OH, WHAT THE HELL

You know, you make mixes of random music, right? Maybe you at least occasionally set your listening gizmo on shuffle? Hopefully you get what I mean when I say that even music of different genres can be lumped together in a mix that creates a certain feel. Maybe not. Regardless, I heard a song at Diddy Wah that just slayed me and sent me digging. "Arabian Blues" by Jimmy Beck and his Orchestra isn't blues really at all. It's as exotic as the name sounds, but not entirely in an Arabian sort of way (as if I know what Arabian blues would sound like). It's hard to describe, but the sax in it is what kills me. I'm sure it has something to do with the scale it's playing, or some other musician mumbo jumbo, but I dig it and I don't really care why. Mix meat it was, and off I was, trying to find suitable music to sandwich it between.

"Arabian Blues" reminded me of Mulatu Astatke, aka the big shot of Ethio-jazz, for whatever the reason, again, maybe just the feel. So a couple of his songs were thrown in for good measure. Then there was Brazil's Os Incrivels' "Nao Resta Nem Ilusao" which, when I first heard it about a year ago, also reminded me of Astatke. That was a good start. Alas, the next selections may have to wait. A Haitian mix posted by Sofrito isn't downloadable, but completely awesome nonetheless, and that type of stuff would totally fit. Good enough that I'm taking a gamble and ordering Haiti Direct, a recent compilation from Strut that, if it isn't the same music that's in the Sofrito mix, is different enough (judging by the samples at Strut) to grab my attention. Stop the presses: I'm buying something.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Jimmy Beck and his Orchestra - Arabian Blues mp3 at Diddy Wah
Mulatu Astatke - Yekermo Sew mp3 at Oh Color Me In
Mulatu Astatke - Yegelle Tezeta mp3 at Antinomian
Os Incriveis – Nao Resta Nem Ilusao at Melting Pot
Haiti Direct Selection - 44 minute mix (streaming) at Sofrito

FULLY RANDOM

Here again, the fruits of absolute random clicking. It's Os Incriveis! They're incredible! Says so right in the name of the band, which translates to The Incredible. This is the sort of stuff that breaks up the monotony of an overly curated mix. Just slap some of this next to something totally unrelated and watch the head scratching commence.

The first one, "Nao Resta Nem Ilusao" ("No Remains Not Illusion", I think) is hard to peg. It sounds like a surf band doing Mulatu Atatke. At least its got that feel. Vague as that description is, anyone who can imagine what that would sound like will probably dig this. The intro is a killer. Starts with a reverb drenched guitar, and then the beat comes in, along with the sax, about eight seconds in. If you could bottle that...

Continuing my assholery, the second song, "Nosso Trato" ("Our Tract") is either a cover of the Beach Boy's "Don't Worry Baby" simply renamed, or it's a complete rip-off. Regardless, I dig the backing, the slightly off production. Nothing like the Beach Boys. Check the solo at 1:50. there's sixteen seconds that you could well imagine as the Velvets doing surf music. The last one, "Perdi Voce" sounds like Booker T, with some Duane Eddy freak subbing for Steve Cropper. It's got a real Packy feel. I'll shut up now.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Os Incriveis – Nao Resta Nem Ilusao at Melting Pot
Os Incriveis – Nosso Trato at Melting Pot
Os Incriveis – Perdi Voce at Melting Pot