va -- Beyond The Stars [Graham's Mixtape Xmas 2023]

 

Okay, okay, it's not Christmas yet ! But I couldn't wait to share this new selection/mixtape, which I hope will keep you dancing and dreaming until the new year...

Starting in a cosy mood with Trovajoli's theme tune to "La Famiglia Benvenuti" and followed by Jimi Tenor's fun and cosmic title-track "Beyond The Stars", it features a bunch of funky Arabic pop songs - by Egypt's coolest modern heroes Hany Shnoda / Al Massrieen or Lybian singer Hamid El Shaeri, but also by today's Switzerland-based duet TootArd.

More contemporary tunes : Sven Wunder's "Take A Break" from his latest album "Late Again", reggae/hip-hop producer Budgie's "Touch Me 2" and Fra-Fra gospel singer Florence Adooni's live version of "Mam Pe'ela Su'ure".

And helter skelter : teenage brothers Donnie & Joe Emerson's cult song "Baby", Congolese legend Ray Lema's beautiful "Afcoeur", John Lurie's soundtrack to "African Swim", British folk-soul singer Labi Siffre's "Cannock Chase", Bruce Haack's "Incantation" song from his far-out 1970 album "The Electric Lucifer", London-based MC Ranking Ann's "Liberated Woman" produced by Mad Professor...

Finally, a tribute to Erkin Koray, the first musician to ever perform rock music in Turkey, who passed away recently : one of his most beautiful songs, "Yağmur" ("Rain").

Thanks : Derya, Alba, Mohamed "Radio Barjo"