Gabo Brown & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo : It’s A Vanity
taken from the compilation African Scream Contest on Analog Africa (2008)

Action 13 : More Bread To The People
taken from the compilation Nigeria Rock Special on Soundway (2008)

Asiko Rock Group : Lagos City
taken from the compilation Nigeria Disco Funk Special on Soundway (2008)

Sir Shina Peters and His International Stars : Yabis
taken from the compilation Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump on Strut (2008)

With the recent onslaught of African music compilations coming out, I found myself wondering if the genre of afrobeat, after 40 years of relative obscurity, had finally become mainstream? There was the anomaly of Manu Dibango’s 1972 hit “Soul Makossa” which actually made it big abroad (to the extreme of being re-worked years later in Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Starting Something”), but for the most part, even the biggest names in African music were completely unknown to most audiences off the continent. Fela Kuti was certainly low on the radar in his time, but today, I feel like his name (and certainly the genre of “Afrobeat” as a whole) actually bears some weight in popular consciousness. I suppose recognition 30 years too late is better than none at all. I know that I, for one, am not complaining about the vast, continent-wide vinyl archeology dig that seems to be taking place.

Analog Africa have found a particularly overlooked niche within the world of Afrobeat – Togo & Benin. Holy hotness is this shit ever raw! Out of all the comps, this one’s probably my favorite. Aside from Poly-Rythmo and The Black Santiagos, I was unfamiliar with all the names on this collection. Nothing on here sounds like it was recorded after 1972- and ALL of it draws heavily from the power James Brown’s early 70’s material (which is about as good as it gets for me).

With the recent Soundway comps coming out back to back, it’s honestly a little difficult to discern clear distinctions in sound from one to the next, but again, when the material is this solid, I’m not putting up an argument. Both Action 13 and Asiko Rock Group are new discoveries for me- and mindmelters to boot. The drums on “Lagos City” are just about the hardest thing I’ve heard since maybe this.

Meanwhile, Strut records continues their resurgence on the scene with this second West African installment – the first Nigeria 70 initiated my ears to these beats back in 2001 or so. This one focusses more on the traditional highlife and juju side of things, but there’s some heavy funk cuts on here as well. One little thing that irks me about the Nigeria 70 records though: both this one and the original comp feature artists on the cover that aren’t even represented on the tracklisting! I mean, they’re cool photos and all, but I’m sure that there’s some good pics out there of the artists that are actually a part of the collection (the first one had Prince Nico Mbarga on the cover and this one is Oliver De Coque– I know cause I have the LPs- neither of whom make a musical appearance anywhere here). Still worth it for for the music though.

Grupo Fantasma : Se Te Mira
taken from the album Sonidos Gold on Aire Sol (2008)

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 : Fire Dance
taken from their self-titled album on Disorient (2008)

Potato & Totico : Dilo Como Yo (Antibalas Remix)
taken from the album Verve Remixed on Verve (2008)

MRR-ADM : B1 Untitled
taken from their Untitled 10″ EP released without a label (2008)

Karl Hector & The Malcouns : Toure Samar
taken from the album Sahara Swing on Stones Throw (2008)

Jackson Conti : Sao Paulo Nights
taken from the album Sujinho on Mochilla (2008)

Chicha Libre : Sonido Amazonico
taken from the album Sonido Amazonico! on Barbes (2008)

Damn I was missing this place! After moving I was without internet for a full two and a half weeks (which felt like a solid month to a web-junky like myself) and I’ve been itching to put together a post. I have tons of new records and a beautiful new studio/music library to listen in, but no time! This is so far from the summers of yesteryear when the solstice meant “school’s out” followed by three months of blissful skateboard meanderings and rope swings that launched into cool lakes. But I can’t complain too much since my busy-ness is pretty much all music related. Even now, I know I can’t write enough to do this music justice, but I wanted to at least begin to get back on track. So hear this little offering of recent releases that have been filling my ears the past few weeks. I promise to post more very soon and get back to a regular schedule now that I’m reconnected.

One sentence about each song/record:
This Grupo Fantasma record keeps the funky salsa & cumbia kicking with guests like Maceo Parker and Larry Harlow (who plays keys on “Se Te Mira”)- raw, organic, live sounding production makes you feel like the band actually squeezed inside your speakers somehow. Fela’s youngest son, Seun Kuti, brings his dad’s band (minus Tony Allen) back into the spotlight with a record of high energy, uptempo afrobeat that sounds like three Fela albums from the early 70’s rolled into one- catch the live show if you can. Staying on the afrobeat tip, NY’s own Antibalas deliver this solid remix of a rootsy latin classic- check out Chico Mann’s electro re-work of the same song which will hopefully be released soon! MRR-ADM is pretty mysterious to me, but I know it features Malcolm Catto on drums and that it was featured already on another blog that I like. Karl Hector & The Malcouns is the latest work from my favorite crew of funk revivalists Poets Of Rhythm (at least some of the members are involved)- new ethio-afro-funk-soul for fans of Budos Band and the like which has also already been given shine from another blog I like. Jackson Conti is the collab between the prolific blunted-beat maestro Madlib and legendary Brazilian drummer Mamao (of Azymuth glory)- smooth head nod niceness. And finally, Chicha Libre pay homage to the psychedelic cumbia scene of late 60’s Peru with a record that simmers like a bug on a cactus under mid-day desert sun.

Be back soon!

The Whispers : Needle In A Haystack & Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong
taken from the album “Planets Of Life” on Janus (1973)
(originally released on Soul Clock records in 1971)

The Whispers : My Illusions
taken from the album “Life And Breath” on Janus (1972)

Between having to get my computer fixed and moving (way too many CRATES!!!), I’ve been seriously neglecting blog duties. Once things get settled down I’m going to go crazy with all the new music I’ve been acquiring lately, but first, a little quickie of sweet soul.

Let’s give it up to the Scott twins (Scotty and Walter) and crew who share the softer side of Watts while still keeping the message clear- and for sprouting some of the strongest facial hair in the game. While I have no shortage of love for their later hits like “And The Beat Goes On”, it’s this early material that seems a little more appropriate for their band name.

“Needle In A Haystack” is the easy crowd pleaser, with its punchy hook and driving movements that undoubtedly send dancefloors in Northern England ablaze. However, my favorite cut off this first album is the inquisitive melancholy monster “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong”. More in spirit than sound, the song brings Syl Johnson’s “Is It Because I’m Black” to mind.

Penned by master songstress Sugar Pie DeSanto, “My Illusions”, has me curling up into a ball like a little scared kitten with every listen. Is that an oboe in the intro that makes me feel like ghosts are in the room?

La Playa Sextet : Hong Kong, Hunca Munca , Olaya & El Chico Boogaloo
taken from the album Bailando El Boogaloo on Musicor (1967)

La Playa Sextet : Le-Lo-Lai & Sugar’s Delight
taken from the album Vaya Means Go! on United Artists (196?)

La Playa Sextet : Coco Seco/Anabacca & Mambo Inn
taken from the album The Exciting New La Playa Sound
on United Artists (196?)

I felt inspired to give La Playa (even THEY have a myspace page!) their due respect for several reasons. The first is selfish: I’ve been carrying these records in my crate consistently, week-in week-out, for probably a year now, and before I wear out the grooves on my favorite tunes, I wanted to retire the vinyl properly and let the music itself live on forever in digitally-preserved mp3/serato heaven. The second reason is because I’d also like to start doing a regular feature on somewhat overlooked latin groups. “Dura Obscura” or something like that. If I highlight a big name artist like Tito Puente or Eddie Palmieri, I’ll pick out something that is a bit lesser-known from their catalogue. La Playa seemed like as good a place as any to start. Chronologically, they rose to popularity on the Latin tidal wave that crashed in 1968 with the death of the Boogaloo and the subsequent birth of “Salsa” superpower Fania. Cha-cha, Charanga, Mambo, Bomba, Bolero all got branded conveniently under one banner, and La Playa somehow didn’t make the grade.

Most of what little I know about La Playa I picked up here and here. But without knowing about all the players and particulars, one of the major aspects of the group’s sound that stood out to me from the start, and caused me to seek out other titles, is the killer electric guitar playing by Payo Alicea. Beyond simply taking over the montuno parts traditionally played on piano, Payo really steered the sound of the group in a latin-rock direction (pre-Santana). “Hunca Munca” has that classic bluesy rock progression that sounds pretty dated today (maybe even tacky to some), but back then I imagine this was some pretty progressive stuff. I’m not sure what happened to the group after “Bailando..” was released, but their music is still heating up dancefloors here in Brooklyn on a weekly basis.

Santogold : Shove It
taken from her self-titled alum on Downtown (2008)

MGMT : Electric Feel
taken from the album Oracular Spectacular on Sony (2007)

Plantlife : Rollerskate Jam & Fool For U
taken from the album Time Traveller on Decon (2008)

As a person who spends perhaps too much time digging into the past, it’s important to be reminded that there’s still just as much life being lived now as there ever was back in the day. For anyone who finds themselves waxing nostalgia over a lost golden era of greatness, I recommend going out to some live concerts and picking up an album or two by artists, like the ones I’m posting today, who remind us all that music history is happening right now and we still have a very bright future to look forward to. THESE ALBUMS ARE FREAKING UNBELIEVABLY GREAT, so stop asking why you don’t like what’s on the radio and start spending your loot on the good stuff.

I won’t act like I had too much of a role in Santi’s recent explosive exposure, but me and my bandmate buddies can at least take credit for putting her on for her first solo show in NYC, so we’re helping the cause. This girl deserves every bit of shine she gets. In addition to being a suuuper mellow, down-to-earth, and incredibly talented person, she has crafted a broad-reaching, unique sound (read- NOT an M.I.A. imitation like some fools may claim) on her new album that warns the villagers of the oncoming flash-flood of more that is sure to come. Her voice slashes through the punchy, punky, electro-funky, reggae-bottomed beats like a blazing light saber. When I listen to her record, I hear the demolition of an invisible wall that separates CBGB’s (R.I.P.) from a big bass club like Brooklyn’s Studio B, where the mosh pit reaches a new fervor with the introduction of the sub-woofer and the multicolored mohawks get a glitter treatment from the disco ball overhead. I picked “Shove It” just because it’s getting hotter each day now as summer draws nigh, and there’s a nice little guest appearance from the one MC Spank Rock on here too, and the beat was produced by the late great Disco D (R.I.P.). Now go SUPPORT THIS ARTIST and get yourself the goods.

Now I’ve spent almost all my precious little writing time on Santi, but you need to check out MGMT who are more of that next shit out of Brooklyn! Psychedelic, dance-inducing, electro-rock with a catchy factor that is devastating. Don’t sleep and then feel bad later when your little brother tells you, “I told you so” – PICK UP THE ALBUM NOW.

And it’s the return of PLANTLIFE! Here’s an album that brings more falsetto and funk than all the funky falsetto records of the past few years combined (since the release of the first Plantlife album). Jack Splash gives us 19 tracks worth of casio party beats, quasimoto-styled chipmunk raps, dirty samples, and raw unabashed SOUL. There’s so many tracks I could have highlighted on this one to show you a different reason why you need the whole record, but isn’t “Fool For U” enough? This is quite possibly the sweetest soul tune I’ve heard a young man sing since the Chi-Lites stopped recording. Time traveller indeed. Get it while it’s hot.

BONUS BEAT- Mark Ronson ft. Santogold : Pretty Green
(originally by The Jam)
taken from the album Version on Columbia (2007)

Etoile De Dakar : Tolou Badou Ndiaye
taken from their self-titled album on SACEM

Elias Rahbani : From The Moon
taken from the 12″ single on EMI

Formula 7 : Trouble
taken from their self-titled album on Castelinho

Erick Cosaque Et Les Voltages 8 : Decere Nou De Maye
taken from the album “Chene A Kunta Kinte”

In case you didn’t already know by now, I get more geeked off vinyl than your average DJ. Moreso even than your run-of-the-mill skinny-necked record nerd. I even have nightmares that I will oneday join the ranks of those golem-esque record-fiending freaks who stop bathing and lose all social skills in the sole pursuit of posessing the holy plastic grail. If you see me start to get like that, please intervene.

However, in the meantime what that means for you all is that I’ve been hoarding some serious monsters for a special occaision. As a frequenter of the Soulstrut.com forums, I found my occaision in the form of what we strutters call an “ISH”. This ISH business provides a place for similarly crazed crate-diggers to show off some of their favorite obscurities to fellow record nerds. Being the geek that I am, I went for it. Today’s tunes are culled from the same stash that made it into my ISH. For those that are new to this website, I highly recommend hanging out for a little while. Amid the flurry of non-record-related bullshwank, there’s the occaisional nuggets of real-world knowledge- not to mention a whole lot of music sharing. Without further ado, onto the music…

READ MY “ISH” TO GET THE INFO