January 22, 2024
→ This week! Texas Khruangbin has a new single, new instant classic "A Love International"! So moving and elegant... Most featured and played band ever on Le Mellotron, Souleance released their 4th album "Beautiful" beginning of October. "Out Of Touch" with Kit Sebastian is such a killer I remember shazaming it when Ladies on Records played it during the most beautiful (indeed!) sunset the day of its release, with Souleance around as well :D Keeping catching up with 2023 releases, with already iconic cinematic funk project Whatitdo Archive Group, second album and the mesmerizing "Forbidden Cove". We're paying tribute to the great Marlena Shaw who passed away last week... "Look at Me, Look at You (We're Flying)" from here 1977 LP Sweet Beginnings, beautifully produced by Bert DeCoteaux. Amazingly crafted record! "Where Can I Go?" was released on another LP by Shaw, "The Spice Of Live", released on Cadet in 1969. Many classics on that one, from "Woman of the Ghetto" to "California Soul", but "Where Can I Go?" strikes a special chord.
A Love International
Khruangbin
Out of Touch
Souleance, Kit Sebastian
Forbidden Cove
Whatitdo Archive Group
Look at Me, Look at You (We're Flying)
Marlena Shaw
Where Can I Go?
Marlena Shaw
January 15, 2024
→ This week! Another great cover by German steel band Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band (thanks Guts!). This time covering Musa Masa's classic Love$ick. As addictive as the original! Belgium's best not-so-secret weapon Lefto released his first single out his first upcoming LP, somehow reminiscent of Thundercat, with those ethereal background vocals, featuring Simbad on saxophone, especially digging this housy rework by DJ ADHD, great mix of flavors here! Another rework, Australian this time by Oyobi, of a track by The Modern Artefact, for a great soulful funky electronica result. Floating Points's label Melodies International re-issued such a catchy soul number by obscure act Cinnamon Soulettes, which also includes a great flute solo! Ending this week selection in Cuba, out from the great Jazzanova compilation "Nueva Vision - Latin Jazz & Soul From The Cuban Label EGREM / AREITO" back in 2007 with Grupo Tema IV, eponymous track. Such a Brazilian vibe in this track, hard to believe this one's from Cuba!
Love$ick
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band
I Sing To Find Peace Of Mind (feat. Simbad) - DJ ADHD REWORK
LEFTO EARLY BIRD, Simbad, DJ ADHD
Apollonia (Oyobi Rework)
The Modern Artefact, Oyobi
Wishing On A Wishing Well
Cinnamon Soulettes
Tema 4
Grupo Tema Iv
January 9, 2024
→ Aaannddd... We back! I took a few months break to take some perspectives on Le Mellotron, and the relevance of such a project in a world where there's so much music content available everywhere out there. Conclusion is... Who cares! It's all about the passion for exploring, curating and sharing great music. So we keep going, with nothing else than music at stake. The shapes of Le Mellotron to come are unknown and there's a lot of excitement about it. Thanks to everyone who reached out! This week, catching up with new releases from 2023... Starting with very anticipated second LP by iZem and probably my favorite song of his, with the great vocals of Spanish, London-based Clara Serra Lopez. It's been such a joy to be a part of the creative process... Next is "give me ur love" by UK-based Another Chemical Love Story, great laid-back track. Paris-based Neil Bopperson, Le Mellotron resident DJ, released a very meditative and reflexive EP about wellness in general, and specifically in the music world. First release on his new label +33JOY, with spoken word by LA-based Bikbaye Inejnema. Love it! RIP Les McCann, the great American jazz panist and vocalist passed away at the very end of 2023, paying tribute with "Burnin' Coal" from his classic 1969 "Much Les" LP for Atlantic. Wrapping it up with "Bom Bon Boogie", very interesting latin-jazz-funk fusion by Lou Perez. Orquesta Aragon meets Labi Siffre... Looking forward to this new year in music. Happy 2024! Lekin
No Lo Busco
iZem, Clara Serra Lopez
give me ur love
Another Chemical Love Story
Consumption
Bopperson, Bikbaye, Sam Crowe
Bom Bon Boogie
Lou Perez
Burnin' Coal
Les McCann
June 6, 2023
→ This week! Montreal-Portland collab with the new Kaytraminé LP, Australian-based soulful 30/70's 5th album ART MAKE LOVE, one more brilliant talent from Australia with new single "Carpe Diem" by Melbourne-based Horatio Luna, and a new LP by Brazilian fusion jazz Grupo Um on Far Out Recordings. Also looking back at Michigan based Tod Osborn's brilliant Osborne house LP released in 2008 on Ghostly International.
Master P
KAYTRAMINÉ, KAYTRANADA, Aminé
HOLY ROLLER
30/70
Carpe Diem
Horatio Luna
Onze por Oito
Grupo Um
L8
Osborne
May 15, 2023
→ This week! Rising Aboriginal Miss Kaninna releases her first single, Ghanaian King Ayisoba released vibrant new LP on Glitterbeat, and a new delivery from brilliant DJ, record collector and taste maker Rebecca Vasmant's label with Glasgow-based collective Azamiah. Looking back at Sunbear's 1977 LP with funky and enchanting "Let Love Flow for Peace" and the great puerto rican Bobby Valentin's folky "Fire And Rain" from his 1970 LP "Algo Nuevo" on Fania.
Blak Britney
Miss Kaninna
Good Things God Knows
King Ayisoba
Night Woman
Azamiah
Let Love Flow for Peace
Sunbear
