Unfortunately, I don’t have the long player above that undoubtedly contains multiple dub masterpieces, however I do have plenty of other heavyweight material for you this week which should leave you with no room to complain. I’m celebrating another return to NYC this week for the massive LAMC festival. There’s a million artists I’m hoping to catch, but this show in particular, at one of my all-time favorite venues, ranks high on the list. I’m opening tomorrow night at Bowery Electric for my badass homies Outernational who recently released this politically charged video for the title track off their debut album. Friday night I’ll be back in Brooklyn with the Bastard Jazz family at Trophy Bar for a night of funky eclectic dance music and pickle back shots. Saturday I’ll be at my 2nd home, Bembe, with a great line-up of DJs and a live set from another MTR favorite- Xenia Rubinos. So if you’re in NYC, there’s no excuses, pick a night and show up!

La Pesada :       Cumbia Y Tambo
Concept Neuf :       The Path (Sofrito Edit)
both taken from the top-notch new compilation International Soundclash on Strut Records.

Cos-Ber-Zam :       Ne Noya (Daphni Edit)
another deep trippy re-work from Caribou’s alter-ego

Cumbia Cosmonaut :       Tribal Amazonico
nice electro 3ball style banger from this Aussie duo 

Los 4 :       No La Recuerdo
I realize this is bachata-pop, but I can’t help but love it. The beat reminds me of early Timbaland. I can easily picture a very crunk remix of this.

Pernett :       Cumbia Computer (Zeb Remix)
another nice release from the Wonderwheel familia, this time blending Andean flutes with some Jamaican dancehall skank.

Sonia :       Aqui En Mi Nube
slightly random selection, but it’s the Latin Alt conference, and this Spanish Stones cover just seemed to fit.

Soreng Santi :       Iron Man
on the topic of covers… this one from Indonesia is not to be overlooked.

Courtney John :       Love Is
new, old-sounding goodness from one of my favorite contemporary Jamaicans.

Richie Phoe :       Bumpy's Lament
nice dubby cover of an Isaac Hayes classic by UK DJ/producer Richie Phoe, from his new album Echo Outernational 

Ijahman Levi :       Closer To You
I had been looking for this LP for 10 years! I finally found it in Amsterdam of all places. After hearing this heartbreaker, maybe you’ll be on the search now…

The rebellious birth of my nation is truly something to be thankful for, and grounds for at least a smidgin of national pride. I mean, who doesn’t love a good tea party? Oh wait, certain American crazies went and fucked that up too. However, if there’s one thing we can all agree on as the true strength and character of this big fat country, it’s the gumbo that was already cooking when the founding fathers (and mothers) were fighting for independence. Every other country in the world has a population here, and probably an amazing restaurant or two (or two million, thank you China).  Best believe Thomas Jefferson loved some curry goat. After all the dirty dealings and clandestine violence that this country has been involved in (and continues to perpetrate), my search to find anything redeeming in my homeland has generally focussed on the healthy plethora of counter-cultures that plot and scheme and throw parties in the parking lots behind the McDonald’s. So this year as the USA turns 236 (just a couple years senior to ole “Hanako” the koi), I’m once again celebrating fireworks with a soundtrack that includes not a single American pop song.

Makala :       Friendly Fire (Smakalites Original Version)
produced by my Basque rumba-punk-surfer brother Makala. Check his album here.

 Ondatropica :       Punkero Sonidero
what an insane project, but then again, I expect no less from Will Quantic.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars :       Gbara Case
this whole album (produced by my dude Ticklah) is top notch.

Paco Mendoza :       Fosforito (Vadim Mix) &       Adicto
I kicked it with Paco in Berlin last month and couldn’t believe I hadn’t already heard his music. Not only is he an extremely rad individual, but he’s got a massive catalogue of tunes- I’m hoping for a collabo soon…

The Funk Ark :       Green Trees &       Rancho
not re-inventing the wheel, but putting those firestones to work on bumpy tropical terrain.

The Soul Session :       Hamjam (Pushin Wood Remix)
heavy organ and some nice little psychedelic touches on a solid cumbia 2-step, I’m not mad at this at all.

Congo Sanchez :       Oleada Calor
dubby downtempo afrobeat that sounds like it was made during a heatwave. Check out more.

Sono Rhizmo :       Soledad
another nice bootleg remix from the good folks at Resense.

El Rego :       Zon Dede &       E Nan Mian Nuku
heavy rootical sounds from an OG.

Alhaji K. Frimpong :       Hwehwe Mu
surprised I haven’t shared this one before. One of my all-time favorite West African songs (and the sample source for an afro-house classic).

Time to start soaking it up. Find a pool, a grill, a cold beer, a rooftop and of course a little crew of friends, and spend a Summer day the right way. This sun-soaked latest installment for BrooklynRadio.com should also help you complete the picture. If you’re in the LA area, then come through to this party I’m throwing on Saturday night to help get things started off on the good-foot.

Also, as I mention in the podcast, my Chico Mann Remix is now available as a free download, so treat your playlist to an early Chanukah present.

LISTEN/STREAM:

Summer has officially arrived. New moon. Late sunset. The all-prevailing song of the ice cream truck ringing out to school-less children everywhere.  And with a flip of a switch, hot ass days are here as well. We revolve around the sun and this is the time of year when old mother gaia reminds us of that. I was out dancing the other night, and the bouncer straight passed out right in front of me due to the club being 200 degrees farenheit. He got some water and fresh air and was back to standing statuesque in less than 10 minutes (this time with slightly bent knees). In lieu of all this heat, some hot ones for you today.

Niama Makalou et African Soul Band :       Kognokoura
this is the type of record, that when I first heard it, I couldn’t believe it was actually recorded in 1979. Thank you Sofrito for this beautiful heavy press reissue accompanied by the late-night friendly re-edit from a man called Daphni on the B-side.

Orchestra Of Spheres :       Hypersphere (Daphni Edit)
speaking of Daphni, gottdamn! Homie is on some shit right now. I have to thank him for introducing me to this band, and if you’re not familiar, you should thank him too.

Débruit :       Afro Booty Musique &       Ogene Udu
been waiting a minute on this. Debut full-length from this funky frenchman hits all the bizarre places in your eardrum that you never knew existed.

Maga Bo :       Xororô ft. Russo Passapusso (Uproot Andy Remix)
&       É da Nossa Cor ft. Mestre Camaleão (Sabo Remix)
First you should probably get the OG album, but then there’s all these bangin remixes too. My favorites happen to come from friends, but maybe I’m biased.

Superpendejos :       El Macho Pendejo (La Sintonia Es Total)
first word I learned in spanish was “pendejo”. Thanks to these dudes and to Urban World records, I now remember why it’s a necessary part of your vocabulary.

Nacho Patrol :       Lineas Angola (Edit)
deep trippy electro-cumbia/merengue 12″ I picked up in London. Insane Shangaan Electro remix on the B-side.

Curumin :       Passarinho &       Paris Vila Matilde
great new album from this man. Sounds like a hot brazilian afternoon with friends and good weed.

Nickodemus :       Under the Volcano ft. Navegante
very happy to see and hear the new release from my friend Nickodemus. Deep soulful late-night heaters from a true originator.

Rascalz :       Top Of The World (DJ Theory Remix)
this one just keeps growing on me, to the point where I now need it multiple times daily. Thank you sir.

Ghetto Knowledge :       Deep Within
Jah Cure gets screwed in the best way possible.

And no where in particular. Trying to stay afloat in a swirling sea of music projects that had been put off for the past month and a half. It’s nearly Summer though, the season for swimming, so I say bring it. Heaps of good music coming at me lately. Not much time to share why I like these tunes so much, but enough to share the songs themselves and let you decide for yourselves.

Electric Guest :       This Head I Hold &       American Daydream

Santigold :       Fame &       This Isn't Our Parade

Niva :       Ghost In My Head

Jaqwar Ma :       Come Save Me

Phoenix :       Lisztomania (Shook Remix)

Arcade Fire :       Sprawl II (Soulwax Remix)

Grimes :       Oblivion &       Vanessa

MOTM :       Leaves Fall

Scrimshire :       Ascension &       Alignment

Jono McCleery :       Tomorrow

After 11 flights, 10 trains, 12 DJ sets & 3 radio interviews in 11 different cities… I’m finally back in the states! The glorious feeling of sleeping in my own bed was trumped only by cooking my own meal for the first time in more than 30 days. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to the tour- playing records to a packed crowd in a beautiful pre-war theater in Hannover, Germany with the Agogo Records crew. Huge thanks to them and to everyone else who I met and hung out with along the way.

Back in LA for no more than 2 days and now I’m already moving again. Last night I played in San Francisco with my funky homies Afrolicious and later today I’m heading up to sunny Napa Valley to DJ and be a part of the wedding festivities for one of my best friends in the world- the man who DESIGNED this site (as well as the old Via/Captain’s Crate site before this)- IXLEY. Thus the abundance of love in the air today. Soak it up!

Lee McDonald :       I'll Do Anything For You (Patchworks Remix)

The Popular People’s Front :       I Love Only You (Trussel Re-Edit)

Suzy Q :       I Can't Give You More shoutout to Bethan for this gem, new #1 on my vinyl wants list…

Rufus ft. Chaka Khan :       Do You Love What You Feel

The Whispers :       It's A Love Thing

Sylvia Striplin :       Give Me Your Love

Ram :       Love Is The Answer

The Masquaraders :       Do You Love Me Baby

Charles Bradley :       I Believe In Your Love

Solomon Burke :       If You Need Me