Spring Sun Soul

The tradition of the annual Spring Sun Soul mix continues - a soundtrack to capture the change in seasons and the return of new life. As ever it's a cross-section of styles: jazz to deep house to drum & bass to soul - even a touch of Congolese rhumba, all with a spring-soul breeze blowing through them. Open your windows and play!

I always love putting mixes together but these spring ones always feel a little extra special.. Really hitting the spot after a long hard winter. This is the fourth episode, previous year's Spring Sun Souls can be found >>here<<

 

Spring Sun Soul

Lazer Sword - Sky Burial
Bennie Maupin - Quasar
Betty Carter - Sounds (Movin' On)
Erro - Don't Change
Mr Fingers - Children at Play
Lopez Walker - Jah Jah New Garden
Alpha and Omega - Jah is Calling
Alpha Omega - Envy
The Detroit Experiment - Think Twice
OK Jazz - Bolingo Ya Bouge
Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal - Wo Ye N'Gnougobine

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Guest Mix: Django Apocalypse Forever

Django lives. Django kills. Django plays on. In true Django style the music never ends - Django always rides again. Three final rounds of Django selection from the south-side six-shooter they call Nanker Phelge....In case you missed them, the first three shots can be heard ringing out here.

Apocalypse Django Vol IV - A Pistol, a Sword and Five Fingers of Death

Voiceover Man - Lo Lieh and Lee Van Cleef
Shades of Joy – Desert is a Circle
Voiceover Man – Two Fantastic Fighting Machines
Luis Bacalov – His Name is King (Reprise)
Voiceover Man – The Ultimate Samurai
Joseph Koo – Fist of Fury (End Titles)
Lee Scratch Perry - Flames of The Dragon
Pannona Allstars Ska Orchestra - Django’s Revenge
David Sardy - Estasi Dell Anima
Elisa Toffoli - Ancora Qui
Big Audio Dynamite – Medicine Show
Masaru Satoh – Streetfight
Circle of Tyrants – The Four Horsemen
Dale Cooper – Mexican Stand off
RZA – Tears of a Samurai
Hans Zimmer – Parlay
Alan Vega – Kung Fu Cowboy
John Murphy – 28 Theme
Ennio Morricone – La Resa Dei Conti

Pull the trigger - barrel four

Apocalypse Django Vol V - Killing For Vengeance Not Honour

The Stranger – The Stranger
Gian Piero-Reverberi – Colt in the Fist of the Devil Seq 2
The Assassin – The Assassin
Francois De Roubaix – Le Samourai
Roberta Flack – Angelitos Negros
Hiroshi Kamayatsu – Lone Wolf and Cub 3 Ending Theme Song
Gianfranco Di Stefano – Jeff Bloom
Shigeru Umebayashi – Kids
Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save my Soul
Mikis Theodorakis – Theme from Serpico
Seijun Suzuki – Tokyo Drigter Instrumental
The Tindersticks – Night Train
The Indian – The Indian
Keoma (Instrumental)/Infront of My Desperation – Guido and Maurizio De Angeles
Timbre Timbre – Magic Arrow
Jody Jenkins – The Empty Streets of London
Ennio Morriconne – Dal Mare
Pusha T & Raekwon & Joell Ortiz & Danny Brown – Tick, Tock
Pino Donaggio – Temi Di Clayton
Riz Ortolani – La Notte Dei Serpenti
Jim Croce – I Got a Name

 Pull the trigger - barrel five 

Apocalypse Django Vol VI - And God Called Unto Django

A Look that Means You’re Dead – Voiceover
The Lonely Shepherd – Danielle Licari
The Bandit and The Gringo – Voiceover
WOR – Django Django
The Holy One and The Woman – Voiceover
Bullet for the Stranger Seq 3 – Bruno Nicolai
Challenge of the McKenna’s Seq 10 – Francesco De Masi
1977 – Anita Tijoux
Toho Mark – Toshiaki Tsushima
Barquero: Big Chase – Dominic Frontiere
Professionisti Per Un Massacro – Carlos Pes
Canto Di Morte – Gian Franco & Gian Piero Reverberi
The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash
Django Shoots First Seq 16 – Bruno Nicolai
Truth – Alexander
Grave Digger – The Aggrolites
Desperados – Two Tone Club
Change – Coolio Vs Morricone
Carambola – Franco Bixio and Vince Tempera
Crying (Main Theme) – Roberto Pregardio
Beautiful Hair – Broadcast
The Four Horsemen of Pater Noster M33 – Luis Bacalov
I’m the one… - Django
Addio a Fratelli Jeffrey – Ennio Morricone
Triggernometry – Bill Elm & Woody Jackson
We are Born When We Die – Apollo Sunshine
Addio Colonnello – Ennio Morricone
Faccia a Faccia – Ennio Morricone
Love… - Django
10,000 Dollari Per Un Massacre – Nora Orlandi
L’Arena – Ennio Morricone
Django – Koji Endo

 Pull the trigger - barrel six 

Guest Mix: Django Apocalypse - Nanker Phelge

Django is an amorphous character who has given his name to over 30 Italian Westerns, most likely the best of these being Corbuci's original 'Django' and also Questi's 'Django Kill'. The original Django movie set the tone for the rest - sufferation, injustice, and extreme operatic violence. Adding to the Django tradition is the new film from Tarintino, 'Django Unchained', and it is certain that Tarantino is keeping that tradition of rough justice alive...have to say I'm really excited about seeing this.

A key ingredient in creating the magic of Italian Westerns are the soundtracks, most famously those of Ennio Morricone, but there are plenty more killer scores beyond Morricone, and there is also a world of music inspired by the genre, from Upsetter instrumentals to Metallica cuts.

To celebrate the new Django movie, here's 3 feature-length episodes, recorded in glorious Panavision, expertly mixing up Italian Western inspired music. The man behind these is fellow South Londoner Nanker Phelge, who can be caught at the regular Brixton session The Time Tunnel, always playing the finest mod, ska, soul, r&b and 60s beat - check them out here.

Get three coffins ready....

In the Beginning/Titoli - Spindrift

An Audacious Man of Love - Voiceover Man

Django - Luis Bacalov

Di Fronte Ai Killers - Franco Micalizzi

Il Grande Silenzio - Ennio Morricone

Morning Fog - Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi

A Town With No Name - Madness

Lee Van Cleef - King Stitt

Clint Eastwood - Lee Perry and The Upsetters

Pastures of Plenty - Peter Tevis

The Ballad of Hank McCain - John Zorn

Pistole Che Scottano (Shango) - Gianfranco Di Stefano

A Professional Gun - Ennio Morricone

Bullet For a Stranger (Sequence 1) - Bruno Nicolai

Canis Lupus - Alexandre Desplat

The Grand Duel - Luis Bacalov

Joe Buck Rides Again - John Barry

The D is Silent - Jamie Foxx & Franco Nero

Pull the trigger - barrel one

Are You Sam Hawkins - From 'A Stranger's Gundown'

A Time For Miracles - Ennio Morricone

Seq 13: Dio Perdoni La Mia Pistola - Vasco Vassil Kojucharov

She Rode Me Down - Tindersticks

Final Theme - Bob Dylan

Film Makers Bleed - Tokyo Paradise Ska Orchestra

Horse Riding (Tears of the Black Tiger) - Wisit Sasanattieng

Rose Len - Lennie Hibbert

Reel Ten - The Plugz

La Cancion De Gurb - Migala

Last Request - From 'Django'

Ricordi - Luis Bacalov

Sukiyaki Trumpet/Django - Koji Endo

Johnny's Theme - Michele Lacerenza

Ecstasy of Gold - Metallica

The Wind is in My Face - Nico Fidenco & Stephen Boyd

Countdown Showdown Finale

 Pull the trigger - barrel two

Intro - Excerpt from Cjamango

Animal Kingdom - Anthony Partos

Calvalcata - Piero Umiliani

So You'll Aim Towards The Sky - The Bootleggers feat Emmylou Harris

Son of a Thousand Fathers - Prince Fatty meets Mutant Hi FI

Black Widows Theme Vs Rivers of Blood - RZA & Howard Drossin & The Wu Tang Clan & Kool G Rap

Angel Face - Marizio Graf

Lucas - Gianfranco & Gian Piero Reverberi

Dog Pound Theme - Balmorhea

We Used to Do Things - Linda Manz

Lo Chiamavano - Luis Balacalov with Edda Dell 'Orso

Baseball Furies Chase - Barry De Vorzon

Blueprint 2 - Jay Z

Cemetry without Crosses - Andrei Hossein with Scott Walker

The Loser's Bar - The Sidewalk Sounds

Hang 'em High - Booker T and the MGs

The Trio - Ennio Morricone

The Lettera - Alberto Pomeranz

 Pull the trigger - barrel three 

Angels Fell - The Vangelis Extension - Dillinja

Offering up a little deep and unofficial remix i did of Dillinja's classic Angels Fell - dubplate style!If anyone has an objection to this please leave a comment below and it will be removed.This post may not be up for long so grab one while you can! Enjoy...

Right click here to download

Good Vibes: 1978-1984 Roots

Pulling out some 10s and 12s I picked up this year, including plenty of reissues of rarities and previously unreleased dubplates, recordings spanning from about 1978 to 1984.

First up two Lee Perry productions, sounds of justice coming from Kiddus I followed by a great George Faith cut, both fantastic examples of the last highest-height days at the Black Ark. Following on nicely is Good Vibes, a state-side rarity from Wackies - should've played the dub too, but rushed to get two killer Channel One's on, the previously unreleased Love and Understanding on the Mr. Bassie rhythm, and a tune I just can't get enough of, Can't Stop Righteousness by the Gladiators - love the message on that one.

Moving on from there into four firing tunes: first the previously unreleased dubplate mix of Jughead, UK roots at its best, next the deep dub mix of an exceptional Augustus Pablo track, storming in next the previously unreleased Tubby dubplate mix of  Leggo Jah Jah Children, followed by what i think is one of the most powerful of all roots tunes, Al Campbell's Jah Love, great vocal cut first, blazing Scientist mix following, and an eye watering Tubbys mix to finish.

80s twelves up next, the heavy Flabba Holt production Warmonger followed by a track I've been after for a while, Confusion, Horace Andy never sounding better in my opinion - unbeatable music. The Lacksley Castell track Government Man was reworked a few times in recent years but this is the mighty original, and winding up the selection on an uplifting note is Mikey Dread's  Break Down the Walls followed with some version excursioning on the Rougher Yet rhythm with the Roots Radics. So much good vibes this year....

Good Vibes: 1978-1984 Roots

Too Fat - Kiddus I
Guide Line - George Faith
Guide Dub - The Upsetters
Conscious Guide - Dougie Wandrop on the mix
Good Vibes - Steve Reynolds
Love and Understanding - John Holt
Can't Stop Righteousness - Gladiators
Jughead Dubplate Mix - Dennis Bovell
No Exit Dub - Gussie Clarke
Leggo Jah Jah Children Dubplate - King Tubby

Jah Love - Al Campbell
Jah Love Dub - Scientist
Jah Love Dub - King Tubby
Warmonger - Barry Brown
Confusion + Version - Horace Andy
Government Man -  Lacksley Castell 
Break Down the Walls -  Mikey Dread
Rock With Roots Radics - Jah Thomas & The Radics

Right click for vibes

Anti-Social / Gangsta Boogie

Out of the dubstep scene in London its the Anti-Social camp that really do it for me (not forgetting Deep Medi, but its all family there). First came across them after hearing a track by West London producer Silkie, most often coming with a jazz inflected style, picking up where the broken beat scene left off. The two albums out on Deep Medi to date are both essential purchases (not to mention the 12s).

Although the sound tends towards the jazzy and musical, in fact thats a bit of a pigeon holing exercise, as they collectively push a lot of barriers and go in all kinds of directions. Dubstep as a term has long failed to contain whats going on out there, but theres even more new ground getting covered here....

Anti-Social had a show on Rinse FM, but are currently holding the fort over at Flex FM. Here are a couple of recordings showcasing whats going on:

Jay5 alongside G Double on their first ever show on Flex - coming dark


Heny G has just launched a new album, a very Bukemesque take on dubstep called Child Hood - this is a recording from the launch night

0.00 - 15.44: Syte - dark dubstep
15.45 - 75.48: Jazzy Jazzy aka J Tijn - playing all kinds a crazy dark new electro, acid techno, god knows, plus a couple of Silkies
75.49 - 135.31: Heny G - Showcasing the new album Child Hood

G Double was on the mic that night, but the recording comes straight from the decks so his voice is missing.





And last up here's Silkie in the mix showcasing the City Limits Vol 2 LP

Great music, support it, buy it, go catch them live, and tune in on Flex FM - Heny G's Gangsta Boogie show in on Thursdays 2-4pm, Jay 5 is currently on a monthly show on a Thursday night, 10pm-Midnight - but that may all change by the time you read this
www.flexfm.co.uk
www.facebook.com/antisocialentertainment
http://www.facebook.com/silkie86
www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-HenyG/257595284270616
http://www.facebook.com/JTijn

JA50 Countdown - 500 more nuggets

Followers of this blog will know that to celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence we had a countdown over 50 days of favourite Jamaican tunes from the last 50 years, with people adding their own favourites as we went along – there’s a nice record of that countdown to be found here for prosperity: tinyurl.com/jamaicanindependence50 

The excellent Record Collector magazine has just published its own list along similar lines - 10 tracks from each year. I've scanned and posted this list here in the spirit of Fair Use - to celebrate and create greater awareness and appreciation of the music. I think the list when put alongside the community produced list we created makes for a wonderful resource. If anyone from RC has a problem with this please contact me directly - just leave a comment in the post.

Hopefully clicking on the scans below will zoom in on it and bring it to a readable size. If that doesn't work for you then click on the image once, then right click>open image, and from there if still too small to read try pressing the plus + key to zoom in (depending on your browser).

If all else fails follow these links:

Introduction

1962-1970

1971-1979

1980-1988

1989-1997

1998-2008

2009-2012

JA50 Dub Meditations

The celebration of 50 years of Jamaican independence and 50 years of musical innovation concludes with this mix of beautiful, spiritual, meditative, experimental and straight out there productions, from across the eras and across the oceans, with a sprinkling of percussion laid over the top...

Dub Meditations

Wareika Hill Sounds - Coconut Head Version
Badawi - Cyborg Stepper
African Head Charge - Dinosaur's Lament
Jah Bast & The Shades - Jah Irror + Dub
Ras Michael - Where is Your Goldmine
Paul Blackman - Earth Wind and Fire
Messenjah - Thunder Dub
Jah Warrior – Dub From The Heart / Heartical Dub
Nairobi - Storm Dub
Rhythm & Sound – Mash Down (Version)
African Head Charge - Primal One Drop
Mikus - Dub Mirror
Black Uhuru – Apocalypse
The Silvertones - Rejoicing Skank

Get it here

JA50 Joyfull Noise - UK & FR Roots and Dub Selection

Continue to celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence and 50 years of earth shaking music... on this mix I'm pulling out some favourite modern roots and dub cuts, all produced in the UK and France, soundsystem style...turn it up x

Joyfull Noise

Willi Williams - Throw Down Your Arms 

Shiloh Ites - Melodica Cut

Earl Sixteen - Trials And Tribulation

Mafia & Fluxy - Tommorow Dub
 Mafia & Fluxy & GP - An Ital Dubwise!

Vibronics meets Splitz Horns - Congo River
 Vibronics meets Splitz Horns - Congo Dub 

Will Tee - Fellowship Dub

I-Tist – Kinshasa Part 1& 2

Disciples - Return to Addis Ababa
Disciples - Dub it to Addis Ababa
Disciples - Next Cut
Dixie Peach - A Long Way to Go

Danny Red - Let I Live

Singer Blue - Cookie Jar

Horace Martin - Survivors of the City

Chazbo meets Empress Shema - Sacred Fire
 Chazbo meets Empress Shema - Sacred Fire Dub 

I-Tist & Dub Machinist – Flatron Part 1 & 2

link link link

JA50 Greensleeves Tribute

Continuing celebrating 50 years of Jamaican independence and 50 years of great Jamaican music, here with a mix of early Greensleeves 12s. Greensleeves started up around a record shop in Ealing, London, and went on to be perhaps the bedrock of the UK reggae and dancehall scene over three decades. The label issued Jamaican productions as well as bringing together artists for new productions recorded in the UK. This mix concentrates on 12s put out between 78-82, kicking off with what I believe was the first Greensleeves 12, an issue of Wailing Souls' Jah Give Us Life. Classic music all the way...

 Greensleeves Tribute

Wailing Souls - Jah Give Us Life

Mystic Eyes & Trinity - Perilous Times

Johnny Osborne - Trench Town School

Barrington Levy - Look Youthman
Flick Wilson & The Roots Radics Band - Slavemaster 

Mighty Diamonds - Gates Of Zion

Barrington Levy - Too Poor
Earl Sixteen - Trials & Crosses
Barry Brown - Love Is What The World Want
Ranking Dread -  Dub boom
Barry Brown - Give Another Irael A Try
Freddie McGregor & Toyan - Roots Man Skank
Roots Radics - Roots Man Dubbing

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JA50 Dennis Brown Tribute

We continue celebrating 50 years of Jamaican independence and 50 years of incredible Jamaican music, here with a tribute mix to the early years of the  prodigious  talents of the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown. The mix kicks off with No Man is an Island, a song he recorded for Coxsone at Studio One at the tender age of 12, quickly followed by Created by the Father from the same sessions which he penned himself, before going on to some favourite pieces from the 70s and early 80s, while Dennis was in his teens and early 20s. Throughout his career Dennis sang lots of covers and lovers material, but we're sticking to the rootsier, spiritual, conscious cuts here. Many a reggae fans favourite singer, hope you enjoy the selection. Big shout to Ringo. DEB Salute! Never to be forgotten...

Dennis Brown Tribute

No Man is an Island
Created by the Father
There Must Be A Fight
Concentration
Look What You're Doing to Me
Show us the Way
Run Too Tuff
Easy Take it Easy
Deliverance Will Come
Want to Be No General
General featuring Ranking Dread
Promised Land
Satisfaction Feeling
No More Will I Roam
Westbound Train
Wolves and Leopards
If You're Right Help The Poor
Emanuel God is With Us
Let Love In
Let Love in Dub
Here I Come

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Jamaican 50th Independence Musical Countdown!

August 6th 2012 marks fifty years of Jamaican independence, and on this blog I'll be celebrating the occasion with a 50 day musical countdown, posting a piece of Jamaican music from each of the last fifty years, which if I've added it up correctly should take us right up to August 6th. On the day itself I'll be dropping five new mixes in quick succession: a tribute to Dennis Brown, a tribute to the Greensleeves label, a new roots & dub mix, a mystic/experimental dub mix, and an hour of across the board JA 7's.

Politically the last half century has been pretty rough: as many ex-colonial countries have found, independence doesn't mean escape from the powers of imperialist countries, and Jamaica has suffered much, particularly as a result of the USA's proxy war to stamp out socialism in the 70s, which also led to the CIA creating the gun and cocaine gang culture that continues to hurt the country today.

Politics aside, Jamaicans can of course boast to having created so much incredible music over these years, whose influence has rightly spread right across the globe. As we count up through the years its amazing to see how quickly things change, and how much innovation was going on. Certainly my world would be so much emptier without music from JA, and I'm far from the only one who feels that way.

With so much incredible music to choose from the selections will be a variety of personal favourites, landmark tunes, obscurities, classics, as well as the occasional track produced abroad. Each track will be posted on the facebook page here: www.facebook.com/mikusmusik, which should also show up in the sidebarI'll also be posting them up on two forums, Blood & Fire and u75. Feel free to add your own favourites in any of those places.

Really hope you enjoy the countdown. Happy anniversary Jamaica, and here's hoping for a peaceful and musically fruitful future.