@@@ Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajasthan Express: Junun (Nonesuch, 2015) A friend of mine that is Jewish and married to an Indian woman emailed me about this record as it’s made by a Jew, some Indians and the guitar player from Radiohead. This first tune works a global groove with some high end horn work. Now vocals in Hindi, sweet. I don’t hear much Jew in this first tune I better look this Shye Ben Tzur dude up. Oh, he’s a Jew all right and these folks might be singing in Hebrew as Ben Tzur is a Qawwali loving Jew. The second tune takes the drums down a bit and brings the vocals up. I like this a bunch, I don’t love it, but I like the cultural combination.
@@@ Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta: Dos Santos (Self-released, 2015) A cumbia outfit out of Chicago that I got to via the weekly WRIR music review email. They sport a tight rhythm section of trap kit, percussion and electric bass and topped off with a dual guitar attack. This first tune, Corre Caballo, is energetic and happening. They also sport a tasty and trippy electric organ that makes its way into the tune about halfway through. Nice vocal chanting, let’s check out another tune. When the singer gets on it in this second tune the music starts to hew more closely to a Latin music, but then you get a tasty guitar shred and some organ blasting so they’re interested in putting forth a tight and focused musical energy. Imm gonna swing back to this record when I have more time as I’ve really dug the first three tunes and I’m pretty sure this record is not going to go soft as it unfolds. Check these guys out!!!
@@@ La Mambanegra: La Galeria EP (Self-released, 2016). A 9 piece outfit out of Colombia and this EP is their first international release. It’s a spacious mix in this first tune with a tight rhythmic section, a Latin stringed instrument, piano, bass and horns. This is popping, not as street as the record above but full on. The second tune is funkier than the first — still very Latin big band-y. I like the record above a bit more but if you’re into the funky/salsa flavor pack these guys could really work for you.
YTD recordings listened to: 89
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 51
Not good music: 33
Honorable Mentions: 2
Buys: 1
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Dave Arner Trio, MAKU Soundsystem, Zomby, Retox, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Bone Dance, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Debruit, Slidhr, The Whammies, The Chewers, Alexander Hawkins, Toxic Holocaust, Equal Stones, Comeback Kid, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Dawn Richard, Mastery, Leviathan, Xibalba, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Akitsa, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Reverend Peyton, James McMurtry, Living Hell, Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta
Deep In the Music 