TALKING DRUMS

"Here I go..."

SEAWIND

Pacific coast highway.

WHAM!

Shameless steal from Videothunder.

SUSANA ESTRADA

Chippy little number featured on the fantastic new Psychemagik compilation, 'Magik Sunrise.'

MADNESS

Extremely nutty boys getting all hot and bothered in the Serengeti. Vultures hovering over Suggs.

 

LITFIBA

Whip-crack David Bowie cover. Italian rogues cruising the alleyways of Istanbul late at night, 1984.

SANDY KERR

Thugged out.

FRONTERA

String laden charmer from Phil Mison & Pete Herbert.

MARGOT

Killer new release on Hell Yeah.

YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS

 Journey through the aether. This is my favourite number from these uber-subtle Welsh New Wave titans. As featured on the Rough Trade classic, 'Colossal Youth.'

JONO McCLEERY

As heard on DJ Koze's FACT mix. For some reason I assumed Ninja Tune were no more aside from the occasional Mr Scruff mix. Evidently not. Sweet harps.

RHYTHM ODYSSEY & DR DUNKS

The almighty doctor.

LINS & FORD

Lazy day. Another gem found on the Growing Bin's YouTube channel.

STEPHEN MICUS

I hear Stephen Micus has a really long flute and sings in a language entirely of his own construction. ECM staple world vibes.

LIZZY MERCIER DESCLOUX

Simply bootiful. Thanks Theo!

STEVE KUHN

 

Reflective piece by Steve Kuhn on ECM.

 

MICHAEL BOOTHMAN

I might like this even more than the Bobby Caldwell version.

BEGGAR & CO

Keep the peace! Another top charity shop bargain.

AHMED FAKROUN

Ahmed Fakr(o)un is a Libyan singer of much renown and here is his almighty groove.

BAN

The Portuguese B-52s?

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA

This is a rather solitary sounding track from the King of Tango. Grab whoever is near you and have a wildly passionate dance in his honour.

LUIZ GONZAGA JR

The eminent Gonzaguinha.

JUAN CARLOS CALDERON

Epic! Must have been recorded in a bull ring or on the set of 'El Cid vs the Synthesizer Banshees' or something.

AKIS

Akis was featured on 'Into the Light: A Journey Into Greek Electronic Music.' This is lovely stuff indeed.

LARRY HEARD

Larry's Cafe Del Mar reveries force you to look up at the night sky and exclaim "it's all so big, man." Top dollar.

SHADOWFAX

Chicago's magnificent new age savants can't hold back the swelling tide.

MARRAN GOSOV

Admittedly slightly unnerving in terms of both content and cover. Worth pursuing. His 1980 album 'Vocoding Life/Psycho-Akustik' is strangely hypnotizing. Marran is a film-maker and writer primarily and his strange electro-acoustic whisperings are like bedtime stories you wish you hadn't been told (albeit in German/Bulgarian).

LATIN QUARTER

Pretty chuffed with this Oxfam find. Some very nice Dennis Bovell dubs on the B-Side as well!

FASHION

It's a relief to see Somerset House being put to good use for once.

NATALIE COLE

Swell number from Nat King Cole's daughter. Swigging pina coladas out of a coconut. Getting a little bleary eyed, eying up the fellas.

DENIS & DENIS

Croatian synth-pop. So great!

KASPER WINDING

Fusion-pop from Denmark.

ASTRUD GILBERTO

Astrud needs no introduction. She was the vocalist on the Grammy winning version of The Girl From Ipanema for fucks sake. Though that tune is possibly my favourite ever, this is the one that I go to when I need to form a conga line or chop up some exotic fruits.

BLUE FEATHER

Someone's lurking in the alleyway and I'm fairly certain they're wearing a sequined codpiece. Netherlands funk.

SUN ELECTRIC

I've sunburned my knees and yet even that slight irritation can't stop me tapping a toe along to this.

BUARI

Heating up the floors of Accra's premier discotheques. Afro-disco at its best taken from a football themed disco record. Disco & football: a fusion which cannot be undermined.

PETER GREEN

Peter Green has done many wonderful things for the world of music (forming Fleetwood Mac being the most notable) but it's this number that is most wonderful. Really nice arrangement. He even seems to let out a little sob (or giggle?) right at the close of the track.

KLEEER

Open your mind and your bottom may follow.

KZA

On the patio with a delicious mango Rubicon and vodka fusion. Roll on warm summer nights.

CHANGING TRACKS

Top Nice are teaming up with Moor Places tomorrow night in Hackney Wick. Be sure to head down if you're in London. Top venue, top vibes.

OCELOTE ROJO

Incoming from deep in the Chilean wilderness.

ALICIA KEYS

Sweet interlude for a sunny Sunday morning. Soul seduction.

LOREDANA BERTE

It's the last day of my holiday and the only thing keeping my mind off impending work is Loredana and her faintly guttural singing style. Top tunes below: