Ever since the first time i heard this track, back in the summer, i have literally been watching and waiting for the video to come out just so that i could share it with the rest of you out there.  And people, today is the day. Brought to you by the Lagos based jet-setting gents that delivered "Yawa on the Dancefloor", which by now those of you currently residing in Europe or Africa have probably heard blowing up speakers in clubs.  Anyone west of the Atlantic, i highly recommend looking it up if you haven't heard it yet.  ("Yawa" means "trouble") But i digress.  This song evokes a smoother vibe, and features effortlessly delivered lyrics that belie the poignancy of the words actually being said.  It is strictly for the grown and sexy.  If you don't know their name yet, get to know it, because they will show you one way or the other.  Of all the songs i've heard this year, this is my song of the year.  Get up to it, get down to it, play it on repeat a million times.  I have.  Seriously, you'll only like it more. 

Show Dem Camp - Tell Me Nothing

This New York based Venezuelan band released their first album in 1995; working on the strength of that album for two years until David Byrne (yeah, that David Byrne) discovered and signed them to his Luaka Bop label in 1997.  Since then, they have released four more albums.  The most recent being the Dimitri from Paris produced Super Pop Venezuela (2006).  Their sound glides effortlessly between disco, funk, acid jazz, salsa, and merengue.  Unlike many bands today, they don't seem to take themselves very seriously, which is awesome.  Read the scrolling captions in the video for Si Estuvieras Aqui and you'll understand.  But don't let the comedy fool you, they are a seriously talented band, that make seriously good music, that will seriously make you move.  This is Los Amigos Invisibles.

Si Estuvieras Aqui


Selecciones

ENTER: BLAKROC

What a crew. What a project. What an incredible collaboration of some of the most talented, artistic and visionary hip hop artists of our time. Eye-up this line up:

MOS DEF
RAEKWON
Q-TIP
RZA
JIM JONES
NOE
PHAROAHE MONCH
BILLY DANZE
NICOLE WRAY
And samples of ODB




And the short vid



For more about this project, gaze the Black Keys  BLAKROC Artists site
Check the BLAKROC Webisodes here
Or tune into BLAKROC Radio 

Mr. Mayer is back with a new album, out today everywhere, and it's called Battle Studies.  I won't spend much time talking about him because he's been the subject of a few posts on this site already.  I will say though, you should probably watch these videos.  All these songs are on the new album.  The first is the lead single, Who Says.  I personally dig this video cos i feel like i've been there.  No, i know i've been there.  The second is called Heartbreak Warfare, and it's the first augmented reality music video ever made.  The third is a Robert Johnson cover called Crossroads, but the video is a live performance featuring Eric Clapton with the man of the hour, John Mayer.  And that's it,  go get yourself a copy.

I heard some lyrics recently that really caught my attention.  It went like, "nobody hikes up my skirt like you do...", and that was pretty much all that was needed.  I had to know which lady was classy enough to be so honest with her songwriting.  Fortunately it didn't take too long to find the sultry Alaskan who got her start singing in church, eventually moving to LA in 2004, and debuted with 2005's Fate is the Hunter.   Her latest work is the self-titled Kate Earl, and honestly it's hard to be mad at anything listening to the album.  So if you've got things to work out, this is definitely your remedy.  Enjoy!

Happy Friday people!  I've been in a great mood all day and it seemed like a good idea to share some of the goodness.  I put up a few On Point posts last week about Dimitri from Paris and Fantastic Plastic Machine, that if you peeped will be a perfect segue into this contents of this post.   There have been a few new releases in the past few months that have got me pretty excited about life.  Mos Def's The Ecstatic, Brother Ali's US, Gossip's Music for Men, the second half of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and Ghostface Killah's Ghostdini, Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, to name a few.   So for those who haven't been on top of their music game lately, here's a refresher course in what you've been missing.  Plus a few other gems from Saint Etienne, Syreeta, The Disco Biscuits, Ugly Duckling, and Pharcyde.  It's music to handle bidness to.   Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Business Related Affairs


That's all today.  Rock it out this weekend, or at least try to be creative.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Today, as we proceed with the globe trotting, we find ourselves in France.  Courtesy of the multi-national jet-setter better known as Dimitri from Paris.  His sound fuses heavy doses of disco and funk with electro, house, and jazz.   All combining to create a welcome atmosphere for that ever elusive social custom known as the dance party.   He was a DJ for Radio NRJ in 1986, and is credited for introducing the first house show broadcast in France.  To add to his swag, he also produced runway soundtracks for Chanel, YSL, Hermes.  You know, just your everyday tailor shops.  He's released a slew of mixes, compilations, and albums that have received wide critical acclaim.   Sacrebleu (1996),  A Night at the Playboy Mansion (2000), and Cruising Attitude (2003) might be all the nudging you need to finally get that disco ball you've always wanted.  Stay classy.  Voici Dimitri from Paris.

During my brief period of highlife convalescence I had the opportunity to explore new territory musically.  Discover new sounds if you will.  Pretty much an exercise in stretching my sonic proclivities beyond their current shores.  A lot of the music I came across is actually by artists from other countries; including this particular artist.  Dj/Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, a.k.a. Fantastic Plastic Machine,  hails from Japan.  He played the bass, dj'ed, and recorded music in Japan through the 80's and early 90's.  Eventually releasing his first solo effort titled Fantastic Plastic Machine in 1997.  The sound is highly influenced by bossa nova, house, and 60s lounge music, making it almost seem theatrical at times.  He's released five more albums since his debut, and they're all solid.   Here's a little sample, but I highly recommend getting to know more of the Fantastic Plastic Machine.

I don't know how many truly sunshiny days we'll have left before the sun decides it only wants to do half of its job for the next 5 months, and since i can still hear birds chirping it seemed like a good day to break you off with some Zach Deputy.  He a South Carolina native that makes his way around these parts quite often.  His music is never down or sullen, surprisingly soulful, deeply funky, and just downright fun.  He's a one man band (a la Keller Williams), but you forget that once the music gets going. 

He played at the Wormtown sidestage off Shakedown Street at Bonnaroo this year, and i was literally drawn, like a moth to a flame, to the sound.  Phish had their glowstick war, he had the haystack hoedown.  Straight up ridiculousness! And trust me, that hay was not pristine.  There's a video of the Saturday latenight hoedown that i found.  Everyone in it is getting down, except that it's 6:30 am.  There was another dance party further up Shakedown that morning, and if i hadn't already been in one hoedown earlier in the night/morning you might have seen a dude attached to a gigantic 3ft in diameter pink balloon tied to a 20ft string bouncing along to the music in the back of the crowd.   True story.  Anyhoo, check out more of his music. We'll definitely keep you posted about upcoming shows.  It's an awesome live experience.  He's a pretty chill dude too... Here's to sunshine.  This is Zach Deputy (Sunshine, She Say, Haystack Hoedown)

If you follow us on the facebook or twitter you should probably have heard the original of this Major Lazer banger.  But i'll bet you haven't heard this fresh off the presses remix by Amphibious of Flavorheard.  Building off the ubiquitous percussion, Amphibious delivers a dancehall-afro-funk infused track that will surely make you wish it was Friday already.  Seriously, listen to this a few times and you might find yourself wanting to listen to it more than the original.  But i'm just sayin'.

Major Lazer - Pon de Floor (Amphibious Remix)