funky fuel for the dancefloor. The new album features guest vocalists Corrine Bailey Rae & Stephanie McKay among others. "Scared / Afro Butt" is apparently only on the US edition of the album, so you foreigners are getting the exclusive import edition!

Finally, perhaps the album that I've had on repeat in it's entirety more than any other this year (this was my Eurorail soundtrack) - "Dandelion Gum". This music is a bizarre and enchanting cloud of sound that disorients me and pulls me away from the ground every time I listen. The album, which I highly reccommend copping, is a non-stop, vocoder-infused (or is it a talkbox?), dream sequence. These two tracks go back to back, to give you an idea of how the whole record flows. I see on the group's website, that they have other records too, which I will now proceed to order. Big thanks to Ant for the tip-off on this one.

Where It All Began

Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters & Do Diddley :
Ooh, Baby / Wrecking My Love Life
taken from the album "Super Super Blues Band" on Checker (1967)

Bo Diddley : A Good Thing, Hey Jerome, & Take It All Off
taken from the album "Where It All Began" on Chess (1972)

Snooks Eaglin : Boogie Children, Lucille, & Drive It Home
taken from the album "The Legacy Of The Blues Vol. 2" on Sonet (1971)

Back from EUROPE! This time I really mean it when I say I'm gonna be getting back on track with regular posts. I SWEAR! My first proper Euro exploration (meaning I spent more than 4 days travelling) was highly rewarding, even if it cost me an arm and a leg (cottdamn EURO is beating the DOLLAR into oblivion right now). Also found some cool vinyl digs along the way - including a random reggae collection from an otherwise dead flea market in a tiny Austrian suburb - which will get posted soon. But TODAY, finally home and showered and in fresh clothes and feeling more happy than ever to be in The States (twisted, right?) I'm taking it back to some rootsy, funky and all the way American music.

The Snooks Eaglin - funkiest, rawest blues ever in my opinion - is a record I've had and treasured for many years, but these other two are new acquisitions, and total revelations too. I'd heard more than a couple people reccommend Bo Diddley but it wasn't until I scooped up the Super Blues Band LP that I first understood what everyone was raving over. In '67 these cats had a proto-wah-wah reverb (gotta be Diddley) and hard-as-bricks drum sound that would set the stage for funk to come. The looseness of the impromptu vocals and their sense of humor makes me feel like I'm sitting in the room with them (the panning of the vocals helps too) while they just play around on a single riff and shoot the shit.

Then most recently I picked up Diddley's "Where It All Began" and again I was flabbergasted by the funkyness. The subject matter has this simple warmth and humor (cue "Take It All Off") that is unmistakably blues, but the backbeat and the syncopated picking is all funk. I know he's got some other records I need to pick up as well including this new addition to the wants list.

Stay tuned, more posts coming VERY SOON.

DJ ha fe play de...

Blackstreet: No Diggity (J-Star Remix)
Taken from the whitelabel 12" (200?)

John Legend: I Used To Love You (Superior Remix)
Taken from the whitelabel 7" (200?)

Angie Stone: Wish I Didn't Miss You (Nuffwish Remix)
Taken from the whitelabel 12" (200?)

Whoa. Sorry for the delay.While the Captain is off exploring Bavarian Europe with his lady friend, and I'm marooned in southern Africa, our blogging duties have been neglected...

So feast your ears on these joints. The first two have been DJ staples for the last couple years (nothing like a cross-over reggae interlude), the third is a recent favorite for a more contemplative, solitary listen.

J-Star has been in the game for a minute, riding some HOT to death remixes and original beatmaking to make the world a better place. The Superior rhythm from a few years back pretty much slayed the mid-tempo reggae circuit. And Gottdamn! Angie Stone is killin' the game! What is this riddim?! Sparse, haunting, straight nasty. Check out the whole Nuffwish whitelabel series... if you can find 'em. Shit's rare as hen's teeth.

Nothing revolutionary here, but good, tight remixes of some top notch jams. Short, sweet, to the point. For once. Peace.