Funky Friday

It's a mini Funky Friday today, with a few select jams that have been stuck in my head this week and I'm sure will get you groovin'.

Little Dragon - Blinking Pigs
Gotan Project - Panamericana
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - Back Again feat. RES
Janelle Monáe - Tightrope (Featuring Big Boi)

Tears For Souvenirs

hopeless - Tears Are Not Enoughhopeless sent me this fun cover he did of the ABC classic. It was their debut single back in 1981, and is a horny JBs style funk pop tune with a side of gold lamé. I loved it the first time I heard it and rushed out to buy the 7", and so began a long love affair with Martin Fry and co. hopeless delivers a crunchy, shouty stomper, stripping it down to the bare bones - beats, bass and buzz. I didn't like it at first, but it has grown on me and now I get a kick out of it. I love it when somebody covers a tune in a unique way (hello Stereo Total!), and this fits the bill.

The accompanying bit of press release is also quite entertaining...

So I was flying first class as I usually do, and of all people Martin Fry sat down next to me. For those of you who don't know Martin Fry, he is the lead singer of ABC. At first I was not to pleased. Obviously he knows who I am and I really didn't want to be bothered at all. I missed my connecting flight back to Hawaii and was stuck at the airport's first class lounge for at least a half an hour. Grueling, I know.

I tried my best to cover my face but within the first five minutes of sitting down he recognized me. The last thing I need at this point is praise, I'm only human for crying out loud. Needless to say after we got to talking we both thought it would be a good idea for me to put a new spin of one of his songs. He told me that he felt I could put down the anger and torment that he was looking to capture in Tears Are Not Enough, and being a fan of the song myself, I said, "Yo Martin, no doubt. Let's do this shit son!".

Delightful!

Funky Friday

Fizunk fer yer Friziday.After a brief break funky Friday is back. You got your mash up courtesy of The Slips. You've got your your groovy remixes of songs old and new - Valerna vs. The Cars/Passion Pit vs. Tokyo Police Club/Don Diablo vs. Kaz & Macy/Justin Robertson vs. Erol & Boyz Noize. Tasty Afro disco? Buari hits the spot. How about a slice of Bollywood heaven via NYC's stellar Avramina 7, led by trumpeter Michael Leonhart? A killer band with a great album (Seahorse & The Storyteller) - one of my faves of the year so far. Throw in a new tune from Mock & Toof, a slab of Black Devil Disco dub, a drumcentric remix of Caribou and your party play list is complete. Press play and let your feet do the rest.

Beastie Boys vs. Deadmau5 - Fight For Your Right 2 Deadmau5 (The Slips Mash Up)
Boys Noize & Erol Alkan - Lemonade (Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33's Remix)
Tokyo Police Club - Wait Up (Boots Of Danger) (Passion Pit Remix)
Kaz James ft. Macy Gray - Can't Hold Back (Don Diablo Remix)
Caribou - Odessa (David Wrench's Drumapella)
Michael Leonhart & The Avramina 7 - Jaipur
The Cars - Moving in Stereo (Valerna Remix)
Mock & Toof - Farewell To Wendo
Black Devil Disco - Never No Dub
Buari - Advice From Father

Best. Cover Version. Ever.

Stereo Total - Tour de France

Stereo Total, je t'aime! Your new album Baby Ouh! is full of all of the things I love about you. Songs in a multitude of languages. Cheesy synths! Scruffy, scrappy lo-fi production. Lyrical lewdness! Wacky subject matter - see I Wanna Be A Mama. Stylistic Anarchy Rules! The Original Upper Kreuzberg Nose Flute Orchestra! And cover versions. I love their covers - they are unafraid to make them their own, and they are almost always a blast. This latest is no exception. - they cover Willie Dixon, Brigitte Fontaine, Pedro Almodovar (!) and Kraftwerk. Feel the power of Trans Europe Express, and if it can't bring a smile to your face fuhgeddaboutit!