Here's a taste from the as-yet-unreleased debut CD "Turn Off the
Television", from France's Two Tone Club.
Recorded last year, it was mixed by myself at ye olde Estúdio El
Rocha(http://www.elrocha.com.br) in São Paulo. Recently mastered by
Alan Douches at West West Side Music, I'm very excited about the sound of this one.
There's a good variety here: Obviously there are songs inspired by the
English sound of the 80's (while still being original), sung in English, there are also some strong instrumentals that showcase the horn section- as well as a handful of songs sung in their native tongue(my favorites).

"Rocksteady" doesn't fall under any of these three categories, however. It is simply a catchy, tranquil tune that just might follow you around for the rest of the day.

Enjoy.

Rocksteady (9.24 mb)

Here's the title track from their second release on Grover
Records(www.grover.de). I think this is a good indication of where the
Stingers are going in the long run: the well-arranged vocals are there,
the jamaican influence can still be heard, but for me, there is
something distinctly American(in the positive sense of the word) here.
Southern Soul? Whatever you wish to call it, their groove-pool is
getting deeper.

All In A Day (1.55 mb)

for more info: www.thestingers.net

Dr Reggae, AKA Otávio Rodriguez, has been bringing Jamaican music to
Brazilian ears for two decades now with the BumbaBeat SoundSystem. The Doctor
shares my vision of a Brazilian/Jamaican musical fusion that does not
compromise either tradition. While Bat MacCumba is comprised of preexistant musical samples, it doesn't fall under the category of 'Mash-Up'. This MP-FREE is unique to the site, as I had nothing to do with its creation. But I think it is an
important link in my quest to connect two of the most influential musical cultures on
the Globe.

Dr Reggae explains the track:
"The original Bat MacCumba was written by Gilberto Gil, one of the
biggest names in Brazilian Popular Music, messenger of Tropicália and now the
Minister of Culture here in BR. Using my preferred application- one prosaic
SoundForge- Imade a mix of drums(Upsetters) and bass (Brooklyn Funk Essentials/Augustus Pablo), then I played with Gil's voice and some effects, adding some samples from a Haitian Voodoo session. To each his own MacCumba."

Bat MacCumba.mp3 (2.5 mb)

Cash Bag Dub.MP3

Introducing Firebug, from São Paulo, Brasil:

Machado- voice, guitar, songs
Rodrigo Cerqueira- drums, percussion
VR- bass, keys, melodica, guitar, percussion

This project came together very quickly- we were in the studio a month after I was introduced to Machado by Rodrigo(Skuba, Easy Big Fella).
The chemistry, combined with what I think are some of the catchiest tunes this side of the Hotknives, enabled us to make this disc in 'record' time. The self-titled CD is now available at Radiola Records.


along with the remastered version of In America :)

SUN of DUBDAY

www.spitshine.org

The drums(and the inspiration for the name) come from a semi-weekly
session held by Victor Axelrod, Dave Hahn, Eddie Ocampo and myself called
Dub Sunday. The experiment was to make a major-key antithesis to the
dread and mournful original.

This track can also be found on a wicked compilation released this fall
called Dubshine, featuring tracks from King Django, Dr Echo, Mass
Hysteria, Royal Roost, The Allstonians, Steady Ups and plenty more.

DRUM THIEF

This track is on the 'In America' CD, available later this Summer. The
title refers to the fact that I've been taking drum tracks from various
sessions in Brooklyn, and creating other tunes with them in Sao Paulo.
This one came from a Crazy Baldhead session- Thanks, Agent Jay!!!

TRACK LISTING
1. Agenda
2. Twins
3. Brothers
4. I Have To Say
5. NST
6. FCC
7. L.I.C.
8. Jay Lefty
9. Blue Dub
10. Patience
11. Gravity
12. Underdub
13. Dub Ho
14. Dubamorato