Ring The Alarm playlist November 17

William Onyeabor - Atomic bomb
Hugh Masekela - Don't go lose it baby
Kid Creole and the Coconuts - Mister Softee
Trouble Funk - Drop the bomb
Prince Charles and the City Beat Band - Rise
Lord Julien - Shades
Betty Davis - Anti love song
Timmy Thomas - Opportunity
The Emotions - I like it
Dusty Springfield - Stay awhile
Jimmy Hughes - Slippin' around with you
Barbara Lynn - You're losing me
Stovall Sisters - Yes to the Lord
Soul Brothers Six - Thank you baby for loving me
Larry Laster - Go for yourself
Esther Phillips - Just say goodbye
Roy Ayers - Boogie back
Gil Scott Heron - The revolution... (Tahira rework)
Nomo - Nova
Lee Dodou and the Polyversal Souls - Basa basa
Tony Allen - No discrimination
Oscar Sulleys Nzele Soundz - Bukom
Jimi Tenor - Mystery spot
Estelle and Joni Rewind - Uptown top ranking
General Levy - Champagne body
Freestylers and Navigator - Ruffneck
Ragga Twins - Spliffhead
Che Fu and the Krates - E Tu

Philophon compilation out December

Philophon is a very cool little label started in 2014 by drummer Max Weissenfeldt (Poets of Rhythm, Whitefiled Brothers), releasing a handful of 7" singles.

He'd had the idea for a label for some time, and says " Only my move from Munich to Berlin brought the decisive turn. I joined the gamelan group of the Indonesian composer Gutama Soegijo, and it was at that time that a space was set up in his spacious studio and offered for sublease.

"Here I had found a place where I could build something. Soon I started working with Stibbo Spitzmüller as a technician to do the first recording experiments. At that time, I was also in Ghana a lot and started singing about our stuff - including Roy X aka Jimmy Taylor, the youngest son of highlife legend Ebo Taylor. During my travels through Ghana, I also discovered the kologo virtuoso Guy One and the Frafra Gospel King Alogte Oho. Back in Berlin, I had wonderful recordings of these three talents in my pocket - the desire to release them was great."


"Bitteschön, Philophon!" presents a best of selection taken from the so far fifteen 7" releases by the Berlin-based label Philophon. Greats as Jimi Tenor, Alemayehu Eshete and Hailu Mergia as well as new discoveries such as Guy One, Alogte Oho and Y-Bayani echo on "Bitteschön" the wide spectrum of the Philophon catalogue.

Philophon puts its emphasis on authentic local styles - from heavy grooving Ethio-Jazz coming out of Addis Abeba to cheerful Frafra-Gospel, as it is celebrated in Bolgatanga/Northern Ghana. Most recordings took place where the music is located - and that's the recipe for Philophon's productions: go to the source and dive into the real.

Out Dec 7th on LP/CD/digital

New Misled Convoy, out Nov 23

New music from Mike Hodgson aka Misled Convoy. Mike has worked as one half of Pitch Black.

"After finding a Russian language vowel sounds 7” box set in a charity store, Hodgson researched which nations had sent astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The 7'' became the vocal bed for the title track "Sixteen Sunsets", which was then augmented with vowel sounds from the other nations who have also inhabited the ISS. 

"The title is inspired by the phenomenon that, every day, due to orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes, the residents of the ISS witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets."

Ring The Alarm playlist November 10

Sola Rosa - King of hush
Bongmaster - Brothers and sisters
The Believers - Mr hot pants
Willie Hutch - Come on and dance with me
Crown Heights Affair - Say a prayer for two (US remixed version)
Modified Man - Accidental return
Nicolette - Waking up remix
Ardijah - Which way is up
The Temptations - Don't let the Joneses get you down
Sunny and the Sunliners - Get down
Senor Soul - Some got it, some don't
Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters - Cry baby
Rose Mitchell - Baby please don't go
Janet Jackson - Got til its gone (Jay Dee remix)
Kenny Dope - Can you handle it pt1
James Brown - There was a time (Kenny Dope remix)
Charles Bradley - Aint it a sin, Why is it so hard?
Antibalas - Che che cole makossa
Karl Hector and the Malcouns - Omebele (makossa)
Che Fu - Random (Mu aka DJ Fitchie remix)
Mono Massive - Make it slow
Eli Goularte - Meu samba (Nicola Conte remix)
Nina Simone - Seeline woman (MAW remix)

Ring The Alarm playlist November 3

Beastie Boys - Gratitude
Dyke and the Blazers - Let a woman be a woman, let a man be a man
George Benson and MAW - The ghetto
Kutiman -  Escape route
Afrique - Soul makossa (Karim's tanga extension)
Johnny Hammond - Los conquistadores chocolate
Lord Echo - Sword cane
Grace Jones - Use me (long version)
Lee Scratch Perry  -God smiled (Moody Boyz remix)
Bullwackies Allstars - Boma ye dub
Lovejoys - One draw
Sabres of Paradise - Tow truck
SPA Beat Spacek - Ring di alarm
Dub Asylum with Sandy Mill - What the funk (Paddy Free remix)
Bill Withers - Railroad man
Willie Mitchell - Sugar T
Jackie Lee - The chicken
Jimmy James and the Vagabonds - Hi diddly dee dum dum
Litle Eva - Keep your hands off my baby
Mary Wells - Aint it the truth
The Uptights  -There's a better day coming
Doris Troy - Just one look
Lloyd Price  -They get down
Nite-liters - Afro strut
Coco and Misha Panfilov Sound Combo - Soul strut
Skyy - No music
Frantique - Strut your funky stuff
David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto - Bamboo houses (remix 2000)

Ring The Alarm playlist October 27

Bobby Valentin - Use it before you lose it
Tito Puente - Black brothers
Joe Torres - Get out of my way
Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound - Canta una simple (sing a simple song)
Monguito Santamaria - Groovetime
Pete Rodriguez - Oh that's nice
Ray Barretto  -Soul drummers
War - Me and baby brother
Chic -  Would you be my baby
Aural Exciters - Emil night rate
Universal Robot Band - Dance and shake your tambourine
Dennis Mobley & Fresh Taste - Superstition
Shift - Roller rink funk
Material feat Nona Hendryx - Bustin' out (seize the beat version)
Nona Hendryx - B boyz
IQU feat Betty Anne Monga  -Witchcraft
DLT feat Teremoana - Beautiful remix
Recloose - Mana's bounce
The Yoots - E papa waiari
Booker T and the MGs - Can't be still
Lee Fields and Sugarman & Co - You don't know what you mean
Curtis Mayfield - Move on up
Radiants - I'm glad I'm the loser
Cliff Nobles - My love is getting stronger
Barbara Lynn - Don't be cruel
Lorraine Chandler - I can't hold on
Billy Karaitiana - Cool jerk
Jay Epae - Putt putti
Bill Wolfgramm and his Islanders - Haere mai

Chicago's Out Of The Past Records

Via Nostalgia King: "For close to 50 years, Out of The Past Records has been going strong as a Chicago institution. The Vinyl Factory recently caught up with the owners for a spotlight of why they’re still in business.'

Ring The Alarm playlist October 20

Melodians Steel Orchestra - Voodoo Ray
Misha Panfilov Sound Combo  -Who's in love
Chairmen of the Board - Pay to the piper
Supremes - Love is like an itching in my heart
Four Tops - You keep running away
Jr Waker and the Allstars - Shake and fingerpop
Marvin Gaye - Can I get a witness
Five Stairsteps and Cubie - Little young lover
Chaka Khan - What you did
Undisputed Truth - You + me = love
Isley Bros - It's alright with me
Love Unlimited Orchestra - Theme from King Kong pt2
Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - Rumours
Charles Bradley - Aint it a sin
Charles Wright  - You are the one for me
The JBs - Giving up food for funk
War - Me and baby brother
Chico Hamilton - El toro (Mark de Clive Lowe remix)
Charles Mingus - II B. S. (RZA remix)
Johnny Osbourne - Budy bye (Kenny Dope mix)
Sister Nancy - Transport connection
Phyllis Dillon - Woman of the ghetto
Tenor Saw and Buju Banton - Ring the alarm quick
Jackie Mittoo - Disco Jack
The Frightnrs - I would rather go blind
Luiz Bonfa - Jacaranda
Dionne Warwick - I'm just being myself
Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose - Treat her like a lady
Lou Donaldson - Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud
ZZ Hill - Clean up America

Abstract Orchestra on Madvillainy....

From the crew who did a cool reworking of Dilla last year, now onto Madvillainy... free download of a song off it too, on Bandcamp...

"Abstract Orchestra, the Leeds based heavily touring hiphop big band inspired by the live performances of The Roots and Jay-Z and the production of J Dilla and Madlib.

Abstract Orchestra’s MADVILLAIN Vol 1. explores the jazz, TV soundtrack and film score aspect of the original work, combining it with classic big band writing and a focus on improvisation. There is a strong influence of Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin and David Shire (composer of the soundtrack to The Taking of Pelham 123) on the album, and the arranger Rob Mitchell crafts his own sound that inhabits the space between Madlib’s production and Quincy Jones’ writing.

Bandleader and arranger Rob Mitchell says of the record: “MADVILLAINY was a jazz album as much as it is a hiphop album and I wanted to explore this reciprocal territory there has always been between jazz and hip-hop. 70’s cop show soundtracks have always captured my interest and imagination, and I discovered so much amazing music through TV themes, Quincy Jones and Lalo Schifrin in particular.

"They explored sounds that were menacing, angular, dissonant, frantic and yet captivating. They were also able to write music that was the flip side of all that dark chaos, and write lush and beautiful music. Arranging and scoring up MADVILLAIN Vol 1. Has allowed me to explore these sounds that I’ve always loved, yet keeping a strong hip-hop identity as the core of its sound.”

Out on ATA Records, 2 November, LP/CD/Digital

Electric Rhythm: The History of the Drum Machine

A cool short doco on the history of the drum machine and the technology as it evolved, running from Leon Theremin to Sly Stone and Roger Linn... watch out for the original tv ad for the TR 808.

Real Groovy on the move? Current site being redeveloped as apartments

Stuff.co.nz report that the current site for Real Groovy, at 369 Queen St, has been listed as an apartment development by Conrad Properties.

"Conrad Properties Group is the company developing the apartments, the same group that built the apartments at the 438 Queen St site [Real Groovy's former home]. 

"Conrad Properties Group says on its website Queens Park Residences will have 111 units, 69 of which are pre-sold. One bedroom units would sell for at least $1 million .... Details about the development are limited but it appears the existing building will be retrofitted with apartments."

Real Groovy shifted out of 438 Queen St, at the end of 2015, to make way for a 226 unit apartment building. 

They took a 3 year lease (with a 6 month development clause) on the space formerly occupied in and office block by the Salvation army church. No official comment as yet from Real Groovy.

ADDED 19 Oct - Real Groovy have posted a survey on Facebook, saying "Hey dudes - we AREN'T closing btw. We might shift though! (next year). Can you let us know where you'd like us to shift - in this quick survey? Chur x"

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZLY5Z7B

Previous:Real Groovy on the move, premises to be demolished (June 2015)

Real Groovy moves a hop, skip and a jump from current spot (Dec 2015)

Ring The Alarm playlist October 13

Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band - 1 thing
US Steel Orchestra - Jouvert (Lord Echo re-edit)
Trinidad Steel Drummers - Cissy strut
Khurangbin - Mr White
The M-Tet - Sweetheart
Martha High - Things got to get better
Dusty Springfield - Stay awhile
Betty Harris - Trouble with my lover
Kova and Miles - Clap clap
Kinny - Forgetting to remember
Kariem Riggins  -Summer madness SA
Sonzeira - Um toque (Tahira rework)
Gil Scot Heron - The revolution will not be televise ((Tahira abayomy afrobeat version)
Seu Jorge - Carolina
James Brown - Get up, get into it, get involved
Sunny and the Sunliners - Get down
Five Stairsteps - Change of pace
Shack - Too many lovers
Sly and the Family Stone -Stand
The Impressions -Turn on to me
Vernon Burch - Fun city
Bohannon - Bohannon's beat
Rick James - Give it to me baby
Esso Trinidad Steel Band - I want you back
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band - Hoola hoop
Steel n Skin - Afro punk reggae dub
Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie - Midnight marauders (El Head version)
Jahlicious - Something (Beatlicks remix)
Cooly G - Love dub

Ring The Alarm playlist October 6

Nuyorican Soul feat George Benson - You can do it baby
Bob James - Nautilus
Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Celestial blues
Dizzy Gillespie - Matrix
The Blackbyrds - Do it fluid
Dr Tree - Eugino D
Tina Turner  -Whole lotta love
The Indications -Tuck n roll
Archie Bell and the Drells -Tighten up
Ollie and the Nightingales - I've got a feeling
BB King - Heartbreaker
Senor Soul  - Some got it, some don't
Lulu - Sweep around your own back door
Johnny Taylor - I am somebody pt1
Eddie Floyd - Don't tell your mama where you've been
Binky Griptite - The stroll pt1
Inez Andrews - I hear music
Harlem Gospel Travellers - He's on time
Coko and Misha Panfilov Sound Combo - Soul strut
Marvin Gaye - Got to give it up pt1
Jimmy Bo Horne -You get me hot
Marion Jervis - Get it
Ikebe Shakedown - Hard steppin'
Clifton Chenier - Black gals
Brassroots  - Good life
Calibro35 feat Elisa Zoot - Travelers, explorers
Che Fu - Without a doubt (DLT remix)
Hunrosa - We know (Danvers remix)
Kawuku Sound - Lost in sound

Ring The Alarm playlist September 29

Syl Johnson - Back for a taste of your love
James Brown - Shades of brown
Pigalle Connection - Paris breakdown
Lunar Funk - Mr Penguin pt1
Nite liters - Afro strut
The Supremes - Love is like an itching in my heart
Little Stevie Wonder - Workout Stevie workout
Erma Franklin  -Sweetest feeling
Nick Waterhouse  -IT#3
Barbara Lynn - Don't be cruel
Shogun Orchestra - Sword of doom
Natural Yoghurt Band - Voodoo
Dennis Yost - Spooky
William Bell and Mavis Staples - Love's sweet sensation
Pointer Sisters - Send him back
Mary Wells - Can't you see you're losing me
Cliff Nobles - My love is getting stronger
Wendy Rene - Bar B Q
Isaac Hayes - Ike's mood 1
Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe
Blackbyrds - The runaway
Rusty Bryant - Fire eater
Pepe Bradock - Peer pressure
Jesse Futerman - Broken glass
OTA - Nuinui
Lewis McCallum feat Mara TK - The almanac

Ring The Alarm playlist September 15

Love Unlimited Orchestra - Theme from King Kong (Danny Krivit's breakdown edit)
Philadelphia Allstars - Let's clean up the ghetto (Mr K edit)
Ralph McDonald - The path pt1
Mr Chop - Vitamin C
DLT - Black panthers
Bob James - Angela (theme from Taxi)
Quincy Conserve - Superstrut
BB King - The BB Jones
Little Stevie Wonder - Workout Stevie, workout
Willie Mitchell - Bad eye
Donnie Elbert - Sweet baby
Bob Wilson and the San Remo Quartet - All turned on
Bar-Kays - Copy cat
Wood Brass and Steel - Welcome to the party
Gary Davis - The pop
ESG - Moody (spaced out)
Hunrosa - We know (Danvers radio edit)
Kawuku Sound - Lost in sound
The M-Tet - Express yourself
Rick James - Bustin' out
Gladys Knight and the Pips - Who is she and what is she to you
Laura Lee - Crumbs off the table
DJ Day - Gone bad
Pat Rhoden - Living for the city
Lloyd Williams - Reggae feet
Jo Jo Bennett - Canteloupe rock
Prince Francis - Beat down Babylon
The Sharks - Music answer
Cedric IM Brooks - Shaft
Big Bud - Runaway