I’m trying something new for this post. I’ve been on a sweet soul kick as of late, and the sad reality with many of these records is that they’re just too damn expensive to ever realistically obtain. I’ve realized that YouTube is an indispensable resource for music lovers like myself, as there are many users who happily share some of their rarest records with people who would never have the opportunity to hear or see a copy in person. The internet, as much as it de-fetishes the physical object, seems like the next best thing.

So I’ve put together a YouTube playlist of some sweet sweet soul 45s that I’ve really been digging lately, and that I will hopefully cross paths with somewhere down the road. If you press play on the video above it will play the entire mix in sequence, or you can go directly to the playlist link and pick and choose as you please.

I’ve had a few mix ideas swirling around in my head the past few months, and for whatever reason this one came to fruition the quickest. In keeping with my interest in African music, this mix is dedicated to the “deeper” side of things. The term “deep” is a bit of an ambiguous term, but in my mind it can be used to describe music that possesses soul and spirit. It can have personal significance, not necessarily religious but sometimes so. In selecting tracks for this mix I choose songs that felt like they could be classified this way, staying away from things that were overtly funky or clearly had outside influences. Most importantly, none of these songs are sung in English. I realize that they could be singing about any damn thing, but hearing songs sung in one’s native tongue automatically gives it a “deep” quality, at least to my ears.

A pretty eclectic selection here. I know a bunch of these tracks are available on other mixes or comps, but there are definitely a handful that, as far as I know, are unavailable anywhere else. I had trouble culling the selection down, so you’ll find that this mix is a bit longer than usual. But if you’re into this sort of stuff that shouldn’t be a problem. This mix is 100% recorded form original vinyl, so pardon the crackle and enjoy!

Tracklisting
01. Cissé Abdoulaye – Jeunesse Wilila
from “Djo” b/w “Jeunesse Wilila”  (Disques CVD, 1977)
02. Sandwidi Pierre – Yamb Ne Y Capitale
from “Mam Ti Fou” b/w “Yamb Ne Y Capitale” (Disques CVD, 1977)
03. Sir Victor Uwaifo – Omoseruwa
from Ekassa (Philips, 1972)
04. Sextet Camayenne – Bâra
from “Bâra” b/w “Kanimba” (Editions Syliphone Conakry, 1974)
05. El Rego Et Ses Commandos De Cotonou – Do Do Baya
from “Djobime” b/w “Do Do Baya” (African Songs LTD, 197?)
06. Uppers Chapter Two – Samari Bolga
from “Walahi Talahi” b/w “Samari Bolga” (Polydor, 1976)
07. Uppers International – Dankasa
from “Dankasa” b/w “Neriba Lanchina” (Polydor, 1976)
08. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou – Houe Towe Houn
from “Kou Nawo” b/w “Houe Towe Houn” (Albarika Store, 197?)
09. Nyame Bekyere – Broken Heart-Aunty Yaa-Omo Yaba
from Broken Heart (Essiebons, 197?)
10. Orchestre Anassoua Jazz De Parakou Dahomey – Norou
from “Norou” b/w “Saka Ne He” (Albarika Store, 197?)
11. Orchestre Les As du Benin – Baba Na Ayele
from Tropicana Souvenir (Philips, 1973)
12. Pedro Gnonnas Et Ses Panchos – Okpo Videa Bassouo
from “N’gbahanouo” b/w “Okpo Videa Bassouo” (Disques Tropiques, 197?)
13. Andy Vans – Dofo Nyi Ekyir
from Come Closer (Polydor, 1975)
14. Vis-A-Vis – Kankyema Ntoaso Ne Awadee
from Obi Agye Me Dofo (Makossa, 1977)
15. K Frimpong – Aboagyewaa
from K Frimpong Backed by Vis-A-Vis (Ofo Bros, 1978)
16. Cross River Nationale – Nyong Eyen Unen
from Self Titled (Anodisc, 1977)
17. Alex Konadu – W’awu Da Ho No
from Asaase Asa (Makossa, 1979)
18. Mamo Lagbema – Sind N’Bassa
from “Sind N’Bassa” b/w “Incomparable Maman” (Disques CVD, 197?)
19. Orchestre Les Volcans de Porto-Novo – Salou
from “Salou” b/w “Seda Nou Mindé” (Palais Du Disque, 197?)
20. Leon Keita – L’amour Ne S’achete Pas
from Self Titled (Papa Disco, 197?)
21. Edzayawa – Obuebee
from Projection One (EMI, 1973)
22. Orchestre National Les Volcans de la Gendarmerie Republique Populaire du Benin – La Benin Socialiste
from Self Titled (Les Volcans, 1976)

Ok, so this mix is a bit different than my previous offerings. Actually, it’s a mix I did about 7 years ago under my DJ Maru alias, a period when I was really getting into DJing, producing and making hip hop mixtapes.

The inspiration for REM Creeps came from my interest in beats in all of its forms: hip hop, downtempo, electronic, etc – and it was my intention to create a mix that simulated our sleeping patterns and their various stages through music, from the initial delicate doze, to dream sequences to that deep REM state. I remember being fairly pleased with the end product and it was pretty well received on the message boards I posted it on and the friends I burned CDs for.

I came across this mix on my iTunes library the other day and decided to give it a listen, and while I’ve definitely outgrown some of this music, I was surprised to see how well the mix held up, and how as a collective whole, it really does take you on a sonic journey.

That said, I decided to throw this back out there – a reissue of sorts, with brand new cover art, and photography courtesy of my good friend and talented photographer Chloe Aftel. Give it a listen – if you like it, great, if not, rest assured that I’ll probably never release anything like it again. Nevertheless, I thought it was worthy of a re-mention to those that may be into it.

Tracklisting
01. Bola – Vertiphon
02. DJ Krush – Duality w/ DJ Shadow
03. Central Standards – Complex New World
04. Dreas – Boomers
05. Mawglee – Dreaming
06. Bonobo – Noctuary
07. Octavious – Speed Limit
08. Boards of Canada – You Could Feel the Sky
09. Secret Frequency Crew – Magenta
10. Bola – Horizophon
11. Massive Attack – Tear Drop
12. Sole – Pawn in the Game Pt. 2
13. DJ Shadow – Midnight in a Perfect World
14. Boards of Canada – Dawn Chorus
15. Rehash – Number 4
16. Bjork – Frosti
17. Amon Tobin – Slowly
18. Boom Bip – Last Walk Around Mirror Lake (Boards of Canada Remix)
19. Zero 7 – Destiny
20. Alias – Watching Water
21. Art of Noise – Moments in Love
22. Bjork – Pagan Poetry
23. Smashing Pumpkins – Soma
24. Zero 7 – Spinning Dub
25. Massive Attack – Exchange

I’m happy to present my first rap mixtape entitled 911 Funk, exploring rare raps from the Bay Area. Having grown up in the Bay I’ve always been a big fan of local rap, some of my earliest memories being watching JT the Bigga Figga, Celly Cel, and Mac Mall videos on CMC after school. However, over the past year or so I’ve found myself more enamored by independently produced rap products and while I definitely can’t afford the $800 price tag some of these tapes command, I’ve managed to get my hands on a few things, including dubs, and digital downloads. I finally felt like I had enough material to make this mix which focuses mainly on pretty rare material, demos, and tape only releases, some of which probably have only been heard by a handful of people thus far.

Anyways, hope you enjoy and if you’re looking for more of this kind of stuff you should check out 12 Man Rambo’s similar mix here, who I actually owe a lot for some of these dubs. Photography provided by the talented Axel Koester.

Tracklisting
01. Parts Unknown – 911 Funk
from Time for Turmoil (East Palo Alto, 1991)
02. Gangsta Rhyme Posse – Livin’ In Da Point
from Livin’ In Da Point (Hunters Point, 1992)
03. The Mack Clan – The Mack Clan
from On the Rise (South San Francisco, 1992)
04. Cold World Hustlers – Niggas Took
from Cold Streets (Oakland, 1993)
05. Shan Luv – Strawberry
from Demo (Oakland?, 199?)
06. Federal B – Killin’ For a Come Up
from Like 24-7 (San Francisco, 1995)
07. Squadron Black – Black State of Mind
from Demo (Oakland, 199?)
08. Parts Unknown – Another Day in EPA
from Time for Turmoil (East Palo Alto, 1990)
09. Street Thugz – Tales From the Hood
from Tales From the Hood (Oakland, 1993)
10. Interlude
11. Gangsta Rhyme Posse – Strapped for Life
from Livin’ In Da Point (Hunters Point, 1992)
12. 415 – Niggas Just Jock Me
from 41Fivin (Oakland, 1991)
13. West Side Industry – Chronic Tales From Killafornia
from Chronic Tales From Killafornia (Oakland, 1996)
14. P.O. Poetry – P.O. Funk
from Un Cutt (Berkeley, 199?)
15. The Mack Clan – Life on the Streets
from On the Rise (South San Francisco, 1992)
16. Goldy – I’m Gonna Be Alright
from I’m Gonna Be Alright (Oakland, 1992)

Sorry about the lack of posts lately. Real world moves have been getting in the way of my music-related ventures, but hopefully this mix will make up for that.

My obsession with African music continues with this mix dedicated to another growing obsession for 45s, all cultivated within the past year or so. It’s a mixture of sounds, ranging from traditional african, rock, funk, and afro beat. The range is wide, but overall it’s just feel good music and I thought the quote on the Orlando Julius sleeve, “The music that makes you happy,” was a fitting articulation of the sounds within.

A few of these tracks are pretty well-known, a couple of them have been recently comped, but there are more than a handful that, as far as I know, aren’t readily available. Like most African records there’s substantial crackle and pop on some of these, and the fidelity of the 45s vary from record to record. I don’t know enough about the recording process to even those things out, but honestly, there’s something very pure about listening to records in their actual state.

I hope this music makes you happy!

Tracklisting
01. Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes – Satan Ke Mbiet Owo
02. El Rego Et Ses Commandos – Zon Dede
03. Orchestre Anassoa Jazz de Parakou – Winoukin
04. Orchestre Poly Rythmo – Idavi
05. Orlando Julius – Ise Owo
06. Foundars 15 – Amen (Part 1)
07. Wrinkar Experience – Soundway
08. The Big Beats – Mi Nsumoo Bo Donn
09. Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band of Aba – Woman Pin Down
10. The Funkees – Slipping Into Darkness
11. Leo Fadaka & The Heroes – Message to Africa
12. Monomono – A Dele
13. Orchestre Poly Rythmo – Kourougninda Wende
14. The Nigerian Police Band Force 7 – Eko Ndun (Part II)
15. Rail Band – Mouodilo