Episode 17
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MIXllaneous #17 – 2022, Sep 11
MIXllaneous 17 drives between present and past from hip-hop, spoken word, alternative rock, afro beats to funk, experimental, jazz, and theatrical performance.
Highlights from this week’s episode:
Regina Spektor 11:11 A new box set collects the singer-songwriter’s 2001 debut alongside a set of live recordings from her early days in New York, showcasing the intimate performance style and vivid, theatrical lyrics that ignited her career. “Pavlov’s Daughter” it’s a theatrical production on piano that examines neighborly espionage verging on voyeurism, with lyrics that remain open to interpretation. (photo)
Everyone knows Fela Kuti as the father of Afrobeat, but it was Tony Allen, Kuti’s drummer in Africa ‘70, who was the literal beat behind it. Even after defecting from Kuti and launching his own successful solo career, Allen was regularly tapped as a session musician by artists around the world. Brian Eno considered Tony Allen to be “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived.” When the rich horn section locks into Allen's supernaturally powerful percussion the whole comes into its own.
Jazz Is Dead’s brilliant series continues with multi-instrumentalists, composers, producers, and JID masterminds Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad teaming up with one of LA’s most innovative collectives in Katalyst. On this incredible recording, Younge, Muhammad, and Katalyst seem to be fully locked in seamlessly, bringing together a nice mix of sun-drenched laid-back grooves to more upbeat jazz-funk numbers with a nod towards the dancefloor. There is plenty to love about this record, from analog-based cosmic keys and Fender Rhodes lines, to soulful horns, and funky head-nodding drum rhythms.
The return of Batida (aka Pedro Coquenão), which single “Bom Bom” is his most personal song to date. The song talks about leaving a dark place and aiming for the individual and social good (“bom”). It was recorded with the precious collaboration of renowned Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade. Exchanges of views on the planet, on values and on common words such as equity and dignity, melodies shared by sending audio sketches via mobile phones, all this ended up with a meeting in the studio, to transform this batida (literally “beat”) into a dance anthem.
Playing other tracks by Roc Marciano, JID, Leela James, Chris Forsyth, Ezra Collective, and more…
Tracklist (Track - Artist // Album)
All tracks from 2022, except when noted
Crazy Afrobeat - Tony Allen // HomeCooking . 2002 afrobeat funk
Daybreak - Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Katalyst // Katalyst JID013 jazz funk
Daddy Kane - Roc Marciano, The Alchemist, Action Bronson // The Elephant Man’s Bones rap
I Want It All - Leela James // My Soul . 2010 soul
House of the Purple Mist - Magician, Barbara Thompson // Magician reissue fusion jazz
Marry Ann - Regina Spektor // 11:11 alternative rock
Heaven Come Crashing - Rachika Nayar, Maria BC // Heaven Come Crashing experimental ambient
Have You Felt That Lately? - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith // Let’s Turn It Into Sound experimental
Pavlov’s Daughter - Regina Spektor // 11:11 alternative rock theatrical spoken-word
Surround Sound - JID, 21 Savage, Baby Tate // The Forever Story rap
Glitter of the City - Ron Everett, Tahira // The Glitter of the City . 2021 soul
You’re Going to Need Somebody - Chris Forsyth // Evolution Here We Come avant-rock
You Can’t Steal My Joy - Ezra Collective // You Can’t Steal My Joy . 2019 afrobeat
Bom Bom - Batida, Mayra Andrade // Bom Bom world