Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Elikeh - Adje! Adje
ElikehAdje! Adje
Label: Azalea City Records
Groove heavy and politically active Afro-rock spawned from the unlikely country of Togo. Singer, guitarist, composer and founder of Elikeh, Massama Dogo, was born in Togo, but immigrated to Washington, D.C. in 2000. His D.C. based ensemble fuses indigenous Togolese elements with a contemporary flavor in a powerful and memorable manner including noteworthy guitar work and vivacious horns.
• Elikeh Website • Elikeh FacebookStrange Arrangements - Polygraph
Strange ArrangementsPolygraph
Label:
Effortlessly stringing together progressive elements of jazz, funk, blues, reggae, and psychedellia are what this Chicago jam rock band does so well. Strong main and harmony vocals really shine as the tangy guitar work and zesty rhythms flow through song after song and have the potential to please listeners for years to come.
• Strange Arrangements WebsitePutumayo Presents - Arabic Beat
Putumayo PresentsArabic Beat
Label: Putumayo
Once again, Putumayo has put together a well-picked eclectic selection of lesser-known world class artists, this time with a focus on Arabic musicians of today. By incorporating certain Western influences, today’s Arabic music’s upbeat, danceable grooves have an undeniable universal appeal. Get to know Morrocco’s Jalal El Hamdaoui or Algerian performer Cheb Amar along with 8 others.
• Putumayo Presents Website • Putumayo Presents Facebook • Putumayo Presents WikiHidria Spacefolk - Astronautica
Hidria SpacefolkAstronautica
Label: Hidria Records
Psychedelic space rock never sounded so good! Born out of a hippie commune in Finland and taking their cue from Ozric Tentacles, this non vocal Moog-a-delic experience will sweep you off on a stellar journey to dimensions unknown in the wink of a riff. See ya there!
• Hidria Spacefolk Website • Hidria Spacefolk Facebook • Hidria Spacefolk WikiMichael Franti and Spearhead - All People
Michael Franti and SpearheadAll People
Label: Universal
Celebrating the beauty of diversity through peaceful, loving melodies and lyrics is a trademark of Franti and crew. Now, 8 studio albums in, Franti has still managed to cling to the peace-loving, socially active principals that propelled him to this point. Supremely danceable grooves and compelling anthemic pop delights will again and again have you on your feet and shaking your wild thang. See them on 9/25 at the Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI.
• Michael Franti and Spearhead Website • Michael Franti and Spearhead Facebook • Michael Franti and Spearhead WikiPretty Lights - A Color Map of the Sun
Pretty LightsA Color Map of the Sun
Label: Pretty Lights Music
After three years of gestation, experimentation, and community-building, Derek Vincent Smith, AKA Pretty Lights, has unfurled one of the most anticipated releases of 2013. Over the last year he collaborated with fellow musicians of all ages and genres, creating a musical journal of their activities (and made a video of it) that emulated time periods spanning the last century, which were then pressed to vinyl and used in conjunction with a custom built analog synth to create his latest masterpiece, with the title inspired by Isaac Newton.
On first listen, the release might blend into a jungle of glitch-ridden jazzy atmospheres, but soon your mind will decipher and unravel the many layers of depth and beauty hidden in each track. Ear candy of the highest order! Like all of his music the entire thing available completely for FREE. But he has also printed hard copies on CD and Vinyl which along with an enormous amount of other fantastic and fashionable PL goodies are available at the PL web page.
• Pretty Lights Website • Pretty Lights Facebook • Pretty Lights WikiTuriya Nada - Arakara: Ecstasy of the Awake - Ancient Siddhar Yoga Resonance
Turiya NadaArakara: Ecstasy of the Awake - Ancient Siddhar Yoga Resonance
Label: White Swan
While most musicians don’t aspire to actually live the life of a yogi. Turiya Nada (aka Tapasyogi Nandhi) is the exception to that rule. And part of living that lifestyle for him involves sharing ancient consciousness-raising Siddhar chants and mantras with the world. On this release, 21st century electronic soundscapes float behind and around these powerful chants to evoke and enrich the vital message and power of Oneness in an effort to awaken your inner guru.
• Turiya Nada Website • Turiya Nada FacebookBeats Antique - A Thousand Faces - Act II
Beats AntiqueA Thousand Faces - Act II
Label: 10 Spot
Act 1 was a phenomenal look into the hero’s journey and Act II takes you even further while capturing nearly the same intensity, dynamics and imagination, but with other flavors and twists. Hopping and skipping across a vast sea of musical genres, their compositions are invigorated by a broad spectrum of cultural and geographical rhythms, tones and approaches, while undeniably being Beats Antique. Brilliantly beautiful!
• Beats Antique Website • Beats Antique Facebook • Beats Antique WikiDavid Starfire - Awakening
David StarfireAwakening
Label: Amrita Recordings
A world-renowned producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist/DJ that has worked with numerous electronic musicians as welll as had songs featured in many TV, cable, movies and video games. Awakening is an invigorating juxtaposition of ethnic grooves throbbing with exquisite electronic psydub buoyancy.
• David Starfire Website • David Starfire Facebook • David Starfire WikiFine Alarm Funk - Abandonearth
Fine Alarm FunkAbandonearth
Label: CD Baby
Even though the album is themed as, “A DIABOLICAL journey to the center of the Earth and the subsequent DESTRUCTION of the planet!!!” you probably aren’t expecting what this 9 member heavy funk outfit from Vancouver has cooked up for you as they blast through a barrage of breakneck Balkan brass n punk infused musical roller coaster rides while vocally sounding like a gruffer Gogol Bordello. Surprising and refreshing!
• Fine Alarm Funk Website • Fine Alarm Funk FacebookAtYyA - Aurical
AtYyAAurical
Label: Merkaba Music
Viscous rhythms bubble to the surface next to interstellar clips and catches while alien cascades of rhythmic simplicity are buoyed about by dreamy distractions, throbbing bass and other energetic quandaries on this brief yet beautiful electronic escapade from AtYya (pronounced “Ah-Tye-Ah”). One of the many amazing performers that can be found at the 2015 Infrasound Festival (infrasoundfestival.com).
• AtYyA FacebookAdham Shaikh - Basswalla
Adham ShaikhBasswalla
Label: Black Swan Sounds
Pioneering work in the “global bass” style, Canadian musician Adham Shaikh’s Basswalla release culminates his 25-year dedication to creating and perpetuating the global fusion side of electronica. The suffix “-walla” indicates mastery in a particular discipline in India and so it is used here as an accent to his dedication as well as his return to his Indian roots. Traditional Indian rhythms and beats are spiced up with bass heavy electronica creating sensational palettes of saucy dance delectables to sample and savor.
• Adham Shaikh Website • Adham Shaikh WikiView More
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