Batata Y Su Rumba Palenquera : Ataole
taken from the compilation “Champeta Criolla Vol.2” on Palenque (2000?)

Bucovina Club vs Taraf de Haïdouks : Carolina
taken from the compilation “Electric Gypsyland” on Six Degrees (2004)

Swami : Pao Bhangra
taken from the compilation Bar Bhangra on Escondida (2005)

Tata Vasquez : Suite Guaracho Part II
taken from the compilaiton Jazz Bizniz 3 on Counterpoint (2003)

M.I.A. show in Central Park last Sunday was crucial. Barry McGee vs Swoon stimulated similarly (thanks to Aurock for the pics, and for keeping our News & Booze well stocked while Ant passes the 1 month mark in Costa Rica). I’m high and heading out of town myself. Westward bound. Making the L.A. to S.F. cruise with little bro. Expect fresh digs from the road- if possible. And now, on to this week’s music: giving props to a few comps I’ve been subway riding to lately.

Where was I when Champeta Criolla Vol.1 first dropped over here in 1998? I missed both of these gems until a couple of weeks ago. Purchase this album (subtitled: “Visionary Black Music From Underground Colombiafrica”) for the photos and artwork alone. Then flip out when you find out about an entire scene that you probably didn’t know existed. The idea of shouting/singing/rapping over old Prince Nico Mbarga records is highly appealing to me.

Whaddup to my Balkan Massive. With Gogol Bordello ripping things up, and Shantel’s repeated illness, in conjunction with several thourough listens to Nickodemus’ upcoming album, I’ve decided that the gypsy sound is right for me.

Although I haven’t yet gotten my hands on a copy of his book yet, I’ve heard Fabian Asultany spin several times and appreciated his science [*ammendment: it’s his Globesonic partner Derek Beres who has the book out, not Fabian, sorry*]. His first legit mix CD (Bhangra joints old and new) is a helpful addition to my arsenal.

Thank you Jake Behnan and Counterpoint for your service. Please continue putting out records as good as this one. This collection has a personality; the type you like talking to and dancing with at hoedowns, and never get bored of. Allow yourself to hear all the other dopeness that lies herein.

And definitely check out the Earl’s “Clash Up & Burn” mix over @ The Ten Thousand Things

Build An Ark : You’ve Gotta Have Freedom
taken from the album Peace With Every Step on Plug Research (2004)

Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio : Antiquity
taken from the album Love Is The Answer on Ninja Tune (2005)

Now a bunch of you cats are prolly gonna think I’m a downright hippie-softypants-mush-mush-brain. Go ahead, I’ll be finding peace in these here righteous rhythms. This music is doing things that most people are scared to take seriously, it travels to places that few people have enough conviction to even believe in nowadays. It’s new music with an old soul- just listen to the lyrics on Antiquity, which was penned by Carlos Niño (aka one half of Ammoncontact); the entire poem is composed of classic record titles. Beat by Dilla. Listening to this extremely rare contemporary musical incarnation, I wonder what happened to all the positive energy from those albums? Where is it today, honestly? I just hope it catches on and spreads, this infectious positive bug that urges open-ness. It’s simple in a lot of ways. Some things should be.

You can find out info about Dwight (who’s worked with more amazing artists than I want to even begin listing) here. You can let your guard down for a minute, feel good about the world and support this modern day love warrior (and his compadres that include: Madlib, Sa-Ra, Phil Ranelin, and Adam Rudolph to name a few) by purchasing either of these fine albums here.

After making a big fuss about not receiving comments, and then posting up the whole contest thing, it was brought to my attention that the comments section isn’t working on more than a few computers. Hotdamn. I finally thought I had it worked out. Back to the drawing board.

The contest is still on however, so if you are able to post a comment, do so. If not, e-mail me with what ever info you’ve dug up and I’ll accept it in that form too. Fully functional comments are coming soon…

Another hint for the contest:
Bay Area meets Oxnard – holy crap, someone better get this quick like.

**CONTEST**CONTEST**CONTEST**CONTEST**CONTEST**CONTEST**

The Scientist : Night Of The Living Dead
taken from the album “Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires” on Greensleeves (1981)

Chief Ebenezer Obey and his Inter-Reformers Band : Ambition (Side A)
taken from the album “Ambition” on Obey (1983)

Alright, alright already, I take the time to install Haloscan for your convenience and not a single comment? This calls for drastic measures… a contest! In a pathetic attempt at getting your feedback, I’m actually willing to give away a brand new CD copy of The Scientist’s legendary DUB masterpiece (I’ll throw in a Bobby Konders dancehall mix CD too). The prize goes to the first person who correctly identifies:
1) the contemporary (and highly prolific) producer that recently sampled this very Scientist track,
2) the name of the song which samples it,
3) and finally, you have to put your responses in the freakin’ COMMENTS section. Those are the conditions.

Now for a hint:
The song comes from a recent release off a Nor-Cal underground hip hop act’s latest effort.

Go to work you diggers and beat freaks! If you are even remotely into dub or reggae music, this Scientist album is a necessary addition to your undoubtedtly bloated music colleciton. Don’t worry, I’ll cover the shipping.

Dub music makes tolerable these sweltering hot nights when being buck-naked on top of your sheets with the fan blasting over your family jewels isn’t enough to keep you from cultivating a salty body syrup.

Juju music, as heard here by one of its greatest proponents, also manages to slink and squirm in a way fitting to my general summer sloth. This is actually a string of songs played continuously, as is common on these old-school juju LPs. The version you’re hearing is an edit, not by choice, but because my computer sometimes fritzes when recording for longer than 10 minutes at a time. Sorry. Speaking of ill Nigerian music, can someone please get me this album. Lordy, Honest Jons does it again- those guys are impeccable. Also, a blog brethren by the name of Count Reeshard has been dropping Juju gems left and right over at Permanent Condition, some early King Sunny Ade joints that should satisfy any further cravings you may have after hearing this taste of Obey.

Also, last Thursday night was spent the right way, dancing to loud funky music mixed by nasty DJs using a proper soundsystem. This highly recommended monthly event comes courtesy of Bastard Jazz records and the music fiend who takes care of the equally commendable musicblog Scissorkick. PEEP that shiz. And don’t forget to check out the Gumbo Funk E.P.

Merry Clayton : Southern Man
taken from her self-titled album on Ode (1971)

The Nazty : It’s Summertime
taken from the album “I Got To Move” on Mankind (1976)

Despite the lack of A.C., some things are still poppin’ around here at the Park Place house. Ixley got his new mix up and available for your downloadable delight. Find it under the loose tape section; same place where you can find the Gumbo Funk E.P. for sale (a meager $8, cop that shiz!). We finally have Haloscan working for comments, so it’s just one click (rather than an entire registration process) to let me know your thoughts- I want to hear them. And I did some long overdue blogroll updating- see the inspiration information list to the right. Otherwise, still summer, still hot, still sticky. I was thinking it appropriate to post some minimalist Dub or hypnotic Juju, something that captures the spacy haze of my daily routine right now. But I’m gonna wait until next week for that. In a way, these two songs are kind of coming from a similar place- Southern heat ain’t that far from tropical. I remember (with a clarity that comes only after emerging from a confounding haze), driving through Tennesse and Louisiana during my cross-country roadtrip back in ’98. Definitely the thickest, muggiest, and most dificult-to-breathe air I’ve ever experienced was down there in Louisiana, mid-August. In air like that your farts can’t dissolve, they form into condensed spheres, fall to the ground and roll away like balloons that have lost their helium. My buddy and I found a ridiculous skate park down there, but we could barely ride for more than five minutes before feeling queasy. I want to go back there for sure, but I think I’ll time my trip closer to November.

Merry Clayton comes from New Orleans. Growing up in that Louisiana air, she’s probably used to it. This is a HEAVY cover of a Neil Young song that rails against the utter wackness of the KKK and burning crosses and the whole despicable lot. Supposedly, Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” as a response to hearing the original version of this tune. I think Merry’s funkification here would be an adequate rebuttle to Skynyrd anyday, you be the judge. Home Of The Groove posted one of her tracks a while back, too bad I missed it…

The Nazty come from Detroit originally, but this record has Nashville written all over it (literally). Other than that, I can’t tell you much about the group. This was a flea market find a while back and came to the front of my crate again by accident. The back and forth vocals do a nice job of recreating the party vibe and some of these lyrics are soooo on point:

“Loving you in my air conditioned room,
it’s gonna be like heaven with wall to wall weather”

If you dig it, you can pick up the 7″ for $8. The full-length gets a bit more expensive.