To the Beat

Beat Authority playlist: 3/19/10

2010-03-19T17:06:00.001-04:00

Who says there ain't no funk in Austria?

2010-03-19T14:11:00.002-04:00

Well, I wouldn't have. But the Beat Authority has sent intrepid beats reporter Derek Maus far afield to Graz, Austria, and he's sending back the goods. Today on the Beat Authority, we'll hear Oherngift ("Ear-poison").

Here's Derek's report:

Being a college-town, this place is absolutely chock-a-block with music and actually has something of a reputation of being a jazz town going back to the 1920s. Unlike a lot of European, and especially Eastern European jazz scenes, this one seems not to be the result of expats moving here but a sort of indigenous scene. Last night, for example, I went out to a little basement bar called Die Hopflaube ("the Hop-arbor") where a band of kids -- billing themselves as Trio Chameleon -- who couldn't have been much older than twenty or so played a great set of jazz standards as a guitar/bass/drum electric trio and then proceeded to play a second set of loud funk and even punk tunes. All three players, but especially the guitarist and drummer (brothers, apparently) were just freaking amazing.

Last Sunday, I also went out to see a local group called Oherngift ("Ear-poison") and their three backup singers Die Abrissbirnen ("the Backhoes," a name with no corresponding accidental ugh!-factor in German...), and they did some great songs, including their local hit "Ich bin arbeitslos" ("I'm unemployed"), which is a satirical anthem to the effects of the economic crisis.

There is a huge electronic music festival in Graz coming up in May called, not so originally, the Spring Festival, which is this year in its tenth incarnation. There are some pretty big names in the drum-n-bass, chill out, and dub worlds coming to this thing (e.g., Kruder and Dorfmeister, Layo and Bushwacka, Mowgli, Rainer Trüby) and apparently it turns the city into something of a zoo in mid-May.

There are a couple of phenomenal record stores (think a clean -- and I mean spotless -- version of the store in "High Fidelity") in town and I plan on supporting the local economy heavily in those places. A couple of great finds there already include an Austrian DJ/arranger who goes by Dunkelbunt and includes a lot of interesting sources incl. Balkan music and Indian sounds in a pretty high-energy dance vibe (the "Roskilde remix" of his song "Cinnamon Girl" -- not the Neil Young song, by the way -- would absolutely kill on "The Beat Authority" methinks...). I also came across an Italian group called Pastaboys that has some pretty cool stuff that blends African, bossanova, and salsa sounds into new Italian jazz grooves (think Nicola Conte meets Antibalas).

I hear a lot of neo-soul and funk on the radio and in the streets around here -- Jamiroquai and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are EVERYWHERE, for example -- as necessary antidotes to the Lady Gaga and Eurovision crap that otherwise pervades (if I hear "Bad Romance" one more time, I may go insane...) and generally the soundscape of the city is pretty hip and cosmopolitan, which has something to do, I suspect, with the proximity of the Balkans (Slovenia is twenty miles away to the south) and the sizable Turkish immigrant population.

In all, though it ain't my raison-d'etre-en-Graz, the music here is pretty freakin' awesome and I plan to swim around in it pretty deeply. If more good things come my way, I'll be sure to drop you a line. Keep that North Country movin' and groovin'.

Charlie Gillett, father of world music, dies

2010-03-18T09:37:00.004-04:00

You may not know this name. But the only reason you do know names like Youssou N'Dour and Salif Keita and Mariza (the Portuguese fado singer) is because of him.

BBC broadcaster and forefather of global music, Charlie Gillett, died yesterday after an extended illness. Gillett is widely credited with coining the term, "world music". His show, The Sound of the World, was a joy to listen to. It had a playfulness that belied Gillett's love for the music he listened to. I discovered many bands through his show, including one of my favorites, Fat Freddys Drop.

Today, "world music" has exploded far beyond the boundaries of its name. I kind of bristle at the phrase now, when South Africans are making music that sounds like NYC indy-rock, and New Yorkers are making music that sounds like South Africans.

But Gillett laid the groundwork. He heard incredible music in far away places and decided the world needed to hear it, too. The Beat Authority and countless other music shows, bands, and entire genres would exist without him.

Free mp3: Gaudi

2010-03-17T09:59:00.002-04:00

The last time we heard from London-based producer Gaudi was a couple years ago when he remixed tracks by legendary Qawwali vocalist, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of the early giants of the "world music" genre.

Gaudi's back with a new record out next week. If you like reggae, dub, and deep bass with a global twinge, this one's for you. You can download a single for free here.

And let's make today's beat of the day from Gaudi's previous album...

Beat of the Day

2010-03-15T14:18:00.003-04:00

First off, listening to the Latin Alternative and a reggaeton edition of Afropop Worldwide Friday night on NCPR was awesome. The new Friday night lineup rocks - check it out.

Anyway, I was just listening to the Latin Alternative podcast, and this version of Manu Chao's song Politics Kills came up. A monster reggae/dub beat...

Dreaming about SxSW

2010-03-15T10:16:00.002-04:00

It's a routine, coolish Monday in the North Country. Meanwhile, hundreds (thousands?) of bands are playing all day all night in Austin at South by Southwest.

So let's pretend. Should I go see a cool new singer-songwriter (hint-hint: download here)? Maybe hang out with Ozomatli, Bomba Estereo, and Choc Quib Town at La Condesa? Or just follow the All Songs Considered folks wherever they go?

I've never been, probably never will go, but SxSW sounds like a music lover's dream come true.

Beat Authority playlist: 3/12/10

2010-03-12T17:05:00.000-05:00

Rise and shine.

Free mp3s: SxSW preview

2010-03-10T10:17:00.002-05:00

Austin, Texas' monster music festival, South By Southwest (SxSW) starts on Friday. I'll be honest, a lot of it is deep indy rock that really isn't my bag. But there are always new finds in all genres and it's worth paying attention to.

NPR's All Songs Considered goes whole hog into it, sending multiple correspondents down there. They've posted a sampler of the bands on their must-see list. And you can download the music for free. Click here.

Everybody's abuzz about the Danger Mouse/Shins frontman collab, Broken Bells. Everything Danger Mouse touches turns to gold...

Beat for a Monday Morning

2010-03-08T10:16:00.003-05:00

Jonathan Brown, host of Cutaway on NCPR, recommends Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears. Channeling The Godfather, Wilson Pickett, etc. Can't go wrong!

Check a cool video and hear a live version below...

PS - Make sure you chastise Mr. Brown for not posting a playlist since February 12th...

Free mp3: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

2010-03-05T16:51:00.003-05:00

Man, do they look bad-ass (will the FCC fine me for writing that?).

Here's where to go to download for free the new single from this neo-soul powerhouse.

And here's today's playlist.

Climbing the Banda ladder, rung by rung

2010-03-05T13:56:00.002-05:00

Last month, my wife and I were visiting Oaxaca, Mexico. We were strolling down the main pedestrian street early one evening and saw a poster advertising Banda la Flor (from Michoacan, I think) at 10 in a nearby bar.

Live Banda! This is what I'd been dreaming of. Banda is the Mexican version of the New Orleans Brass Band, a roving group of about a dozen musicians, brass, winds, and percussion. We had to go.

We return around 9:30 that evening and sit in the dusk on the steps of a nearby church and watch people go by until it's time to go to the bar. Suddenly, we hear Banda wafting from up the street. Down they come, marching along. A guy with them (presumably with the bar) stops in front of us with a tequila bottle in one hand, a shot glass in the other.

"Quieres un trago? Gratis!" (Want a shot? It's free!)

Free tequila imbibed, we follow the Banda parade into the bar, with high hopes of a big crowd and a great night.

Well, Banda la Flor was sensational. But the bar was dead. To make matters worse, the singer's mic wasn't working, so he had to stretch a cord that only went to the stairs, high above the band - he sang his heart out in the dark.

Later, that night, I asked a bar owner what the deal was. He said all the real Banda places are up in the northern suburbs. And anyway, this is a young band just trying to break into the Banda scene. Like with garage bands in the U.S., you gotta start gigging every night, no matter who shows up, no matter how good you are.

So tip a glass and enjoy Banda la Flor. Sorry, though, no free tequila shots.

OK Go does it again

2010-03-03T10:56:00.003-05:00

You may know the band OK Go for their ubiquitous treadmilling choreographic genius of a video.

I first knew OK Go because they did the theme song for - here's some truly archaine public radio trivia - a show called Odyssey (big ups to Joel Hurd for remembering the name!) that aired on NCPR some time in the early Naughts.

Anyway, OK Go has another tremendously fascinating video for their latest single. Props to Brian Mann for posting it over at our Inbox.

Another rave Fela! review

2010-03-03T09:43:00.003-05:00

This one from NCPR's very own theater critic, Connie Meng, who had never heard Fela Kuti's music before:

If you’ll be in NY in the near future, don’t miss the Broadway musical FELA. It’s about the life and music of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian daddy of Afrobeat. At the performance I saw Fela was played by Sahr Ngaujah, an extraordinary singer, actor and dancer. He alternates in the role with Kevin Mambo, as it’s extremely demanding both physically and emotionally.

The ten-piece band is onstage and is just terrific, as are the dancers, who periodically come out into the audience. The opening number lasts about ten minutes and the energy of the band and dancers is unbelievable. The costumes are gorgeous, the set fascinating and the whole thing knocked my socks off. See it if you can!

Jeez, I really want to go. Anyone else been?

Beat of the Day

2010-03-02T08:50:00.004-05:00

Tinariwen is just too bad-ass. Tuareg rebels who put down the guns for the guitars.

And they're playing this Friday night at La Tulipe in Montreal, before heading up to Quebec City and then to France.

Check it:

Burkina Electric

2010-03-01T15:37:00.003-05:00

Just heard these guys on KCRW's Top Tune podcast (which I highly recommend - a new song everyday, downloaded to your computer).

Burkina Faso. Germany. New York City. The beat is everywhere and comes together nice on this debut release.

UPDATE: Can't hurt to throw in this DJ Spooky remix video...

Rock the census (and get 26 free tunes)

2010-03-01T11:21:00.002-05:00

The census is a big deal. Especially in places that are losing population, like New York State, and the North Country, every person really does make a difference (like the public radio fundraiser) - in terms of political representation, all kinds of funding, and decisions based on demographic profiles.

Voto Latino - most recently active in the lead-up to the 2008 election - is organizing America's latino community to get counted.

Why is this on a music blog? A) It's a good cause. B) You can get 26 free songs, including Pitbull, Ozomatli, Rodrigo y Gabriela, y mucho mas, just by going here and promising to fill out a census form.

Rock the census!

Beat Authority playlist: 2/26/10

2010-02-26T17:08:00.001-05:00

Relatively stable. Have a great weekend everyone!

Free mp3: soulful R&B from Tru Thoughts

2010-02-26T14:21:00.001-05:00

Get it here.

Bomba Estereo en directo

2010-02-24T14:35:00.003-05:00

Colombia's Bomba Estereo was really one of my favorite acts of 2009 - a band with a breakthrough sound they call "Electro Vacilon" (love it.)

Check 'em out here in the studios of KEXP in Seattle. Liliana Saumet sounds a little hoarse from too much touring, but it's still awesome. Download the entire set here.

I'm with the horn section

2010-02-22T11:20:00.004-05:00

I've talked a lot recently about how much I love Tru Thoughts records. Based in Brighton in the UK, their roster includes Beat Authority faves Quantic, Alice Russell, Nostaligia 77, and more. Hell, they even give away a free Brazilian funk tune every now and again.

Starting today, this little blog from the wilds of New York State gets a worldwide exclusive: part 2 of a home movie by deepfunksters from Down Under, Bamboos. The Bamboos have a new album coming out March 30th, called 4.

You can watch part one here.

A big North Country welcome to all Tru Thoughts fans checking out Part 2...

Matmos on winking out

2010-02-22T09:27:00.003-05:00

San Francisco musicians Matmos (Drew Daniel and Martin Schmidt) wonder if we're better off digitizing our creative output or if the end result will be that culture just winks out. It's an interesting argument. Not sure if I agree with it all but it's an important discussion to have.

Potty Mouth Alert Martin Schmidt (white shirt) has a bit of a potty mouth and uses some salty adverbs in this video. Please don't watch this video if you're offended by cuss words, because if you are then this video will offend you. DF

Matmos on Digital Technology and the Internet from John Vogel on Vimeo.

Beat Authority playlist: 2/19/10

2010-02-19T16:49:00.001-05:00

We're suckahs.

- The Government.

Not so fast

2010-02-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Thought that you'd escape updates from Melodifestivalen this year, did ya? Not so fast.

Melodifestivalen, for those of you (un)lucky enough not to know, is a national psychosis that afflicts the kingdom of Sweden every february. Technically speaking it's a song contest, a kind of American Idol type thing by which the Swedish people select their entry to the Eurovision song contest (which is exactly what it claims to be). But in reality Melodifestivalen is a mirror to the Swedish soul. And the image reflected? Both fascinating and frightening.

Last week (semifinal 2, broadcast live from Sandviken), for the first time since I've been following the festival, there was an entry which could conceivably get played on the Beat Authority. A band whose members are second-generation imigrants to Sweden from Balkan countries teamed up with the Swedish rapper Dogge Doggelito (don't even ask) to produce what they call "Balkan reggaeton". Here's a clip below. Oh yeah, I have to let you know - the Swedish public sent these guys packing and picked a couple of pretty boys singing power ballads and power pop to go to the final.

Free mp3: the newest from the Monterrey scene

2010-02-18T09:23:00.003-05:00

Monterrey is Mexico's third largest city. It's a quick drive from the border with southern Texas. And it's the country's Austin, TX - the place where musical innovation thrives and the hottest bands are born.

Control Machete, Kinky, Plastilina Mosh, El Gran Silencio - all giants of the Latin Alternative scene, all from Monterrey. They mix up hip hop, norteno, punk, funk, rock, mariachi, electronica, you name it. Truly the new sound of global music.

Here's a new name to remember: Quiero Club. They sprinkle indy rock into the mix. Check out this article to learn more about them.

And download the great remix by Toy Selectah (Control Machete's DJ and a Monterrey native himself).

Putumayo for Haiti

2010-02-18T08:38:00.001-05:00

Another nice opportunity to support Haitian relief and get some good music in the process, care of Putumayo.