African
Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics (Strut)
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 | Sounds | No Comments
When I received the Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics album a few weeks ago I was both excited and apprehensive. The apprehension came from the fact that the previous two Inspiration Information albums (Horace Andy/ Ashley Beedle and Amp Fiddler/ Sly & Robbie), had the potential to be really great, but were in fact disappointing to say the least. The third album in the series completely redeems the previous two. The legendary Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke has enjoyed a revival in the past few years thanks mainly due to the excellent Ethiopiques compilations (and the Broken Flowers soundtrack) - if you don’t have volume 4 of this series already, I would highly recommend buying it immediately. Mulatu’s experimentation with blending traditional Ethiopian sounds with Latin-jazz led to the creation of the Ethio-jazz hybrid in the 1960’s. On this new album released through the excellent Strut label, Mulatu teams up with Stones Throw/ Now-Again artists The Heliocentrics (also known for their genre breaking) - it’s match made in heaven. Keeping in the spirit of experimentation, what is delivered is a timeless piece of music that you could listen to in 10 years time and it will still sound as fresh - much like Mulatu’s original works. The album is released next week - buy it or miss out. You can also check out the making of the album video on YouTube.
JGM 26 - Disco Africa
Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 | Podcast | No Comments

Artist - Track (Label)
1. Kuniyuki Takahashi - Precious Hall (Mule Musiq) Info
2. Roots Orchestra - Kalabuta (Unrestricted Access) Buy
3. Greg Gauthier & Tony L - Koba Beat (Kif) Info
4. Fish Go Deep - ESL (Innervisions) Buy
5. Greg Gauthier & Tony L - Bamoun Kwele (Kif) Info
6. Kerri Chandler - The Invaders (Deeply Rooted House) Info
7. Attias - Nebukai (Still Music) Buy
8. Hector Lavoe - Mi Gente (V2) Info
9. The Ogyatanaa Show Band - Disco Africa (Sound Way) Buy
10. Hugh Masekela - Don’t Go Lose It Baby (Jive) Info
11. Nathan Fake - Stop (Border Community) Buy
Direct download: Just_Good_Music_8_23_07_-_Disco_Africa.m4a
JGM 18 - Giveusomethingmore
Sunday, December 10th, 2006 | Podcast | No Comments

Artist - Track (Label)
1. Osunlade - Rader Du (Soul Jazz) Info
2. Movementz - 29 Calls (Sonar Kollektiv) Buy
3. Daedelus - Bahia (Mush) Buy
4. Simbad feat. Steelo - Soul Fever (Raw Fusion) Buy
5. Nikki-O - Giveusomethingmore (Mahogani) Info
6. Peven Everett - Surely Shorty (Soul Heaven) Info
7. Femi Kuti - Traitors Of Africa (Unrestricted Access) Buy
8. Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band - Dukom Mashie (Sound Way) Buy
9. Soul 223 - Manifest (Soul Jazz) Buy
10. Open House - Seven Day Weekend (Tu Rong) Buy
JGM 12 - Ruff Disco
Monday, July 10th, 2006 | Podcast | No Comments

Artist - Track (Label)
1. Radiohead - Everything In It’s Right Place (White) Info
2. Sekouba Bambino - Decourage (Distance) Info
3. Koloke - West African Guitar Groove (Spiritual Life) Info
4. Nature Boy - Tobago (Black Label) Info
5. The Enigma - Puzzle Project (Eargasmic Recordings) Info
6. Cobblestone Jazz - Dump Truck (Wagon Repair) Buy
7. Paul Woolford - Devil’s Night Fire (NRK) Buy
8. Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom - Relevee (DFA) Buy
Direct download: jgm7806ruffdisco.m4a
JGM 7 - Gin-Go-Lo-Ba
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 | Podcast | No Comments

1. DJ Oji - ‘Esteban’ (Ibadan) Info
2. Ojatunji - ‘Gin-Go-Lo-Ba’ (Columbia) Info
3. Fernandao - ‘Quando O Couro Fala’ (Mr. Bongo) Info
4. Modern Romance - ‘Salsa Rappsody’ (Ibadan) Info
5. Bobby Peru - ‘Erotic Discourse’ (20/20 Vision) Info
6. Carl Craig - ‘Darkness’ (Planet E) Info
7. Joe Lewis - ‘Life Immoreal’ (Relief) Info
8. Pepe Bradock - ‘Ghost’ (Atavisme) Info
9. Herbert - ‘The Audience’ (!k7) Info
JGM 2 - Best of 2005 Pt. 1
Friday, January 6th, 2006 | Podcast | No Comments
Title - Artist (Label)
1. Damien “Jnr. Gong” Marley - Welcome To Jamrock (Ghetto Youths) Info
Bob Marley’s son gives us a dancehall monster. Using a classic, driving Sly & Robbie rhythm (from Ini Kamoze’s “World Of Music”).
2. Stromba - Tickle Me Dub (Fat Cat) Info
Fat Cat have a knack for releasing interesting music, whether it’s pounding dancefloor tracks or ethereal pop. Stromba’s debut album ‘The Sitting Room’, is a lesson in eclecticism. Dub rhythms, twisted jazz and afro beat all combine to make a coherent, solid listen all the way through.
3. Jah Warrior - Heartical Dub (Deep Space Media) Info
A small taste of Francois K’s popular party in NY, featuring an impeccable and eclectic mix of tribal house, heavy dub, lush techno, nu disco and a touch of drum n’ bass, as well as excellent new productions by Francois K.
4. Konono No.1 - Kule Kule (Crammed Discs) Info
The traditional African instruments used by this 12 piece Congolese band were modified with used car parts, old amplifiers, and other parts found in the junk yard. The result being music that sounds like nothing else. Raw, distorted, highly infectious and very danceable. This album is truly remarkable.
5. Recloose - Dust (Peacefrog) Info
The debut single from Recloose’s 2nd album is funky as hell. A bumpy, off kilter house track with lush vocals and hints of afro-funk. A party tune, that will get everyone on their feet.
6. Jill Scott - ‘Not Like Crazy’ (Shelter) Info
2005 was a prolific year for Quentin Harris. It seemed like he had a release or remix every week and all consistently good. Crossing genre boundaries, this is not your run of the mill house remix. Just as good, if not better than the original version.
Direct download: JGM_002_2005_Top_10_pt.1.mp3





