Future Classic: Mugwisa International Xylophone Group “Santuri’s Embaire Umeme”
via On The Corner Records: This latest release from On the Corner is the first release in a series of collaborations between Santuri, Soundthread and OtC. This record features electronic constructs and remixes of the acoustic recording sessions that will appear later in 2016, accompanied by more “Umeme” (‘electric’ and …
Forgotten Treasure: Willie Colón “Guaracha” (1974)
In the world of Latin music, Fania Records reigns supreme. The brainchild of Johnny Pacheco, who is credited with coining the term Salsa to describe his rendition of the Afro-Cuban sound, La Fania holds some of the most priceless moments in music history under its belt. Among many accomplishments, his …
Discussion with Azymuth on the making of the seminal 1980 “Outubro” record
FarOut recordings’ mission is to bring to light all the diversity and vibrance of Brazilian music past and present. In doing so they have rereleased a number of seminal albums from renowned artists such Marcos Valle, Arthur Verocai and legendary supergroup Azymuth. They have recently released the group’s Outubro LP …
Future Classic: Antilles Series “DIGITAL ZANDOLI”
via Antilles Series: After the success of “Kouté Jazz“, Heavenly Sweetness comes back with a dancefloor but not jazz compilation, enough to move your feet at through the whole summer! 13 disco, boogie and Zouk tracks recorded in the 80’s in the West Indies. DIGITAL ZANDOLI by ANTILLES SERIES The …
Gilles Peterson Presents: “Brasil Bam Bam Bam”
via Brownswood Recordings: Set to coincide with the opening ceremony of Brazil’s 2016 Olympics, Gilles Peterson’s feature-length documentary on Brazilian music is available to watch online for the first time. Titled “Brasil Bam Bam Bam”, it was filmed in 2014 to then tour film festivals and one-off screenings without ever …
Forgotten Treasure: V.O. “Mashisa” (1990, Roi Music)
via Invisible City: In the pivotal period before the end of Apartheid, the fluff of bubblegum was starting to boil over into what later became the tougher township-centric sounds of kwaito. Amidst this volatile and transitional climate a mysterious kid named Eddie Magwaza started making moves in the studio, creating …
Future Classic: Big Mean Sound Machine “Blank Slate 014”
via Blank Slate: Big Mean Sound Machine is a twelve-piece Afrobeat band native to Ithaca, New York. They tour 150 days a year and have a large and dedicated following up and down the East coast. Still, it is a crime that Big Mean Sound Machine is not well known …
Future Classic: Gilles Peterson Presents: Sonzeira “Tam Tam Tam Reimagined”
Tam Tam Tam Reimagined is the second album to come from Gilles Peterson’s Sonzeira project. Overseen by the legendary DJ and record collector, this second album picks up where the first one left off. Where Brasil Bam Bam Bam brought together the all-stars of Brazilian music, this album focuses on …
Future Classic: Elza Soares “A mulher do fim do mundo”
Samba royalty and living legend Elza Soares recently released one of the most ambitious albums of her career. Teaming up with top avant-garde musicians from Sao Paolo, A Mulher o Fim do Mundo (The Woman at the End of the World) is even more powerful given the current crisis looming over …
Forgotten Treasure: Wally Badarou “Echoes” (1984)
With a wide range of contributions throughout the eighties, from Grace Jones’s “My Jamaican Guy” to Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is”, Waliou Jacques Daniel Isheola “Wally” Badarou was mainly known for playing a crucial role in Chris Blackwell’s Compass Point Studios recording venture in the Bahamas. Often referred …
Tribute to MARCOS VALLE – Selected by SPACEWALKER
Marcos Valle burst onto the Brazilian music scene half a century ago as part, or to be more exact, the leader of the second wave of bossa nova songwriters and arrangers. Unlike a lot of his contemporaries, Valle refused to be stuck with the “bossa nova” tag, managing to reinvent …
Forgotten Treasure: Valgusesse (Estonian Compilation from Frotee Records)
“Records you didn’t know existed.” That’s the tagline from Estonian label Frotee and it’s been true so far, with their output doing a fine job of documenting the Eastern European country’s music heritage. Their latest release, Valgusesse, is an eight-track compilation profiling the sound archive of Estonian Public Broadcasting which …