Our old and funky friend, KCist-turned-San-Franciscan Oz McGuire, dropped the following list in our inbox over the holidays.
Top Records You Might Have Missed This Year (2008)
Señor Oz (Afrolicious, SF)
Ocote Soul Sounds, The Alchemist Manifesto (ESL Music)
Someone called this "mescalin music." I don't know about that, but this collaboration between Adrian Quesada (Brownout) and Martin Perna (Antibalas) takes elements of Afrobeat, Latin, downtempo and dub and turns it into pure gold!
Dunkelbunt, Cinnamon Girl (Chat Chapeau)
Balkan music influenced many electronic styles the last couple of years, but I hadn't heard anyone combine swing jazz, gypsy lines, dub and dancehall with deep beats until Dunkelbunt showed up in the record bin. Check the White Chocolate remix! Also check the Dunkelbunt spice mix!
Nappy G, Global Party System (Bagpack)
The veteran stickman comes correct, showing the world you can dance and be funky and still think about the world and how to Fight the Power! Check out the wicked remixes from Red Astaire, DJ Smash, Pleasuremaker and Kid Gusto!
Jef Stott, "Sono (Nickodemus remix)" (Six Degrees Records)
Ouds and beats and East and West collide!
Curumin, Japanpopshow (Quannum)
Finally someone realizes you can have your classic Brazilian funk and your Baile funk all on the same record! A song for every mood, scenario and generation on this one!
Fania Remixed, I Like it Like That (Fania)
This album got lots of spins at the Afrolicious party, very hard to name a favorite, but the Louie Vega remix of his uncle Hector Lavoe is pure magic and does everything a remix is supposed to do: bring modern production to a classic sound and make it relevant to a whole new generation of listeners and dancers.
Tony Allen, Lagos Shake (Honest Jons)
This remix project , which is a collection of 12" that were previously released separately, has a diverse line-up of artists re-fashioning the Afrobeat maestro's newer material. I loved this record because there is a style for everyone's taste. For the soul-jazz minded dig the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble's version of Sankofa.
Midnight Lab Band, Run Riot 12" (NYCTrust)
Beautiful 45rpm 12" pressing of an epic mid-tempo Latin Disco burner. You can't even buy this on mp3 -- get out your Technics!
Lightning Head, Afrobeat EP (Lion Head Recordings)
Remember Bigga Bush? Well he went all Afrobeat for his Lightning Head alias and I hope he keeps bringing this heat! Also check out the Lightning Head album Studio Don. Wicked!
Tal M. Klein, Rubs n Remixes (Aniligital Music)
Another one that came out all on vinyl (thanks Tal!). You still should cop the vinyl for the Snugs remix of Plastic Starfish!
Pimps of Joytime, Funk Fixes and Remixes (Wonderwheel Recordings)
Our East Coast cousins destroy all live venues they play. Do not miss them if they come anywhere close to your town! If you like your funk with more thump, cop this album!
Pimps of Joytime
"San Francisco Bound (DJ Obah Remix)"
Wonderwheel Records
TM Juke And The Jack Baker Trio, Boto & The Second Liners (Tru Thoughts)
When I first heard the New Orleans-inspired cover of the classic dancehall anthem "Heads High" on this record I was dancing to DJ Jeremy Sole at the Funk Sole party in LA and I completely lost it! What's in the water in Brighton?
RE-ISSUE/Compilation:
Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story (Strut)
I'm an '80's hater! I hate Reagan, cocaine, Ray Bans, Miami Vice, and I hate the current '80's revival even more (stop wearing neon, you will regret it!). But lately I've been trying to find the gems that are timeless and genre-bending. Strut records (thanks, K7, for bringing them back) has pretty much done the job for me with this compilation of tracks recorded at Chris Blackwell's Compass Point studio in the Bahamas. Every track is a standout, and all feature Sly and Robbie on drums and bass. There are a few tracks you know (Tom Tom Club), but the ones you don't (Guy Cuevas) are just as fresh!
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