Happy Tuesday! I’m pleased to present y’all with a new mixtape by the illustrious Goldie/Keaton conglomerate. Local L.A. heads, friends and extended famiglia, these are two baaaad dudes. Golden (aka. Jesse Rogg) has been doing BIG things in the last few years. The man behind mixing boards of a certain Sam Sparro and the forthcoming debut by The Love Grenades, this is a dude worth watching out for. Diane Keaton — like, as in the DJ, as opposed to the human being — is none other than international artist playboy/neo-anarcho-hedonist Jonny Coleman. What can you say about a staple Eastside L.A. nighthawk who summers in Berlin? Living the dream. When he comes back stateside, I’m gonna con him into joining the westcoast contingent of Mixtape Riot madness. ‘Cause that’s how we roll…

As for the mix… This one’s been in steady rotation for the last few weeks. A perfect L.A. summer night soundtrack. Space disco, retro-future dance music, a few tasty classics and a handful of exclusives. Equal parts lunar casbah and cosmic discoteque. It’s 3AM on the 101 freeway. You’re driving under a starless sky. What are you listening to?

Here’s the (updated) LINK

We did it once again! Last week’s MTR party was a smorgasbord of titillating delights. Shyvonne brought the sultry soul. Nyle came with the lecherous lyrics (“Fuck A Nice Guy”). Party people brought their debaucherous selves. And Ixley & Tacit (who don’t even DJ!) made a nice mix of tight pants indie rock dance music to keep the party going on your stereo until our next episode…

Download “Agony Ecstasy” mixed by Ixley & Tacit now in our Mixtry section

And peep more party pics here

I know, I know. I been gone a minute. Not without a whole litany of excuses, but I’ll spare you those. Accept this as my apology: three of the dirtiest soulful heaters I’ve heard in a minute. A little backlog of Northern fire I been saving up for just the right occasion. I’ve been storming the dancefloors with these tracks for the last few weeks and imagine I’ll continue stormin’ ’em for weeks–nay–months to come.

The common thread to these songs–besides the undeniably heavy dose of soul– is a certain underlying fierceness. From the driving proto-funkiness of Judy Freeman to the almost punk-like jerk of my boy Reggie Garner to the absolutely decimating relentlessness of the Flirtations (listen to the way it goes straight from the pounding opening piano, right into the blasting horns, right into the scorching vocals, without leaving a split second to catch your breath–YIKES!!!). Who says that soul music is for softies? This stuff hits like a sack of bricks.

Aside from the Flirtations who scored a medium sized hit with “Heartache”, I don’t have much info on the other two artists. If you know something that I don’t, do tell. Otherwise, embrace the ferocity and dance with a fury. Till next time…

Reggie Garner: Hotline
taken from the 7″ on Capitol

Judy Freeman & Blackrock:       Hold On
taken from the 7″ on RCA

The Flirtations: Nothing But A Heartache
taken from the LP “Nothing But A Heartache” on Deram

Well actually, this is not me.  This is Shyvonne.  (Not the dancer on the flyer, but the singer posted below)  The up and coming singer from The Bronx who we have booked to perform at our next Mix Tape Riot! party.  My friend Ibe took me to see her at my friend Roxy‘s party @ Sway.  She blew me away with her dope personality and energy.  She didn’t perform this song, but I heard it on her myspace page and I think it’s really sweet.  Kinda Amy Winohousey without the beehive and nihilistic attitude.  Actually, it’s the opposite of Amy Winohouse and is really positive and uplifting.  This tuesday is going to be cruncadelic with live performances by my group, The Beatards and Nyle filling out the bill.  So here is a taste of what the party just might be like.  (Minus the booze, inappropriate touching and squeezing…)  Hope to see you there!

Shyvonne –       This Is Me

Remember how I mentioned my friends were starting a non-profit organization to raise education funds for Liberian refugees living in Ghana? Well their first first benefit party went down on Sunday and was a smash success. Total grassroots operation, but they managed to raise over a couple thousand from our extended group of friends and the random people we all pulled together. Today I’m sharing the mixtape that I made specifically for that event (all the guests got to take home a copy). This mix has a lot of my all-time favorite African tunes, which somehow I’d never put together before, plus a lil something special for all those 80’s babies out there. Check out more info on their organization LYDIA, and make a tax deductible donation if you can. Then enjoy the good music…

Haysobay! mixed by Chuck Wild
Download

TRACKLIST

1. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-stars – Living Like A Refugee
2. Abeti – Gogo
3. Orchestre Baobab – Kelen Ati Len
4. Oscar Sulley – Pleco
5. Ernesto Djedje – Zadie Bobo
6. Femi Kuti – Tell Me
7. C.K. Mann – Funky Hi-life
8. Jingo – Fever
9. Tony Allen – Road Close (Dance Dub)
10. Eko – Kilimandjaro My Home
11. Awa Band – Babatteur (Quantic Remix)
12. Dennis Ferrer – Funu
13. Pastaboys Feat. Wumni – Babalawo
14. DJ Africano – Unknown Jam
15. Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band – Bukom Mashie
16. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo – Minsato Le, Mi Dayihome
17. Tabu Ley Rochereau – Karibou Ya Bintou

Full disclosure here. I like Elizabeth & The Catapult. A lot. Like, they’re cool peoples. But chances are you don’t know them, nor do you care what they are like when their instruments are put away. So let’s talk about their music. The group is composed of singer/songwriter Elizabeth Ziman, Dan Molad (formerly of Via Audio), and Pete Woodman Lalish, and they are a pleasant reminder that pop appeal and musicality need not be forces at odd with each other. The new album, Taller Children, spans a handful of genres of music and when I asked Mr. Molad in jest what genre it would be tagged under in iTunes, he looked at me in all seriousness and responded by repeating my own question back to me. And then waited for an answer.

Though the album is varied both sonically and emotionally, it does carry throughout a very child-like spirit in both its whimsicality and sensitivity (album title might tip you off too). I’m posting two tracks that are presently my favorite off the album, though I suspect that each of you will find different personal gems on this project. Do yourself a flavor and buy the whole damn thing on iTunes or Amazon. Did I mention they hit #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart in their opening week?? Enjoy.

(Oh, by the way, check some behind the scenes footage from the making of the album I cut together here, here, and here, if you are so inclined.) Continue reading…