Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Bomba Estereo - Elegancia Tropical
Bomba EstereoElegancia Tropical
Label: Polen Records
Bogota’s hottest band infuses highly danceable cumbia with pleasant doses of electronics, allowing their take on Colombia’s Afro-Latin roots and beats to be unique and memorable. Their explosive moniker, named for the monster sound systems that power the local parties in Bogota is the perfect attention getter and sets the tone for the amazing cross pollination of influences and energies, jumping from chicha and champeta to dancehall vibes and beyond.
• Bomba Estereo Website • Bomba Estereo Facebook • Bomba Estereo WikiBeats Antique - Contraption Vol. II
Beats AntiqueContraption Vol. II
Label: Antique Records
I’m pretty smitten with this prolific (7 releases in 5 years!) group. Dreamy alluring Middle Eastern and Gypsy melodies are married to equally intriguing electronic infusions. Add in violin, belly dancing, live drums and special DJ Pizazz, and viola! Brilliance.
• Beats Antique Website • Beats Antique Facebook • Beats Antique WikiGovinda - Resonance
GovindaResonance
Label: self
An EP of sensual electronic explorations through mysterious Middle Eastern beats woven into a tapestry of tantalizing female vocals, signature violin overlays and world-bass beats. Delicate, dark and delicious.
• Govinda Website • Govinda FacebookKobo Town - Jumbie in the Jungle
Kobo TownJumbie in the Jungle
Label: Cumbancha Records
Breathing new fire into the vintage, yet relevant sound of Calypso, Trinidad emigre Drew Gonsalves has become recognized as one of the renowned artistic voices of the Caribbean diaspora. And thanks to his efforts this reggae related genre has found multitudes of listeners ready to soak up the good vibrations and great grooves offered here.
• Kobo Town Website • Kobo Town FacebookCarmen Souza - Kachupada
Carmen SouzaKachupada
Label: Galileo
Smoothly sauntering through the world jazz market of musical manifestation, Carmen Souza has honed a unique approach by taking her Cape Verdean Creole roots and infuses them with infectious traditional African music, Brazillian rhythms, and a plethora of minute nuances that make this release shine and sparkle.
• Carmen Souza Website • Carmen Souza FacebookDanny Michel with the Garifuna Collective - Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me
Danny Michel with the Garifuna CollectiveBlack Birds Are Dancing Over Me
Label: Cumbancha
A curious combination project between popular indie rocker Danny Michel (compared to Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel) and Central America’s Garifuna Collective. But this curiosity has impressive vision and vitality along with infectious beats and tasty lyrics so what’s not to love? Having already earned a Juno Award nomination in Canada (similar to a Grammy), this release has a lot going for it.
• Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective Website • Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective FacebookMaracatu New York - Baque de Brooklyn
Maracatu New YorkBaque de Brooklyn
Label: Nation Beat Music
If there is to be an Ambassador of Maracatu, Scott Kettner, percussionist, band leader and drummer for Maracatu New York and Nation Beat would be a great choice. After years of study and immersion into this style, while living in Brazil he was able to become a master in the field and take the sound worldwide. Experience the evolution of this unique drumming style through the 12 tracks here and expect the unexpected when they slip in a great cover of Led Zepplin’s “Over The Hills and Far Away.”
• Maracatu New York Website • Maracatu New York FacebookSpiral Rhythm - Rise Up
Spiral RhythmRise Up
Label: self-released
Rise Up is the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign and so it sparkles and shines from community involvement. In fact, they were a favorite at the spirit festival (PSG) we attended over Summer Solstice. Their multifaceted pro-Goddess a capella pagan chants will warm your heart and soothe your soul as they are caressed with gentle percussion and the vibrancy of the many Goddessy voices that make up this 7 member group. Experience what these sacred space makers have to offer!
• Spiral Rhythm Website • Spiral Rhythm FacebookTal National - Kaani
Tal NationalKaani
Label: FatCat
Before becoming the national treasure and pop phenomenon of the West African country of Niger, Tal National honed their craft for 6 long years before recording their first release. Known for their playing all-night-long shows five nights a week in their native country, the band rose to huge success and are in high demand.
Kaani, their first international release, is sung all in Zarma, Haossa (Niger’s main languages), and French. It is a non-stop flurry of Afropop with dancing guitar melodies combined with traditional regional inflections and percussion plus touches of desert blues and soukous that deftly combines the traditional with the modern. Their first international tour stops on 9/21 in Milwaukee, WI at Global Union Festival: Humbolt Park Bandshell.
• Tal National Website • Tal National FacebookBoban and Marko Markovic Orchestra - Gipsy Manifesto
Boban and Marko Markovic OrchestraGipsy Manifesto
Label: piranha
The Balkan brass band movement has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding musical uprisings of the past several years and the Markovic’s have been unabashedly at the forefront of things. This legendary father and son virtuoso trumpet duo hail from Southern Serbia, but thanks to the saturation of multicultural elements into their music, they have been penning numerous genre-defining and explosive Balkan Gypsy Brass dance hits over the years while seeing their popularity skyrocket thanks to DJs around the world remixing all things Balkan into their electronica. Balkan beats get the dance floor percolating and there is a lot of fantastic percolation happening on Gipsy Manifesto!
• Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra Website • Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra Facebook • Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra WikiBombay Dub Orchestra - Tales From The Grand Bazaar
Bombay Dub OrchestraTales From The Grand Bazaar
Label: Six Degrees
Inspired by stories that traders and denizens of the cafes and stalls of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul have been telling since it was established in 1461, this release matches beautiful and entrancing multi-ethnic rhythms with cool dub and electronica in a dynamic soundtrack environment. Recorded in Jamaica, Turkey, India, US and UK, the myriad of global inflections and nuances will have you conjuring your own stories of grand adventuring.
• Bombay Dub Orchestra Website • Bombay Dub Orchestra Facebook • Bombay Dub Orchestra WikiBanco De Gaia - Ollopa: Apollo Remixed
Banco De GaiaOllopa: Apollo Remixed
Label: 1-2-3-4 GO
While remix albums are diverse and plentiful, the real trick is to get the zestiest musicians to work with the most intriguingly remixable material. Banco De Gaia has been around for 20+ years, releasing excellent ambient world beat electronica, but the Apollo album was his first album in 7 years, so might as well do it up! Remixers here include Desert Dwellers, Kaya Project, System 7, Eat Static, and Gaudi, which is why this is a special treat.
• Banco De Gaia Website • Banco De Gaia Facebook • Banco De Gaia WikiView More
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