About a year ago I remember being sorely disappointed with myself that 90% of the albums I listened to regularly where almost 10 years old.  What?  I'm a musician, a percussionist that is interested in "new forms".  The closest thing I was getting to "new forms" was a 7 year-old dub-step album.

Now, thanks to blogging DJs and mixtape download sites, I am re-entering the dj-based music citizenry of the world.  And I have three words for you.  Kuduro.  Kwaito.  Funana. 

And, I guess another two words - funk carioca, if you've never heard of this or read the (in)famous Blender article.  I personally could never get past the Miami Bass sound.  Hated it the first time around, and adding gunfire and Portugeuse lyrics does nothing to change that  :-(  (Anyone got some tamborzao versions to pique my interest?)

Start here (all links to actual blog posts or articles, not directly to the downloads.  These folks need to see their traffic hits...):

• Kuduro - a great, and raw, mix.  I think its better to start here, then move on to the smoother Buraka Som Sistema (you can do your own searching from there...)
• Funana - a funana mix care of Ghetto Bassquake
• Kwaito - a nice wander into the South African clubland pulled off an interesting DJ remix site
• ... Ok, yeah, sure, some funk carioca too
• And while I'm at it, might as well add a Coupe Decale mix too, from the wacky RadioClit guys..  I have a *lot* more to say about that (given the main drum pattern....)....

And yes - I'm aware that most of this blew up in 2006.  But kuduro and funana in particular are having a resurgence in 2009 - at least on this side of the Atlantic.

P.S.  Reggaeton, funana and kuduro all rely on the worldwide rhythmic building block that I call (for lack of a better name) Balé Step.