Latin | Brazil Vinyl 360 Items

I was in Lima, hanging out with collector-extraordinaire Victor Zela, who had spent the previous few years pouring his passion for Peruvian Cumbia into the blog „la cumbia de mis viejos“, a trove of incredible music. But after the birth of his first child, his priorities shifted and he decided to part with some of his rarest LPs. I was one of the lucky few given an early chance to examine his treasures, and when I picked up the album Manzaneando com Manzanita, Victor said: “Take it! its one of the best LPs ever recorded in Perú … easily in the top five”. That was all the encouragement I needed … two years later many of the songs from that masterpiece have made it onto Manzanita y su Conjunto, a compilation of electrifying Cumbia sides from Manzanita’s golden era.

Berardo Hernández – better known as Manzanita – first surfaced during the psychedelic Cumbia craze. At the head of the scene were the magnificent Los Destellos, whose leader, Enrique Delgado, was such a six-string wizard that other guitarists found it impossible to escape his shadow. But when Manzanita arrived, his electric criollo style sent shockwaves through Lima’s music scene and posed a serious threat to Delgado’s dominance as king of the Peruvian guitar.

Manzanita had come to Lima from the coastal city of Trujillo, five hundred miles up the coast – a place where Spanish, African and indigenous populations had been living and making music together for centuries – and came of age at a time when the first wave of psychedelic rock from the US and UK was starting to sweep the airwaves. But the sounds of Cream and Hendrix disappeared from the radio just as quickly in 1968 when Juan Velasco seized control of the country in a military coup. The new regime, which favoured local traditions over cultural ‘imports’ from the north, was a blessing in disguise for the Peruvian music scene.

Record labels flourished as new bands, raised on a hybrid diet of electric guitars and Cuban rhythms, rushed in to fill the vacuum created by the lack of imported rock. A new genre, known as Peruvian cumbia, was born and Manzanita quickly became one of its most original voices.

Starting in 1969, Manzanita y su Conjunto released a steady stream of singles that used Cuban guaracha rhythms as the foundation for dazzling electric guitar lines. After countless 45s and several years on the touring circuit, the band signed to Virrey, an important Peruvian label, and recorded two LPs acknowledged as masterpieces among aficionados of tropical music. Most of the songs on Analog Africa’s new compilation Manzanita y su Conjunto are drawn from those legendary sessions of 1973 and 74.

Although he scored a few more hits in the later 70s, his dissatisfaction with the music industry caused him to withdraw from the scene for several years; and when he finally retired for good, the golden age of Peruvian cumbia was a distant memory. But when Manzanita was at the top of his game he had few equals. Victor Zela was right: this is some of the best music ever recorded in Perú.

Mi Conga es de Akokan is built on the Conga de los Hoyos rhythms from Santiago de Cuba. Saxophones and trombones alternate with vocals imploring the listener to dance over intensely syncopated percussion, leading to a melodic flight by the masterful trumpeter Reinaldo "Molote" Melian. The horns re-enter, and the Orquesta takes off to soaring heights of rhythmic intensity and sophistication. La Guajira is a slow country rhythm told by the tres guitar and percussion onto which horns and strings add slinking, narcotized harmonies. Pepito tells a sensual tale of romance with a girl from the country (la guajira), which slowly builds in intensity over soneos, coros and mambos until all parts interlock in a lugubrious climax.

A limited edition 7” release by FOXY, both tracks taken from the “GET IT ON” LP. Again DYANMITE CUTS give you never been on 7” release. Including a wonderful re-production of the original sleeve.

Two brothers, two guitars, two distinct identities, who become one soul when they compose music. Stephan and Alejandro, are the Hermanos Gutierrez, an instrumental music band with an unmistakable genre that is rooted in Western and Latin American sound. Born from an Ecuadorian mother and a Swiss father they grew up being forged by both cultures, bridging between two worlds, both of which are home.

Their mix of identities, that constant search across different countries clearly emerges in their songs. Their music takes the audience on an intimate journey through time evoking remote spaces. A magical sound that touches the heart, that sparks passion and nostalgia. An open invitation to a constant dialogue of melodies and instruments.

Playing together since their early childhood, a profound musical and interpersonal symbiosis ties the two brothers. If one of them has a melody, the other one completes it with harmony. There is a deep understanding between the two of them, without any need for words.

Active as a band since 2015, they have recorded four albums: “8 Años” (2017), “El Camino De Mi Alma” (2018), “Hoy Como Ayer” (2019), and the newly released LP “Hijos Del Sol” (Children Of The Sun). A body of work that has been inspired by their journey through the vast natural landscapes of Mexico, the silence of the desert, the sun, and their love for this country that made them feel “like going home”, as they affirm. Out came a soundtrack of the sceneries they’ve been exploring.

Impossible Rare 1968 Album By An Enigmatic And Uncredited Studio Group That Brought Together Some Of The Best Artists Of Mag (Melcochita, Coco Lagos, Rafael Rios Of Los Guajiros_) Under The Direction Of Manuel Antonio Guerrero, Owner Of The Peruvian Label.The Record Comprises Cumbias And Guarachas Across 9 Songs And 3 Instrumental Tracks, Most Of Them Previously Recorded By Other Peruvian Artists Such As Los Destellos, Pedro Miguel Y Sus Maracaibos Or Melcochita Y Su Conjunto. Reissued For The First Time. -Details:Cuban And Colombian Rhythms Form "Tropical Guitars" (Mag, 1968), The First Lp Of The Silvestre Montez Y Sus Guantanameros Orchestra, A Group Whose Conductor And Members, Despite Their Name, Have No Direct Relationship With Any Caribbean Country, And Whose Conception Illustrates Us About The Particular Way In Which The Peruvian Record Company Mag Was Managed.Manuel Antonio Guerrero (Founder And Owner Of Mag) Made Significant Profits With The First Albums Published, Mostly Focused On Música Criolla. He Soon Encouraged His Friend Lucho Macedo, Director Of Lima's Favorite Sonora, To Record The Main Hits Of Sonora Matancera, Reinterpretations With Innovative Arrangements That Exceeded Market Demands. Thus, They Continued To Repeat The Formula Of Releasing Songs "In The Style Of", And Soon They Published Hits Of Tango, Cuplé, Pasodobles, Ecuadorian, Argentine And Paraguayan Music, Reinterpreted By Local Musicians.Tropical Music Records Were Always The Label's Favourites, Especially Because Guerrero Knew Cuban Music Well Due To His Visits To The Island When He Was Young. In Addition, The Record Company Had An In-House Orchestra, Called Mag All Stars, Always Ready To Experiment And Improvise On New Recordings. Stars Such As Joe Di Roma, Coco Lagos, Mario Allison And Pablo Villanueva "Melcochita", Among Others, Were At Some Point Part Of This Orchestra, Which Had Different Line-Ups, Who Accompanied, With The Same Skills, Singers Of New Wave, Huayno, Rock, Boleros Or International...

Highlightsaustin-Based Future-Cumbia Group Money Chicha Presents A Fascinating Exploration Of The Nexus Of Peru's Legendary Fuzzed-Out Early Chicha Sound And The Band's Unique Application Of Chicha-Influenced Sounds To Their Own Original Compositions.The Result Is A Fascinating Temporal Exploration Of Two Stunning Faces Of Tropical Psychedelia Converging.The Album Features Legendary Peruvian Guitarist/Composer Jose Luis Carballo (Chacalon/La Nueva Crema) And Colombian-American Vocalist Kiko Villamizar As Well As Nemegata Frontman Victor Cruz On Percussion.Description"Chicha Summit" Is The Newest Album By Austin-Based Future-Cumbia Group Money Chicha. The Album Features Legendary Peruvian Guitarist/Composer Jose Luis Carballo (Chacalon/La Nueva Crema) And Colombian-American Vocalist Kiko Villamizar As Well As Nemegata Frontman Victor Cruz On Percussion. The Album Explores The Nexus Of Peru's Legendary Fuzzed-Out Early Chicha Sound And Money Chicha's Unique Application Of Chicha-Influenced Sounds To Their Own Original Compositions. The Result Is A Fascinating Temporal Exploration Of Two Stunning Faces Of Tropical Psychedelia Converging.The Album Itself Is Divided Between Two Sessions, Each Representing A Different Side Of The "Chicha Summit" Mountain. Side A Was Recorded During A Long Weekend In Which Jose Carballo And Money Chicha Convened For A Rehearsal, Recording Session, Workshop, And Concert. The Event Was Captured Altogether In A Single Room By Money Chicha Guitarist Beto Martinez At His Lechouse Music Studio In Buda Texas And Recorded Directly To Tape Via His Vintage Tascam 388. Subsequent Sessions Were Recorded By Greg Gonzalez At His Own The Electric Basecamp Studio And Vocalist Kiko Villamizar's Wepa Estudios To Capture Additional Percussion, Vocals, And Overdubs. The Result Is A Tribute To The Highly Influential And Much-Beloved Music Of Peru Performed With Jose Carballo, One Of The Genre's Greatest Performers And Composers And The Man Responsible For Introducing His Trad...

El Salvador, the last frontier... the psychedelic revolution also reached this small country from Central America in the 60s, resulting in the formation of many teen garage bands. Until now, little was known about this amazing local music scene that took place in the late 60s and early 70s... a true musical revolution. Due to the lack of resources, musicians often had to build their own fuzz and effects pedals and in studio recordings, primitive tape experimentation and echo were often used... the result was a very unique sound, 100% raw & wild. Hear tremendous fuzzed-out covers of Doors, Blue Cheer, Country Joe & The Fish or Alan Bown along with cool self-penned songs. All tracks taken from very hard to find 45s, most of them unknown outside of El Salvador until now. Feat: Kiriaps, Los Saltos, San Miguel, Los Vikings, Los Rebeldes, Los Junior’s, Los Intocables… Includes color insert with detailed liner notes in English/Spanish and cool photos.

Afrosound's Mission Was To Emulate The Guitar-Heavy Tropical Sounds Emanating From Perú And Ecuador At The Time. To Add To The Hippie Vibe, There Were Plenty Of Whacky Improvised Vocal Asides (Called 'Inspiraciones'), Plus Custom Fuzz, Wah-Wah, Flange And Echo Effects Boxes For The Guitar And Keyboards. A Barrage Of Odd Sounding Synths, Drum Machines And Other Electronic Flourishes Were Also Sprinkled In To Spice Up The Proceedings. The Dozen Tracks On Afrosound's Debut Long Play Make For A Surprisingly Diverse Palette From Which These Colombian Musicians Painted Their Daring Portrait Of Peruvian Cumbia, Returning The Favor In Bold Colors That Still Resonate Almost 50 Years Later. "La Danza De Los Mirlos" Kicks Off With Most Famous Afrosound Hit Of All, 'Caliventura', A Genius Blend Of Funk And Cumbia. Aside From The Cumbia Amazónica Title Tune, There Are Several Other Covers Including Three Popular Songs By Nelson Y Sus Estrellas, Plus Radically Reimagined Versions Of Various Colombian Costeño Classics Published By Fuentes. Mario "Pachanga" Provides A Sad But Still Groove-Oriented Christmas Son Montuno / Cumbia Hybrid While Fruko Brings Us The Bomba-Funk Ditty 'El Chorrillo' And The Rocking Cumbia Andina Gem 'Cabeza De Chorlito' Where Sepúlveda Channels Enrique Delgado. Fruko Collaborator Hernán "Hercovalle" Colorado Vallejo Rounds Things Out With The Melancholic Psychedelic Cumbia 'Esperando Por Ti', Proving That Every Tropical Party Has To Have Its Down Side As Well. The Record Was Also Released In The Us, Ecuador, Perú, Panamá, Mexico And Venezuela, And Probably Had An Influence Of Its Own, At Least In South America. The Cover Of This Lovingly Restored Reissue Features The Artwork For The Peruvian Edition, Which Was Licensed And Issued By Lima's El Virrey Label In 1974. The Original Fuentes Artwork, With A Far More Outrageous "Cheesecake" Image, Can Be Seen On The Back Cover.

This Highly Collectible Lp From 1974 Is A Nonstop Salsa Dura Party Album From Start To Finish, Comparable With Any Of New York's Finest Like Ray Barretto And Willie Colón From The Same Era, But With Its Own Unique Sound And Joyful Vibe. Includes The Anthems 'Mi Nuevo Ritmo' And 'Alma Y Sentimiento/ Soul And Feeling' Recorded At Different Sessions In Colombia And Peru. Presented In Its Original Artwork And Pressed On 180g Vinyl. The Highly Collectible Lp Alfredo Linares Y Su Salsa Star "Mi Nuevo Ritmo" (1974) Is A Nonstop Salsa Dura Party Album From Start To Finish, Comparable With Any Of New York's Finest Like Ray Barretto And Willie Colón From The Same Era, But With Its Own Unique Swinging Sound And Bright, Crisp, Joyful Vibe. There Are Plenty Of Straight Up Cuban-Roots Based Salsa Tunes, Plus Some Latin Jazz And Latin Soul And A Bolero. Trumpets, Hand Claps, Loud Cowbell, And Vigorous Vocals All Make For A Great Listen And An Even Better Dance Experience. As The Track 'La Música Brava' Proclaims, "Yo No Quiero Que Pare La Música Brava!" (I Don't Want The Badass Music To Stop!). The Record Is Actually A Patchwork Of Different Recording Sessions Made In Peru And Colombia, Featuring Differing Studio Sound And Musician Lineups. Linares Had Just Returned To His Adopted Home Of Medellín From A Period Spent In Peru And Was Looking For A Record Deal. He Had Brought Master Tapes With Four Songs Recorded In Lima And Was Shopping Them Around In The Hopes Of Securing An Album Contract. Linares Also Cut Some Colombian Sessions Which Feature Roy "Tayrona" Betancourt As Well As Henry Castro And Enrique Fabián. Unfortunately, Neither Discos Fuentes Nor Sonolux Or Codiscos Were Interested. At That Time, Vinyl For Making Records Was Scarce And Over-Priced Due To The Petroleum Crisis And Hence The Labels Were Reluctant To Try Out A New Artist. "There Was Nothing To Be Done. The Only Company That Had Vinyl Stock Was Ins. So I Did The Business With Them Even Though They Didn't Have A Known Name In...

Leila Pinheiro is a legendary Brazilian singer, songwriter, and pianist. Over her 41-year career, she has released over 20 albums, showcasing her musical versatility and creativity. Her debut album, "Leila Pinheiro,” included the boogie anthem “Tudo em cima”, which featured the participation of renowned musicians such as Tom Jobim, Ivan Lins, Francis Hime, João Donato, and Lincoln Olivetti.

In 1970, Leila began her piano studies under the guidance of the legendary Guilherme Coutinho. As part of celebrating the 40th anniversary of this important milestone in Brazilian music, Mad About Records presents a worldwide vinyl reissue for the first time.

Under exclusive License by Leila Pinheiro

Heralded by the “Soul Drum” 12” EP (scep507, 2022), Gerardo Frisina’s new double record “Joyful Sound” represents another step forward on his ongoing travel towards new musical paths. Joyful sounds narrate a journey made of wisely distilled notes, bright and sometimes mysterious atmospheres, harmonies that wander through shadows, silences, and lights. A chameleonic Gerardo enchants with every release, mixing jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban sounds, oriental fragrances, electronic beats, tribal percussions, funky variations and, to summarize, elegant symphonic arrangements with refined mastery. “Joyful Sound” once again sees the participation of the late Enzo Frassi (double bass), Fabrizio Bernasconi (piano, Rhodes), Gendrickson Mena (trumpet, piano), Alfonso Deidda (sax, flute) and Ernesto Lopez (drums, percussion), with the addition of Piero Perelli on drums and Giovanni Guerretti on piano, Hammond and Rhodes. This new record, carefully orchestrated and produced by Gerardo, required over a year of intense work, however it is worth every second of its 75 minutes of music. As the great Charles Mingus once said, “Play it in the key of your soul”. Without a doubt, Gerardo always gives his soul in full!

180 gram pressing

Guadeloupe 1986. The football World Cup has all the Islanders' eyes riveted to their TV sets. At every half time breaks, local TV channel RFO broadcasts a music video on repeat: ‘’Tou’t Jou Pa Min’m". Max Rambhojan, the local singer responsible for this monster tune, has arrived.
In the video, he effortlessly sings and kickstarts a joyous street party with his band, Show Man, his dancers, kids, friends, family and what seems like the whole neighbourhood. The song will gain cult status from then on, cementing the power of the 'Zouk Chiré' sound, a high tempo version of Zouk, highly influenced by Guadeloupe's Carnival mass drum bands. Max self-releases his first solo album on vinyl in 1985, enrolling some of the best musicians the scene has to offer: his band leader King Klero, Guy Jacquet of les Vikings de la Guadeloupe fame on production duties, Ramon Pyrmée on synths, Claude Vamur, Meliza… In 1992 a new solo album follows. By then the artists have familiarized themselves with computers and the sound has gone full-on digital. In that album Max records an updated version of his “Tou’t Jou Pa Min’m” anthem to great effect.
Reducing Max Rambhojan to a zouk artist would be a mistake. He’s first and foremost a master of Gwo-Ka, a musical practice born during the transatlantic slave trade and performed by all ethnic and religious groups of Guadeloupe. It has never ceased to exist and has become a major part of the Island folk music culture. Max Rambhojan was schooled as a kid by Gwo-Ka pioneer Guy Conquette, and quickly joined the backing band of another legend, Ti-Sélès. That sound is the root of his particular style, especially vibrant on two tracks in his repertoire: “Cecilia” and “On Jou Matin”, both featured on this release's b-side. A touch of Spiritual Jazz is also palpable, allowing a magical vibe to spread, giving birth to some of the deepest music from this era.
In 2019, Max still performs Gwo-Ka every week-end in Guadeloupe and also hosts a show on local radio Media Tropical, 88.1FM. Secousse and Hot Mule are proud to present those 4 lost gems on wax and digital, carefully restored and remastered.

Glorious Various Artist on the beloved Legofunk Records. Moving sensations for an always pleasant vibe!

“Leão Leonardo” and “Guajiru”, here gathered in an exclusive 7-inch record, represent the first two steps in a journey that will lead to the Spring 2024 release of the new album by Toco, a Brazilian singer-songwriter with a unique sensibility and taste. “Leão Leonardo” is a very heartfelt and engaging song that constitutes a homage to a childhood friend, a tribute to a deep and everlasting bond, as well as a return to a place very dear to Toco: the Guarapiranga water reservoir near São Paulo in Brazil; it is mainly inspired by two great samba jazz masters, Jorge Ben and João Donato. “Guajiru”, a classic sambarock track inspired by Orlandivo’s swing and Jorge Ben’s sensuality, explores the more romantic side of Toco’s multifaceted style and tells of a fleeting summer love in northeastern Brazil, where the indigenous fishing village of Guajiru, on the coast of the state of Ceará, is located. As the whole new album, both “Leão Leonardo” and “Guajiru” have been recorded at Schema Records’ Blue Spirit studios and produced by Stefano “S-Tone Inc.” Tirone, who skillfully captured the spirit of these tracks and elaborated the essence and energy of their songwriting. Both of them see Toco’s alluring voice masterfully surrounded by an ensemble of exceptional musicians: Donatinho (keyboards), Tuca Milan (percussion), Ramiro Levy (guitars), Edu Hebling (bass), Mauro Martins (drums), Priscila Ribas (vocals), Gianluca Petrella (trombone), Mirco Rubegni (trumpet) and Marquinho Baboo (percussion). This 45rpm is therefore a tasty appetiser for an album that we expect to be unique, just like Toco’s style!

Jungle Fire: “Our thing is incorporating rhythms from a wide variety of African Diaspora sources. This album in particular is darker than the previous two.”

The city of Belém, in the Northern state of Pará in Brazil, has long been a hotbed of culture and musical innovation. Enveloped by the mystical wonder of the Amazonian forest and overlooking the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, Belém consists of a diverse culture as vibrant and broad as the Amazon itself. Amerindians, Europeans, Africans - and the myriad combinations between these people - would mingle, and ingeniously pioneer musical genres such as Carimbó, Samba-De-Cacete, Siriá, Bois-Bumbás and bambiá. Although left in the margins of history, these exotic and mysteriously different sounds would thrive in a parallel universe of their own.

I didn’t even know of the existence of that universe until an Australian DJ and producer by the name of Carlo Xavier dragged me deep into this whole new musical world. Ant it all began in Belém do Pará. Perched on a peninsula between the Bay of Guajará and the Guamá river, sculpted by water into ports, small deltas and peripheral areas, Belém had connected city dwellers with those deeper within the forest providing fertile ground for the development of a popular culture mirroring the mighty waters surrounding it. Through the continuous flow of culture, language and tradition, various rhythms were gathered here and transformed into new musical forms that were simultaneously traditional and modern.

Historically marginalized African religions like Umbanda, Candomblé and the Tambor de Mina, which had reached this side of the Atlantic through slaves from West Africa – especially from the Kingdom of Dahomey, currently the Republic of Benin – left an indelible stamp on the identity of Pará´s music. They would give birth to Lundun, Banguê and Carimbó, styles later modernised by Verequete, Orlando Pereira, Mestre Cupijó and Pinduca to great effect. The success of these pioneers would create a solid foundation for a myriad of modern bands in urban areas.

Known as the “Caribbean Port,” Belem had been receiving signal from radio stations from Colombia, Surinam, Guyana and the Caribbean islands - notably Cuba and the Dominican republic - since the 1940s. By the early 1960s, Disc jockeys breathlessly exchanged Caribbean records to add these frenetic, island sounds to liven up revelers. The competition was fierce as to who would be the first to bring unheard hits from these countries. The craze eventually reached local bands’ repertoires, and Belém’s suburbs got overtaken by merengue, leading to the creation of modern sounds such as Lambada and Guitarrada.

To reach a larger audience, the music needed to be broadcast. Radios began targeting the taste of mainstream audiences and played music known as “music for masses.” As the demand for this music grew, it led to the establishment of recording companies. Belém’s infant recording industry began when Rauland Belém Som Ltd was founded in the 1970s. It boosted a radio station, a recording studio, a music label and had a deep roster of popular artists across the carimbó, siriá, bolero and Brega genres.

Another important aspect in understanding how the musical tradition spread in Belém, are the aparelhagem sonora: the sound system culture of Pará. Beginning as simple gramophones connected to loudspeakers tied to light posts or trees, these sound systems livened up neighbourhood parties and family gatherings. The equipment evolved from amateur models into sophisticated versions, perfected over time through the wisdom of handymen. Today’s aparelhagens draw immense crowds, packing clubs with thousands of revelers in Belém’s peripheral neighbourhoods or inland towns in Pará.

The history of "Jambú e Os Míticos Sons Da Amazônia" is the history of an entire city in its full glory. With bustling night clubs providing the best sound systems and erotic live shows, gossip about the whereabouts of legendary bands, singers turned into movie stars, supreme craftiness, and the creativity of a class of musicians that didn’t hesitate to take a gamble, Jambú is an exhilarating, cinematic ride into the beauty and heart of what makes Pará’s little corner of the Amazon tick. The hip swaying, frantic percussion and big band brass of the mixture of carimbó with siriá, the mystical melodies of Amazonian drums, the hypnotizing cadence of the choirs, and the deep, musical reverence to Afro-Brazilian religions, provided the soundtrack for sweltering nights in the city’s club district.

The music and tales found in Jambú are stories of resilience, triumph against all odds, and, most importantly, of a city in the borders of the Amazon who has always known how to throw a damn good party.

“Jambú is a plant widely used in Amazonian and Paraense cuisine. Known for having an appetitestimulating effect, it is added to various dishes and salads but is most famously one of the main ingredients in Tucupi and Tacacá, two delicacies that have been immortalized in countless Carimbó songs. Chewing the leaves of the Jambú plant will leave a strong sensation of tingling on the tongue and lips. Indigenous communities have relied upon its anaesthetic qualities for centuries as an effective remedy against toothaches and as a cure for mouth and throat infections. A decade ago, a distillery from Belém discovered the euphoric effects of the Jambú plant when combined with distilled sugarcane based spirit - known as cachaça - and created the now legendary “Cachaça de Jambú“.

Following the huge success of the first volume (three pressings!) in 2009, the long-awaited 'Cajun/Zydeco Vol. 2' is finally here! The long wait was not due to a lack of inspiration, but rather to the creator's diligent research, and as such this awesome second volume has taken five years to come together. The result is a rich compilation of rare gems, some of which had never been pressed onto vinyl since their original release! The LP represents a trip into the South of Louisiana, where this music -a blend of worlds and traditions- took shape at the beginning of the 20th century. It's a selection of tracks from the past, featuring local legends (Nathan Abshire) and unknown craftsmen (Jimmy Peters), who all, in their own way, have left their indelible mark. Waltz, two-step, one-step, blues, the record pays tribute to the unique blend of European dances with African rhythms. Each track has been weighed up for its historical as well as for its musical interest. A combination of melodeon and, for the Zydeco side, button accordion, triangle, rub board and fiddles. This LP comes with sleeve notes and a magnificent poster from one of the masters of Cajun fiddle, Dennis McGhee. Presented in a silk screened cover and limited to 1.000 copies.

Tampo is a mystic sextet from somewhere out of the hustle and bustle of the busy Helsinki scene. They operate on a level of their own, performing latin jazz inspired by cumbia and mambo. This 7" single release by We Jazz Records features two high calibre cuts, "Keumgang" and "Tampomambo", making this one a solid choice for all lovers of psychedelic music with character.

Any DJ set tells you, unconsciously or not, about its author.

Through the record choices and the way they are organized, one can feel the DJ’s state of mind and find out a bit more about the musical deposit discovered that is being shared and dug through by him or her at the moment.

The appetite for diggin’, the quest for a novelty or a forgotten rarity is what makes a DJ set a true organic living matter constantly fueled although not always, unfortunately, respected.

Time stretching. Too many DJ’s made a pact with this diabolical creature. A true digital steamroller that runs over the rhythm to fix the tempo while leaving behind an agonizing drummer whose sole crime was to have been carried away by his energy and having moved forward the BPM. At the end, everything that gave charm and life to the track, its imperfections and the peculiar fact that it makes you dance faster towards its end… all these along with all the lively movements contained within the track are reduced to nothing.

My conception of music and DJ sets is the exact opposite. Since the first volume of Straight From The Decks, my DJ sets have been redesigned, refreshed and improved. However, there was no preexisting plan, they evolved naturally following my new desires. The famous core of my indispensable musical choices started to morph little by little into something different without losing sight of its center of gravity which remains undoubtedly afro-tropical.

No matter which track, its style and its origin, the quality of the music that is brought to my ears is always my sole and primary concern.

In this selection, you’ll find 7” vinyl records available to everyone sitting proudly next to some rarities found online and acquired through nerve-raking auctions battles. There are indeed exclusive remixes along with titles that until now were only available in their digital formats. Now for the first time they are available here in vinyl format. Obviously, if you have chosen the CD format, that precision doesn’t really matter… Sixteen titles which have become the heart of my sets throughout this past year. A heart which in a year will beat to a certainly different drum…

Pura Vida

Guts

"Vente pa'cá" started with an afro-funk groove made by Jah Sazzah who has produced Dub, Reggae & a recent Deep Global Electronic album for Turntables on the Hudson called "Horizons." When asked for a possible vocalist, Nickodemus made some edits & mixes and sent it to Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel who quickly put her signature vocal style in as a catchy chorus saying "venue pa'cá" meaning "come here." Jimena has been on recent Captain Planet album with a hit song "Pambelé" as well as releasing many Latin/ Electronic / Alternative singles the past few years. The song's afro disco funk feel then got a heavy Caribbean style four to the floor Poirier remix with an entirely different melody for the dance-floors. Poirier is best know for his remixes & modern Afro-Caribbean productions & has a strong selling album on Wonderwheel Recordings called "Soft Power."

Renata Lu is a bit of a mystery figure... She only made a few albums in the 1970s and sang backup on many more such Tim Maia and Nonato Buzar but for whatever reasons never seemed to make it into the MPB upper echelons. Debuted solo in 1971 on her self-titled album for Copacabana Records with a heavyweight fusion of US style soul and funk with added Latin percussion. This features Renata Lu singing over a hybrid samba/boogaloo backing track rich in jaunty bass, rasping horns and jazzy electric piano riffs. Rare LP finally reissued on a deluxe edition. One of the landmarks of Funk Carioca.

Mastered and cut at 45rpm for high quality and loud sound, these 7"s are packaged in lovingly produced Brazil45 sleeves. Dancefloor essentials for all DJs and collectors!

HIGHLIGHTSAfrosound's third full-length LP is a sought-after collector's record because it's full of funky, crazy tropical afro-psychedelia with a reputation for being one of Discos Fuentes freakiest releases of the 1970s. With vintage synths, fuzz-wah guitar and Fruko's heavy bass, "Carruseles" is a wild carousel ride of cumbia and salsa that has now been lovingly reissued in replica form for today's Colombian music connoisseurs to rediscover. First time reissue. 180g vinyl. DESCRIPTIONAfrosound was born from the desire of Discos Fuentes vice-president José María Fuentes to come up with a domestic version of the emerging African and Latin rock sounds coming from outside the country, inspired by groups like Osibisa and Santana. The mission was to emulate the guitar-heavy tropical sounds emanating from Perú and Ecuador at the time. According to various sources, the 1972 tune 'La danza de los mirlos' (by Peru's Los Mirlos) emerged as a great success in Colombia and with it a new way of interpreting the country's most famous musical export, namely cumbia, through a Peruvian perspective. In their perpetual competition with Sonolux, Fuentes executives gathered a veteran team of musicians the following year to address this musical "invasion" from Peru because they sensed a potential for similar success. Released in 1974, Afrosound's "Carruseles" is the band's third long play and is one of their most sought-after records, with good reason. The recording continues the fantastic mix of psychedelic guitar, exotic keyboards, deep bass and heavy Afro-Caribbean rhythms of its predecessors, but this time around the band really stretches out on a couple of numbers, making it arguably their most experimental and entertaining. Once again Fruko is at the helm in the studio, simultaneously holding it down and allowing the musicians to explore their most spaced-out fantasies. His trusty mentor, Mario "Pachanga" Rincón, returns to the mixing console, pulling all sorts of sonic tricks with edits, pan...

Beloved Rio de Janeiro veteran producer and live act, Fabio Santanna, brings his heady take on the tropical flavors of modern Brazil on Onda Boa’s second release, a pulsating double-sider that serves as a loving tribute to two giants of Brazilian boogie, Marcos Valle and Lincoln Olivetti. “Ao Som De Marcos Valle" kicks things off with a mix of organic elements layered alongside synths and Rhodes that Master Marcos himself would approve of, with lyrics that slyly reference some of Valle’s most iconic moments from his 80s boogie period. Razor N Tape’s Jkriv turns up the heat even further on his remix, bringing a touch of that NYC fire to the already sultry beaches of Rio. “Chega Mais Lincoln” on the flip applies the lessons learned from “O Mago do Pop”, Lincoln Olivetti, utilizing sophisticated synth arrangements over a delicious mid-tempo groove and a vocoder calling out in praise… "Lincoln!”. Joutro Mundo’s remix takes things into dubbyer territory with his trademark approach to dance music that carefully balances tropical bliss with swirling, synth-thetic psychedelia, capping off an epic sophomore 12” for the label that manages to occupy the spaces in-between cosmic disco, tropical balearica and modern boogie… and always with that unmistakable Brazilian swing

One of Rio de Janeiro's most exciting singer-songwriters of the last fifteen years is now living in Los Angeles, where he stands on the verge of an overdue American breakthrough. Before the move, Latin Grammy nominee Rogê (pronounced haw-zheh) was the prince of Lapa, the bustling downtown center of Rio's nightlife. Charismatic and scruffy, with a distinctively raspy yet boyish voice, Rogê_born Roger José Cury_gained an avid following for his swinging samba-funk, tinged with Brazilian Soul. His acclaim rose when he cowrote the theme song for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Lavishly produced by the Budos Band's Thomas Brenneck, a top session guitarist and collaborator with the stars (Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse), Curyman will launch Brenneck's new label, Diamond West.

Since 2019 the collective of Parisian partygoers, Pardonnez-Nous, have decided to launch their own label. Just like their parties, their goal is to shine a light on dancing music.
Constantly looking for new tracks to enlighten the dancefloors, their outings are in line with the vision of deejaying defended by its founders. Finding forgotten pieces that are the geneses of dance music and mixing them with more contemporary sounds. Re-editions, edits, remixes or original productions the label doesn’t just stick to one style but aspires to represent all the music of partying!
Mexico, Peru, Surinam, and of course Sweden: in 1986, musicians from around the world responded to the Swedish composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Torbjörn Langborn’s invitation. His idea was to bring together the two groups he played with: a jazz quintet, and his salsa ensemble.
The cocktail was explosive: after several days recording at the Humlan studio in Stockholm, Torbjörn Langborn & the Feel Life Orchestra produced an eponymous album, combining, in Langborn’s words, “disco and funk with congas and Batá percussions.” The B side was a three-part gem nearly seven minutes long titled “Feel Life”, where he gives free rein to his talent as a jazz pianist. Thirty years later, we asked the famous remixer Dimitri from Paris to express is talent to produce a new version of this classic music track. "Pardonnez-nous", here it is.