va -- The Bird Has Flown [Graham's X-mas Selection '21]

 

 

After the wacky "Voyage Sans Retour" mixtape, this selection carries a much lighter, happier vibe, in fact almost christmassy (I even managed to include two indirectly Xmas-related titles, "Snowman's Stomp" and "Vomitation"), so don't hesitate to impose it to your family or friends as a digestive dance party after a heavy dinner !

Some hip-shaking soul-jazz by Eddie Jefferson and Lou Donaldson, some reggae vibes (an early Marley/Wailers track, one of Jackie Mittoo's grooviest numbers, a strangely soulful love song by Junior Byles, and Janet Kay's timeless Lovers Rock hit "Silly Games"!), a few 60's goodies (New Colony Six's crazy "Dawn Is Breaking" as an opener, and later on Joe Meek's "Julie" sung by the Dowland brothers, "Snowman's Stomp" by KPM composer Steve Gray, and John Shroeder's psychedelic "The Bird Has Flown")...

"La Musique" is a fresh soukous track by Benin's young Star-Feminine Band, followed by Turkish anthems "Misket" and "Ben Sana Böyledir O Demedim Mi" (Kenan's groovy version of "Baksana Talihe")... Morrocan group Frères Bouchenak's hit "Laylalila", Indian percussionist Babla's brilliant attempt to "chutney" music (calypso-influenced Indian music) sung by Kanchan... and a great cumbia/chicha track by Los Shapis (featuring singer Noemi) suggested by my friend Seb from Rebel Up! ... Finally Lulu Mushi's 1998 chilled 5/4 bossa "Cartwheel" and Nino Ferrer's proggy "Vomitation"!

Thanks : Werner "Eurodermitis", Roady, Derya, SebCat

va -- Voyage Sans Retour [Graham's Selection Fall'21]

A selection subtitled "Far-out and free-spirited jazz, prog, folk, pop and reggae from across the Globe". It contains songs from Moroccan rock group Frères Bouchenak's beautiful first album (featuring their uncredited sister, singing in the most extraordinary way!), tracks by obscure instrumental French band Temple Sun and from Azeri pianist Vagif Mustafa Zadeh's cult 1971 album featuring vocal group Sevil. Also to be noticed : 2 Anatolian folk songs interpreted in the trippiest way, respectively by jazz musician/singer Özdemir Erdoğan and by ephemere psych-rock band Kontrastlar ; and 2 weird songs by Italian prog legends Franco Battiato and Enzo Carella... And check out New Colony Six's fantastic version of the Yardbirds' song "Mister You're A Better Man Than I"... prepare for a one-way trip!

Thanks : Fred, Akram, Diz-Diz, Piro

MIXTAPE #56 : Dream Journey

 This is the new C60 voyage in our blog-long adventure through outernational music.

 Side A
01 - Devil Fantasy Band
02 - Daniel Delord - Maria
03 - Sandra Mara - Celeiro de bamba
04 - Bob James - Dream Journey
05 - Onuma Singsiri - Mae Kha Som Tam
06 - The Heptones - You Turned Away
07 - Sir Waziri Oshomah - Emmanuel mhomoh
08 - Rim Akandoh & his Prince Sparrows Band - Sasabonsam fie

 Side B
09 - Paul Desmond - Music For A While
10 - Os Jovens do Prenda - Gaby
11 - Alfred Panou & Art Ensemble of Chicago - Je suis un sauvage
12 - Charlie And His Boys
13 - Arulan & Barry Crocker - Djalan Mati
14 - Ream Daranoi - Fai Yen
15 - Nada Kentjana - Djaleuleudja
16 - Stroto Pogonisio Kitsos Harisiadis - Smooth Dance from Pogoni

 

MIXTAPE #55 : Porto Alegre

Drums, accordion, guitar, bright vocals, far-out synths... Let's resume our voyage through the universal door of music. Next stop: Porto Alegre! An 18 track compilation to fit on a C60 musicassette.

Side A
01 - Pluto
02 - Nestor Amaral - Porto Alegre
03 - Discafric Band & Robert Degbevi - Djoyi Fa
04 - Paul McZiel - Tape Dance
05 - Wilmoth Houdini - Tiger Tom Kill Tiger Cat, Damblay, Santapie & Rat
06 - Black Star Musical Club - Enyi Wanadamu
07 - Bienveillance Abymienne - Ti Jenes An Nou
08 - Eric Siday - Sliding Thirds
09 - Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers
10 - Murad Kajlayev - Старый саксофонист

Side B
11 - Joseph Koo, 顧嘉煇 - Oh My Love
12 - Kourosh Yaghmaei - Gole Yakh (Winter Sweet)
13 - Saknatee Srichiangmai - Nom Samai Mai
14 - Sandra Mara - Isso tem que se acabar
15 - Ashanti Brothers Band - )Kwaadwe Fo)
16 - Discafric Band & Robert Degbevi - Do Nku Tso
17 - Rim Akandoh & his Prince Sparrows Band - It's me o lord
18 - Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers - Hallelujah

Thanks: DWP, Nova, Global Groovers, Soulseekers...

 

MIXTAPE #54: Empty Spring Part 1&2

Ready for Spring? Here's a massive 2xC90 compilation full of mellow nostalgia for a world that never was, both bright and dark, mysterious though very familiar...

 

Empty Spring Part 1: A Spring Was Pouring Out Water

(alternate zip) 

Side A
01 - Dave Bartholomew - Stardust
02 - Memory Group - Tiada Sesalan Lagi
03 - Piero Umiliani - Carlo E Sofia
04 - Lyubka Rondova - Izvor Voda Izvorvashe (A Spring Was Pouring Out Water)
05 - West African Swing Stars - Omo Africa
06 - Prince Buster - Freezing Up Orange Street
07 - Sivuca - Ponteio
08 - Ray Charles - I Love You, I Love You (I Will Never Let You Go)
09 - Ennio Morricone, Enrico Pieranunzi - Per Dalila (From Il Bandito Dagli Occhi Azzurri)
10 - Flora Purim - Nem O Mar Sabia
11 - Airto - Bebe
12 - Attilio Donadio - Our Beat
13 - Brian Bennett - Solstice
14 - Peter Thomas - Corals In Space
15 - Sun Ra Arkestra - Sea of Darkness / Darkness

Side B
16 - Donald Byrd - Kofi
17 - Mandingo Griot Society with Don Cherry - Sounds From The Bush
18 - Eric Siday - Night Tide
19 - Phil Manzanera - Lagrima
20 - Jabula - Thunder Into Our Hearts
21 - Barry Stoller - Condition Red
22 - Ebo Taylor - Will You Promise
23 - Mohamed, Yasseen & Party - Nalikuwa Na Mpenzi (I Have Had My Darling)
24 - Sivuca - Rosa Na Favela (A Rose Born In The Ghetto)
25 - Karimata & Dave Valentin - Confession
26 - The Dead Brothers - Goldbrunnen Platz

 

Empty Spring Part2: Gemme In Fiore

(alternate zip)

Side A
01 - Mort Garson - Ode to an Afican Violet
02 - Brigitte Fontaine & Jacques Higelin - Fleur De Pavot
03 - Inquietacao (Foolishness Of Young Love)
04 - Alain Goraguer - Thème d'Amour
05 - Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Ain't No Sunshine
06 - Galt Macdermot - And He Will Not Come Again
07 - Lil Albert - Outrageous
08 - Them - Could You Would You
09 - Vanessa Kendrick - Of Me Is You
10 - Camel's Dream
11 - Rino De Filippi - Gemme In Fiore
12 - Gong - Thought For Naught
13 - Chico Hamilton Quintet - The Wind
14 - Østerdalsmusikk - Bukkehornlåt etter Ole Eggen
15 - The Son Of PM - Fountian
16 - Empty Spring

Side B
17 - Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom
18 - Brian Eno - In Dark Trees
19 - Richard Hayman - Gris-Gris
20 - Orkes Bukit Siguntang - Tjinta Hampa
21 - Arthur Alenxander - The Girl That Radiates That Charm
22 - Richard Hayman - Voodoo
23 - Stu Mitchell - Acid
24 - Alain Goraguer - Thème de Liz
25 - Roger Roger - Lotus Girl
26 - Robert Wyatt - Born Again Cretin
27 - Brian Eno - Sombre Reptiles
28 - Aksak Maboul - A Modern Lesson
29 - Holger Czukay - Persian Love
30 - Orera - Мухамбази