Marlene – Sinal Vermelho

I’m a major fan of Brazilian music (see Tim Maia in Dig Deep) and have been hoping that Strut would dig deeper and put out a second volume of Brazilian funk/soul and lo and behold here it is, a good 8 years after volume #1. The first volume had some bigger names, but this one has deeper cuts.

The Aggrolites – Tonight
The Aggrolites – The Sufferer

If you just judge a book by it’s cover, the Aggrolites appear to be the kind of guys who routinely get profiled by LAPD as gang bangers. However, aside from the lead song “Firecracker,” which is more of a cautionary take on a guy with a “short fuse” instead of a call to bash heads, the sound of the Aggrolites doesn’t match their image (besides, could they really be THAT tough, they’ve been on Yo Gabba Gabba!). (more…)

Gossip – Vertical Rhythm

I absolutely love this band and I love this new record. Pure post-punk-funk-electro-pop perfection…

Lloyd Miller – Gol-E Gandom
Salah Ragab & the Cairo Jazz Band – Neveen

Spiritual Jazz: Esoteric, Modal & Deep Jazz from The Underground 1968-1977

This collection was originally released through Jazzman in the UK in 2008, but recently got a stateside release through a partnership with Now-Again, a Stones Throw subsidiary. The music contained here carries the “Spiritual” title, not necessarily because of its religiosity, but more so because of the feeling it evokes. This is jazz music that is clearly inspired by post-A Love Supreme Coltrane and the African turn (expressed in the music of Randy Weston, McCoy Tyner and others) in post-bop jazz in the mid 1960s. It sometimes flirts with the avant-garde, but rarely goes into the kind of aural histrionics that groups like the Art Ensemble of Chicago excelled at.

Instead this music is often contemplative, at times plaintive but often will rolling rhythms at slightly odd time signatures that you wouldn’t generally have seen in American jazz (though most of the artists appear to be from overseas, the vast majority of this music was recorded in the US), except on similarly styled labels such as Tribe or Strata East. (more…)

Ocote Soul Sounds feat. Tita Lima – Vendendo Saude e Fei

Fabulous and funky new record from Martin of Antibalas and Adrian of Grupo Fantasma.  Mostly instrumental record featuring a mix of afro-latin based rhythms and a golden stunner with vocals from Brasileira Tita Lima “Vendendo Saude e Fei,” one of my favorite tracks of the year.

Personally, I think Jeff was a better guitarist and Tim was a better songwriter, but the real question is, pound for pound between father and son, which of the legendary Buckley’s was the better singer?

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Francoiz Breut – Les Jeunes Pousses
Francoiz Breut – Mouchoir De Poche
Francoiz Breut – L’Enticelle Ou La Contrainte Du Feu

This record was released in France late last year through T-rec, which is how I procured my original copy.  It’s finally been released stateside so this seems like a good time to do a full review of the record.  A l’aveuglette, her fourth album, is her best work yet, all in French (which I unfortunately don’t speak and can barely pronounce but simply love to hear) and lyrics all written by Breut for the first time in her career.

Breut’s music often is compared to artists such as Calexico, Nick Cave and other how shall we say, “dark romantic” musicians.  This record certainly has a certain mood to it in parts, (especially due to some short instrumental tracks that I could personally do without, but understand their inclusion in the complete work) but largely it’s a record that shines and sounds like a springtime afternoon or early summer evening. (more…)

Lee Fields – Honey Dove

If you love Sharon Jones’ modern soul sound, you cannot sleep on this record from “Little JB” Lee Fields. Trust me, this is a dynamite record, that’s right…I said DYNO-MITE!!!

This event was held July 11th, 2009.  I was very lucky to be one of the many DJs involved with the 1st Funk Rumble Block Party.  I missed some of the early performers, including a DJ set from Jeremy Sole, but got there in time to see most of J. Boogie’s Dubtronic Science out of the Bay Area, including a dedication of their version of “They Reminisce Over You” for Michael Jackson.

Ant

Vala

is a bad mamajamma

Anthony Valadez took to the wheels and as usual just rocked it.  AntVala is one of the most skilled DJs around, good party rockin’ set that included unexpected selections…I’m still trying to wrap my head around him playing “Don’t Stop Believing” (more…)