PalmTree Culture 3 : Tenuous Thread
Sometimes, there's no theme, just some meanderings that fit together with a tenuous thread.
The complete PalmTree Culture 3 playlist on Spotify.
Lecuona Cuban Boys – La Havane E Paris
A little appetizer. I'm often surprised at how many Cuban bands tour in Paris - Cuban Cuban, not "of Cuban descent" like we see in the U.S. Then I realize - "Of course. No embargo....." This tune dates well before those days.
I love the song Tabu, especially the African orishas throwback in the chorus (especially impressive hearing it in a classic 40s form (Various Artists – Tabú). There are numerous cheesy orchestral "soft-Latin" versions, but every so often I come across a great interpretation. Check the congas at the beginning.
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Basta De Llamarme Así
Another visit to the Fab Cadillacs (Palmtree Culture #2) so I'll put them to rest for a bit. ;-)
Speaking of ska-punk outfits from Argentina: This album is pretty old (1998?) but I stumbled across them on Spotify and was surprised to see it there. I have this album on a home-burned CD with a color photocopy cover, but it's not a pirate copy - it was sold to me by the lead singer of the band. In 1999-2000 I was in the Latin-rock-hip-hop outfit Santero and we played a couple of shows with Karamelo, one notably at a punk dive in Oakland. That show rocked, so much so that I forgave the drummer wacking drumsticks on the bongos he borrowed from me.
Blanquito Man – Cumbia Sobre El Rio
The "urban cumbia" sound has matured significantly now, but when this song came out it blew my mind. Celso Piña is an all-star Mexican cumbia player....
DJ Dolores – Salvo (The Preacher)
I've been trying to stay away from Brazil for a bit, but this one slipped through, to make the transition with the next few tunes.
Kocani Orkestar – Usti, Usti Baba
Whoa.... What do you get when you cmbine a Latin-Kraftwerk remixer with a high-energy Macedonian brass band? Horns a-go-go! Check out the album too - a great title, a great collection of artists. (Both Señor Coconut and Kocani are worth checking out on their own right. And if you are really brave, check out Coconut's alter-ego, Atom Heart, mixing it up Bill Laswell. Atom Heart's programming mastery is evident here - Bill Laswell – Digital Cut-Up - Atom Heart Mix)
One more heavy-drums-and-big-horns tune. The song never really goes anywhere, but I could listen to that drum loop for ... well, about as long as the song.
Thanks to the Masalacism blog for pointing me to Batida, a couple of Portugeuse DJ / musicians who've raided the crates of Angolan music (the Lisboa DJ scene is blowing up!).
Between Batida and Debruit, this is the new Now. Extreme blip-tech sound chopping mixed into non-pop / club music. It's where we're headed.
Gigi – Gud Fella - Restless Soul Inspiration Information Mix
OK, so this is the sound of yesterday. But Gigi is undoubtedly awesome, as is this mix.
Sade Adu – By Your Side - Cottonbelly's Fola Mix-Edit
Another yesterday classic, from the exceptional Red Hot and Riot.
Taking Afrobeat a little further afield. Check out the compilation too.
So we've retreated back in time, and also back to the the "new" world. Just in time for Gotan's new album.
Post new comment