SONG OF THE DAY Yo Diablo – Besos

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“We made “Besos” to sing it wearing bell-bottom pants as a tribute to Spanish songs from the 70s. The lyrics talk about how incredible it is to kiss the person you love…”

Watching the accompanying video to this song (below), I was just thinking what a couple of dudes these two look in their monster-collared shirts with their big hair and cool tashes!! Then I read the statement I’ve pasted above and it it made sense! This is their tribute to the 70’s!

Besos is the latest single from the wild fingerpicking duo, Yo Diablo! Hailing from Valencia in Spain, these guitar masters specialise in Desert Blues Trash and Rock’n’Roll with songs that “talk about mosquitoes, snakes, cats and other terrible animals, and will make you lose your mind with only a drummer and a guitar player”…

Consisting of Marcos Herrero on guitars/vocals/whistles/marimba and Victor Vila on drums/percussions/backing vocals, this pair have been releasing their music for a few years now – and featured on the LP Blog at the end of last year! 

Besos unleashes its power in a rolling wave of hot-strung guitars and smouldering percussion. A whirring delight of fiery thunder, I also like how the vocals flesh out that base layer!

It’s such a great song and it releases today – find that HERE!!! 

SONG OF THE DAY Marisa Rossi – Cinturão de Fogo

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I’m not quite sure what Marisa Rossi is singing about, but her exuberant vocal delivery, coupled with those echoing backing voice embellishments makes for a nice, slightly tripped-out sonic experience! Her voice breathes fire and sunshine into each tuneful word she ardently sings and yet, despite this power, her tone delivers with control and grace. This is perfectly demonstrated in today’s song: Cinturão de Fogo! – Which translates as “Fire Belt” (I believe)

Performed by Brazilian singer, Marisa Rossi, today’s song was released in 1970 and accompanied, on the A-side, a track called Deixa Eu Te Amar (translating as Let Me Love You) – see below.

Throughout her relatively brief career, Marisa Rossi achieved a good following, issuing a handful of 45’s and a couple of albums. Today’s song was released via a Brazilian label called, Copacabana Compacto and was written by Paulo and Fábio Imperial, Cinturão de Fogo has really grown on me in the last few days!

Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY Arsenio Rodríguez Y Su Conjunto – Papa Upa

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Tonight’s artist is a rather important figure in the world of Latin music – or music in general, really! Born in 1911, Arsenio “El Ciego Maravilloso” Rodríguez was a blind Cuban musician, bandleader and prolific composer of African descent. Specialising in playing the tres guitar, he also developed the son montuno, mambo and other Afro-Cuban-based genres – all of which would form the basis of what became known as salsa! 

Although he was not widely known before his death (in 1970), Rodríguez is now seen as one of the most important figures in Latin music. His influence also extends into African popular music! Rodríguez’s distinctive sound, characterized by its earthy, lively, and vibrant Afro-Cuban essence, set him apart from many other band leaders of his generation and no matter what, he always stayed true to his guitar-based, Afro-rooted approach! That doesn’t mean to say that he never gained inspiration from outside influences, however, for a lot of his sound was shaped by extracting enough of what he needed from jazz, rock and Puerto Rican folkloric genres. 

He recorded two albums for Indie label Ansonia Records, both of which offer some of his best loved (and highest quality) material. Volume 1 was recorded in approximately 1960 and released in 1963, while Vol. 2 was recorded in 1966 and released the following year.

Papa Upa, from the second volume, is a glistening son montuno showcasing a tasty tres solo from Rodríguez, with vocals by Marcelino Guerra, Israel Berrios and Santiago Cerón. It has since been covered by array of international salsa groups over the decades, including Joe Acosta (US), La Renovación (Venezuela), Otto de Rojas (Peru), and May Y Su Combo (Colombia).

No wonder it is such a popular song to cover, Papa Upa is nothing but sunbeams and energy!

Check it out above and if you fancy listening to the rest of Arsenio Rodríguez’s Volume 2 album, you can do that below! Enjoy! 

SONG OF THE DAY Kava Kon – Palace of the Tiger Women

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“Crafting a unique blend of exotica, electronica, tiki lounge, and cinematic soundscapes, they extend the frontiers of exotica music into the digital age….”

Inspired by Exotica records of the 1950’s and 1960’s, Kava Kon concoct a very authentic blend of nostalgic sounds! Driven by all things retro, this duo are also influenced by vintage b adventure & sci-fi movies, exotic travel and culture, taboo, voodoo, vintage synths, primitive percussion, and tiki culture.

Coming together two decades ago, Nels Truesdell & Bob Kress formed Kava Kon as a “magical escape from the urban decay of Detroit”. Together they set about creating a new form of music combining the modern with the primitive; electronica and exotica! Three albums emerged from this project, but nothing has been released since 2016, so I am not sure if they are still working together? I do believe, however, that they are still working in and around music?

Today’s song appears on the duo’s 2nd album, Tiki for the Atomic Age, which was originally released on Dionysus Records in 2009. Described as a “unique mix of exotica, electronica, soundtrack, dub, western, world beat, ambient, and lounge”, this album has some really cool moments going on throughout its 12 tracks. I particularly like the more traditionally sounding Exotica numbers, especially todays song, which reminds me so much of something Les Baxter would do!! The album artwork for Kave Kon’s record even reminds me of something Les Baxter would have on his record!

Palace of the Tiger Women is a sumptuous sonic venture that gracefully escorts the listener into the mysterious realms of Exotica. Close your eyes and a bountiful land of lush colours and exotic visions unfold. Waves lap at the beach like soft hands as they stroke the golden sands with their soothing touch. It’s a lovely way to spend a few moments and a perfect way to escape!

Listen above and if you fancy checking out the rest of the album (which is yours for a ‘name your price’ fee on Kava Kon’s Bandcamp page) I’ve pasted it below. Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY The Embers – I Walked All Night

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I Walked All Night is an ultra-rare, proper-catchy, garage track written by Nashville session pianist/keyboardist, Hargus “Pig” Robbins. Originally recorded for in the early 1960’s for Murray Nash’s own Do-Ra-Me label, the song has since been covered by The Cramps(1997), Lowell Fulson (1975), Mighty Joe Young (1971) and The Bluetones (2006).

The Embers (1960’s) version is pretty impossible to track down, although it is available on the 1993 album “El Primitivo/American Rock’N’Roll & Rockabilly.  This compilation of 24 rockabilly tracks was first recorded in the late 50’s/early 60’s under the direction of Murray Nash, who ran the small label Do-Ra-Me. Most of the tracks on the album have not appeared on any other albums/in any other collections. This song did also make it onto an album called “Abattoir Dogs” in 1995 (this compilation tape given away free in a 1995 issue of Vox magazine, as their tribute to the films of Quentin Tarantin!).

I’d love to tell you more about this cool little track and the band behind it, but have yet to locate any more information, so if anyone can help? In the meantime, I have found an interesting article about the song/band, this you can read here.  Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY The Kids – False Illusions

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When it comes to garage rock, I like nothing more than the roar of some howling guitars and today’s song encapsulates what my psychedelic sonic heart desires! Raw and completely free from the frills of slick production, this little instrumental delight was released in 1968 and issued on a 1960’s Tennessee label called Tennalaga Records.

The band behind this beautifully edgy sound hailed from Chattanooga, Tennessee (the hometown of Tennalaga Records) and consisted of: Roy Deal (lead vocals), Mike Robinson (lead guitar), Rick Smith (backing vocals), Carl Smith (guitar), Ira Padget (bass), and Danny Wade (Drums).

Sadly, this was the only 45 the band recorded and what became of them after this, I do not know. I’ve just been searching for a copy of this single to buy myself, but (sadly) I don’t think my budget will stretch to the current £800+ asking price on Discogs – of which there are only two available and those copies are not even above a VG grade!!! Such is the scarcity of this record and the mystery of this band, I write with a saddened heart that the world never got to hear what else this band could have offered and I will never own a copy!

Still, what is good is that both the A and B-side are on Youtube, so we can at least still listen to the cool sounds of The Kids! Today’s song, False Illusions, was actually the flip-side, but the A-side, Jordan Land, I have included below! As is often the case, I prefer the B-side, but both tracks are rather lovely!!

Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY Twyn Towers – Clara Lumpur

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As of ten minutes ago I’d never heard of this band, but whilst working through a new release playlist I discovered the cool sounds of Twyn Towers!

Consisting of Abi Nadar on drums/percussion and Charif Megarbane on guitar/keys, this duo have been making music together since 2017 (I think). Sadly, extensive details are hard to find, but what I can tell you is that the pair have today released a new album entitled Tandem.

Issued on Lebanese label, Hisstology Records (for which Charif Megarbane is the founder of), this album is a result of an improvisation session recorded on 23rd June last year. Listening to the record, I’m really appreciating just how easy it is to get into this music and love the hearty portions of big beats that it delivers! The flow is organic, the melodies soothing and the variety of influences both refreshing and indulgent. Woven into these lush tunes are African tinges, jazz tones, soulful colours, hip hop fabrics and eastern twists.

As with their band name, today’s song toys with words and comes out as Clara Lumpur. There is a vastness about its vivid layers that spreads out with a vibrancy you can’t help get dazzled by.. I like what I’ve heard so far!

Listen to today’s song above and check out the rest of the album below. I’ve also pasted a live performance at the bottom of the page which, I have to say, has definitely enhanced my attraction to their music!…that drumming!!

SONG OF THE DAY Fela Kuti & His Africa ’70 – Who’re You?

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To get the big picture of Fela Kuti’s musical journey, you have to start with his education at London’s Trinity College School of Music. While his family had sent him to England to study medicine, Fela’s musical aspirations would ultimately shape his destiny!

After finishing school, Fela returned to Nigeria and, together with his band Koola Lobitios, he began to grow and flourish in his native land, Nigeria (and beyond). Fusing the sounds of Jazz and Funk together with the traditional African music he had been raised on, this new sound eventually evolved into what we know (and love) as Afrobeat.

Signed to EMI in the early 1970’s, it was this label that helped to progress both the artist and his mighty pioneering sound! Bringing Fela and his band back to London, it was at this time that Fela’s London Scene was recorded. This was to be his first release, recorded at Abbey Road and issued on the HMV label.

While recording this album, Fela struck up a friendship with Cream drummer Ginger Baker, who plays (uncredited) on album, appearing on the track E Gbe Mi O.  London Scene marked the beginning of what would become Fela’s explosive, gloriously lengthy-tracked  “Afrobeat” signature style!

Recorded for EMI Nigeria, the MIGHTY Who’re You appears on this record!! It’s soooooooooooo good!!!

Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY Eden Ahbez – La Mar

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At this rather late hour, I am all but ready to retreat to dream land, such is the weariness of my mind and body this evening. As if by magic (and always when you need it the most) I was listening to a random playlist earlier and the opening song was from Eden Ahbez. The rest of the playlist was nothing like this first track, but all I needed was this prompt – I’ve not listened to this album for a long time and I couldn’t thing of anything more perfect to end the day!

It was four years ago when I first discovered Eden Ahbez and what a wonderful and completely enchanting moment that was! I remain enchanted!

To save my weary head, I have copied and pasted the post from December 2020, so I hope you find the spell of Eden Ahbez as bewitching as me? I have also included below the playlist of the 60th-Anniversary Edition of Eden’s Island: The music of an Enchanted Isle – this record includes some previously unreleased tracks!

Music is escapism. This is one of the reasons I get so lost for so many hours every night; I disappear into a sonic rabbit hole and emerge many hours later. It’s bliss! Eden’s Island not only presents the opportunity to steal away a few precious moments, it also offers solace, enchantment and a place to return to any time you need to be free.

Eden’s Island (The Music Of An Enchanted Isle) was the 1960 debut album for George Alexander Aberle, a.k.a Eden Ahbez, an American beat poet, composer, songwriter and recording artist of the 1940’s-1960’s. Born in 1908, he passed in 1995 and became known as the original ‘hippie’, living an even more consistent dropout and hippie lifestyle way before the movement was born in the mid 60s! Ahbez was at one point camping out below the first ‘L’ in the Hollywood sign above L.A and spent many years studying Oriental mysticism. He slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruits, and nuts. He claimed to live on three dollars per week, though I dare say that all changed as his fame grew! Known simply as Ahbe, his lifestyle in California became very influential on the hippie movement, but that is no surprise given that he was the ultimate free spirit!

Another important detail to include about this fascinating artist was his composition and writing of a song that I’ve loved for many years! Originally released in 1948 by Nat King Cole, Nature Boy was actually penned and composed by Ahbez in 1947! The song became a #1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat “King” Cole and has since become a pop and jazz standard!

La Mar is one of the original songs from his debut album and I love how it reaches into your head and sculpts many an image, captivating images and scenes that each mind will perceive in its own way….Enjoy!

Listen above and check out the rest of the album (and more) below….

SONG OF THE DAY Kamal Keila – African Unity

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I’m amazed that I’ve still not bought this album, it was 2018 that I first featured Kamal Keila and this is the third time the LP Post has shared his glowing sound (check out the other two posts, here)

The story of the label that has reissued today’s funky song goes back to 2012 when Berlin DJ, record collector and Jakarta Records label owner, Jannis Stürtz was touring round Morocco in search of old vinyl records.

A chance visit to a second-hand electronics repair shop (that was previously a record shop owned by a man who used to run the Mekauiphone music distribution business in Casablanca) introduced him to a wealth of hidden vinyl gems where Stürtz has reportedly recollected, “You could still see in the back there were stacks and stacks of records”

This fluky discovery has since taken him across the Arab nations where he has hunted down and purchased a rare (and rapidly growing) collection of LP’s and dusty cassettes, and although there are many labels out there carrying out similar work, Stürtz has explained how his label focuses on Arabic-based funk, a sound that had been all but overlooked and forgotten….until he came along! Habibi Funk Records have since been dedicated to unearthing and thus reissuing the wealth of Arabic funk-based music. What a job, that would be my dream job to reissue old sounds!!!

This is exactly what Habibi Funk did in 2018 when they released Kamal Keila Muslims and Christians album back in 2018. Kamal Keila was a Sudanese singer active from the late 1960’s whose (often political) music was influenced by funk and afrobeat. The story behind this record is really interesting and though the songs you hear were part of Keila’s set list from the 1970’s, these tracks were actually recorded in 1992 – but did lose lost that original sound! As Habibi Funk wrote in their write-up: “Both sessions stand as a hearable testament how Kamal Keila stuck to a sound aesthetic from decades ago….”

Known as “the James Brown meets Fela Kuti of Sudan” today’s song pretty much encapsulates that very statement! African Unity has such a heady groove and I love how it beats a such hypnotic rhythm throughout. Vocals linger and stray from this line, but never feel out of place and such is this songs mesmerising qualities that seven minutes passes in a blink.

Check it out above and if you fancy hearing more from this album, you can listen/purchase it from here.