Artist: ISSA BAGAYOGO
Title: TIMBUKTU
Label: 6 Degrees Records
Link:http://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/
Root: Mali/Afro-Electro
One may consider a little musical anthropology when listening to "Timbuktu", Issa Bagayogo's first album to be released in the US. If rhythms began in Africa, western civilization has progressively electrified them, and when Jazz, soul and funk's influences returned to the continent, they gave birth to the west african Afrobeat championed by Fela Kuti. Thirty years later, a new generation of African artists have grown wise to the worldly appeal of electronic dance music and are applying their roots to the genre, creating a new infectious hybrid that knows no border. Issa's voice is not unlike that of Fela, part chant, part rant, deeply masculine and uncompromising, covering in his native language the universal themes of community, life, love and death. Traditional instruments and female choruses are blended seamlessly with electronic textures under the production knob twiddling of Yves Wernet. Rich, pulsating and vibrant, the beats induce a ritual like trance, while the doors of perception open to the dizzying multitude of sounds on Timbuktu, a metaphorical title inspired by a city of fusion and cross cultural diversity that has achieved peace and harmony, offering a message of hope in an otherwise turbulent world.

Artist: VARIOUS
Title: SOMA 10th. ANNIVERSARY ANTHOLOGY
Label:Soma Records
Link: http://www.greengalactic.com/ and http://www.somarecords.com/
Root:UK/ Dance
The club-savy crowds in the know recognize Soma as one of the most influential and respected dance imprint in the world. Through this 2 CDs collection, the rest will discover the 10 years history of a label which has helped shape the future of dance music from 1991 to the present. The brainchild of Glasgow longtime clubbing mates Orde Meikle and Stuart McMillan, also known under their band name Slam, Soma was born out of necessity to preserve the Chicago and Detroit House tradition in the UK, then under assault by legions of smileys on acid-house ravers t-shirts. Club-classic purists were treated to wild stomping nights at the various clubs they ran, furthering the label's reputation amidst scenesters and seamsters. Soma distinguishes itself by the rigorous selection of its artists, choosing the visionaries over the obvious, a trademark best illustrated by the signing in 95 of two beat frenzied kids from Paris called Daft Punk, who open the curtains on this anthology. The 22 other tracks include massive dance floor anthems by Slam, Funk D'Void, Chaser, Silicone Soul, Rejuvenation, Scott Grooves and many more which prove that dance culture is not a random phenomenon, but a movement with a history. The first 1000 copies released worldwide will be packaged with a special mixed CD by Slam.

Artist: PLAYGROUP
Title: PLAYGROUP
Label: Astralwerks
Link: http://www.astralwerks.com/
Root: UK/ Pop-Dance
Forget all the bad vibes, we're going back to the bubble-gum pop of the 80's, which luckily doesn't mean that your acne is doing a come back or that the Wedding Singer soundtrack is heading for a Grammy. Playgroup is good old dirty retro fun, embracing carelessly a musical era that saw more innovation than any other, giving it a steroid boosted face-lift via 21st. century knob twiddling. The master of decadence behind this curious alchemy is Trevor Jackson, a fellow known in the 90's under the moniker "Underdog", who skillfully remixed U2, Massive Attack, Unkle, and Death in Vegas to name a fraction of his production credits. He surrounds himself with a multitude of reputable cohorts, from the punk acidity of Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna, to the dubbed up dance hall vibes of Shinehead, shamelessly covering Paul Simon's "50 ways to leave your lover", while the US release gets a Fatboy Slim bonus remix of the would be hit "Number One". You can play the game "name that sound" to no end..was that guitar Franky Goes to Hollywood ? Was that bass line from The Specials ? It's all familiar territory, but nostalgia isn't pondered off for cheap thrills. Playgroup is a brilliant work of originality and vision, a sugar coated new wave disco nouveau that gets the party started...

Artist: ZAP MAMA
Title: PUSH TO THE MAX EP
Label: Luaka Bop
Link: http://www.luakabop.com/
Root: Belgium/ Urban-World
"Urban Ethnic Music from Brussels"...or any other effort to categorize what Zap Mama would fall short of capturing the essence of this female a capella ensemble centered around zairian born singer Marie Daulne. Juggling pigmy chants with urban conscious gospel harmonies, Zap Mama capitalized on humanity's original instrument: the voice. Up until their third record, the voices where imitating and replacing every instrument in complex funk rhythm constructions, then more instrumentation was progressively introduced to allow the group to evolve to the 1999 urban-world hybrid "A Ma Zone". While Marie's african roots are always at the center of Zap Mama's compositions, the group made itself permeable to remarkable collaborations with Michael Franti (Spearhead), The Roots, and Speech (Arrested Development), bridging the gap further between Hip Hop culture and its roots to the motherland. "Push To The Max" takes Zap Mama further into remix territory, adding club culture bravado through House, Drum and Bass, Hip Hop and Downtempo treatments to tracks from various albums, tastefully executed by King Britt, DJ Wally, Chris Cuben, etc...But as a 36 minutes EP, it's only a byte size appetizer. Go back to the originals for the full experience.

Artist: ANTIBALAS
Title: TALKATIF
Label: Ninja Tunes Records
Link: http://www.antibalas.com/ and http://www.ninjatune.net
Root: US/ Afrobeat
To Africa and back again, to the streets of Brooklyn, NY where an unlikely assembly of 14 latinos, africans, asian-americans, afro-americans and whites lay down the beats in the purest West African tradition of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Antibalas (spanish for "bullet-proof") came together in 1998 from members of famed bands Daktaris and Soul Providers and has gone to conquer an ever wider audience here and abroad tuning to their solid grooves, fiery brass section and corrosive "no bs" social commentaries. Their second album "Talkatif" is recorded on analogue tape, preserving the organic warmth of the instrumentation and the "live feel" of their sound. Each instrument rises and drops with both bravado and restraint, never trying to outplay other musicians. This discipline makes for great arrangements and harmonies all of which are truly best experienced live, where Antibalas is known to raise the roof and get some serious booty shaking going on, all the while being politically engaged and taking part in many causes like the Rainforest Relief, Green Party, and many other radical and progressive organizations. Like its great predecessors from the 70's, Antibalas gets the party started, but knows how to stay on message.

Artist: N.E.R.D.(Nobody Ever Really Dies)
Title: IN SEARCH OF
Label: Virgin Records
Link: http://www.virginrecords.com/
Root: US/ Hip Hop-Soul
Catching the biggest buzz in the hip hop world on the release of their debut album, the Neptunes owe their success and notoriety to a sound synonymous with an air-tight, futuristic funked up production style that has propelled the rhymes and beats of artists like Jay-Z, Kellis, Mystical, Old Dirty Bastard, Nsync and Britney Spears to the stratospheric heights of super stardom. It would have been logical to perpetuate their recipe for success, but what wisdom inspired Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams to reinvent themselves as N.E.R.D. could make "In Search Of" one of the most relevant album of the new decade. This visionary amalgamation of genre defying songs borrows from every musical tradition past, present and offers an incredible evolutionary outlook on the future of music. To raise the stakes even higher, the album was recorded and produced twice. An early promo was a neptune-style studio stunt that caught the ears of spotters like Gilles Peterson and became an instant favorite on Worldwide, while the final album is played by a live band. The fusion of influences creates such freshness, that drawing comparisons is a futile effort. But be warned, purchasing "In Search Of" may render some of your favorite records obsolete.

Artist: ZERO 7
Artist: RAE & CHRISTIAN
Title: ANOTHER LATE NIGHT
Label: Kinetic Records
Link: http://www.kineticrecords.com/
Root: UK/ Downtempo-hip hop
Bringing down the club pulse to a more downtempo vibe, "Another Late Night" follows in the footsteps of the "Back To Mine" chill out series, where famed DJs and artists mix their favorite after-hours tunes, creating an eclectic and laid back new format. Another "late night" tradition, is to have the artists record an instrumental cover of a song that once inspired them. Manchester's Rae & Christian kick off the 3rd installment with a mix typical of their northern soul spirit, with a clear emphasis on 70's funk. From the explosive horn section of Trendsetter's "Heavy Worker," the shameless disco of Joshua's "Come On", to the Latin jive Aromadozeski Therapy's "Strudel Strut", through to the cool downtempo of Riton's "Put That On My Momma", and the electro -funk of Mr. Scruff's mix of Capoeira Twins' "Four". Rae & Christian then treat us to a breakbeat bare bones version of Parliament's "Flashlight" easing it's way into Rick James slobbering testosterone infused "Mary Jane". It's all cruise control to a dramatic finish, a poignant flamenco-pop cover of the Mamas and the Papas classic "California Dreaming" by guitarist Jose Feliciano. Zero 7 follows in the series with more jazzy breaks and a touch of soul that have become their trademark signature. Opening with four tracks for the hip hop headz, starting with Stonethrow Records stalwarts, Yesterday's New Quintet and Quasimoto, kicking it to Roots Manuva's dubby breaks that lead the way to some smooth rhyming from Slum Village. The mood becomes more abstract and trippy with the psychedelic vibes of Cinematic Orchestra, which puts the mix in a completely different gear, creating strange relationships between the sexy samba chic of Da Lata and the neo-retro luster of Serge Gainsbourg's classic "Bonnie and Clyde", remixed here by Matthew Herbert. Zero 7 then lay there imprint on Johnny Osbourne's classic "Truth and Rights". The Stylistics provide a subdued finale with the soulful "People make the world go round". The series works superbly because the artists are given a freedom of choice that makes their mix a very personal and heartfelt affair, like a friend handing you a mix tape. Look also for the two previous "Another late night" releases by Fila Brazillia and Howie B.

Artist: SUBA
Title: TRIBUTO
Label: 6 Degrees Records
Link: http://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/
Root: Brasil/Bossa Nova-Electronica
A deadly studio fire in 1999 might have shortened a long and prolific career, but Suba's imprint on the rebirth of Bossa Nova is now forever a part of brazil's musical history. Hybrid works mixing traditional rhythms and electronic textures on Bebel Gilberto's Tanto Tempo and the posthumous release of his solo work "Sao Paolo Confessions", a compelling musical refection on modern day Brazil, have received critical acclaim worldwide and inspired many to follow in his footsteps, elevating Bossa Nova to new grounds. "Tributo" isn't a remix album. The destruction of the original master tapes left remixers (Buscemi, The Funky Lowlives, Boys From Brazil, Zero db) with little to sample from, using this restriction to recreate and reshape with inventive means instead. Other tracks are entirely new productions recorded by some of Suba's past collaborators, notably vocalist Cibelle Cavalli and percussionist Joao Parahyba. Short exerts of live performances are weaved in, creating an astonishingly vibrant and soulful celebration of Suba's legacy, leaving one to wonder what might have become of his talent under different circumstances. Fortunately, his music lives on.

Local Spotlight
Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title: Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN sdtk
Label: Zoomba Records
Link: http://www.ytumamatambien.com/
Root: Various/Various
In the early 90's, soundtracks to films like Cool World and Sliver put their compilation CD on the map as a viable commercial product, and a promotional vehicle for emerging and established talent alike. A decade later, the process has become very formulaic, and soundtracks amount to zeitgeist grab bag of what's hip and what's what, with the obligatory MTV tie-ins that serves as a 3 minutes commercial for the film they underscore. The soundtrack to "Y Tu Mama Tambien", the scorchingly sexy coming of age road movie directed by Alfonso Cuaron, breaks the mold with an irreverance as untamed as the hormonally charged protagonists of the film. The inspired and informed music supervision of KCRW DJ Liza Richardson (only her 4th. film after The Mothman Prophecy, Arlington Road and Crime and Punishment in Suburbia) operates as an eclectic journey that parallels that of the movie, devoid of score, where each track emanates from a natural source, a car stereo, a boom box, a radio...and reflects the anglo-worldliness of today's mexican youth, but also heavily showcases artists from the new alternative and "Nortek" music scene south of the border. The explosive opening track "Here comes the mayo" by Molotov vs. Dub Pistols is the rock steady fire cracker that generates the uplift to propel the compilation through its 14 tracks ( featuring Plastilina Mosh, Eagle Eye Cherry, Natalie Imbruglia, Titan, Bran Van 3000, Brian Eno and Frank Zappa to name a few) most of which were recorded exclusively for the film. The soundtrack is a triumph in achievement for the independent spirit that radiates at the center of Y Tu Mama Tambien,daring to have vision beyond the commercial boundaries of the Hollywood establishment.

Local Spotlight
Artist: FRANCISCO AGUABELLA
Title: CUBACAN
Artist: JACK CONSTANZO
Title: SCORCHING THE SKINS
Label: Cubop/Ubiquity Records
Link http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/
Root: US-Cuba/ Afro Cuban-Latin Jazz
It's not all Buena Vista Social Club when it comes to Cuba's finest music and Ubiquity's prolific Afro Cuban Latin division CuBop's latest releases set the record straight. Credited for introducing the cuban bongos to american jazz, Jack Constanzo's impossibly long list of recording and live credits dates back to the 30's, and reads like the who's who of jazz, siding with the greatest of the great, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillepsie, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, etc...Mr Bongos' career also extended beyond jazz clubs to the Hollywood silver screen that he shared with the likes of Marlon Brando, James Dean, Gary Cooper and Elvis Presley. Produced by Bobby Matos, "Scorching The Skins" is the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2000 come back album "Back to Havana" after 25 years of silence, and explores through its seductive arrangements the many styles that compose his repertoire, from mambo jazz, son montuno, r&b to swing and a little cajun cookin'. Plans to take these recordings on a live tour will give audiences the chance to discover or rediscover a master percussionist and accomplished entertainer. Also releasing his second album for CuBop, Cuban born Francisco Aguabella stole a few of Pancho Sanchez' musicians on his way to make "Cubacan", a tribute to his late friend and collaborator Tito Puente. The recording has both a classic afro-cuban vibe and a fast-forward evolutionary style that is likely to appeal to a broad crossover audience. Aguabella's playful percussion style particularly shines on cover version of "My favorite things" and "Autumn Leaves". With true bongo power, both masters, crossing the generational gap andmixing it up with younger latin jazz talents, are contributing to the preservation of the Afro-Cuban musical tradition in the United States. Much praise must be given to labels like this one for sticking their neck out and promoting artists whose music deserves world wide exposure.

Local Spotlight
Artist: MARQUES WYATT
Title: FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO GET DOWN
Artist: MARK FARINA
Title: CONNECT
Label: OM Records
Link: http://www.omrecords.com/
Root: US/ House
As skilled as a DJ may be, a mixed CD is only as good as the tracks that are on it. In that respect, Marques Wyatt's "Get Down" delivers an astounding selection of soul, blues and gospel influenced house that is constantly on the uplift, yet has its groove set on cruise control for one of the smoothest rides heard in a long time. With his hit laden inspirational mix, this veteran of the LA club scene (currently ministers Sunday services at Deep), might just rise to the pantheon of international superstar DJs that enjoy worldwide recognition. The Shaun Escoffrey house anthem "Days Like This" definitely stands out far above other very bouncy tracks by the likes of Kerri Chandler, Iz and Diz, the Rurals, Marques Wyatt himself and remixes by Charles Webster, DJ Spinna, Joey Negro, etc... Another groove expert and OM stalwart, Mark Farina's "Connect" departs from his familiar downtempo territory to explore the connections between various House styles, blending the Deep Grooves of SF, the funky Chicago sound, and the NY latin vibes. The flawless mix has great dynamic range, yet is unpretentious and loose enough to progress nonchalantly through all its variety, adding a good dose of fun to the process. For this label, known mostly for its great chill out "Lounge" series, the downtempo opus that are the Mushroom Jazz series, the San Francisco "Sessions" and a multitude of unique and worthy releases from the electronica, breakbeat and hip hop world, these new DJ series are likely to reposition OM Records ahead of the House race alongside huge hitters like Naked Music, Lazy Dog and Francois K's Wave Music.