Alice Russell : Got The Hunger?
taken from the album Pot Of Gold on Six Degrees (2008)

J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science (ft. Ohmega Watts & Ragen Fykes) : 1.4.U
taken from the album Soul Vibraitons on Om (2008)

Friday I caught a really fun show put on by the Giant Step family at Hiro Ballroom: Alice Russell, Taylor McFerrin + J-Boogie. Coming from my bay area background, it’s essential to get my fill of unpretentious, down-to-earth soul every once in a while. Even though I missed Taylor’s set, I still managed to get my fix. Having shared the stage with Ms. Russell less than a year ago at a tiny venue in the Lower East Side, it was very encouraging to see her with a full band (the talented TM Juke on guitar) getting lots of love from a much bigger crowd. And her new songs are not to be slept on! At the end of “Hunger” she brought the song into some double-time foot stomping action ala The Isley Brothers’ “Shout”.

I’ve been listening to J-Boogie’s latest CD too- letting my inner headwrap hippie get blissed out. “Patchouli Soul” perhaps? Like I said, I’ve been a fan of his jazzy-retro-conscious sound for years, and I’m glad he’s still doing it, despite the total lack of play that this sound gets (at least in NY). And can anyone complain when Mr. Vigs gets on the talkbox? J-Boogie’s got a handful of really hot remixes floating around right now as well, but you’ll have to ask your local DJ for the connect since he’s specifically requested “no sharing”.

Kraak & Smaak :       Ain't Gonna Take It No More &       Squeeze Me
taken from the album Plastic People on Jalapeno (2008)

The Hot 8 Brass Band :       Get Up (Diesler Remix)
taken from the album The Hot 8 Brass Band Remixed on TruThoughts (2008)

Aether :       Orfeu Negro
taken from the album Artifacts on Exponential (2008)

Nujabes :       A Day By Atmosphere Supreme &       The Final View
taken from the album Metaphorical Music (2003)

I’ve never felt like such a patriot- and I’m from New England! It’s hard not to be excited about this latest twist in American history. Recognizing the importance of today, just taking a second to process that this moment is one that will be written about, that we can proudly remember to our grandkids, has me feeling kinda tingly. I don’t need to get too cheesy and gushy, but I ain’t afraid to admit that I had tears in my eyes on Tuesday. Newly imbued with pride in today and hope for tomorrow, I’m sharing some new music- funky house to keep us moving and mellowed out headnodders for contemplative train rides.

On Saturday I rocked a show with my group The Beatards opening for Kraak & Smaak and I was reminded just how funky these Dutchmen are! The stage show included a psychedelic LCD light extravaganza, a Moog keytar, soulful vocalists and lots of jumping from the crowd. When they started chanting “I’m mad as hell and I ain’t gonna take it no more!” people were getting particularly rowdy. We’d be happy to open for them anytime! And yeah, I guess I forgot to mention here in the Crate, but it was the release party for our brand new Big Bad Beat EP – which really should get its own post. NEVER enough time!

Moving on… a crowd riling, call to hand clapping produced by the U.K.’s Diesler. I’ve seen The Hot 8 do their thing (yes, the same NOLA horn troupe known for their classic version of “Sexual Healing”), and I thing this track definitely captures the live energy while giving it that little extra boost that helps build necessary anticipation on the dancefloor. I think on the bigger scale too, IT’S ABOUT TO GO DOWN!

I was real pleased by this new album from producer/graphic designer Aether, who I was completely unfamiliar with. Fans of Flying Lotus and other abstract downtempo sounds should check for this one. A moody remake of a song I recognize from the Babel soundtrack also stands out to me as being perfect journal writing ambiance.

These jazzy beats from Japanese beatmaker Nujabes aren’t quite as new, but they’re new to me and they’ve been sounding quite appropriate for Autumn in the city- Cali heads, I’m sorry, you just won’t get it. Also, hearing a simple remix of Yusef Lateef’s “Love Theme from Spartacus” (“The Final View”) gets a big 2 thumbs up from me. This was the record I always used to listen to lying in bed with my first girlfriend ever in the fall of ’98! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since then. Sixteen doesn’t seem so far away listening to this now, and why be nostalgic when today is looking so good?

DANCING IN THE STREETS TIL 4AM.
BROOKLYN ON FIRE.
HAPPY DAY FOR THE USA!
POST LATER.

Keziah Jones : Pimpin’ & My Kinda Girl
taken from the album Nigerian Wood on (2008)

Curumin : Compacto & Esperanca
taken from the album Japan Pop Show on Quannum (2008)

Bio Ritmo : Bionic Boogaloo & Dime Vida
taken from the album Bionico on (2008)

Femi Kuti : Tell Me
taken from the album Day By Day on Mercer Street (2008)

New music from artists I love who refuse to sound like they’re supposed to. Whether it’s inventing new genres like Keziah Jones’ Afrobeat-folk-soul, or giving up the big label and big studio production sound like Femi Kuti clearly did on this latest record, these guys are all going their own way.

Keziah is definitely one of my favorite artists around right now. There’s just nothing else out there that sounds like his music. Gorgeous layered harmonies, creative instrumentation (I thing I hear an Indian Tamboura and baritone clarinet on “Pimpin'”), and elvolving arrangements that always seem to travel someplace new by the end of the song. So what, if this record sounds a lot like his first one? The first one was brilliant!
I’m his number one fan. Nigerian Wood includes a second CD of songs that feature just Keziah and his guitar- almost like a really good demo tape.

Curumin come correct with a laid-back album of funky samba-hop. Minimal production and simple song writing give the record a classic old-school feel. The whole album is very listenable and makes for a great Sunday afternoon soundtrack. I do kinda wish that there was another danceable track on here somewhere- “Caixa Preta” brings a lil Baile Funk flavor, but I’m talking about some simple dancefloor samba.

Bio Ritmo have really stepped up their sound with this latest release. High energy all the way through, this CD is a certified party starter. I love hearing spacey, retro-sounding synths in the mix on salsa records! Why don’t more latin groups do this? It reminds me of a select few Latin records I have from the early 70’s when psychedelic, funk, and rock influences were all finding their way into Latin music (check Tipica 73’s “La Candela” for more of the good stuff).

And finally, a new album from Femi. Nothing dramatically new sounding on here, but his take on straightforward, minimally-produced Afrobeat is a treat in itself. Compared to other releases from Femi, this one comes closest to his fathers musical roots- thunderous horn section, churning organs, watery wah-wah and plenty of percolating percssion. 7 years after “Fight To Win”, it’s great to hear what Femi sounds like in the studio- especially in this somewhat stripped down setting.

Sabo & Zeb : Sanguebom ft. Andrea Monteiro
taken from the album Global Warmbeats on Irma (2008)

Sabo : Easy Star (Uptempo Mix)
taken from the 12″ available here on Sol Selectas

Trick Turner : Buddahcada
taken from the 12″ available here on Juxtaphone

Sugarloaf Gangsters : Ritmo Do Rouge
taken from the 12″ available here on Gamm

Bebel Gilberto : Aganju (Spiritual South Remix)
taken from the album Bebel Gilberto Remixed on 6 Degrees

Here’s a bag of dancefloor goodness inspired by the highly talented DJ/producer/all-around-nice-guy: Sabo. This man can be found DJ-ing regularly in NY (occaisionally he does Saturdays at Bembe where I still hold down Thursdays) and is often behind the counter at Turntable Lab giving good advice on what records to buy (I guess he just took over as store manager now, so go say hi). Last time I stopped in he introduced me to West Coast cool cat Trick Turner who was looking pleased with a stack of fresh vinyl in his hands which included my own Cleva Remix. Check his Sol Selectas website to try to keep up with all his gigs and records.

In addition to getting my mitts on the latest twelves from from both these guys, Sabo was generous enough to hook me up with a copy of his new full-length album (available in digital) produced with the funky Middle Eastern multi-instrumentalist Zeb. Global Warmbeats is a nice mix of dubby house and downtempo with plenty of touches from the Brazilian, Latin, and Disco sounds that can be heard in a Sabo set. Check “Rise Again” and “Devastating” for two other favorites of mine from the album.

Once I got in the samba/remix state of mind, I felt like sharing a few other staples I’ve been keeping in my crate for a while now. Sugarloaf Gangster’s are at the top of their game with “Ritmo Do Rouge”- a song that sounds big enough to bring a packed stadium into a dancing frenzy. Check their compilations on Murge Discos to hear where they find some of their inspiration (and samples).

Bebel is of course Brazilian royalty; being the daughter of Joao Gilberto who helped invent the Bossa Nova. This re-work from Spiritual South-who have been featured here before- is a time tested crowd pleaser.

Lancelot Layne : Yo Tink It Sorf?
Biosis Now : Independent Bahamas
both taken from the compilation Calypsoul 70 on Strut (2008)

Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou : Iya Me Dji Ki Bi Ni
& Mi Homlan Dadale
taken from the compilation The Vodoun Effect on Analog Africa (2008)

Here’s a few picks from recent compilations that I’ve had in heavy rotation. I figure we must be approaching the tipping point where nearly all the good forgotten 70’s funky stuff from around the world has been unearthed and re-issued and then what will be left but to turn to the 80’s! I’m picturing comps of drum machine & casio weirdness from Syria- wait a minute, someone’s already released that record (and it’s actualy pretty good)! But perhaps I’m wrong and more bounty like this will continue surfacing for as long as my hearing is good.

The Lancelot Layne is a track that I already had in my collection from the great Jeff Recordings compilation that came out a few years ago (is this recycling the sign that we’re nearing the end?), but I’m glad that I was reminded of it again on this new comp from Strut. What a certified banger! Still will kill a dancefloor to be sure- and I’m scheming a remix. The rest of this compilation maintains a similar level of caribbean heat with plenty of disco, funk and reggae in the mix. The track from Biosis Now is something I heard when my good friend Busquelo picked this LP out of a Brooklyn thrift store.

And big shout Samy at Analog Africa for putting together this latest collection of lo-fi, syncopated (and sometimes perfectly out-of-tune) Beninese rarities. When he lacks frequent updates to his website, it must be because he’s busy putting out another solid and legit release like this one.

Sad update: on my way to host my weekly radio show, I absent-mindedly left my bag full of all my latest and greatest CDs on the subway (to be fair, I was perhaps awestruck by the beautiful young lady sitting accross from me, but still, I’m stupid). So I’ve now lost both of these albums as well as about 50 others- most I hadn’t even ripped to digital yet. Thanks to the almighty that it wasn’t my VINYL!!!