As the World Cup draws to an end and England fans, empty Stella bottle in hand, ruminate where it all went wrong for Don Fab and his crew (possibly picking the same team that’s failed time and time again didn’t help) it’s all too easy to think that the sound of Africa is merely a colourful vuvuzela. With this in mind Friday Funk comes from the heart of Soweto in the shape of Strut’sNext Stop Soweto excellent series.
Vol 1. is entitled Next Stop…Soweto Vo1. Township Sounds from the Gold Age of Mbaqangwa and can be sampled for free here. Vol 2 goes deeper into the underground dusting off obscure crates off Soultown, R&B, Funk and Psych Sounds from the Townships. Magic.
Dusting the digital crates for an old-but-gold number for this weeks entry. An integral part of the Mochilla/VTech’s Timeless series, Addis to Axum is a recording of Quantic’s hour-long opening DJ set for the Mulatu Astatke performance. Literally archival in quality - it’s full of music discovered during his 2004 trip to Ethiopia – this is one to savour.
If you enjoyed the Bamboo’s Bonafide Beats entry then you might be interested in seeing the Australian funkateers live. Details of their forthcoming UK tour promoting their new 4 lp can be found here.
DJ Shadow has just launched a radio station and it’s worth checking out for the Dante Carfagna programme alone. No airplay chatter which in one respect is disappointing in another it isn’t – Carfagna chooses astounding track after astounding track that has you scratching your head wondering why you’ve never heard them before. I guess that’s why he’s a vinyl collecting deity and most of us aren’t.
If you’ve not heard of the man, try and track down his brilliant, effortless work released under the sobriquet Express Rising on the Memphix Records label.
Boombox pic courtesy of photographer Dan Medhurst, who has always brought professionalism to our wooly art direction ideas and made them look the biz.
So, after what seems like an eternal winter we find ourselves basking in the feeble English sunshine of spring. And thank fuck as I thought this miserable weather was never going to end.
Something else that has put a spring, ahem, in my step over the past month has been the musical takeover of London by Red Bull Music Academy; with a host of new pupils, seasoned lecturers (encompassing everyone from Moodyman to Cosey Fanni Tutti and Roots Manuva, above) and above all a series of banging events and parties including Brainfeeder at Fabric and the long-awaited DOOM homecoming …Read More.
Hot damn! Following on from Bansky’s excellent Exit Through the Gift Shop, comes another underground arts gem. Thunder Soul is a documentary that explores the story of Conrad O Johnson and the cult Kashmere Stage Band, shining a light on some great haircuts, deeply funky music and some natty stage outfits. The enclosed clip is filmed by DJ Shadow (at one point looks like it is going to stray into one of those ‘legit’ copies from the Far East where you keep seeing people standing up to go to the loo) and the reaction from the audience suggests it is well worth seeking out.
To see why the Kashmere Stage Band has such a following, download the free MP3 doing the rounds at Now Again records. Now.
It’s great to hear that Jamie Lidell is releasing a new LP, Compass, this May. The roster of talent he’s drawn on – Beck, Feist and Gonzales – coupled with his ability to surprise, makes this a record that is well worth looking forward to.
Previous career highlights from the musician, who hails from rural Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire, UK), is capable of putting the soul of the 1960s firmly in the now and looks like a maths teacher, include his work with Matthew Herbert on the decadent Goodbye Swingtime, the perfect slice of urban soul that was Multiply and the instantly accessible Jim long-player. Lidell is also a showman, with his live shows being events that stick in the memory. If you haven’t heard of this guy, check him out.
Tony Cook, one time drummer to James Brown and electro pioneer, is releasing an anthology, Back to Reality, in 2010. Check out this interview – persevere with it as the intro is a bit DIY – and listen to musical history speak. As it says Pt.1, I’m sure there are going to be more instalments that should make for a revealing interview. Peep the background to the project here; it’s what discovering and making music should be about.
Andreya Triana, one of Ninja Tune’s most recent signings, has a Bonobo produced LP, entitled Lost Where I Belong, coming out in August. She’s already provided vocals for Mr Scruff, Bonobo and Flying Lotus, and the latter has returned the favour remixing the lead single (also called) Lost Where I Belong, that has been made available for the down lo. Cop it here.
Warming to the theme, it’s also worth checking the Music Weekly podcast over at the Guardian. While it lacks the chaotic genius of the James Richardson led Football Weekly, this series of podcasts provides a solid overview on the music scene in general and the recent piece with Big Dada founder Will Ashton is well nifty. While your on the Guardian site check the affable Paul Morley utlising his laid back charm with Giggs, Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip. Excellent work.
