Version Excursion: “Let’s Start” (Comencemos)
Sometimes you don’t think a track can get anymore hype and energetic yet another band manages to cover it and make it pop even more. Fela Kuti‘s powerful Let’s Start took a life of its own when Latin Funk outfit Phirpo y sus Caribes transformed it into Comencemos. The horn …
Forgotten Treasure: Boban Petrovic “Zora” (1984)
via DISCOM: Boban Petrovic‘s ”Zora” is our first release that has been made under Disco not Disco record label and which had huge international success reaching N#1 at Juno Bestseller chart in July 2014 (first time one name from the Balkans took N#1 in one UK chart). It was made …
Future Classic: Sabrina Malheiros “Opara” Ashley Beedle Remixes
via Far Out Records: “Following the sold out Theo Parrish remix of Marcos Valle’s ‘1985’ back in April, the second release in Far Out’s Brazilika 12” series features a highlight from Sabrina Malheiros’ 2011 album ‘Dreaming’: the blissed-out, sun soaked samba classic ‘Opara’, which gets three scorching remixes from UK …
Mix of the Day: “Inna BamBam Style” Deadly Dragon Sound
via Deadly Dragon Sound: “One of the great things about owning a record store is learning about the music you love through other people’s eyes. Over the past years we have found that throughout South America the Jamaican Styles and riddims that became the basis for modern day Reggaeton are …
Brasil Brasil! “Part 1: From Samba to Bossa” (BBC Documentary)
A three-part series from BBC “The series offers a detailed account of the years in which Brazilian music has evolved and constantly changed, while capturing the global imagination. Filmed at Brazil’s massive carnival celebrations, in the lawless favelas, the extraordinary maracatu ceremonies of the northern countryside, and in the music …
Forgotten Treasure: Brother Resistance “Rapso Take Over” (1986)
I will never cease to be amazed at how many musical treasures elude us, despite our best (and near obsessive) efforts. I guess that’s what keep record diggers, DJ’s and labels going: the fact that there are still so many gems out there. Case in point, the good folks at Australia’s …
Guest Mix: DJ Scientist & Fulgeance “The Soviet Tape (Original Breaks Mix)”
This very special mix contains tracks from Fulgeance & DJ Scientist‘s “The Soviet Tape Vol. 1” album together with original sample sources. Scientist, who was responsible for the source material and cuts for the Soviet Tape, dug out the original records again and mixed the tracks with Fulgeance’s reworks. The …
Forgotten Treasure: Lula Côrtes E Zé Ramalho “Paêbirú” (1975)
Paêbirú is an album by Brazilian artists Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho. The album was originally released in 1975 on Solar Records then reissued a few years ago on Mr. Bongo Records. It is one of the most sought after by collectors but also one of the most interesting records …
Forgotten Treasure: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam & Full Force “I Wonder If I Take You Home” (1985)
I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that Latin Freestyle is due for a re-evaluation. With the sci-fi electro of Cybotron, Hashim and Man Parrish explicitly informing a lot of today’s most interesting dance music production—its wiggly synths and mechanized funk percussion creeping into the Night Slugs camp’s output, among …
Version Excursion: “Tudo O Que Voce Queria Ser” (Milton Nascimento)
Tudo O Que Voce Queria Ser by Milton Nascimento is the opening track of his legendary Clube da Esquina album (with Lo Borges) and it also represents the start of a whole brazilian regional renaissance. Nascimento’s creative vision, his personal poetic songwriting and his truly unique voice sparked a revolution …
Forgotten Treasure: Tony Brutus – Water Pistol (1982)
Here is a track meant to be enjoyed under the scorching sun of any big city in July or August. The kind of heat that makes short tempered, desperate people do bad things. But instead of putting Public Enemy in the tape deck and raising the tension, why not calm …
In Memoriam: Raphy Leavitt – Puerto Rican composer, founder of “La Selecta”
I first heard “Jibaro Soy” on the “Pa’lante! Siempre Pa’lante” documentary about the Young Lords Party back in the day. As a kid who was strictly a Hip-Hop head I had no idea who was singing on the track. I actually thought it was Celia Cruz due to the singer’s …