I’ve been hearing rumors for YEARS now that Mulatu (one of my all-time favorite artists) was going back in the studio to cut a new album. At first it was supposedly going to happen with Quantic, which I hope still comes into fruition someday. But when I heard that it finally did end up happening with the Heliocentrics (who I’ve blogged about a few times with various different projects they’ve been involved with), I got even more giddy. Malcolm Catto & crew have a way of making things sound raw, dirty and haunting unlike anyone else (aside from maybe Mulatu circa 1971). Their trademark mix of psychedelic funk is executed under what seems to me magical studio conditions- beyond being analogue/retro, it sounds like they must have a resident voodoo priest during recording sessions. According to this little sneak peek video on youtube, they don’t, but I can still pretend. Anyway, today I’m sharing the first track off the upcoming album. Listening to some other highlights off the album, I really can’t wait to have this beast in it’s entirety. Thanks to the good people at Strut, you can get a good idea of how it all runs together by listening to       this podcast

too.

Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics : Masenqo
taken from the album “Inspiration Information” on Strut (2009)

 

Don’t have too much time to extrapolate on the goodness of these new latin joints, but I was reminded to share them when my track “Speakin Nuyorican” (which STILL hasn’t even been officially released yet) popped up on this Flavorpill/Absolut mixtape this past week (alongside some pretty decent company). Sorry about the somewhat infrequent posts- between getting my computer + entire digital music library jacked, experiencing the over-the-top insanity of Austin’s SXSW festival, and breaking my nose in a mosh pit, I’ve been a little preoccupied. But I’m bouncing back as we speak (and trying to remember all the good songs that I need to find again). 

All I will say about today’s tracks is that they come from albums that are great quality listening all the way through. Never heard of Dusty before, but in addition to producing and playing, he also runs the excellent Jazz & Milk record label (who very well may have the classiest album art in the game right now). 

Novalima is a project I’ve known and loved for several years now. I was skeptical about whether they’d be able to outdo their last album, but Coba Coba really just picks up their whole dubby, electro, afro-peruvian sound where Afro left off. If you’re a fan of funky syncopated time signatures and rootsy production, it doesn’t get better than this. 

BONUS MUSIC: I stumbled upon this very fresh SUPERMERCADO MIX by DJ Emil while looking for one of the tracks from Jazz & Milk. Nomadic Soundtrack indeed!

Dusty :       Salsa Step

taken from the album “Keep It Raw” on Jazz & Milk (2009)

Dusty :       Loco Para La Pista (Solo Moderna Remix)

taken from the EP “Keep It Raw Remixed” on Jazz & Milk (2009)

Novalima :       Yo Voy

taken from the album “Coba Coba” on Cumbancha (2008) 

This is the state of my previously white Pro Keds after last night’s crowd-surfing electro-punk warehouse party in Williamsburg. I dance a lot (pretty much why I started DJing), but it’s still a rare occasion that I get a chance to go that crazy. Thanks to all the bands on the lineup (especially Team Robespierre, Juiceboxxx, & Ninjasonik) who induced nothing less than sweaty frenzy between each consecutive power outage (the momentary spaces for shouts and chanting only increased the intensity of the mayhem). Big shouts to Spankrock and Amanda Blank who were keeping things hype too. Here’s some pics from the show (you can see me getting rowdy  in a couple). 

Today however, I needed some serious Sunday recuperation. Afternoon trip to the Russian & Turkish bathhouse with the homies, little bit of savory Israeli cuisine to take me back to Tel Aviv, and sitting back with some recent mash-ups that I’ve been loving lately. Erik The Red is a friend for a while now, and I only wish he would hit me up with blends like this more often. Jayceeoh is a cat I just met recently over the interweb, but I’m looking forward to DJ-ing together later this month when he drops a new Brazilian mix (stay tuned). Pretty cool to hear my own track get the mashup treatment (he used my beat “Fumando” on “I Know That’s Gangster”). And “Blame It” is a guilty pleasure that I can’t pretend not to love. Then I’m putting up a remix I just finished now for Mayer Hawthorne & The County. The og had me flipping when I first heard it, and from listening to the other joints on his myspace, the album sounds like it’s gonna be a monster. Now I need to go find me some new PRO KEDS!!!

Mayer Hawthorne :       Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (Captain Planet Remix)

Alice Russell :       Hurry On Now (Erik The Red's Tubbified Mashdown)

Jaime Foxx vs. DJ Spinna :       Blame It (Jayceeoh Edit)

Jay-Z, Sean Kingston, & Bun B :       I Know That's Gangsta (Jayceeoh vs. Captain Planet Edit)

ALL MTR EXCLUSIVES!!!

I’ve been waiting so long for this one and it’s WORTH IT! The video for NASTY FUNKY (Directed by the legendary Christine Turner of Say It Loud! Productions) is done and looks amaaaaaaazingly fresh. Come out tonight and rage with us at Beauty Bar with 2 for 1 drinks, a live Beatards performance, and VIDEO SCREENINGS ALL NIGHT! Bound to get rowdy on the dancefloor with me and DJ O providing mixmaster services as well. At some point throughout the night, I promise to drop my new anthem as of 3 hours ago… “MY MUSIC” by Mr. Johnson (shouts to Never Not Working crew for the revelation). 

Yes Jadakiss heads, this is the sample source for “We Gon’ Make It” (wait for it!), but more importantly, it speaks to those of us who actually think about the plausibility of marrying music. Listen to the album if you seek more of the good shit.

Samuel Jonathan Johnson : My Music
taken from the album “My Music” on Columbia (1978) 

I recently dug up this Shirley joint and was reminded of just how simple the recipe is for a timeless dancefloor banger.  Double-dutch rhymes, handclaps, and the obligatory pounded-by-caveman drums. Still works for plenty of artists today. First thought: this is screaming to be remixed and I will do it. While allowing the record to linger in my “to be remixed” crate, I finally gave a listen to the Kizzaland mixtape that people had been telling me about (sometimes I’m slow). First thought: that bastard Timbaland protege beat me to it! The rest of the mixtape is definitely worth a listen too, but this one made me smack the back of my head. Also check these Izza Kizza videos if you got a second. Continue reading…