International Recommendations March 2015

Review: This latest reissue from Awesome Tapes From Africa is the whole reason for founder Brian Shimkovitz starting the blog and the label that grew out of it. Some 13 years ago, Shimkovitz stumbled across a cassette copy of Obaa Sima whilst travelling Ghana and his love for Ata Kak's music lead to the foundation of the Awesome Tapes From Africa blog and the commencement of a long running effort to track down the Ghanaian musician. Some four years after ATFA became a label, Shimkovitz finally tracked down the musician, real name Yaw Atta-Owusu, and was granted permission to reissue Obaa Sima, using the second hand tape purchased in Ghana as the source. The seven tracks on this LP are a winning tinny combination of highlife, rap, pop, and more with "Daa Nyinaa" sounding like a cover version of William De Vaughn's "Be Thankful For What You've Got".

Review: Sao Paulo's SELVAGEM drop a masterful double sider for Universal Cave 004. "Tudo Bem" is sunny, soulful AOR bliss. A tribute to a favorite Brazilian musician and an update for contemporary rotation. "Luanda" is hypnotic, psychedelic tropicalia. Truly digging deep, SELVAGEM give Universal Cave a taste of the Forward Deep & Free sounds of Balnearico from Brazil. Balnearico is the fusion of balearic and "balneario," the Portuguese word that is synonymous with beach.

Review: Philou Louzolo is a "natural born artist", a "raw talent".
"Zolo Grooves" are 4 afro funk masterpieces, it's a record produced to sound effortlessly musical, sure to do wonders on dancefloors worldwide.
"Zolo Grooves" is to be played uninterruptedly: from the amazing "Konkombe" (with it's wahwah guitar licks, slick and sharp snare patterns, and incredible sax solos) to "Marlena" (an irresistible tribute to the classic jazz singer's widely sampled moment of genius), from "Dem No Dance, Dem No See" (the track most deeply rooted in the afro sound, complete with ukeleles and full brass) to "Decolognize" (the most overtly "house" track). It's visceral, raw, sincere, honest and hard hitting afro house, celebratory musical bliss blessed in the light of what Tony Allen & Fela Kuti, Crissy Essien Igbokwe, Obi Onyioha and other great creators have made before, boldly sending these prophets's messages into the lives of a younger generation.

Review: First up: Tito Puente (AKA The Musical Pope) with an epic live version of "2001 Space Odyssey". Recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1974 it's never been pressed to 45 during its highly sought-after 41 years. Flip for the hard jazz sounds of Sahib Shihab and "Om Mani Padme Hum" is riddled with thundering percussion and lightening crack pianos. It has flutes so frenetic they'd make Ian Anderson blush and takes its name from an ancient Sanskrit word. Biblical business.

Review: Taken from last year's album Injustica, New York fusionists Peliroja wear their influences on their collective sleeve. Afrobeat, rare and NY Latin funk and Cuban roots all get mixed up. With a tightness and authenticity in delivery, the only thing that separates this from the originals is the recording quality. "Situaciones" nods neatly at the Heliocentrics-style of contrast as Ethiopian instrumentation melts into big Cuban chorus and heel-clicking horn refrains. "Ciudad De Nadie" is more of an upbeat funk work-out with a carnivalesque motifs on the dynamic builds. Cause a situation today.

Review: An extra special 45: Jack Costanzo's nickname Mr Bongo inspired the label's very name. One of the most prolific band leaders of his time, the drum-heavy "Jive Samba" was originally released on Tico in 1968 on his Latin Percussion With Soul album. For more percussive precocity flip for Al Escobar's take on Archie Bell & The Drells' classic northern soul anthem "Tighten Up". First released as The Modern Sound Of Al Escobar, original pressings have long since vanished or found a place in collections, making this an even more attractive release.

Review: One of Brazil's most prominent rappers Criolo returns with his first album in almost four years. Showing a natural maturity and development, Convoque Seu Buda (Summon Your Buddha) is a spell-binding experience that digs much deeper than the harder rap he made a name for himself with years ago. Cuts like "Casa De Papelao" are smoky, cosmic soul joints while "Cartao De Visita" is a fun throwbacks to the chronic sounds of the early 90s. Sugar-sweet skanks can be found deep in the sandy groove of "Pe De Breque" while anthemic, lighter-raising vibes can be found on "Piano De Voo" where Criolo's sharp tongue gives Em a run for his money.

Review: Only 250 pressed !

Side A from the master tape of Discos Mag ( Peru ) , first time on 45 "El Son De Los Rios" by Conjunto Los Felcas.
A peruvian guaracha that goes big in every scene of latin dancer!
Impossible to find even on LP!

Side B one of the most obscure and on-demand Bobby Marin production, the killer Salsa "Cuidado Con Ramon" by Ralfhie and The Latin Lovers , original issued on Delta Records, one of the most elusive 45, of the scene!

Review: A welcomed heavyweight vinyl reissue of 1994 GRAMMY award winning album from two of the 20th century's most inspirational, creative bluesmen from two wholly contrasting sides of the world: Ali Farka and Ry Cooder. Most of Talking Timbuktu kicks its feet in the dusty plains of Mali with traditional instrumentation and time signatures before dropping into occasional splashes of soul surging blues such as the fiddle-like picking of "Ai Du" and the foot-stamping yearns of "Amandrai". A timeless meeting of two amazing minds that will never happen again, this should be reissued every 20 years by law to ensure future generations are aware this happened.