A new home for Afrobeat: Audioblend.net

Hello all,

Its been some time since I have posted on the blog. From now on you will find the next recincarnation of this blog at its new home: http://www.audioblend.net . Audioblend will have a wider electronice music scope than this blog but I am sure you will all enjoy it nonetheless.

Thank to everyone who followed and contributed to this blog and I hope you enjoy Audioblend!

Dj Mujava : the one to take the South African house sound global??

We keep hearing about THAT South African artist who is going to take the local Kwaito/Pretoria/SA house sound global and it just falls short each time. Is Dj Mujava's "Township Funk" track the one to do this? It certainly has ticks all the boxes and seems more relevant than ever in light of all attention on the bmore sound, baile funk and african electronica is getting.

Dj Mujava has recently been signed to Warp and this is what they have to say about it:

"‘Township Funk’ is tough, dark, African dance music from the industrial city of Pretoria, South Africa.
It’s perhaps the most infectious dance record you’ll hear this year, echoing the early Warp sound of LFO or the Forgemasters in an uncanny way, almost 20 years on, across continents.

Is South Africa the new hip place for electronic music ?
Maybe….but we certainly hope that South African house will go worldwide with this track.

‘Township Funk’ will be released on Warp Records on 12″ on september 15th worldwide (excl UK) and available on all good digital outlets early, from august 11th.
In the UK, it will be released by the good people of This Is Music LTD."

This is already getting some coverage in the blogosphere and more recently in the Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom. With a mid-September release lets see what happens...

DJ Mbuso features on Secret Weapons EP

South Africa's favorite house producer, DJ Mbuso features on German label Innervision's Secret Weapons EP. The EP which features tracks from Alix Alvarez and Francois K finishes off with Ukukholwa Kuwe (I Believe In You)" (feat Shembe)by Mbuso which was orignally released on Phezulu Records last year. Secret Weapons EP was released in April 08 and can be bought at your local store or on Juno

DJ Mbuso - "Ukukholwa Kuwe (I Believe In You)" (feat Shembe)

Artist Check: Suzana Rozkosny

Suzana Rozkosny ties up a great relationship between Jazz and Electronic music. Her broad musical upbringing reflects in her productions and collaborations. From nu-soul Erica Badhu-type tracks through to collabo's with German house master Jackmate she covers a broad spectrum of music and with consistency in quality.

For some listening check out:

Apelle Moi (Label: Philpot)

Used Label: Philpot)

Also , for those in Berlin check her out tonight (23.05.08) at the Watergate.

Soulphiction new album for 2008 out now

Germans make some of the best house out there right now. Soulful and deep without the cliche sounds of so much house that gets stuck on "now-thats-jazzy-house-44" type compilations. Its fresh and interesting and packs a punch. Soulphiction encapsulates whats great about German house music with his new offering "Do you overstand?!" (Sonar Kollektiv) which came out last month.

The way he puts his material together has got some people saying he is stripping house down to something else. Well yes he stripping house down to what it should be a feeling, not a formula. This album pulls me back to Ron Trent / Chez Damier tracks on Prescription in its simplicity and intensity. And yes...also to Detroit...so many parralels to Moodymann and Theo Parrish.

Check some of this album out...

http://www.myspace.com/soulphiction

Gilles Peterson's World Wide Youtube Channel

For those of you who love a bit of the GP man's legendary Radio 1 sets and all things Gilles-like, check out his YouTube Channel page. Its filled with video footage from the World Wide Festival, World Wide Awards, Brownswood Recordings and other favorites from Gilles Peterson. I will add it to my link list as a permanent link as its quite a cool site to keep visiting.

http://youtube.com/gillespetersonww

Pepe Bradock - Intriguing Feathered Creature

The French deep house maestro can always be turned to for fresh sounding and exciting deep house. The artist who brought us rocking tracks like "Deep Burnt" has put out some more great music in 2008. "Intriguing Feathered Creature" released mid Feb 08 is the kind of house that plays well on a dance floor or chilling at home. Nice complex chords and a rather strange bird call sample throughout the track.

Intriguing Feathered Creature

Intriguing Feathered Creature (dub)

Gilles Peterson Worldwide Festival 2008 line up

The Worldwide Festival is back in style for its third French edition in the idyllic small fishing town of Sete (South of France). The Festival is taking place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July 2008 in some truly spectacular outdoor venues.

Look at the line up of confirmed dj's/acts:

Cinematic Orchestra, Laurent Garnier, Madlib, Sebastien Tellier, Pascal Comelade, Breakestra, Henrik Schwarz, Benga, Gilles Peterson, zero dB, Pilooski, Little Dragon, Dynamax, Marathon Men, Toshio Matsuura, DJ Lefto, James Stewart, L'Aroye and Ky… to name a few!


For more info and to book your ticket (tickets are currently 59 pounds / 81 euros) : http://www.worldwidefestival.com/