July 15, 2025
→ This week! French collective 15 15 released amazing new single "āfa", soulful folktronica based on tresillo/dancehall rhythm... Such a great, unique sound! Luizga (Brasil) and iZem (Spain) released the LP for their hit single "Yemamaya", featuring a handful of new tracks, including the beautiful "Pachuchu". Soul wizards El Michels Affair (NYC, US) team up with Ghanaian Florence Adooni for the funky and catchy "Say Goodbye". Listening back to American afro-funk-jazz Plunky and Oneness of Juju's disco track "Every Way But Loose" from their Make A Change LP released on Black Fire in 1980. And wrapping up this week in Brazil with "A hora é essa" by Célia, from her 1972 eponymous LP released on Continental. Enjoy!
āfa
15 15
Pachuchu
LUIZGA, iZem
Say Goodbye
El Michels Affair, Florence Adooni
Every Way But Loose
Plunky, Oneness Of Juju
A hora é essa
Célia
July 8, 2025
→ This week! London-based, Scottish DJ and producer Auntie Flo released new EP Outernational Dance with the dreamy "Esperanto" on international venture Multi Culti. London, bass heavy producer Mia Koden self-released the EP Keep It Steppin' which includes "Movements". German duo Session Victim is back with another delivery of jazzy-house on their new EP Sidequests Chapter One, this time collaborating with French, Berlin-based pianist Viken Arman on keys on the lush "Pulse of Memory". More Salsoul for the soul! Listening back to Martha High's "He's My Ding Dong Man" back in 1979! And wrapping this week up paying tribute to one of the most influential pop music composer of the XXth Century Brian Wilson, deceased last month, with the Beach Boys's classic "God Only Knows" from their equally classic Pet Sounds album from 1966. Enjoy!
Esperanto
Auntie Flo
Movements
Mia Koden
Pulse of Memory
Session Victim, Viken Arman
He's My Ding Dong Man (Single Version)
Martha High
God Only Knows
The Beach Boys
June 24, 2025
→ This week! Starting with traditional Afro-centered Latin-American music with two contemporary projects. Hailing from the Pacific Coast of Colombia, the band Bejuco releases their second LP on Discos Pacífico and keep celebrating the rich marimba sounds from the region, with the beautiful "Machete". Based in Lisbon, Portugal but deeply rooted in Afro-Brazilian traditions, Roda de Santo interprets cantigas de terreiro, sacred songs sung during Umbanda (Afro-Brazilian religion) ceremonies. The Prince of West London Broken beat WheelUP released his third LP Inner Light on Tru Thoughts, which includes the soulful "Angel" featuring singer, songwriter, producer Steven Bamidele on vocals. Soulful and groovy! Wrapping up this week with 2 New York boogie and disco gems: "Stroke It" by Special Forces, released in 1982 on Salsoul Records, and Bill Brandon's "We Fell In Love While Dancing" released back in 1977 en Prelude. Enjoy!
Machete
Bejuco
Seu Martinho
Roda de Santo
Angel
WheelUP, Steven Bamidele
Stroke It (Radio Edit)
Special Forces
We Fell in Love While Dancing
Bill Brandon
June 17, 2025
→ This week! Summer house banger "I Want You" from London producer Cody Currie and Berlin producer Kapote on their Hard Work EP out on Toy Tonics. More summer vibes with Ghanian, London-based producer Juls, with the track "Batida do Sol". British producer Seven Davis Jr. is back with LP Don't Crash Out Challenge, including "Ain't For Me". Listening back to North Carolina soul outfit A Brief Encounter with their classic "Human" from 1977. Wrapping this week up with Brazilian Wando's "Odoiá" from his 1976 eponymous LP. Enjoy!
I Want You
Cody Currie, Kapote
Batida do Sol
Juls
Ain't For Me
Seven Davis Jr.
Human
A Brief Encounter
Odoiá
Wando
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
