Tom Trago – Voyage Direct [Rush Hour] (www.myspace.com/tomtrago)
One of Amsterdam’s finest beat smiths – check his numerous (contributions to) releases on Kindred Spirits and Rush Hour – goes all out on the 4/4. Deep, rich, soulful and funked-up house for dancing, driving and chilling. Ace.
video for “Voyage Direct”
Various Artists – Dirty French Psychedelics [Born Bad] (www.d-i-r-t-y.com)
Dirty posse unleashes a trunk of French psychedelics, folk, poetry without even including a single Gainsbourg track. This is a gem. If you’re fast you can get a vinyl copy but there are very few left. It’s worth it though, even though it has one track less than the CD.
Dirty feature on Arte
The Phenomenal Handclap Band – The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire/Tummy Touch/Lovemonk] (www.myspace.com/phenomenalhandclap)
Yeh, I know, shameless self-promotion but fuck it, we love this record and that’s why we’re releasing it in Iberia. Psychdiscorockprogsoulfunkhop is the shit these days. It will mos def be in my top ten of this year’s album list schmist. And in many others’, because there’s a lot of people out there believing the hype. You should, too.
(out in June in the USA, July in the UK/Europe and September in Spain/Portugal)
video of “You’ll Disappear”, live
Quantic And His Combo Bárbaro – Tradition in Transition [Tru Thoughts] (www.quantic.org)
It’s Will Holland’s new project and it’s fine, ooh, so fine. He got together with a group of great musicians from all over the place in Cali, Colombia, and together they make sweet sweet music the way Holland has been doing over the years with all of his bands. Truly fantastic.
(out in July)
trailer of Tradition in Transition – Postcard from Cali