While most of the time these days you’ll find me sharing newer music here on the site, don’t get it twisted, I still freak out about finding obscure 70’s records like the skinny-necked 18-year-old nerd that I once was. Sometimes I have to return to what it was that got me into all this DJ business to begin with, and the sounds that inspired my early beat making experiments. Maybe it’s the Singapore haze that’s getting to my head, but I’ve been thinking a lot about how to put into words what separates the music I really love from all the crud- the cheese, the plastic pop, the wanky lounge- the music that I say lacks “soul”. It’s a pretty difficult thing to pinpoint, and there’s certainly a multi-dimensional spectrum where songs or artists can find themselves. Perhaps the beat is killing, but the lyrics are cliche. Could be that every note is played right, and all the pieces fit together where they should, but the whole concept and feel of a song is just off. How does one articulate that properly? Sometimes I have to even check in with myself and ask- why do I like this? What makes this stand out from the endless stream of other music out there that I want nothing to do with? I don’t really have any answers today, except that being a professional “selector” for me relies first and foremost on an almost instantaneous gut reaction. All of today’s tunes hit me hard from the opening bars the first time I heard them, and continue to put me in a good place with every listen since. Without further ado, scoured from the 4 corners of the globe, here are a few of my favorite things…

Phil Ranelin :       Vibes From The Tribe

Arthur Verocai :       Dedicada a Ela &       Na Boca do Sol

Nino Nardini :       Tropical

Open Sky Unit :       Sunshine Star

Emilio Santiago :       Bananeira

Alhaji K. Frimpong :       Kyenkyen Bi Adu Mawu

Gnonnas Pedro :       Yiri Yiri Boum &       La Musica En Verite

Los Mirlos :       La Danza de los Mirlos &       Sonido Amazonico

Les Gypsies de Petion-Ville :       Patience &       Pacole

Minoru Muraoka :       The Positive And The Negative

Tabu Ley Rochereau :       Pitié

Mulatu Astatke :       Yekermo Sew &       Ene Alantchie Alnoren

Today marks the official release for “Back To Me”, the album I produced for the very talented singer/songwriter Shana Halligan. We worked on these songs for over a year and a half together- taking many creative twists and turns along the way. Any of you who are familiar with my production history can hear that this project was a swing in a new direction, but I feel lucky to have learned a lot in the process and I’m definitely proud of the outcome. Moody, sexy, sultry, electronic soul. One song is co-produced by T.M. Juke and another is by up-n-comer Yngcult. Shana, who you may know from her previous work with Bitter:Sweet or Thievery Corporation, knows how to find her sweet spot on a beat in a matter of minutes. I think my favorite song on the album is “Something Real” (which I’m sharing here today), but I encourage anyone who likes this track to listen to the rest of the album. there’s also a bonus track “So Crazy” that didn’t make the final cut, but is available as a free download on her soundcloud. If you’re in LA you can check her out at the KCRW sponsored release party at Hotel Cafe on Nov. 12. Please support if you dig it and tell a friend to tell a friend!

Couple of setbacks and detours postponed my travel plans, but tomorrow I get back on track and head off to Asia for 3 months with my new wifey. Home base will be Singapore, where I’ll be residing and DJ-ing weekends at the newly established Hotel Vagabond, doing some playlist curation (professionally for the first time- woohoo!). Then the plan is to hop around the continent a bit and hopefully have some savings left for a proper month of India exploration. We shall see… I’ll be keeping music & gig updates on here as much as possible. Anyone in Singapore or Southeast Asia hit me up! I’m looking to meet people and throw good parties. Bunch of funky new songs for you this week including some uptempo dancefloor burners and a bit of left-field funkiness. Artwork today comes courtesy of the always trippy Clayton Brothers.

Miami Horror :       Sober ft. Queen Magic (Childish Gambino cover)

OverDoz. :       Last Kiss ft. Pharrell

Monika :       Secret In The Dark

Seven Davis Jr. :       No Worries &       Sunday Morning

Tame Impala :       Let It Happen (Soulwax Remix)

Hnny :       For The Very First Time

Psychemagik :       Mink & Shoes

Public Service Broadcast :       Gagarin (Psychemagik Remix)

Crazy P :       Echo

Disclosure ft. Sam Smith :       Omen (Claptone Remix)

Metronomy :       A Thing For Me (Breakbot Remix)

Wowowowow. Ok, that may officially be the longest I’ve gone without blogging since I started Captain’s Crate way back in 2005!!! Apologies, but life happens. And it’s been happening in a very major way. I got married in Mexico and it was mind blowingly fun. Still overwhelmed by the love from so many family and friends all being in one place, celebrating with me and my girl (my wife!). Now I’m kind of getting back into the swing of things, but not really, because the 2 of us head to Asia for 3 months starting in October. I will be able to do plenty of blogging while there though, but most of my other daily routines will be drastically altered, which I’m pretty excited about. For now though, a long overdue helping of some of my favorite songs I’ve discovered and had on repeat lately. Some of these are from the past Summer, but I’m gonna be playing catch up for a while I think. Nothing too dance-y today, more on the deep, soulful, trance-inducing chill tip.

And on another note altogether- I have a new Captain Planet album out! My homies at Bastard Jazz records have compiled 12 of my favorite CP remixes from the past 3 years and put them all together on heavy 2xLP vinyl and digital (iTunes, spotify…).  If you’re a regular reader here you may have heard most of these songs before, but be a friend and support! Spreading the music is always appreciated.

Her :       Five Minutes &       Quite Like (D-Pulse Remix)
echoes of Jungle in the sound of this band

Bosq :       Because You ft. Danielle Moore
funky new EP from this half of the Whiskey Barons duo

Shigeto :       Pulse
deep deep and deeper from this Detroit maestro

Nicola Cruz :       Mantis
really great stuff coming out from this Ecuadorian, we may be doing a remix swap in the near future…

Yuna :       Falling
slept on this soulful Malaysian pop star for too long

Alabama Shakes :       Don't Wanna Fight &       Sound & Color
this whole album, if you don’t have it, change that immediately

Hermitude :       Ukiyo
this Aussie duo has a new album and it’s their best work so far

Tame Impala :       New Person &       Cause I'm A Man
speaking of Australia… what the hell is going on over there? This album on repeat many times

CéU :       Sonambulo &       Grains de Beaute
suuuuuper slept on this one from Brazilian chanteuse. Reggae, dub, and funky textures all over this album

Midnight :       Baptize
chillwave goodness from this crooner

Odesza :       Light ft. Little Dragon
loving this new slow joint from these Seattle monsters

Generally the season most associated with slowing down and chilling out, this Summer for me has been far from still. Quite the opposite, I don’t think I’ve gone 2 weeks without getting on a plane in the past 3 months. I’m certainly not complaining, but I am a bit tired from non-stop hustle. Thankfully, between now and my wedding in 2 weeks, I’m staying put. I’ve got some good parties coming up for people in the LA area (follow my instagram or facebook for regular info/updates), and then it’s the party of the year (possibly of my life?) down in Baja where, for once, I am not the DJ! But you better believe I’m supplying playlists haha. As for now, let’s take a trip into the land of vibes… got some very heavy tropical heaters for you today as well as the usual upbeat funkiness. Pic today was jacked from this cool musician I met in Dubai.

Young Ragga :       Musiquilla new roots rock out of Puerto Rico- check it out

J Balvin ft. Farruko :       6 AM big radio reggaeton hit that hits my sweet spot

Boogat :       Dos Cervezas more left-field grimey reggaeton joint from this dude that has been getting heavy spins from me- thanks DJ Cato!

Buraka Som Sistema :       Sente when it comes to heavy tropical bass, few do it better

Sam Binga :       Tek Nuh Chat ft. Redders nice ragga hip hop flavor from this British beatsmith

Craze & TroyBoi :       Baby Gurl when you need more cowbell, try this one out

Self Help :       Got Dam when you need more cuica, this guy has you covered

Kranium ft. Ty Dolla Sign :       Nobody Has To Know (Major Lazer & KickRaux Remix) just in case you were starting to get tired of “Lean On”, the Lazer dudes come correct yet again

Count Jackula :       Dinner For One no idea who this cat is, but this latin-tinged stepper is really doing it for me

Tone Of Arc :       Chant No. 1 funky Talking Heads-y cover of an 80’s tune by Spandau Ballet, brought to you by this Bay Area group

Gary Davis :       The Professor's Here (Greg Wilson Remix) underground disco classic gets a perfect update for today’s dancefloor

Swick & Lewis CanCut :       Fizzy
this one requires you to really get out of your comfort zone- tropical beats, pop music chords, and then just some dancefloor mania when the bass drops.

Purity Ring :       Bodyache dreamy catchy vocals accompanied by a super hard punch in the gut, I dig it