Ambient Spirit

Ambient Spirit - Earth

1. Catalonia - Pentatonik
2. Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
3. Calapagos - Sunkings
4. Hashidity - Optica
5. Eleven Bars
6. Dirt - Key Processor
7. Butterfly Holocaust - Nuetron 9000
8. King Canary Galatic Jump Ride - Timeshard
9. What Might Have Been - As One
10. Olwana - Loop Guru
11. Elevator [13th Floor Mix] - U.V.X.

This compilation is a fantastic selection of 90's electronic ambient. This was released in 1999 by a label called Dressed to Kill which seems to have evaporated. They also released a four disc compilation called Amberdelic Space and this is exactly the same as the first disc. But no matter where this arrived from, it's an excellently relaxing and uplifting experience.

MASTA POPA - Ekouleme

I found this video on Awesome Tapes From Africa which is a fantastic Blog. This is Tongolese Hip Hop. I haven't been able to find anything else by Masta Popa, the artist.

Sounds from Momo's Kemia Bar

This album seems to have bizzarre origins being a free CD with a magazine with music that is published by a London restaurant. The selection of music is actually really good and is sort of thing you would expect to be played in the background of a fancy bar. It's a selection of laid back downtempo dance music with a slight hint of world music. Imagine Morcheeba crossed with Massive Attack relaxing in a jazz club wearing a Fez after returning from Morocco. This has been getting played a lot at Faceplant Mansions. I don't like the first track but the rest of the CD is excellent if played in the background while you're washing the dishes.

1. Woody Braun Feat. Allonymous - Finding Words Ain't Easy
2. Stephane Malca & Omar Faruk Tekbilek - In The Shade
3. El Payo Feat. Marga Nero - Andar No Ar Dub
4. Stephane Malca - Freedom
5. John M. Steed - Herb
6. Smadj Feat. Rokia Traore - Fatwords (Al West Remix)
7. El Payo Feat. Dele Sosimi - Gbegedegi
8. John M. Steed Feat. Gary Mudbone Cooper - Everything (Nicola Bulostin Funky Mix)
9. Stephane Malca - Jazz Beat
10. Woody Braun Feat. Allonymous - Finding Words Ain't Easy (Captain Comatose Mix)
11. Dele Sosimi Feat. Keziah Jones - Invisible Hands

Track 10 sounds like Mr Oizo's Flat Beat but in a low key Jazz-Funk Lounge sort of way.

Celebrate Christmas!

Clebrate Christmas

1) Gloria In Excelsis
2) In Dulce Jubilo
3) Down In Yon Forest
4) God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
5) For Unto Us A Child Is Born
6) Coventry Carol
7) Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8) The First Nowell
9) 'Hallelujah!' Chorus

This album was given away free with Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1999.

The tracks are all beautifully sung Christmas Carols by a variety of different choirs. It would be perfect in the background to a festive gathering sometime over the next month.

The Cartoon Rave Ep

In 1991 the UK was traumatised by Rave exploding into the mainstream. Here are four examples of Rave tunes that sampled nostaglic TV samples and implied illegality.

1) A Trip To Trumpton - Shaft
2) Charley - The Prodigy
3) Sesame's Treat - Smart E's
4) Roobarb & Custard - Shaft

I would love to be able to include Summer's Magic by Mark Summers which sampled the Magic Roundabout but I don't think it was ever released on CD and so hasn't made it into the digital world. If I ever find it, I'll post it. Here it is in Youtube form:

Mas Que Nada - Brazilian Dance Party

Apparently, there are more species of monkeys in Brazil than any other country in the world.

Vamos dançar!