The newest MadCoins mix is out, rejoice. I made this after 3 too many redbulls and 5 too many vodkas so I was in perfect shape to mix. This is a world beats based mix genre jumping between UK Funky, Middle Eastern beats, Hip Hop, Glitch and general weirdness. Free download available as usual.
Benjamin Zephaniah has apparently been listening to the wrong radio station. I've tuned into that same station and I will tell you it is a terrible station that unfortunately has a lot of dedicated listeners. If you like this stream of consciousness there are more clips of him on youtube, an interview at democracynow.org, and a few albums he has released over the years you should check out. Benjamin Zephaniah describes himself as a poet, reggae artist, activist and revolutionary. I discovered him by digging in dusty crates and finding his first album called "Rasta" from 1983 at a thrift store a few years ago. I was impressed to say the least. I couldn't find much info on him at that time but now it seems plenty has surfaced online. This guy is all about the best kind of change, I will now tip my hat to him.
When I first heard that tUnE-yArDs "Bizness" track my mind immediately went to this Paris track. Both artists are based in Oakland and I am absolutely convinced she based the hook on "Bizness" off "Don't Stop The Movement". I like her even more now.
Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-yArDs, is marvelous and an absolute joy to see live. Her new album WHOKILL drops on April 19th. She is a hidden gem full of originality, creativity and change. Know her, love her.
Here is another worldly, experimental music alchemist along the same lines as Muslimgauze (see post a few weeks ago). Raz Mesinai's (aka Badawi) music is usually highly rhythmic with a particular keen sense of microtonal sound. Though his music often sounds like it has a middle eastern influence, he in fact hails from NYC. He was highly influenced by shamanic and trance ritual music as a child by his single transient mother and released his first album in 1994 as a 20 year old. He has since released almost 20 albums under various pseudonyms, his last in 2007 from Badawi called "Unit Of Resistance".
This is one of my favorite War songs from their "The World Is A Ghetto" album from 1972. It so chill and perfect for contemplating/reminiscing. You can hear the pain of Vietnam buried deep in its guts. I've definitely imagined being a soldier fresh home from that unnecessary, horrific affair just sitting and staring at the wall with this record rotating nearby.
This is Pandit Pran Nath, he made one of my favorite meditation records ever. There is something truly cosmic and peaceful about this recording. Though I highly recommend purchasing the vinyl from Mississippi Records (link below) for the full audio experience (and to support an amazing record label), I have just located a digital download and wanted to share this audio with readers of this blog. Click on Earth Groove: Voice Of Cosmic India below and find some peace for yourself.
Containing two side-length ragas, this record, released on Mississippi "subsidiary" Change Records, was the first US release for noted singer and spiritual leader Pandit Pran Nath. Pran Nath collaborated with minimalist innovators La Monte Young and Terry Riley, and this record is a great example of the far-out, post-lingual aesthetic he helped to develop, and which was further explored by bands like Sun City Girls.
My newest mix containing bass driven Glitch music meant to rattle your teeth and piss off your neighbors. Listen to and/or download it at mixcrate above or soundcloud below.
Since I just posted about Os Mutantes I thought it would be a good time to post about another Brazilian musical giant, Jorge Ben Jor. This is one of Jorge Ben's better known tracks called "Taj Mahal". You will recognize that the melody because sadly you probably first heard it in Rod Stewart's 1978 hit song "Da ya think I'm sexy". He stole the melody from "Taj Mahal" which was created by Jorge Ben in 1972. After Jorge Ben heard the Rod Stewart track he (probably punched something first) promptly brought a plagiarism lawsuit against Stewart and won. In one of the coolest moves ever, Ben told Stewart if you sign a legal document stating all royalties from this song go to UNICEF, I will fine with it. Stewart agreed and the song is still making money for UNICEF to this day.
Os Mutantes is a criminally unknown Brazilian psych-rock band formed in 1966. They have been referred to as the Brazilian Beatles and I personally think the Beatles should be referred to as the British Os Mutantes. I kid, kind of. I've personally always heard a bit more honesty and sincerity in Os Mutantes music than in Beatles music (I believe this is because Os Mutantes was totally independent with no borders or frontiers right from their inception), though the Beatles did influence them (who didn't they influence at that time). Musically and creatively this band was as talented as many legends from that same era. They made many of their own instruments (an effects pedal powered by a sewing machine, a can of bug spray to imitate a cymbal sound) which gave their sound an unmatched uniqueness in addition to their already unique blend of Bossa Nova/Pop/Brazilian Rhythms/R&B. Politically, they dealt with threats from Brazil's coupe d'etat military government (thanks in large part to "we fear commies America") in the 1960s. Many shows had to be cut short when the military would threaten them with raids. I love the response from Sergio Dias regarding the military threats in a recent interview:
What did the government fear from the Tropicalistas?
What they couldn’t grasp... youth and indestructibility.
