va -- Rivers [Graham's Selection Fall'22]

Here's a new comp stemming from recent discoveries, notably the wonderful label Philophon and its incredible Ghanaian artists Alogte Oho, Lee Dodou, Y-Bayani and Baby Naa (to name a few!) playing several genres (reggae, fra-fra, highlife...) with amazing songs, groove, sound... 

Some cool jazzy tracks from Finnish producer/musician Jimi Tenor's latest album "Multiversum", Dimples' soca-soul hit "Beautiful Feeling", Boris Gardiner's hot version of Booker T's "Melting Pot", French instro-group Resonance (feat. Pierre Bachelet!) and their funky "O.K. Chicago", London Caribbean crew Cymande's "Brothers on the Slide"...

And a special mention to Gary Bartz's magical live recording of "I've Known Rivers", which gave the compilation its name ; and to Selda's obscure version of "Bad-ı Sabah", backed by Anatolian rock legends Moğollar - one of her most beautifully haunting tracks!

Mystery track : who sings song n° 10 ?

Thanks to Molly & Benny Gordini, big up to Le Major and Grup Şimşek. Cover layout and font by Molly.

va -- Nebulosa [Graham's Summer Comp 2022]

 

This summer's special comp, for your trips, parties and lazy mornings. A few latin-jazz piano tunes (Tenorio Jr and Lalo Schifrin) or funkier ventures (Quincy Jones' theme to the Bill Cosby show, Bob James' magical "Nautilus", and a couple of great songs by Stax singer Luther Ingram), a handful of groovy - although slightly crackly - Anatolian 7 inches (notably Biricik's emo-prog "Iste Meydan", backed by cult psych-rock band Dadaslar, and Silüetler's 9/8 surf-rock hit "Kaşık Havası")... A few outsiders too : Os Brazões' amazing "Volkswagen Blue" (penned by Gilberto Gil), Anadol's haunting "Ablamın Gözleri" taken from her latest album "Felicita", Marc Bolan's first ever single "The Wizard", Ennio Morricone's theme tune to "The Italian Job", and Zalla a.k.a. Piero Umiliani's superb "Pianure D'Asia" from his cult "Paesaggi" album.

Thanks : Ilker, Benny, Derya

Illustration by Akira Nagasawa, layout by Molly

Just noticed Luke Warmcop also included Lalo Schifrin's Snake Dance... double hit!!

 

 

MIXTAPE #58 - Next-Door Beauty

Here's the latest selection of hits to fit onto a C60 musicassette, or to stream below. Check out far out tayta shanti numbers from Peru, Brummie experiments by Broadcast with and without the Focus Group, Schifrin's lovely Snake Dance and many more!

Side A
01 - Cleoma Falcon - Mon Bon Vieux Mari
02 - Mia Omorfi Gitonopoula Polyxeni and Kalliopi Litou - Next-Door Beauty
03 - Orq. Huracan Del Mantaro - Que Chevere
04 - Los Reales de Cajamarca - En Brazos de la Dicha
05 - Mama Cushta - El Violin De bahuer
06 - Bolingo Ya Mosika Mabé
07 - Lalo Schifrin - The Snake's Dance
08 - Murad Kajlayev - Exotic Dance
09 - Phuong Tâm - Magical Night
10 - Belbury Poly - Wild Spot

Side B
11 - Broadcast & The Focus Group - The Be Colony
12 - Toto La Momposina - El Pescador
13 - Luiz Gonzaga - O Cheiro Da Carolina
14 - Esma Redzepova - Romano Horo
15 - Salah Ragab - Oriental Mood
16 - Wau Wau Collectif - Mame Cheikh Sidy Anta Mba
17 - Broadcast - Until Then
18 - The Cure - Six Different Ways

Thanks to Little Axe Records, Graham Mushnik, Paul Wiel

 

va -- I Don't Wanna Move [Le Major Mixtape]

Hourray! A new eclectic selection of oddities and soul-soothing tunes;
Pop songs, African and Carribean hip shakers, Currulao from the pacific coast of Colombia, Brazilian love ... En route for the pleasurable spring !

Congratulations to Evinha for making any moment of the day magical, and Orchestre Kiam's guitarist for creating an endless party on his own.

SIDE A

01 • Evinha - Teto de Louca
02 • Hasnah Haron - Bintang Pujaan
03 • Canalón De Timbiquí - Lancherito
04 • Orquestra Romantica del Casino de Hawana - Oracion Caribe
05`• Quarteto Em Cy / Tamba Trio - Imagem
06 • Unknown (Tahiti) - Vairota
07 • The Lights of Khartoum North - Feelings
08 • Abdi Muhumud Amin & Waberi Artists - Aynaanka Hay

SIDE B

09 • Rahman Kadir  - Hari Ini Tak Seindah Semalam
10 • Ernesto Djédjé - Zibote 
11 • Orchestre Kiam - Memi 2
12 • Super Combo - Drole Messieu
13 • Chanel 10 - Lola
14 • Linton Kwesi Johnson - Two Sides Of Silence
15 • Oracle Sisters - I Don't Wanna Move

Thanks: Mauricio Ramirez, Radio Cosmo Berlin, Joe Summers.

MIXTAPE #57 : Lonesome Lover

 

Springtime selection of hits for sunny days ahead ! Mainly african tunes on side A (congolese nostalgia, east and south african dance tracks...) - soul and jazz instros on side B. Plus YMO's insane 'Firecracker' that I guess everybody knows already (though it's new to me).

Side A
01 - Nestor Amaral - Belem Bayonee
02 - Yen Vavanga (San Salvador)
03 - Mashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi - Mulofwa Mmoja
04 - Bukasa Leon & Tata Ngoma - Tokanisa Kongo Ya Biso
05 - Solomon Manori & Chemaner Band - Matibakach Hito
06 - The Mgababa Queens - Maphuthi
07 - Lijadu Sisters - Come On Home
08 - Ernest Honny - Ernest Special

Side B
09 - Yellow Magic Orchestra - Firecracker
10 - Gene Harris & The Three Sounds - Book Of Slim
11 - Dave Grusin - Condor! (Theme From Three Days of the Condor)
12 - Bob James - Enchanted Forest
13 - Gideon Nxumalo - Lonesome Lover
14 - Koo Nimo - Odo Akosomo

Thanks to: Banzzaï, Cris "Le Son Des Pâtes", Luc and fellow bloggers (Madrotter, Moos)

ONCE YOU GET IT (LOVE IS SO WONDERFUL) : Coco Maria Mixtape !

 

Here's a new selection by our DJ friend Coco Maria! Featuring good vibes old and new from America and Europa essentially.

01 Congress-Woman Malinda Jackson Parker - Cousin Mosquito #1
02 Cullen Knight - Once You Get It (Love's So Wonderful)
03 Tihomir Pop Asanović - Telepatija
04 Ljupka Dimitrovska - Šta je tu je
05 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Twisted
06 Cal Tjader & Bernard Purdie - Mamblues
07 Alice Coltrane - Oh Allah
08 Larry Coryell - No One Really Knows
09 Linda McCartney - Mister Sandman
10 Zeca Do Trombone - Gávea Um Beijo De Cinema
11 Ivette Garcia - Caju Amigo
12 Ronie & Central Do Brasil - Atôa Atôa
13 Don - Soul Dracula
14 Jay U Experience - Some More
15 Jimi Tenor - Afroeuropean

 

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

va -- "Happening Sunday" [Graham's X-mas Comp '2020]

 

 

Let's not forget dancing is a vital activity - and that the right to dance has being threatened in many places this past year! Red-nose-alert! I hope this x-mas comp will help fight this dangerous tendancy.

Starting with the very uplifting 60's-group-sound-mock "Rouge No Dengon" by Japanese pop singer Yumi Matsutoya, this selection browses through many genres (Indian classical repertoire with superstars Lata Mangeshkar and Bhimsen Joshi, early Brazilian bossa-jazz with Walter Wanderley and jazz-fuzzion with Hermeto Pascoal's Brazilian Octopus, Anatolian Psych-folk with Alpay, Colombian Groove-Pop with Elia y Elizabeth, Leon Thomas and Pharaoh Sanders' magnificent spiritual jazz anthem "The Creator Has A Masterplan", Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith's sixties classic "The Cat", the Rahbani brothers' heartbreaking "Mali Ou Malak" sung by Mona Marachly, Nina Simone's classic version of Aretha Franklin's "Save Me", etc)...

A few outsiders to be noticed : big-band leader Count Basie's surprising marimba-led "Afrique", composed and arranged by Oliver Nelson ; UK TV composer Ron Grainer's oddest single (a wild, weird and groovy yet forgotten version of the Prisoner's theme that he composed for Patrick McGoohan's cult series, and its B-side, the no-less weird "Happening Sunday"), Paul McCartney's cheapo avant-garde disco-dub-dub nonsense B-side "Check My Machine"... and finally, a song that will be featured on Les Pythons De La Fournaise's upcoming LP "L'Orchestre Du Piton", the beautiful "Maloya Tantine".

Thanks: Irène & Luc, Derya, Benny, Cam Cam, Mathieu, Doug, Warmchops