KILOMBO - LATIN BEATS AND ASSORTED SUNDRIES – AUTUMN 2006

Reissues
Intersting New Stuff..
A few moans..
Leftfield fun and games

REISSUES

If you haven’t already done so, take advantage of Miami –based E-Musica’s excellent remastered reissue series of all classic Fania salsa and latin classics. Everything will be out soon – already they’re up to the hundreds – and the original sleevenotes and artwork are reprinted along with updated liner notes from latin music historian John Child, myself and DJ Lubi, among others.

On a smaller scale, but no less enjoyable, are classic reissue compilations from the King of Pachanga himself, Joe Quijano. Now 72 years old and still touring extensively (especially in Colombia and Venezuela, where he’s had a significant following since the 60s). There’s ‘Mambo Jazz’, featuring joe’s fable Conjunto Cachana, which serves as a tribute to NYC’s 60s Mambo Jazz scene; ‘Los Anos 60’, a great comp of guarachas, mambos, and pachangas, including the very best version ever of the traditional classic ‘Moliendo Café’; ‘Cesta All Stars Salsa Maxima’, which highlights Joe’s more mainstream salsa and descarga output from the 60s and features Charlie Palmieri, Cheo Feliciano, Jimmy Sabater, Mario Rivera, Kako, and Orlando Marin just for starters. Finally, there’s a reissue of last year’s under-the-radar killer album, ‘Salsa-Natra In Clave’ –Frank’s classics done latin style! Sound samples are available at www.cestarecords.com, and exclusive distribution is care of www.international-records.com. Check out the life’s work of an often-underrated latin legend.

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INTERESTING NEW STUFF –GECKO TURNER, NICKODEMUS, GOLEM SOUND SYSTEM…

Spanish multi-instrumentalist and afro-funkero Gecko Turner weighs in with a wicked new album (his second as a leader), ‘Chandalismo Ilustrado’(Lovemonk Records, but about to be released in the UK about now). ‘Afrobeatnik’ has already appeared anthologised on the excellent Spanish Afrobeat comp put together by my friend DJ Floro (on ‘Republicafrobeat Vol 2’. also Lovemonk records), and a few new mixes are available for a limited period as downloads.

Barecelona’s Golem Sound System’s ‘Caceria’ is a huge improvement on their earlier, first album, with sharp production and the Croesus-like presence of the mighty Manu Chao as guest vocalist on ‘Calle Golem’. Also due a UK release soon.

New York City’s worldbeat remix maestro Nickodemus follows up last year’s excellent ‘Coney Island Love’ with a new comp ‘Endangered Species’. I had the pleasure of DJ-ing alongside Nicko and his partners –who travel as ‘Turntables On The Hudson’ – last year, and this guy can really rock the dancefloor – completely unpretentious, just great party vibes imaginatively mixed. Check www.esimusic.com, www.wonderwheelrecordings.com, and www.nickodemus.com for more dope….

There’s a slew of new salsa issues from NYC, but nothing that really stands out as new and special. One to watch for in the AfroCuban jazz vein, though, is ace Japanese flautist Sumiko Fukatsu’s ‘Sumiko En La Habana’ (Orisha Plans, Japanese-only release unfortunately). This has been around since 2001 but is only now getting easier to find. Brilliant version of Bobby Carcasses’ ‘Blues Para Chano’.

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A FEW MOANS ABOUT THE LATIN SCENE!

I love salsa but what’s wrong with the UK’s salsa scene? I’ve just received the latest issue of a well-known salsa web-zine/blog, and the hot topics of discussion appear to be : the cost of tap water at dance venues (buy a proper bloody drink, you cheapskates!); dancers who chew gum; and complaints about smokers. And in the whole, 20-odd page thing, just ONE record review. Salsa seems to have been taken over by a particularly puritanical branch of the Rapture Movement. Get a life, you lot – salsa is music and bembe! Get a nice big rum, fire up a Cohiba and enjoy the clave – dancefloors and aerobics rooms are two different things!

Also – when is reggaeton – originally mildly fun when cats like El General and Cuentos De La Cripta kicked the whole thing off 15 years ago, but now the same old computer-driven stuff over and over again – going to move on? Spanish, Mexican and Argentinian hip hop and rock is just three hundred times more interesting and funky.

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LEFTFIELD FUN AND GAMES…

The excellent Rough Guide Compilation series’ ‘Rough Guide To Latin Arabia’ is on the streets. Compiled by New York-based Arabic music buff Nili Belkind, it includes pan-Arabic hits with a pronounced latin flavour, from Amr Diab, Ishtar, Les Reines De Saba, and many others.

On DJ Shantel’s home label Essay Recordings comes a freaky little bit of fun from Ukranian German Popov, better know as OMFO: ‘We Are The Shepherds’. Hailed as the Senor Coconut of the Balkans, Gregor has already attracted an unlikely fan in the shape of Sasha Baron Cohen who, in his alter-ego Borat of Kazakhstan, has already syndicated two cuts for the soundtrack of his latest film. http://omfo.net/, and www.essayrecordings.com.

And last but definitely not least comes South Africa’s Nibs van der Spuy, former cohort of SA jazz outfit Tananas, with ‘Beautiful Feet’. Forget every prejudice or stereotype that you may have of African music – this is Nick Drake meets ‘Graceland’ at Johnny Clegg’s place, with echoes of Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch, the Chieftains, the country of Brazil and Robert Nestor. It really is that special. www.nibs.co.za, www.myspace.com/nibs, beautifulfeet@nibs.co.za, or UK press and PR at gerry@mambo.eclipse.co.uk (Gerry Lyseight).

And finally, my favourite vinyl Afro House/Latin House etc resource Raw Fusion Records comes up trumps with a great new Brazilian samba-house stomper ‘Ipe Amarelo’, remixed and mashed up in several different styles from new signing Spiritual South. More info from sara@rawfusionrec.com.

Hope that’ll do you for the time being!

More as the winter draws in….

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