Head Up High

Let's track back to the mid-seventies with Jacob 'Killer' Miller, and the famed sessions he did with melodica-master Augustus Pablo. Cool roots, mon. And in case this magical tune sounds familiar but you don't know just why, that's probably because Pablo used it on his dub masterpiece King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown as well.

Jacob Miller - Each One Teach One

In The Barrio

Took the above pic in the barrio of San Miguel in Jerez de la Frontera recently. They sure know how to honour their greats there. And Francisca Méndez Garrido (1934-2004), better known as La Paquera, was one hell of a great flamenco singer alright. Below she pays homage to the legendary gypsy bullfighter Curro Romero.

La Paquera De Jerez - Coplas A Curro

No Choice

"A song called As I Went Out One Morning by Bob Dylan's on the cassette player: Ian told me to choose anything so I chose this John Wesley Harding tape. The mouth-organ would normally put me off, but this song's great: his voice is like the wind swerving through a weird day..." That's from David Mitchell's new novel The Bone Clocks, a truly dazzling read.

Bob Dylan - As I Went Out One Morning

Don't Get Lost

Out early October: an interesting sampler on Grönland Records, featuring two handfuls of futuristic, synth-driven tunes cooked up in the fair German city of Düsseldorf. Surprisingly, the seventies krautrock of Neu! and La Düsseldorf sits quite comfortable next to the eighties Neue Deutsche Welle of DAF and Die Krupps. Deutsche gründlichkeit guaranteed.

Harmonia & Eno - Luneburg Heath

Don't Leave

As someone very dear to me is leaving today for that huge, troubled, and still somewhat mysterious African country called the Democratic Republic of Congo, here's some authentic tunage from two of the greatest forces ever in Congolese music: Franco and Le Grand Kallé. C'est magnifique!

Franco & L'Orchestre TPOK Jazz - Tangawusi Pts. 1 & 2
Grand Kallé & L'African Jazz - Ambiance Kallé Catho

Some non-rumba bonus tracks, mes amis de la musique? Coming up pronto.

The Bongos - In The Congo
Les Valiants - Don't Wanna Leave The Congo
Pere Ubu - Heart Of Darkness

Raw Power, Too

Somehow, today seems perfect for some mid-seventies Japrock powertrio mayhem, hugely influenced by the Stooges. Try 3/3 on for size.

3/3 - Open A Window

Raw Power

If you dig Paco de Lucía's unadulterated, non-fusion early repertoire, you need to hear this fluid beauty, too. Habichuela En Rama is a bona fide classic of flamenco guitar.

Pepe Habichuela - Amanecer

All I Know

The original French poster from the twenties pictured above has been the pride of my kitchen for decades now. Bought it for next to nothing from a Parisian guy on the Boulevard Haussmann, who found a bunch of 'em bundled up in the attic when moving in to his new abode. Its motto: the strongest man on earth declares: the secret of my strength - no alcohol. Calls for a little Teenage FC methinks, so take it away, you cool Scotsmen you. Gonna be one hell of a party next week up north if that ploy for independence succeeds...

Teenage Fanclub - Alcoholiday

From Hell

Back with a red hot six pack that rules. Hell yeah!

The Scientists - Solid Gold Hell
Supersuckers - Hell City, Hell
Laughing Hyenas - Hell's Kitchen
Mule - I'm Hell
Drivin N Cryin - Straight To Hell
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Hell Rules

Gypsy Tailwind

Leaving for sizzling Jerez de la Frontera tomorrow to attend the annual Fiesta de la Bulería festival, so please permit me one more track of flamenco puro. One singer I will surely come face to face with this Saturday night is the fine singer Antonio Agujetas, also known as Agujetas hijo. After various problems with the law stalled his career a wee bit, he'll be making a comeback of sorts. Can't wait.

Antonio Agujetas - Romance Gitano

Rio Grande

Some more flamenco? Well, why not? Y'all need a little more duende in your lives, you know... So here are the amazing vocals of Pepe Núñez Morón, nicknamed 'El Loreño' as he hailed from the town of Lora Del Rio in Seville province. Below he salutes Francisco Montoya Egea a.k.a. 'El Nino De La Huerta', a singer from the same town who got his nickname because he used to work as a gardener before hitting the big time.

Pepe Núñez "El Loreño" - Llanto Por El Nino De La Huerta