From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Mitchum Yacoub flips Fela Kuti’s legendary “Water No Get Enemy” into a full-force cumbia frenzy featuring a scalding 4-piece horn section. As a drummer who toured with Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Yacoub has a healthy understanding of this Afrobeat classic yet makes it entirely Continue Reading
Funk
Moyses Dos Santos – Maria
Far Out Recordings should be lauded forever for bringing so many great modern (and a few elder) Brazilian musicians to the attention of Western listeners. On that note, we welcome a debut from a new talent who will serve as a vanguard to Brazil’s diverse music scene in Moyses Dos Continue Reading
Marco Benevento – Glera
I don’t know how Marco Beneveto managed not to get caught by my radar, as he produces such great Nu-Jazz that I almost feel bad I didn’t know about him sooner. This is an upcoming release, but the tracks available are funky and as contemporary as it gets.
Dar Disku – Dar Disku
From the Dar Disku Bandcamp site: “The debut album from Bahraini-born, British-based musical duo Dar Disku is a celebration of their Arabic heritage and multicultural influences that melds golden age West Asian and North African sounds with a contemporary dance floor focus. Recorded between the UK, Algeria, Turkey and Tunisia, Continue Reading
Freh Khodja – Ken Andi Habib
What a wild release this is! Our friends at Wewantsounds have released yet another unknown gem. From their Bandcamp site: “Wewantsounds is delighted to continue its Algerian music reissue program with the release of Freh Khodja’s sought-after 1975 LP, Ken Andi Habib. Recorded in Paris with Les Flammes, a group Continue Reading
SONS OF ZÖKU – Ëndlëss
For those of you who are fans of bands like Khruangbin, you will certainly enjoy Sons of Zöku, a band that hails from Australia. There are far more vocals here, but that funky, nearly Afrobeat-ish pulse underneath and the psychedelic vibe make this fine listening.
Nkwitchoua – Love Tones
First, an introduction to this YouTube channel. African Grooves has long been a favorite of mine, as the curators have introduced their audience to some fine, funky releases from the African continent. This particular release comes from Cameroon, and the funk/disco vibe from Nkwitchoua is wild.
Vaudou Game – Fintou
Vadou Game’s Fintou is a James Brown-tinged funky masterpiece, easily the most danceable work to come out of West Africa in a while. Respect to French record label Hot Casa Records for this one.
Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama – Tokyo Funk Diva
Wewantsounds Records maintains its impressive track record of high-quality reissues with its latest release. This time, they feature the music of Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama, a Japanese pop and funk singer whose style beautifully blends City Pop, funk, and catchy pop grooves, resulting in a fun listening experience. As always, the Continue Reading
Various Artists – Vampisoul: Rangarang
From the Bandcamp site of the consistently solid record label Vampisoul: “”Rangarang” is a compilation of forgotten jewels from pre-revolutionary Iran. These songs tell the stories of an artisan community that flourished during the 1960s and 1970s before vanishing into oblivion. The pop stars who stayed in Iran were summonsed Continue Reading