Quantic and Alice Russell with the Combo Bárbaro - Look Around The Corner
(CD/2xLP/Digital) Tru Thoughts, 2012-04-02

The first single from Quantic and Alice Russell's upcoming album with the Combo Bárbaro, Look Around The Corner, felt to us like a marvelous and deep tribute to the late Charles Stepney (arranger and producer for Minnie Riperton, Terry Callier, Rotary Connection, Marlena Shaw, etc. - check this mix for more info) and we were expecting an album of the same type, quality-wise. Well no disappointment here, none at all, this is another killer album from Quantic and the Tru-Thoughts label, "pure sweet soul and blues, with overtones of gospel and folk music and the added Latin swing of the Combo Bárbaro", as the press release says. You're in for a big surprise though, since Alice Russell is not singing out of her powerful, knock-you-down voice, and embraced the opposite, full of self-control and near-reserve, reaching for example for a so seductive Dusty Springfield spirit on Here Again... Absolute class!The album will be released early april 2012, don't miss that train.

Kojato and The Afro Latin Cougaritas - All About Jazz
(CD/Download) Buyú Records BU010CD, 2011-11-11 (bandcamp) 2011-12-12 (digital) 2012-01-13 (physical)

Oliver Belz, the man behind The Juju Orchestra, The Bahama Soul Club, regular guests of our 21st Century Latin mixes, is back with another new project, Kojato and The Afro Latin Cougaritas that's as much nu-jazz as it's 60s soul, 70s funk and afro-latin grooves. The Everywhere You Go Now Kuti kinda-tribute to Fela track is disturbing, it's not afrobeat at all, more of a Juju Orchestra latin thing with funky keyboards. Not that it's bad, but doesn't fit anywhere really, even though it should grace many groovy-lounge compilations in the coming months... African music lovers should go instead directly to the second half of the album, with tracks such as Afro Shigida (Original Lagos Cut), a glamourous take on afro-soul-jazz that'll grace our upcoming Bag of Goodies mix recorded last weekend with records labels and artists have sent to us during the last months. All in all this album's full of funky afro-latin-jazz for the modern rare groove dancefloors, just like the previous Oliver Belz productions: classy & smart, with a nice suit & moustache!

Various - The Original Sound of Cumbia
The History of Colombian Cumbia & Porro As Told By The Phonograph 1948-79
Compiled by Will 'Quantic' Holland
(2xCD/3xLP/Digital) Soundway Records SNDW032, 2011-12-05

Soundway set sail for Colombia once again, delving deeper into the South American country's rich musical past. Boasting 55 tracks spread over two CDs and two triple LPs, The Original Sound of Cumbia: The History of Colombian Cumbia & Porro As Told By The Phonograph 1948-79'is Soundway's definitive guide to the origins of Colombian cumbia and porro and the result of five years pain staking re-search by Will 'Quantic' Holland. Disc 1 tells the story of some the earliest Colombian cumbia recorded, a genre that captured a nation, spreading from its birthplace on the Caribbean coast in land to central Colombia and the capital Bogata. Disc 2 sees the evolution of cumbia. Greats of Colombian music like Alberto Pacheco, Toño Fernandez & Anibal Velasquez brought the genre forward, bringing new influences and instruments to the genre. What had once been considered the music of the underclasses had risen up as the new sound of a nation. Both vinyl versions are limited to 1500 copies.

Frente Cumbiero Meets Mad Professor
(CD/2xLP) Vampisoul VAMPI136, 2011-09-12

Bogota, Colombia's Frente Cumbiero travel incessantly through the cumbia land. Exploring both the roots and the newer trends, they offer their own distinctive take on one of the most popular musical styles in Latin America: cumbia! Led by Mario Galeano, for years a prominent figure in Latin music as DJ, musicologist, record label owner and musician, the band also comprises Pedro Ojeda, Elbis Álvarez and Marco Fajardo. In 2009 they met legendary dub producer Mad Professor for a collaborative three-day recording session (as part of British Council's Incubator project) in which Mad ProfessorJoe Ariwa, and key participants of Bogota's music scene also took part. The goal was to achieve a music encounter between cumbia and dub. The recordings took place in the Javeriana University and out of those improvisational sessions came three collective compositions. Together with another four tracks by Frente Cumbiero, these seven recordings were then remixed by Mad Professor in his London studio Ariwa. The result is this record, a fantastic addition to the thriving international cumbia movement.

Antonio González "El Pescaílla" - Tiritando
(CD/LP) Vampisoul VAMPI131, 2011-09-12

Antonio González "El Pescaílla", husband of Spanish legendary artist Lola Flores, takes the limelight in this compilation of his best tracks for the Belter record label. The king of flamenco rumba at the peak of his power. Flamenco rumba is an irresistible style born out of the mixture of the gipsy tradition with elements from Cuban musical genres. Includes key titles of the genre such as 'Sarandonga', 'Que me coma el tigre', 'Sabor a mí' and 'Extraños en la noche' ('Strangers In The Night'). Several tracks feature vocal duets with Lola Flores.

Various - Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa) - 40th Anniversary Limited Edition
(2CD+DVD/2LP+DVD/Digital) Strut Records STRUT088CD /STRUT088LP, 2011-10-24

Strut Records, in association with Fania, are proud to announce the 40th Anniversary Edition of the landmark feature film that captured New York's legendary early '70s Latin music scene at its zenith, Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa). Filmed around a live all-star concert by the Fania All-Stars at one of promoter Ralph Mercado's fantastically popular Thursday night jams at the Cheetah, the film transports the viewer right back to a heady night on August 26, 1971. At the time, there had been little documentation of the burgeoning salsa scene in New York, despite its massive popularity. Video was still crude and film was expensive to shoot. However, Fania founder Jerry Masucci had a vision of taking New York Latin music from the barrio to the world, and put the money up to make the movie. The result is pure dynamite. The salsa of the early '70s had it all - Africa, the Caribbean, the Spanish language, the technical skills of jazz, the kinetic push and pull of great dance music, brilliant improvisations by both singers and drummers, and, most importantly, a community right behind it - mostly, but not entirely, Puerto Rican. Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa) will be released as a 3-disc set: the film DVD, packaged together with Live at the Cheetah, Vol.1 & Vol.2 featuring the music from the film across two CDs, including previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Various - Mais Um Discos presents Nova-Tropicalia EP
(Digital EP) Mais Um Discos, 2011-10-16

Mais Um Discos presents Nova-Tropicalia was compiled by DJ Mais Um Gringo and is the first in the series of download-only EPs from the label, following the critically acclaimed Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! compilation and the Sem Nostalgia album by Lucas Santtana. It showcases six artists - Catarina Dee Jah, Do Amor, Cerebro Electronico feat. Tulipa, Lucas Santtana, Mini Box Lunar and Diego e O Sindicato - who cannibalize Brazilian and international influences to create a 21st century take on tropicalia. Two further EPs are planned for 2011 - a 6 tracker featuring the heaviest Amazonian 'Tecnobrega' and 'Eletromelody' dancehall sounds plus a look at Northeastern Brazil's folk revival scene.

Loopez & Renegades Of Jazz - Jungle Haze EP
(Digital) Hiperbole Records HBR-006, 2011-10-14

Hiperbole's latest signing Loopez teams up with Renegades Of Jazz for the Jungle Haze EP. Their idea of producing some tunes together turned quickly into some very productive sessions and after sending their works back and forth through the wires of the Atlantic ocean they produced two Latin tunes of joy. Jungle Haze comes with flawless trombone arrangements and a catchy hook and the latin-styled organ, played by Loopez and some moody vibes from the jungle. Remixed by Berlin based superproducer Batsauce (Producer of Lady Daisey) the track gets more haze and dusty deepness through his amazing rework. The Lapwing Strut is a more downtempo, but no less wonderful, track and again shows how good they feel working together. This tune is a hymn for the head-nodder and toe-tipper on the promenade watching Lapwings struttin' for the other gender. Remixed by Bastard Jazz artist, Jugoe from Chicago, who gives the original a banging basslinea and some great Ironside sweeps, the Lapwing turned into a modern club manifest.

Various - Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!
(2xCD/Download) Mais Um Discos, 2010-09-13

Thought Brazilian music began with bossa nova, morphed into tropicália and then finished with baile-funk? Well think again! Oi! A Nova Música Brasileira! is a sonic-snapshot of the most exciting new Brazilian music from artists influenced by the likes of Kraftwerk, Massive Attack, Talking Heads, Os Mutantes, Beastie Boys, Sly & Robbie, Sonic Youth, Ween & Stereolab. CD1 features 20 of the hottest artists from Brazil's new wave, tropicália, folk & indie scenes inc. the hyped Mini Box Lunar (currently drawing comparisons with the legendary Os Mutantes) & Do Amor ("Brazil's Vampire Weekend"). CD2 collects together 20 electronic, dancehall, baile-funk, dub, hip-hop, R'n'B & folktronica gems inc. an exclusive track from Céu, plus Catarina Dee Jah (Brazil's answer to M.I.A.) & Gaby Amarantos ("the Amazonian Beyonce"). Hopefully compiler Mais Um Gringo will soon cook a mix for Paris DJs to sonically introduce this new label to our readers & listeners…

Bio Ritmo - La Verdad
(CD/LP) Electric Cowbell/Fatbeats, 2011-08-30

La Verdad, the new album from the Salsa for the people band from Richmond, Virginia, Bio Ritmo, will be released September 20th on Electric Cowbell Records on 12" vinyl and CD, marking the band's 20 year anniversary. Unfortunately, they will not be coming to Paris, but only to play in DAX at the Festival Toros y Salsa (Sept 9th thru 11th)… if you're around, we strongly suggest to check them out. This band is one of the most interesting ones in salsa these days. They manage to blend their old school sauce with the creativity of today's indie-rock movement - incorporating sections of samba, cinematic soul, afrobeat breaks or mambo jazz into their slinky salsa dura (hard salsa from the 70's). Definitively one of the latins band to watch!