A 2010 recording session by two African musical giants, released at last. Afrobeat meets jazz, and it all swings like crazy. Rejoice? But of course. Drummer, do your thing.
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela - Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)
Just got the sad news that Keith Anderson, better known under the stage name of Bob Andy, has left us. The influential Jamaican reggae singer, who scored many a hit in the late sixties and early seventies, was 75. Miss him.
Bob Andy - You Don't Know
Bob Andy - Desperate Lover
Bob Andy - Unchained
Just released: a very welcome registration of a très jolie '75 Pharoah gig in the city of light. The master plays tenor sax here, and he plays it surprisingly cool, hardly ever going really far out. His band's a solid one: take a bow Danny Mixon (keys), Calvin Hill (double bass), and Greg Bandy (drums). Really wish I'd been in the audience for this one.
Staying in the land of the rising sun a bit longer with Doronco Gumo, who's got an excellent pedigree playing the bass with the legendary Les Rallizes Dénudés, Suishou No Fune and Keiji Haino's band. This gloomy track comes from his interesting solo album Old Punks.
Guitar, drum machine, vocals. May rock'n roller be in the world? But of course. Bought this beauty by Sadahiro 'Sad Hero' Yamada on Bandcamp recently just because the cool artwork caught my eye. And I'm glad I did, as this cassette-only release on Tokyo's Fuyusoubi label is a prime slab of Japanese underground weirdness.
Trying to dub the evil virus away with a bass-heavy six pack of prime roots. All killer no filler, as it's brutal out deh.
Errol Brown - Black Forest Rock
Techniques All Stars - .357 Magnum
Augustus Clarke - Creation Dub
Harry Mudie & King Tubby - Full Dose Of Dub
The Revolutionaries - Atom Bomb
Phil Pratt - Walking Razor
Best ever blues singer in the low countries? Harry 'Cuby' Muskee, hands down. Here's a personal fave, featuring a young Herman Brood on upright piano and the delicate guitar work of partner in crime Eelco Gelling. Greetings from pastoral Grollo village, my amigos da musica.
The country I call home is currently under heavy manners, as they used to call it in Jamaica, and the mood is grim. So it seems apt to dig out some prime reggae to lighten things up a wee bit. The underrated Leroy Smart may not have been one of the top voices of the Island, but as this triple helping of top-ranking roots tunes clearly shows, he did have that certain something. "Forgive them Jah Jah..."
Leroy Smart - God Helps The Man
Leroy Smart - Babylon vs Dread Locks
Leroy Smart - Shame & Pride
Since that dumbass virus going round forced our man to cancel the Japan leg of his Never Ending Tour, chances are you Bobcats are in bad need of a Dylan live fix. In that case, why not check out Flagging Down The Double E's, a recent series of well-written and fun essays on Bob's live recordings through the years. You can even sign up and receive all new installments straight to your inbox. Go for it; it's not dark yet after all.
Just got the sad news that Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, of Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV fame, has passed away. The colourful avant-gardist and industrial music pioneer, born in Manchester as Neil Andrew Megson, was 70. Miss h/er.
Throbbing Gristle - United
Psychic TV - Godstar (Hyperdelic mix)
A delicious slice of neo-country by the Californian duo of Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci. Harmony supreme with cosmic Gram vibes. This just in from the newsroom: they will release a new album shortly.
Going to cosy Sala Vol in the barrio of Poblenou tonight to see London's experimental neo-folkers Modern Nature, with the great Jeff Tobias from Brooklyn's Sunwatchers somewhat surprisingly sitting in on sax. Good times ahead.
Just got the sad news that McCoy Tyner has passed away at 81. Alongside Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones, the legendary jazz pianist was a prominent member of John Coltrane's famous quartet, and contributed to classic albums as My Favourite Things and A Love Supreme. His solo records, of which I can recommend The Real McCoy ('67) in particular, are well worth seeking out, too. Miss him.
McCoy Tyner - Passion Dance
John Coltrane - My Favourite Things
Soul upside down? In need of some brain food? Check out this special six pack to make them clouds disappear pronto. Clever - and slightly Gigeresque - artwork by Tinca. "You don't really need a brain, ducky..."
Steve Young - Brain Cloudy Blues
Burning Spear - Brain Food
Sly & The Family Stone - Can't Strain My Brain
Parliament - Presence Of A Brain
Soft Boys - Sandra's Having Her Brain Out
Tall Dwarfs - The Brain That Wouldn’t Die
The man with the golden guitar acoustifies a selection of songs from last year's excellent The Unseen In Between. If you liked that album, you'll love this intimate companion piece as well.