lounge

#66 : More of our sweet brew of neosoul, nujazz, lounge, disco and roots reggae.
dr. rubberfunk – come back breaker
simons – j dilladude (simon’s extended edit)
jukka eskola quintet – gibraltar
tal – turntables turnpike
jet set sweden – sicilian clan..

I first heard the great Italian soundtrack composer the late Piero Umiliani with the “Musicaelettronica” compilations featuring his proto-electronique synth music.

Here’s two cover songs for you today, both found on an excellent compilation called Jazz and Flowers. One is a sorta dnb remix of Karen Aoki’s cover of Smooth Operator and the other is a remake of Gangsta’s Paradise by UK’s Sunlightsquare, called Pastime Square, with a dancehall beat and great lyrics. Check the links below while you’re enjoying the songs..

Musetta’s new album titled “Mice to Meet You!” is out on the fabulous Irma Records who’s single handedly shaped the Italian lounge scene for decades. Seductive jazz noir vocals from Marinella and nu-jazzish beats from Matteo make this a versatile album covering genres like downtempo/triphop/lounge and deep house.

Here’s the coolest lounge jazz album I’ve ever heard in a long time, from a little known sixties band The Stance Brothers. Teppo “Teddy Rok” Mäkynen the drummer of The Five Corners Quintet and its leader on stage and also sideman for Jukka Eskola and Timo Lassy is also an established producer.

Making covers of well known stuff are almost always a good catch. However getting to do a cover album of the greatest electronic anthems ever straight on is a mammoth task. Simply for the fact that these are really the biggest electronic anthems ever and you don’t have the chance to go wrong.

Another reissue by the lovely Tiliqua Records on their “Oriental Erotic Sunshine” series that we’ve been enjoying for some time is Masami Kawahara & The Exotic Sounds’ 1970 album “Kokotsu / Ecstasy”. Originally released by Columbia Records in 1970, “ Kokotsu” sees the 70’s Japanese obsession with vintage bossa & Latin music coupled with sexploitation sounds.

For all you kids who don’t buy into the St. Valentine’s consumer festivities, here’s 2 love songs that you can enjoy. The first is by the mighty Baba Zula, who’s one of the handful of internationally notable artists coming out of Istanbul. It’s a shame I haven’t written about their new album, but let this be a start.