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
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
