June 10, 2025
→ This week! Spanish, London based vocalist, composer, songwriter and keys player Clara Serra Lopez - who we heard on the amazing "No Lo Busco" on iZem's 2023 LP - releases new beautiful single "No Es Veneno" ahead of her first EP on Real World. Berlin based, originating from Cartagena, Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez releases a new compilation dedicated to the Pico (hand-painted sound systems) culture of the Caribbean coast. It's not only about Colombian music but also music originating from West Africa and the Caribbean. Here's a remix by Edna herself of Guadeloupe gwo-ka artist Erick Cosaque. Brazilian duo Drumagick released an LP very much inspired by the golden era of samba-rock, samba-funk and MPB. "Eu Quero Ela" sounds very much like a Jorge Ben song! UK label Strut re-issues New York via Paris singer Beckie Bell's LP In Need Of... from 1980, which includes the infectious eponymous disco track "Music Madness". French re-issue label We Want Sounds re-issues Album No 1 from Les Abranis, a band formed by musicians in Paris from the Algerian diaspora and of kabyle origin, which includes "Avehri" is a great reggae track. Enjoy!
No Es Veneno
Clara Serra López
Ajaccio - Edna Martinez Remix
Edna Martinez, Erick Cosaque
Eu Quero Ela
Drumagick
Avehri
Les Abranis
Music Madness
Beckie Bell
May 27, 2025
→ This week! After collaborating with Pat Thomas on two albums during the past decade, Kwashibu Area Band from Ghana releases their first LP Love Warrrior's Anthem. New Regency Orchestra, the London based combo reviving the great days of latin big bands (think Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez at the Palladium in New York back in the 50's) is releasing remixes from their LP, really digging that soulful take on "Para Los Papines" by producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Momoko Gill. Australian producer Harvey Sutherland releases another banger of house track "Cigarette". Listening back to Roy Ayer's label Uno Melodic Records (active from 1980 to 1983) with the laid back disco of "I Know You Care" by Ethel Beatty. Wrapping this week up in Chicago with Gypsy Fari, the first known reggae outfit of the Wind City with the reggae disco track "Chi-Town Reggae". Enjoy!
Gyina yi3 (Steady and Firm Love)
Kwashibu Area Band
Para Los Papines - Momoko Gill Remix
New Regency Orchestra, Momoko Gill
Cigarette
Harvey Sutherland
I Know You Care
Ethel Beatty
Chi-Town Reggae
Gypsy Fari
May 20, 2025
→ This week! Scottish DJ, and most recently producer Rebecca Vasmant has just released her second LP Who We Are, Becoming, including the ethereal "Sun Song" featuring vocalist Emilie Boyd. British multi-disciplinary artist, singer, multi-instrumentist and DJ Emma-Jean Thackray releases her second album Weirdo with "Black Hole", which features Reggie Watts. SAULT is back with the LP 10, with another set of great songs! French label Hot Mule keeps digging in the Camara catalogue, with a second volume of "Wagadu Grooves", exploring the sounds of the Malian diaspora in the French capital between 1991 and 2014. Here's the hypnotic "La Vie Est Belle" by Aichata Sidibe. Love it! Heading to the 80's Jamaica with the track "Since I Threw The Comb Away", on The Twinkle Brothers, 1980's LP Countrymen. Enjoy!
Sun Song
Rebecca Vasmant, Emilie Boyd
Black Hole
Emma-Jean Thackray, Reggie Watts
P
SAULT
La Vie Est Si Belle
Aichata Sidibe
Since I Threw The Comb Away
The Twinkle Brothers
May 13, 2025
→ This week! Ghanian Florence Adooni has released her brilliant first LP on the Philophon label, which includes "Vocalize My Luv". Venezuelian-Portuguese, now based in Brussels, Alex Figueira has released a new instrumental album, Colliding Layers, packed with tropical psychedelia! Colombian Frente Cumbiero, another master of tropical psychedelia - check out his set on our YouTube channel - is back with the LP Inconcreto & Asociados. Hailing from Naples, Italy, Parbleu teamed up last year with Dutch producer and musician Arp Frique and Ghanaian Marissa Nyamekye, bringing their unique tropical sound on "Flash Solaire". Now-Again Records is re-releasing Zambian rock LP I'm Not Made of Iron by Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family from 1977, with the funky "Atatue Inu". Enjoy!
Vocalize My Luv
Florence Adooni
Lost Marbles
Alex Figueira
El Tereminé
Frente Cumbiero
Flash Solaire
Parbleu, Arp Frique, Marissa Nyamekye
Atatue Inu
Chrissy Zebby Tembo, Ngozi Family
May 6, 2025
→ This week! British duo FYI Chris has a new EP All's Well with the hypnotic "Midnight Parlay" featuring vocalist, DJ and producer Ell Murphy on Black Acre Records. French collective Gin Tonic Orchestra is back with live recorded house with the EP Let The Children House which includes "Mirage Of The One". Brussels based Irani Iman Houssein released the haunting track "Concrete Is Colder Than Grass" back in March. Had to make it to our Heavy Rotation! Listening back to American Jazz singer Andy Bey, who passed away two weeks ago, with his classic "Celestial Blues" on the 1974 LP Experience And Judgment, as well as Ann Sexton - who passed away in March - with "You're Losing Me" back in 1973's LP Loving You, Loving Me. Enjoy!
Midnight Parlay
FYI Chris, Ell Murphy
Mirage Of The One
Gin Tonic Orchestra
Concrete Is Colder Than Grass
Iman Houssein
Celestial Blues
Andy Bey
