Hi friends!
Many of you told me how much you enjoyed last week’s post with Divorce From New York’s picks. Next month, on the 12th of January, we will have the opportunity to listen to another set of very special guest selections. So stay tuned!
This week’s 5 selections are:
Entre Viagens / Vista - Zopelar (Mother Tongue Records, 2021)
#Broken Beat #Funk
A marvelous 7-inch by Brazilian space funkateer Zopelar from Sao Paulo. I purchased it two years ago from the Mother Tongue Records site, sounds amazing and it's a regular in my DJ sets. Particularly the B-side, "Vista," is a dangerous dance floor bomb that can provide an interesting break in the middle of a session.
The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence - Espen Horne (Wah Wah 45s, 2023)
#Jazz Fusion
The first solo album by the Norwegian producer combines songs ranging from hip-hop to soul rhythms, with influences from Jamaica to Brazil. A true sonic delight, best enjoyed during your next outdoor adventure, as suggested in the song "Bergen Sunrays". In this track, rapper and singer Selim Mutic drops verses about their hometown referenced in the song's title. "Raindrops, snowflakes, sunrays."
World War III - Mikey Dread (Dread At The Controls, 1980)
#Dub #Roots Reggae
I revisited this record a couple of weeks ago, selecting it as the perfect gift for a good friend. World War III stands as a pivotal work by the revered Jamaican DJ, mixer, producer, and toaster, Mikey Dread. Not only did Mikey host the popular four-hour radio show "Dread At The Controls" on JBC, but he also laid down tracks for influential figures like Lee Scratch Perry and Sonia Pottinger. The titular track delves into racial issues, discrimination against Rastafarian people, and issues a compelling call for understanding.
Totāl Cuevas - Guy Cuevas (Libreville Records, 2022)
#Disco #Balearic
"Obsession - The Nassau Mix" is an absolute banger from the legendary resident DJ of Le Palace club in Paris. Blending Latin percussions and smooth Spanish vocals over an irresistible disco beat, this track had crowds grooving in 1983 and continues to do so today. I was unfamiliar with the rest of his compositions compiled here, and they have pleasantly surprised me. They are as classy as the hit, varying in energy but always maintaining that stylish extravagance vibe.
Jazz Funk - Incognito (Ensign, 1981)
#Jazz-Funk
A sublime closing to this Friday’s post is one of my favorite Incognito albums, their first. Years before Gilles Peterson coined the term Acid Jazz, the Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick ensemble truly shined in their debut. I'm still chasing the 12-inch of "Parisienne Girl," a sophisticated jazz-funk suite suitable for the club, your living room, or your car seat. The refrain, “Je t’aime mon amour, je t’adore,” keeps looping in my brain.
That was all for this week. I hope you liked the selections :D
Enjoy the weekend and tune in next Friday for more music!
Stay groovy,
Dudier