Ring The Alarm playlist December 1

Chaka Khan - I feel for you
Womack and Womack - Teardrops
Gwen Guthrie - Peanut butter (12" version)
Lizzie Mercier Desloux - Lady o'kpele
Magic Fever - Magic circle express
Eric Lau - Final chance
The PutBacks - In the dirt
Bill Doggett  -Pimento
Len Barry - Bullseye
Jr Walker - Shake and fingerpop
The Magic Tones - Together we shall overcome
O'Jays - 992 arguments
Ann Peebles - Beware
James Brown - Aint it funky now
The Delegates - Pygmy pt1
Idris Mohammed - Express yourself
The Meters - Chug chug chug-a-lug
Little Sister - Stanga
Paper Tiger with Steve Spacek - The cycle
Recloose - Solomon's alive
War - Cisco kid
Salmonella Dub - Platetechtonics (Groove Corp remix)
Unitone Hifi - Sneeze off
International Observer - We know
Beastie Boys - Don't play no game that I can't win
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band - Hoola hoop
iZem and K.O.G. - Change (inst)
Julien Dyne with Ladi6  - Hours
Avantdale Bowling Club - Quincy's march
Shogun Orchestra - Sato san
Mike Fabulous - There's something about Africa

Paper Tiger x Steve Spacek

Having previously collaborated with the likes of Shafiq Husayn, Chester Watson and Foreign Beggars, electronic space funk outfit Paper Tiger return from an explorative journey to the dark edges of the cosmos with their long-awaited third album ‘Rogue Planet’.

‘The Cycle’ (the first single to be lifted from this new offering) features the unmistakeable vocal stylings of the legendary Steve Spacek.

The single officially arrives on November 30 via Wah Wah 45s, and backed up by b-side cut, "Quick Wash," and a remix of "The Cycle" by Shy One.

K.O.G a.k.a Kweku of Ghana and Moroccan/French beatmaker iZem drop single

"Pura Vida Sounds, the brand new imprint set up by GUTS, presents Change, a collaboration between the Ghanaian singer K.O.G a.k.a Kweku of Ghana and the Moroccan/French beatmaker iZem a.k.a In Ze Early Morning. The meeting between the Ghanaian singer and the French beatmaker is not a story of acronyms but rather of a fruitful venture between two expatriates who, from their new found homes, capture perfectly their surrounding vibrations.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist, born in Accra (Ghana), resident in Sheffield (UK), K.O.G is constantly innovating. Leader of his own monstrous afro funk band K.O.G and The Zongo Brigade (see them at Transmusicales 2018 and album on Heavenly Sweetness March 2019) and lead vocalist for Onipa, K.O.G is a creative force, relentlessly touring and collaborating across a range of styles, from afro funk to house, dancehall and reggae to jungle, with forthcoming releases with Afriquoi (UK), Umoja (Netherlands), Jus Now (Trinidad/UK), Congo Natty (UK/Jamaica) and more.

Guitar-schooled in Spain, it is in Brazil and Argentina that iZem collaborated on multiple projects before landing in Dublin, behind two turntables and a mixer and finally ending up in Lisbon. After his first album, released by Soundway Records, the French and Moroccan beatmaker maintains his permanent connection with Portuguese-speaking music from South America and Africa. iZem and K.O.G are two connoisseurs of sound, experience and experimentation, that have previously collaborated with Nina Miranda (Smoke City), State of Mind, Riddimtion and Selekta Chestar."

Out now, on 7"/digital

Conch vinyl popup on Dec 8th

The Conch Pop Up Record Shack returns in time for Xmas on Sat 8th Dec. New & 2nd hand vinyl from  Stinky Jim, Dusty Crates, The Other Crate & Cian. Kicks off 10am thru til 4pm...... Cash only.

Ring The Alarm playlist November 24

100% kiwi music today cos BaseFm is rocking out at Grey Lynn Park Festival with a cool local showcase...

Scratch22 - Shivani Strut
DLT with Billy TK - Duel of the assassins
Opensouls - Rise up pt 1
Isaac Aesili with Iva Lamkum - Chemistry
Alphabethead - Buzz
Mara TK - Run
Quincy Conserve - Same old feeling (Peter Mac edit)
Prince Tui Teka - Heed the call
Billy TK and Powerhouse - Move on up pts1&2
Lewis McCallum - Fly or die
Mark de Clive Lowe - Melodious funk
Nathan Haines with Sonny Sagala - Lady J (video mix)
Unification  -Guru
Salmonella Dub - Problems (Sonsine dat little thing dub)
Dam Native - Behold my kool style
Che Fu - Misty frequencies (Manuel Bundy remix)
Tha Feelstyle - Su'amalie
Bic Runga  - Something good (Submariner mix with Tha Feelstyle)
Julien Dyne - What you say
Tubbs with Dallas - Five day night (Fat Freddys Drop remix)
Unitone Hifi with Bobbylon - Turn around
The Yoots - Me he manu rere
Maori Hifive - Poi poi
Patea Maori Club -  Ngoi ngoi
Snap - Sidewalk city (dance mix)
Houseparty - Dangerous love (dance mix)
Sandy Mill - Light of day

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.