The Black Cat - Hard 2 Find Vol.1
(Download/Limited CD) Colored-Inc. COLI001, 2009-02-24

The Black Cat's first album on the new Colored-Inc. label (colored-inc.com - launched by Djouls and Doctor L is what some could say a 'world' album. Blending from Latin grooves with Afro rhythms, Reggae harmonies with American Jazz or Funk vibes, Saudade with Jamaican riddims, Psychedelic Funk with Electronic R&B, Psychedelia and Hip Hop, with some lusty doses of Rub-a-Dub , Afro, Soul and Reggae in between, this is indeed a kinda world tour.

All production duties and nearly all instruments by Doctor L & Grant Phabao with star guesting Martin Perna (from Brooklyn), Ocote Soul sounds & Adrian Quesada (from Nicaragua and Austin, Texas) Carlton Livingston, The Lone Ranger and The Jays (from Jamaica), Tita Lima (from Brazil), Allonymous (from Chicago), Roldan (from Cuba), Dom Farkas (from Paris) and Kiala (from Nigeria and Congo). Yep 'world' indeed.

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Martin Perna of Ocote Soul Sounds presents Bluefields Sound System : Afro-Nicaraguan music
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) 2009-09-02

Papa said do read up.

Martin Perna, founder of the legendary Antibalas, now resides in Nicaragua, and when visiting us this summer in Paris, promised he'd find a way to send a selection of some Afro-Nicaraguan grooves to rock our earplugs. Less than a month my mailbox goes ding dong and soon I'm downloading music with the enthousiasm of a kid opening a christmas present. The package definitively delivers and we'll all be jumping and rocking to the pulse of Afro-Nicaraguan music from Bluefields, Nicaragua! It's music you won't hear on the radio coming from the heart of Central America, but not music you won't find on the internet... thanks to Paris DJs growing family of musicians, producers and DJs from all over the globe!!

Martin Perna recently released a fantastic third album from his Afro-Latin project Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada (on the Eighteen Street Lounge label) and should be touring in Europe early 2010...


[comment faire?/how to?]

Tracklisting :
01. Sabu El Cat Man - Monkey Point Girls
02. Sabu El Cat Man - Live Your Life
(from 'Live Your Life' album, 1981, reissued thru Earthcds Partners)
03. Mango Ghost - Fyah in Bluefields
04. Rondon Orchestra - Lion Pon It
05. Rondon Orchestra feat. Sabu El Cat Man - Tulululu
06. Rondon Orchestra feat Kila B - Zion-O
07. Mad Angels vs. Evan Rhodes - Bluefields Gyals
(More info on evanrhodes3)



Credits :
Selected and mixed by Martin Perna of Ocote Soul Sounds (ocotesoul.com)
Audio mastering by Grant Phabao (grantphabao.com)
Artwork by Djouls (djouls.com)


In Nicaragua, the Bluefields Sound System is a music and video production company dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Indigenous and Creole culture form Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast. The Bluefields Sound System comes with a lineup of heavy-hitting veteran musicians and young stars on the rise, providing a hot blend of roots reggae and dancehall fire. Papa Banton, Kali Boom, Mad Angels and 'The Nicaraguan Man' himself, Kila B, represent for the younger generation, but the star of the show is Profesór Sabu aka 'El Hombre Gato'. The 65-year-old performs with the energy of a gatito; showing off his wild leg kicks and dance moves that would make the artist formerly known as Michael Jackson jealous. After everyone has completed their sets, backing band The Mighty Blue returns to the stage and lays the foundation for a good old fashioned jam session, where the leaders of the old school combined with the leaders of the new show that it really is 'One Love'.
bluefieldsound.com


Sabu in the Jailhouse - The legendary professor Sabu gives a jailhouse performance in Bluefields, Nicaragua.
Sabu El Cat Man is a living Legend, and according to folklore was born a monkey and sold his soul to receive his powers to inject audiences with his music. In the 60's and 70's Sabu circled the Night Clubs of Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua, entertaining audiences with his pattented catman style. In the 80's he was appointed the Minister of Culture, by the Sandanista party and he represented Nicaragua in Cuban, and Venezuelan Music Festivals. Eventually he was afforded the oportunity to record "Live Your Life, Viva tu Vida" a unique disk, ranging from Caribbean Country to Mento and Calypso Music.
myspace.com/sabusr
Bluefields Sound System Classics is proud to present Sabu, and his first solo album , 'Live Your Life'. Sabu spent the 60's and 70's circling the Night Clubs of Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua, entertaining audiences with his pattented catman style, In 1981 with the help of his cousin Tobie, of Tobie's Hardware, and Cawibe's Musical Director, Rene Cassels; Sabu was afforded the oportunity to record this unique disk, ranging from Caribbean Country to Mento and Calypso Music. Sabu is a living Legend, and according to folklore was born a monkey and sold his soul to receive his powers to inject audiences with his music. In the 80's he was appointed the Minister of Culture, by the Sandanista party and he represented Nicaragua in Cuban, and Venezuelan Music Festivals. He continues to sing, and dance, injecting the music to his audiences with the power of a skilled artisian.
This disk has been carefully remastered from the original tapes, and avalaible for the first time on CD. Look for our up comming Film in a special DVD/CD package.
youtube.com/watch?v=QLZrwdN9IXk


Mango Ghost, Sabu, René, Poochie: Bluefields, Nicaragua · July 24, 2009.
Experience these last legend perform a traditional May-Pole song in Bluefields Nicaragua as part of the forthcoming documentary by Bluefields Sound System which explores the struggle, survival and throbbing pulse of three generations of music from the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua.

Feature documentary coming soon on DVD at earthcds!
youtube.com/watch?v=_IK4eXyj2_M

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Paris DJs Soundstem - African Mashed Potato Popcorn Vol.8
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) T.I.M.E.C., 2009-02-27

Lay down, close your eyes, and prepare yourself to travel from the USA to Nigeria, Togo and Europe with a 30mn rainbow of African soundscapes... Heavily featured here is Adrian Quesada who's been baffling us in 2008 with his afro-latin productions with Martin Perna (Antibalas) as Ocote Soul Sounds, as well as with his latin band Grupo Fantasma... We also love the Lighting Head album - you might remember the man from his dubbed Rockers Hi-Fi records or under his Biggabush alias... Completing this mix are rarities from Analog Africa, from Kon and Amir on BBE, french library stuff and a well-titled King Sunny Ade track.


[comment faire?/how to?]

Tracklisting :
01. Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada - Carino
(from 'The Alchemist Manifesto' album, 2008 / Eighteen Street Lounge) USA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
02. Lightning Head - NPG
(from 'Afrobeat EP' 12 inch, 2008 / Lion Heads Recordings) UK
» more info on parisdjs.com «
03. Black Souls - Baki Mutane Nakuka (Black People Crying)
(from 'Baki Mutane Nakuka/) 7 inch, 2008 / BBE)
» more info on bbemusic.com «
04. Andrian Quesada feat. Martin Perna & DJ Chicken George - Overthrowed!
(from 'The Swed.u.s.h. Connection 2' 12 inch, 2007 / Swedish Brandy) USA
» more info on swedishbrandy.com «
05. Napo De Mi Amor Et Ses Black Devils - Leki Santchi
(from 'African Scream Contest: Raw And Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin And Togo 70's' compilation, 2008 / Analog Africa) TOGO
» more info on parisdjs.com «
06. Roger, Ensemble Roger - Afro-Beat/Afo-Syn (Edit)
(from 'Music for Dancefloors: Cream of the Chappell Sessions' compilation, 2001 / Strut) FRANCE
» more info on discogs.com «
07. King Sunny Ade - Ma Jaiye Oni
(from 'Juju Music', 1982 / Mango) NIGERIA
» more info on wikipedia.org «

Original record covers :


Credits :
Selected and mixed by Grant Phabao and Djouls from the Paris DJs Soundsystem (parisdjs.com)
Artwork by Djouls (djouls.com), photo by Turkairo under a Creative Commons license

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Paris DJs Soundstem - African Mashed Potato Popcorn Vol.7
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) T.I.M.E.C., 2009-01-04

The 'Mashed Potato' was a dance. The 'Popcorn' too. 'African Mashed Potato Popcorn' is a series of selections of all kinds of African tripy and groovy music from all over the world.
This seventh volume focuses on 2008 releases, with a rare 7 inch b-side from Bibi Tanga (France), a new track from Blank Zulu alias the Poets Of Rhythm on the fantastic Jazz&Milk label (Germany), an excerp from the new and timeless Ocote Soul Sounds album on ESL (USA), two oldies taken from two recent superb Nigeria old school compilations on Soundway (UK) and Strut (UK). You might also discover The Ottawa Bros. from Canada, before rejoicing to hear another Karl Hector & The Malcouns ethio-funk track (who'll be back with a new mix at the end of the month), and crying while listening to the incredible Beatles cover from 60s Ghanean singer Charlotte Dada.


[comment faire?/how to?]

Tracklisting :
01. Bibi Tanga et le Professeur Inlassable - En Slip Chaussettes Dub (feat. Byard Lancaster and Rongetz)
(from 'En Slip Chaussettes' 7 inch, 2008 / l'inlasSable disQue) FRANCE
» more info on parisdjs.com «
02. Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada - The Grand Elixir
(from 'The Alchemist Manifesto' album, 2008 / Eighteen Street Lounge) USA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
03. Blank Zulu - Mellow Magic
(from 'Jazz&Milk Breaks Vol.2' 12 inch, 2008 / Jazz&Milk Recordings) GERMANY
» more info on parisdjs.com «
04. Dynamic Africana - Igbehin Lalayo Nta
(from 'Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump' compilation, 2008 / Strut) NIGERIA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
05. Tabukkah X - Finger Toe
(from 'Nigeria Rock Special' compilation, 2008 / Soundway) NGERIA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
06. The Ottawa Bros - Afro Slinky
(from 'Duck Soup' album, 2008 / Cast-A-Blast) CANADA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
07. Karl Hector + The Malcouns - Followed Path
(from 'Sahara Swing' album, 2008 / Stones Throw) GERMANY
» more info on parisdjs.com «
08. Charlotte Dada - Don't Let Me Down
(from 'Money No Be Sand - 1960s Afro-Lypso, Pidgin Highlife, Afro-Soul, Afro-Rock' compilation, 1995 / Original Music) GHANA
» more info on parisdjs.com «

Original record covers :


Credits :
Selected and mixed by Grant Phabao & Djouls from the Paris DJs Soundsystem (parisdjs.com)
Audio mastering by Grant Phabao (grantphabao.com)
Artwork by Djouls (djouls.com), photo by Turkairo under a Creative Commons license

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Various - We Love Afrobeat!
(CD) Comet, 2008-10-06

"I'm on several afrobeat projects these days, after a wicked UK tour with my Smith brothers, I'm proud to announce the release of a compilation on Comet Records, WE LOVE AFROBEAT! I have been selecting the tracklisting with Eric Trosset, a blend of afronewbeats!!! The new generation of afrobeat bands: We Love Afrobeat, due to release on Oct 6th 2008 on Comet Records"
(Source : Martin Smith's MySpace page)

Tracklisting :
01. The Souljazz Orchestra - Mista President
02. Nomo - Better Than That
03. Ramses Revolution - In Control
04. Cafe-Creme & les Freres Smith - La Marche Des Smith
05. Saravah Soul - Arroz Con Feijao
06. Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - La Reja
07. Tincan - Leave The Keys
08. Oghene Kologbo & Afrobeat Academy - Open Your Eye
09. The Afrorockerz feat. Ruth Tafebe - Corrupt
10. Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble - Pelotera
11. Kutiman - Losing It
12. Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat - Bab Nla Iya
13. Minimoogli - A Funk For Fela (Afro Jam)

Links :
myspace.com/elvismartinez
myspace.com/cometrecords

Press Release (french) :
Depuis que l'immense Fela (& fils) et ce fantastique batteur qu'est Tony Allen ont créé le mouvement, celui-ci se répand largement hors du continent africain, de France aux Etats-Unis, d'Israël au Canada, allant même jusqu'à toucher des pays où un éléphant n'oserait même pas y poser sa trompe comme la Suède. Comet Records est surtout connu pour l'album culte de Tony Allen, "Black Voices", de son projet Psyco On Da Bus avec le bricoleur Doctor L. , ou pour ses rééditions de classiques des années 70. We Love Afrobeat ressemble curieusement à une compilation anniversaire masquée qui réunit les artistes afros modernes et underground.

Ceux qui pensent que la vraie musique black, c'est Magic System, je vous invite vivement à vous mettre ces treize morceaux entre les oreilles, ne serait-ce que pour votre culture. Ici, la technologie rejoint la tradition, les machines répondent aux djembés et il est surprenant de voir que ce son si roots qui commence à avoir de longues racines se mélange si aisément à d'autres styles.

Le jazz s'évapore à travers les cuivres de Nomo ou Ramses Revolution, les français Cafe-Crème et les Frères Smith font des figures downtempo, presqu'abstract hip-hop, les Ocote Soul Sounds tentent de passer la frontière mexicaine, Tincan pourrait être pressé sur un vieux 45 tours poussiéreux, les folles percus d'Akoya Afrobeat (récemment chroniqué dans ces pages) annoncent un grand soleil dans les cœurs, l'Israëlien Kutiman signe l'alien de la compilation avec sa rythmique radicale et ses délires expérimentaux, et on termine sur un excellent jazz enfumé de Moog avec le bien nommé Minimoogli.

Ces afro-beatmakers ne cherchent pas forcément à sonner nouveau, mais plutôt à créer une approche plus ou moins électronique qui tient à préserver la substance instrumentale originelle, dans une mouvance souvent accusatrice d'un système politique africain pourri mais toujours festive !

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