Beat Authority playlist: 10/30/09

Happy Halloween!

The now sound south of the border

Nortec Collective is a perfect example of what "world music" looks like today: live instruments meet digital samples and loops meet visual artistry. Traditional norteno meets hip-hop meets electronica meets rock.

This is 50,000 person show in Mexico City. Is this Mexican music? North American music? Yet another example why the "world music" category just doesn't make sense anymore. Like Marco Werman likes to say, "all music is world music".

But can he cut a record from side to side?

Free mp3: Alice Russell remix

My favorite concert of last summer was when I saw the UK's Alice Russell do her neo-soul thang at the Montreal Jazz Festival. She was so warm and personable, her band was tight, and the singing was very right.

Six Degrees has released a bunch of remixes of her CD, "Pot of Gold". Here's one for free!

Beat Authority playlist: 10/16/09

Go Yanks!

Pomplamoose

Beyonce's "Single Ladies" was one of the bona fide jam's of last summer. Y'know, get down, grind, and nasty kinda jam.

This band, Pomplamoose, gives it a whole new (cleaner) sound, and skips the nastiest parts. Hat tip to Joel Hurd.

Let's compare:



vs.

the Beyonce version (embed disabled so here's the link)

Free MP3: Grupo Fantasma by any other name

Grupo Fantasma, from Austin, Texas, has really taken the mantle from Ozomatli as the United States' premier neo-Latin groove band, IMHO. Friends have told me their live show is force of nature.

The band and its leader, Adrian Quesada, have a penchant for alternate identities. He and Antibalas leader, Martin Perna, play latin psychdelia as Ocote Soul Sounds.

Now the band is going as Brownout, and they have a new album out on Six Degrees records. The venerable global beats label is sending out a free track from the album and a free half-hour remix. So download 'em now...

Afrobeat with a message in Potsdam

It's not every day that an Afrobeat band (Fela Kuti-style) comes to St. Lawrence County. It's unheard of that the band's frontman is from St. Lawrence County.

But so it is with Toronto's Mr. Something Something. Get a sneak preview listen to my interview with Potsdam native John McLean here. And tune in to the Beat Authority Friday for a chance to win free tickets to see Mr. Something Something live at La Casbah next Thursday, Rocktober 15th at 8:30pm.

The band describes its music as "a soundtrack to a joyful revolution." Sounds sweet, huh?

Mr. Something Something garners big crowds and big ticket prices in its hometown and other big cities. But in lil' ole' Potsdam $8 advance is all it takes for a special intimate spot on the dance floor. Big kudos to Derek Maus for bringing this great act in...

Beat Authority playlist: 10/2/09

Double-dutch me.