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Great sounding heavy duty repress of Jobim & Bonfa's landmark 1956 record, the A-side of which doubled as the score for the equally important Black Orpheus. Though Jobim and Bonfa would shortly become Brazilian music legends, this was recorded when both were...
expand review complete unknowns; it doesn't take more than one listen to understand why Orfeu da Conceicao brought them into the (inter)national conscious. Songs like "Um Nome de Mulher(1)" and "Mulher, Sempre Mulher(2)" predate the Bossa Nova explosion which Bonfa would later be credited as helping start, and Bonfa's rhythmic guitar sounds just as lush on "Eu e O Meu Amor(3)" and "Lamento No Morro(4)." The B-side of the record features songs unrelated to the soundtrack, but no less appealing: "Luar e Batucada(5)" and "Passeio No Rio(6)" feature appearances from vocalist Sylvia Telles and bassist Ed Lincoln, respectively, both future legends in their own rights. Essential listening for those interested in Brazilian music. 13 tracks total. Recommended. -Larri Byrd
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Full disclosure: I used to DJ with Daniel Collas, one of the fellows behind this project– a new album by one of Rio De Janeiro's nastiest bands of the '70s, recorded in Brazil with the original members. One thing that...
expand review I, and anyone who was at one of our parties could verify, is that the guy is a master of the terrain that lies between rock, latin and soul, and he loooves some handclaps. Sean Marquand, the other producer here, is one of the soulful saints behind the Baile Funk comps and DJs at the legendary Sunday Brazilian parties at Black Betty in B'burg. So, adding all these pieces together, what we have right here a goddamned funky, handclappin', soulful, Rio Black Power record. Check "Yeah Yeah Yeah(1)," or the album opener "Everyone's a Winner(2)" and see what I mean. The DJ sensibility is much appreciated, as many of the tunes have the little intro/break touches that make songs jump into the mix ("Africa Hot Band(3)," "Na Palma Da Mao(4)" and the "Spinning Wheel"-esque lead single "Been So Long(5)"). The changeup tracks are classy ("Astral(6)," "Tudo Azul(7)" and "Melo Do Luia(8)"), the band sounds good, and the post-production is minimal and unobtrusive. If this record had sucked I wouldn't have mentioned that I know Sean and Daniel, but since it is an undisputable asskicker I am proud to let everybody know we go waaay back. You did good, homeys. -monk
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You gotta blaze a yule log to this one! "World of Love(1)" is the debut solo release from Mr. Griptite, lead guitarist and sometimes vocalist for Daptone in-house beat-pounders the Dap-Kings. Sounds strange to say, but Binky might have a new holiday...
expand review classic on his hands with this one. I can't remember the last time I heard an original Christmas tune this sick! "World of Love" is a lovely, hazy slow-burner, perfect for a snowy evening by the fire with your significant other. On the flipside, a cover of Laura Nyro's "Stone Soul Christmas(2)" picks up the tempo a little (but just a little) with jingle bells and beautiful background melodies from The Dansettes accenting Binky's voice, which sounds tailor-made for this type of joint. Daptone always comes with quality, but they're on fire lately. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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You don't really know about "Rapture" until you own this 10 minute 12" version(1). Nothing more really needs to be said. Standard 5 minute version on the flip. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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NOTE: This LP comes with a coupon for a free MP3 download of the album, including tracks not found on the vinyl. Just go to the URL on the coupon, enter the unique code and download 192kbps MP3s direct from Secretly Canadian's...
expand review website.
This is Bobb Trimble's insanely rare debut LP, released in 1980, though it sounds like it could've come out of any decade from '65 to present... and maybe beyond. Secretly Canadian has mercifully reissued Bobb's two most sought after records, so now you don't have to drop few hundred ducats on the Bay just for the privelege of hearing his truly unique brand of psych / space / rock / folk (not to mention that otherworldly falsetto). Young Jonesy (of Caps & Jones) put me on to Bobb and I was smitten from the first time I heard "Glass Menagerie Fantasies(1)." Not to sound like a prematurely old man, but THEY DON'T MAKE SHIT LIKE THIS ANYMORE. Even when Bobb was recording this in 1980, he wasn't emulating the music of the changing times, but his idols like (Syd Barrett-era) Pink Floyd, (early) Bowie and The (weed smoking) Beatles. Filtered through Bobb's cracked kaleidoscope, it comes out as a more authentic and freaky trip than those guys ever cooked up in an expensive studio. Check out: "One Mile From Heaven(2)," "When The Raven Calls(3)," "Night At The Asylum(4)" and "Your Little Pawn(5)." 8 tracks on the vinyl; 11 on the digital download. Highly recommended. -Larri Byrd
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For the latest release in their Asterisk series, the Numero Group went digging in their own backyard and came up with this fantastic missing piece to Chicago's jazz/funk jigsaw. Originally sporting the name Womb To The Tomb, Boscoe came up backing a...
expand review number of local soul vocalists in early 70s Chi-Town, eventually making fans of folks like Garland Green and Syl Johnson. In '72, the sextet recorded these eight fierce tracks which would become their lone album. Much like the Art Ensembles and Arkestras around them, Boscoe wouldn't dilute their songs in order to make their intensely political lyrics easier to swallow - in fact, tracks like "We Ain't Free(1)" and the floating, almost spoken word "Writin' On The Wall(2)" seem to be much more about the message than the music (if one can even make that distinction). Of course, Boscoe were still self-produced musicians and therefore had to at least attempt to pay the bills with more straightforward soul sounds of the day on joints like "If I Had My Way(3)" and "I'm What You Need(4)." FYI, these sound clips don't really do the album justice - some of the better tracks run over 8-10 minutes. Anyway: the band eventually self-released this in 1973, a private pressing of about 500 copies on their Kingdom Of Chad label. They imploded the same year, "in such a hurry that equipment was left behind in the rehearsal space. It was never retrieved." Comes in a heavyweight reproduction jacket with extensive notes from the Numero crew. 8 tracks; 47 minutes. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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The first Bronx River Parkway 7" has always been one of my favorite aberrations in the deep Truth & Soul catalogue, three tracks of latin soul funk boogie that helped break the mold of all the cookie cutter gutbucket stuff that was...
expand review being produced at that time. So it's great to see them resurrect the outfit and give us another couple tracks of sticky rhythm for summer. A-side "La Valla(1)" is the one with the party vibe, opening drum break, and chatter from the band, but I always find myself more drawn to the T&S b-sides. "Nora Se Va(2)" is the kind of shit that gets me where I want to go (a scorching hot screened-in porch on the beach with all the accoutrements). Outstanding vocal harmonies and somebody playing the hell out of that cheese grater thing. -the mgmnt
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"Apples & Pears(1)" off Canyons' new EP is one of the best tracks of 2008. Whew... I've been holding that in for a month, feels good to finally say it out loud. Seriously, I don't know what's in the water down in...
expand review Perth, Australia, but these Hole In The Sky dudes are only two releases deep and already seem to have mastered the art of these grooving smokey late nite jams. (See also: Fred Cherry's "Busride To The Zoo.") I'm not even sure how much of "Apples" is original production, how much is edited, etc., but it doesn't really matter - once this song gets its hooks in you, you won't care either; crisp drums and claps, heavenly keys, sweet looped Portuguese(?) vocals and waves of static washing over everything. I could see this track getting played in so many different situations; it's also getting play from The Rub's own Cosmo Baker and Rong artist Scotty Coats, and those are some dudes with good taste. And oh yeah, the rest of the EP is great too - "Big City Lights(2)" is some really well-crafted and spooky downtempo, while "Yesterday The Dog(3)" and "More Champagne?(4)" keep it on a more upbeat electro/disco tip. All tracks clock in around the 4 1/2 - 5 minute mark. Goes without saying this is... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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This is one of those albums where you know you're in for some heavy shit before you even dig the cd out of its lavish packaging. Deep reggae heads will know saxophonist Cedric Im Brooks from his extensive session-playing career as well...
expand review as his highly-regarded Studio One work in the 70s. But that knowledge might not completely prepare you for the extra-heavy vibes contained herein. Brooks spent some time in Philly in the late 60s and fell under the spell of Sun Ra while there, attempting at one point to join the Arkestra. After having to return to Yard for family matters, he decided to start his own Jamaican combination of Sun Ra's and Fela's bands (the latter a huge influence as well and you can hear it). The results, as compiled on this stunning double LP, encompass Nyabinghi drumming, Sun Ra, Pharaoh Sanders-style spiritual jazz, Afrobeat, funk and disco, and more, but the results are seamless! Listen to "Bread Collie(1), Sabebe(2)," and "Salt Lane Rock(3)" for examples, although the whole thing is filled with jaw-dropping moments of every kind. "Africa(4)" is also really intense, sort of a Rasta disco hustle boogie; as is their rendition of Horace Silver's "Song For My Father." Other stuff to check for includes their version of the classic "Satta Massa Gana(5)" and "Free Up Black Man(6)." Basically, even if you think you're not really into reggae or whatever, you need to buy this. And if you're still debating, any original Light of Saba stuff is next to impossible to come by and even this compilation probably won't be around long. Highly recommended. -gregcaz
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Oh shit, this is a killer re-edit of a classic that's been sampled for a famous hit single, so please, watch out for falling name drops! From the very first notes of this, everyone will go, "Yay! It's Stardust!" It sounds...
expand review like it's gonna be "Music Sounds Better With You," the hit single by Thomas Bangalter (half of Daft Punk) and Alan Braxe. It'll grab peoples' attention for sure, only to have them flip out that's it's another house edit of the original song sampled for Stardust, Chaka Khan's "Fate." The re-edit is by disco legend Man Friday, and he keeps Chaka's soul intact in all its glory. Just played this on Friday night and although it followed up some electro track, the familiarity of it kills everytime. For once, please play the vocal(1) version of this. The dub(2) is cool also, adding an acid-like bassline for the pumpin' midnight groove hour, but I can't help listening to the soulful version. It's like liquid gold. Recommended. -C'mish
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Yes! Chromatics first 12" single from Italians Do It Better. We got our first taste of the label just over a month ago with their tasty After Dark CD, which featured Chromatics' spacey Italo tracks "Hands in The Dark," "Killing Spree -...
expand review Suite 304 Demo," and this single, "In The City(1)"(also featured on DJ Dixon's Body Language 4). I loved it, it flew off the shelves, and I caught some collectors here in the lab picking up two copies. Here, they continue to hook you up with exclusive joints by giving you the extended version, a small ambient track(not mentioned), the dangerously sweet "Zombie Vocal Acapella", plus two tracks I've never heard. "In The Headlites(2)" continues their fascination with ultra-sparse minimal italo, with Ruth Radelet once again laying down the alluring ghostly vocals. Pretty awesome, but "I'm On Fire(3)" is the surprise track on this. It reminds me of a short rock inspired lullaby that takes it back to the soft pop sounds of the 80's - effortless and awesome! Also great for a romantic rendezvous, so now you can nookie to something else besides Mazzy Star. Recommended. -C'mish
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A lost Brazilian glam/psych curiosity from '73, the one and only album from this side project of Os Mutantes' Rita Lee and friend Lucia Turnbull. Originally recorded for Philips (and never officially released), these tunes were recently unearthed by some expat Brazilians...
expand review in Europa, professionally remastered and issued in a strictly limited edition (500 hand-numbered copies each for CD and vinyl). Early tracks like "Festival Divino(1)" have a sweet acid/folk boogie feel, buoyed (or maybe lifted) by Rita e Lucia's breathy dual vocals. Meanwhile the latter part of the record lets loose a bit with Cilibrinas' rock tendencies - check the rollicking garage glam sound on "Nessas Alturas Dos Acontecimentos(2)," zippy girl group vibes with "Minha Fama De Mau(3)," and "Gente Fina E Outra Colsa(4)." And for Mutantes fans, there's a nice treat in the form of two unreleased bonus outtakes, "Hoje E O Primero Dia Do Resto...(5)" and "Mande Um Abraco Para A Velha(6)." 12 tracks. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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This is one of those records that rarely ever makes it back onto the shelf at home. That extended edit of the break, a fundamental funk riff of the highest echelon, makes this a constant companion in the gig bag. ...
expand review Mix with house, mix out of house, go from funk to disco or back again, this record is your friend. The Disco Dub Band's version of "For the Love Of Money(2)," sporting a bodacious bass riff of its own, makes this a no-brainer essentiality. -monk
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Believe it or not, this is the first Moton Records release we've carried. Moton is one of the most respected re-edits series, home to early Harvey works and countless trend-setting selections. The series dates back to the nineties with this new one...
expand review being their 24th release. As usual, the details are pretty skimpy, but the first edit, "Malinga(1)", is credited to Diesel & Jarvis. Apparently the original is a rarity from the French afrobeat scene. B-side opener, "Mr. Wong(2)," is a magical delight, really. Really. Where did this come from? Did they make more music like this: loud slap bass, new wave synths, dub effects, additional percussion, lovely guitar chords, italo vocals, children choir vocals singing "Mr. Wong," laser sounds? No exaggeration. This is something special, it might be the hottest edit I've ever heard. Inevitably, after the heights of the "Wrong", the otherwise awesome "Black Women(3)" brings us back down to earth. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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