While plenty of people I know are getting freaky at Burning Man this week, I’m playing soccer dad to my two little Ethiopian sisters (ages 11 & 7). Tomorrow we’re celebrating Ethiopian new year in the East Bay with what will undoubtedly end up being a bellyache’s worth of tongue-singeing Berbere. We’ve been doing a fair amount of pre-gaming this week, which has primarily consisted of them playing ethio youtube hits on repeat. This track from Sayat Demissie (who I believe was also Ms. Ethiopia) comes from that playlist of theirs. Thing is, I wouldn’t have had a good quality mp3 to share if it weren’t for the help of fellow NYC DJ/producer/promoter/nice guy Sirak. He’s the man behind Africology Media, and is also now hosting a weekly radio show in Addis Ababa. He also sent “Aroge Arada” which sounds like it would mix perfectly into any song on the Coolie Dance Riddim. I felt inclined to throw in a few oldies too, ’cause they still sound so damn good.

Sayat Demissie : Tew Man Neh

Baye Speedy : Aroge Arada

Alèmayèhu Eshèté : Tèy Gedyèlèshem, Haméta & Tèmèlès

Agustus Pablo : Straight To Ethiopia

After a certain number of hours on the road (many, many hours), all pretense of my sophisticated musical tastes evaporated in a cloud of deep-rooted nostalgia, leaving me craving the not-so-sophisticated alt-rock classics of my angst ridden youth. Sure, at the time I was also listening to some lesser-known material that may have foreshadowed the latent DJ/digger in me, but the tracks I’m sharing today (staples for me in the 90′s) represent the cream of the Top 40 radio crop.  Believe it or not, The Cranberries are not my most shameful pop music love affair. If you don’t already have these in your library, you probably should, if for nothing else then for some long road trip you have in your future.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones : The Impression That I Get

Sublime : Scarlet Begonias

Beck : Devil’s Haircut

The Cranberries : Dreams

Counting Crows : Omaha (soundtrack to a sea of cornfields)

The Proclaimers : I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
(technically ’88, but I knew it from the Benny & Joon soundtrack)

Presidents Of The United States Of America : Lump

Weezer : Holiday & Say It Ain’t So

Records packed to the ceiling of my Brooklyn storage unit. Minivan filled past capacity with all the rest of my earthly belongings. And now, I’m on the road with brother Murphy, California dreams swirling in my head. I don’t have too many opportunities to get online, so here’s a quick handful of left coast goodness that may help you feel what I’m feeling. Not sure which version of the Mamas & Papas classic I like best, but having just left Motown (standing in the same studio as all the greats), I’m a little partial to the Four Tops take right now.

Mamas & Papas : California Dreamin’

Four Tops : California Dreamin’

Baby Huey : California Dreamin’

Eddie Hazel : California Dreamin’

Jose Feliciano : California Dreamin’

Marlena Shaw : California Soul

Mos Def : California

George Stanford : Meet Me In L.A.

Between travelling out of town, getting ready to move (more on that soon) and fighting the worst viral bug I’ve dealt with since malaria in Cote D’Ivoire back in ’02, keeping up with the blog has been a little difficult. BUT, I refuse to let this place go dry for too long. This evening I leave you all with a few cowbell laden selections that have been in heavy rotation with me recently. The insanely bombastic Emynd remix made it’s way onto the Beers & Bikes Mix I made with DJ DRM, so you might recognize it from there (have you ever heard a more desperately soulful voice?!?). Not much time to type since I’m heading to a rooftop BBQ and then getting ready for my monthly party at Deity tonite (one of my last gigs before moving to LA!!!). Yeah… cat’s out the bag. But like I said, more on that later.

Omar : It’s So

UnkleJam : Love Ya

Galactic Feat. Glenn David Andrews and the Rebirth Brass Band :
You Don’t Know (Emynd Bounce Remix)

A loooong way back I saw a concert put together by Giant Step that featured a band called HEAVy. Vocoder-laden, 80′s synth funk done well is something I’m fond of, thus I became a fan. Thing is, I never had any of their albums and ended up almost forgetting about them. Then a recent raid of my friend Ant’s music collection left me with their entire discography. God bless file sharing. I also acquired about 4 gigs of other high quality material which will no doubt filter it’s way onto this site over the next few months. Funny thing happened though, when I was google-ing the band to find out info about them… I came across an entirely different band called The Heavy, who are actually pretty nice with it too. More in the late 60′s – early 70′s retro-vein, but equally funky, I quickly got my paws on their musical catalogue as well. I recognized their song “How You Like Me Now” from both a car commercial AND from the OG Dyke & The Blazers tune which they sample heavily from – not hating on either front. So here’s two heavy’s for you.

HEAVy : Longtime, Mylittlesong, & Wonderlove (Jazzanova Remix)
taken from Jazz Money$$ (2007)

The Heavy : How You Like Me Now & Cause For Alarm
taken from The House That Dirt Built (2009)

The Heavy : Coleen, Girl, & Brukpocket’s Lament
taken from Great Vengeance & Furious Fire (2007)

Mark Ronson knows how to add things up correctly. MNDR + Q-Tip + 80′s Synths + 70′s Drum Break + nonsensical French lyricism = “Bang Bang Bang”. A summer smash that has me really excited about the rest of his upcoming album Record Collection. Will the man ever smile? Probably not. But as long as he continues to focus on equations like these, I don’t have a problem with his stiff upper lip. I met MNDR in Austin during SXSW (I had an earplug stuck in my right ear so I was a little akward), but I know we’re gonna hear big things from her soon. The tracks below come from her four song E.P.E. released last year. She puts on a good show too.

MNDR : Fade to Black & I Go Away

Mark Ronson ft. MNDR & Q-Tip : Bang Bang Bang

So here’s the completed project I’ve been working on a bunch over the past month with my Beatards crew. We’re not angry people, anyone who knows us will agree, but what limited dealings we’ve had with record label A&R’s has been highly frustrating & discouraging. If you read the blog regularly, you know I quit my dayjob a while back and am just living off my music now (which basically has turned me to dumpster diving for meals), but damn do I look forward to the day when I can actually be comfortable doing this- with or without help from a label. Until then, I’m gonna keep cranking out music and doing what I love because I can’t really do anything else. Also, here’s a little video we just made for our friend Fiona Bloom which may give you a glimpse at our creative process.

The Beatards : F#¢K A LABEL (zip file contains separated tracks and artwork)

It’s independence weekend and, appropriately enough, a mega heatwave is quickly approaching NYC. I’ve been getting stupid amounts of new music in the past few weeks, but I feel most compelled to share these downtempo Jamaica-fied songs- help people take it easy while posting up in front of the fan all weekend.

Tupolev Soundcrash : Chase The Cumbia Devil
(nice cumbia remix of a Max Romeo classic)

Fat Freddy’s Drop : The Raft (7-inch Radio Edit)
some of the finest Kiwi’s in the game

Sean Bones : Death Can Jam
hurray for whiteboy reggae! Taken from the soundtrack to a dope movie that my friend made CHECK IT OUT

Little Stevie Wonder & Jay “Dusty” Smith : Uptight
Michael Jackson & Olly Buck : Never Can Say Goodbye (R.I.P. MJ!!!)
both taken from the compilation Motown Flies Jamaica

The Beatards : Get Lite (Reggae Remix)
from our brand new summer mixtape F#¢K A LABEL (download it here)

Wow. I don’t know whose wedding this picture was taken at… but I sure wish I was there… (Um, is that really Tina Turner!?!?!)

In lieu of that epickness, however, I’ll take a few square of that selfsame parquet dancefloor, a balmy summer night and a couple of these new-disco magic gems and call it a throwdown.

Aeroplane: We Can’t Fly (from a forthcoming LP…)

Flying Lotus: Do the Astral Plane (taken from the LP Cosmogramma)

Having trouble with the uploader… Will post a couple more tracks later. For now, enjoy.

Watching the World Cup has given me the perfect excuse to share something I’ve been meaning to for a LONG time… Soweto Stompers. These are the feel good, upbeat, and very funky sounds of vintage South Africa that have been co-opted by the likes of Paul Simon, Vampire Weekend, and the somewhat lesser-known Lizzy Mercier Descloux. Whatever your opinion of those artists is (mine is positive on all counts), it’s hard to deny a smile while listening to these tunes, especially if you happen to also be watching a good soccer match with some friends and a cold brew. Most of these I’ve recorded from my poor neglected vinyl stash- digitizing just takes so damn long I hardly do it anymore- but there’s a couple here I’ve culled from other compilations. Stay tuned for a Part 2 that will bring you some more blatantly funk sounding cuts, and possibly even a part 3 to share some recent Kwaito joints that are working in the clubs right now. I also got inspired by a recent Strut compilation and busted out a couple simple remixes that I’ve included here, basically just beefing up the drums and adding a few synths for greater dancefloor usability. So if the official world cup anthems ain’t helping you feel the spirit, you know you can always count on MTR!

The Cockerel Boys : Njalo Ngolwesihlanu & Singo Ganda Ganda

Mahotella Queens : Asambe Mntakamama

Soul Brothers : Phuma Layikhaya

Soul Ryders : Dali Mayi Fo Hloza

The Mgababa Queens : Maphuti (Captain Planet Remix)

Intombi Zephepha : Ingoina Le Nayathi (Captain Planet Remix)