Mad Lads
Studio One Groups

I love the simplicity of this short track (less than 2 minutes). Built around vocal harmonies, this the best of the 3 songs only that the band wrote for the famous Jamaican label Studio One.

The Mad Lads "You Will Never Know" (1969, Studio One/Soul Jazz Records)

Zen Master
Susumu Yokota

Sore head ? We have what you need!

An ambient classic, from one of its master, Japanese composer Susumu Yokota. Organic and deep.

Susumu Yokota - "Sakura" (2004, Leaf)

"Saku"

"Gekkoh"

Happy New Year!
Tank

2008... A year which will go down in history. The financial system is in shambles, people are losing their jobs, hunger riots are spreading, Israel is about to invade Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan are 2 wars which can't be won anymore.

However there was new hope this year: Obama's election in the US and Liverpool is at the top of the premiership .

We'll see you all next year, I hope that we have brought you as much pleasure in reading as we've had writing for you. Don't hesitate to leave your comments. It motivates us!

Time to introduce Creative Controle, a Dublin based hip-hop crew, which unfortunately seems to have more or less disappeared. "Bloodrush" is their first single and one of my favourite rap tune ever. A hard-to-find record, full of raw power and energy.
See you all next year

Creative Controle - "Bloodrush" from the 12" vinyl (2002, Volta)

UM Podcast #9: Juanito - In Groove We Trust
Ultramagnetique Podcast - Juanito - In Groove We Trust

Last podcast of the year from our main contributor and selector, Mr Juanito. From big-beat electro, Brazilian music to a touch of Afro-Funk: only the finest ingredients are to be found in this magic pot.

Better served after 12, perfect for tonight's party !

Juanito - "In Groove We Trust"
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Tracklisting:

01 - Hardwire "The Connection"
02 - Dunkelbunt Feat Amsterdam Klezmer Band "La Revedere"
03 - Minus 8 "Badman & Throbin"
04 - Liverpool Connection "Get Back"
05 - House Of Pain "Jump Around"
06 - Freestylers "Phenomenon One (Featuring Tenor Fly)"
07 - United Eye Presents Professor Longhair "Big Chief (Motherland To Mothership Remix)"
08 - Hardwire "Dope Jam"
09 - Tippa Irie "All the Time the Lyric a Rhyme"
10 - Mysterious Traveller "Green Africa"
11 - The All Seeing "Beat Goes On"
12 - Ana Rosely "Skim Dum Dum Dum"
13 - A Tribe Called Quest "If The Papes Come"
14 - Groove Armada "Superstylin"

Japanese Tei Time
Towa Tei - Future Listening

Dong-Hwa Jung, alias Towa Tei is indeed Japanese despite what some may think. In the Land of the Rising Sun, tradition mixes with a keen culture of classic jazz, Brazilian and more modern sounds. This cultural hodge-podge had an irreparable effect on Towa Tei.

Exiled to the land of Uncle Sam, the artist first came to our attention in 1990 with his hit "Groove is in the Heart" from the trio Dee-Lite. However, all good things come to an end and Towa Tei went on to launch his solo career in 1995 which this first album "Future Listening". Composer, keyboard player, DJ, Producer, this smorgasbord of talents resulted in a work of art which can be classified as comfortably under Classic Brazilian as well as under modern day groove. We even come across the singer Bebel Gilberto before she became known in her own right.

Towa Tei "Future Listening" (1995, Elektra)

"Technova (La em Copacabana)"

"Batucada"

"Son of Bambi"

Too Much Champagne Before More
Evie Sands
An overdose of foie gras and a throat infection kept me away from the Blog recently. I hope that Father Christmas brought you many excellent cds (For the younger readers, cds are those round digital discs we used before iTunes!)

Let's get back into the swing of things gently, with the New York singer, Evi Sands, who has a fondness for white cats. To give you a bit of trivia, the demo of this song was stolen by an evil producer who succeeded in releasing his own version, before Evie's!

Be assured that Ultramagnetique's sense of justice prevents us from promoting the vulgar example of plagiary. We are happy to present "Take Me For A Little While", in its original splendor.

Evie Sands - "Take Me For A Little While" (1969, Blue Cat)

From Brooklyn to Istanbul
Brooklyn Funk Essentials - In the Buzz Bag

NY musician collective, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials have been playing for some time in the big apple groove scene.

A surprising blend here with this Istanbul Twilight, mixture of Turkish strong coffee and Jamaican weed. The beverage is pretty tasty, strong and generous.

What else ?

Brooklyn Funk essentials - "Istanbul Twilight" from "In the BuzzBag" (1998, Musidisc)

Queen Eta
Etta James - Tell Mama
If ever there was a contender to Aretha Franklin's throne, it is the Californian Queen, Etta James.
Propelled to fame by the famous blues and soul label, Chess Records, this diva had a very difficult past, which included long stays in psychiatric institutions as well as her heroine addiction, which she battled for many long years.

Still alive and kicking on the music scene, Etta James, is a true survivor. With her exceptional voice, husky and sexy, powerful yet fragile, she embodies the essence of soul.

Etta James "Tell Mama" (1968, Chess Records)

"You Got It"

"Tell Mama"

Snatch
musique Snatch

Guy Ritchie, formerly known as Mr.Madonna, released his second film, Snatch, in 2000. He came to public attention 2 years previous, with his film "Lock, Stock and two smokin barrels". Much in the same vein as its predecessor, Snatch, launches us into the underworld of the British gangster scene, with its mishmash of criminal minds and even more eclectic mugs all tangled up in a web with a diamond at it's centre.

An eclectic sound track, with the tracks brilliantly accompanying  the cut-throat action and the atmosphere of the London underbelly. We'll focus on the "diamond" by Klint, incisive electro jazz to set the scene and we finish with The Specials and their well known "Ghost Town", which so aptly accompanies the trio of blundering black dudes who think they can play with the big boys.

Snatch - Original Movie Soundtrack (2000, Universal Soundtracks)

Klint "Diamond"

The Specials "Ghost Town"

Sia
Sia - Colour the Small One

A single, but also an album which never left my decks when it was released. Sia's second album is a necessary buy for all fans of voices with character and some great grooves. An interesting mixture of electronica and acoustic elements. Sia's voice is both broken and powerful, some will love it, other will hate it.

I'm obviously part of the first category.

Sia - "Where I Belong" from "Colour the Small One" (2004, Go! Beat)

Giant
Richard Groove Holmes - Super Soul
An irresistible funky tune from one of the kings of Soul Jazz, Richard "Groove" Holmes. This master of the Hammond really knows how to make us swing like no-one else. He is admired for his funky style, his likability and his impressive physique (he weighs 20.5 stone): a bit like the green giant!

This can be found on the excellent compilation "Super Soul", an album for all fans of the B3.

Richard "Groove" Holmes - "Why Don't You Do Right" from "Super Soul" (2004, Prestige)

Sound of the Ghetto
Sirba Octet - Du Shtetl à New York

It comes from New York and from the ghetto, but it is not rap. No, in fact this is more Rabbi than Rapper. We're talking about the Shtetl or Jewish ghettos from Central Europe. These ghettos have seen their share of immigrants seeking their fortune in the promised land of the west, guided by the flame of the Statue of Liberty.

The many immigrants carried the Yiddish melodies of uncle Samuel all the way to the land of uncle Sam. This music is very influential and is not what you would normally think of when you hear the words Jewish music, which we tend to associate with a certain Gershwing. It is a tale of Isabelle Georges and the Sirba Octet and their album "from the Shtetl of New York.

This music revisits certain Yiddish classics, or the music-hall repertoires, all the while with a Jazzy hue.

It is a beautiful work, an album which showcases the kosher music of the ghettos and which I think you will enjoy.

Isabelle Georges & Sirba Octet - "Du Shtetl à New York" (2008, Naive)

"Bessarabyé"

"Ukrainian Memory"

"Broyges et Shulem Tants"

"Rhapsody in Blue"