Automato, hailing from New York City, consisted of Alex Frankel, Ben Fries, Jesse Levine, Nick Millhiser, Andrew Raposo and Morgan Wiley. This is their debut album that was produced by James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy of the DFA label. Unfortunately, it was their last too. Would have loved to see what else these guys would have dropped, but it wasn’t meant to be. So it goes. I’ll just keep clutching on to the brilliance they dropped on this one starting from the first note all the way down to the last.

Automato – Automato; Coup de Grace, 2004

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In the late ’60s, race riots plagued major cities; in Harlem, these events forced educators to think of new and exciting ways to keep kids off the streets and interested in their education. Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited (the Har-You Act) was a series of educational programs designed for that purpose.

The Harlem Youth Percussion Group grew out of that zeitgeist. Jamaican-born percussionist Montegro Joe was asked by Julien Euell (executive director of the arts and culture division of Har-You Act) to teach Afro and Jazz percussion. After four years of training, these 11 young men, age 16-19, created this self-titled album whose royalties went into a scholarship fund for the students.

Har-You Percussion Group – Har-You Percussion Group; CuBop, 1993

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It’s the one and only Rocker T delivering his concious vibes, in a style that is uniquely his own, on the classic LP, If Yu Luv Luv Show Ya Luv. Crucial addition to your crates.

Rocker T – If Yu Luv Luv Show Ya Luv; Positive Sound Massive, 1999

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Buenos Aires is the beautiful, intense and seductive capital of Argentina with Tango, as we already know, as its most distinctive sound, the sound realization of the ‘porteño’ spirit. Tango Chill Sessions celebrates this tradition by combining wandering pianos, melancholic bandoneons and guitars with slow electronic percussion, producing an original, sensual, landscape effect. Tango Chill Sessions uses Tango vocabulary without losing the essence of the sound that expresses the taste of Buenos Aires like no other.

Tango Chill Sessions Volumes 1&2; Music Brokers Arg, 2005

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A case of confusion on Soi Baan Dta Bi, Tung Kamin, Kuk Kak, Phang Nga.

This is the road outside my house in Phang Nga where I lived for just over two years. It looked like this every day I lived there…except for the last.

I returned, from a trip to northern Thailand, to pack my things and move to Koh Samui. I was greeted with this half-completed “upgrade” which left it nearly impossible (in a lowered Toyota Vios) to reach my house and be able to load the car easily. Beyond confused when I saw this sight. Good luck to my friends in Tung Kamin, looks like our village is starting to grow up.

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G.A.M.M. Enterprises Inc. is operated out of Stockholm, Sweden and drops ill fuckin’ beat after ill fuckin’ beat. Check it for yourself.

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Strictly Dub is an obscure dub album that briefly surfaced in the early 1980s on the US imprint, Jammys Records, and is rightly regarded as a minor masterpiece of Jammy’s mixing style.

Prince Jammy – Strictly Dub; Pressure Sounds, 2010

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Rockers features Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace as a drummer looking to earn extra cash by selling and distributing records to the soundsystems throughout Kingston. Also featured in the film are Dillinger, Big Youth, Burning Spear, Kiddus I, Jacob Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Richard “Dirty Harry” Hall, Robbie Shakespeare, and Harry J’s studio. A classic look into the late-70s Reggae scene that is filmed as a narrative, but, since nearly everything is presented in its true element, it comes across as a documentary.

“I’m like a stepping razor, don’t you watch my size, I’m dangerous…“

Rockers – Directed by Ted Bafaloukos, 1978

Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5, Pt.6, Pt.7, Pt.8

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Lovin’ the fact that K’Naan wrote the anthem for the World Cup 2010. I suppose you have heard the hella catchy tune, “Wavin’ Flag”, already from his latest effort, Troubadour, or the rewritten version that has recently come out. If not, you can check it here.

I was walking down the street recently here in Thailand and was totally confused when I heard the vibes comin’ out of a stereo except the song was more of a Thai rock version with Thai vocals and K’Naan singing also. After some research, I found out that the song has been remixed with popular artists in various countries throughout the world using a mix of the original and the native language of each artist. Clever idea indeed. Here is the Thai-version of “Wavin’ Flag” titled “Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh” and performed by Tattoo Colour.

K’Naan feat. Tattoo Colour – “Wavin’ Flag” aka ”Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh”

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Phil Pratt behind di mixing boards serving up delightful cut pon delightful cut.

Various Artists – Phil Pratt Thing; Pressure Sounds, 1999

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A case of confusion and coincidence in Baan Kun Klang, Chiang Mai.

I ventured to the far north of Thailand for a short trip and ended up spending my 30th birthday perched atop Doi Inthanon, the roof of Thailand (2,565 m / 8,415 ft). I stayed at a Hmong homestay on Doi Pui surrounded by the plentiful rows of flower gardens and stunning vistas in all directions.

I had to shake my head and laugh when I opened the door to my bungalow and discovered that the bed was covered with a ‘Happy Birthday’ blanket. Could only figure that I was meant to be in that spot on that day.

The view from outside the bungalow across Baan Kun Klang to Siriphum waterfall. Click the picture for a panoramic view.

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As Norman Granz had done with Art Tatum 20 years previously, the impresario allowed Joe Pass to sit down and play his songbook. The result was Virtuoso, which included standards and original compositions recorded with acoustic and electric guitars. Virtuoso was the recording to announce that Joe Pass had arrived.

Pass had accomplished, using standard guitar performance techniques, to play lead melody lines, chords, and bass rhythm simultaneously and at tempo, giving the listener the impression that multiple guitars were being played. With the exception of the closing tunes, Pass restricts himself to the standard vernacular of Tin Pan Alley, Be Bop and ballads.

For the second installment of his Virtuoso series, Pass chose pieces of a more contemporary nature than present on Virtuoso. Pass mixes things up here with the ground zero of Hard Bop, new Jazz standards and contemporary Jazz standards.

All the while, the guitarist is illustrating his brilliant command of the entire American Song Book, while at the same time proving a keen intellect when choosing song vehicles for his playing. These songs are performed without flaw, regardless of tempo, infused with that element of joy Joe Pass brought to jazz and a palpable love of expressing that on six strings.

Joe Pass – Virtuoso #1 & Virtuoso #2; Pablo, 1973 & 1976

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Mongo Santamaria and the stellar players of his group explode out of your speakers with Latin-jazz rhythms on this record.

Mongo Santamaria – Mongo Explodes; Riverside, 1964

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