Ring The Alarm playlist, Basefm, March 1

3 generations walking -Midnight bustling - Francois K dub
Skip MacDonald - Hammerhead
Electric wire hustle - Waters
Boozoo bajou - Yoruba road
The Liberators - Water somewhere
Pablo Crikta - Lima
Chancha via curcuito - Zorzal
Ray Barretto - Acid
Jay Epae - The creep
Scott Wood - Chicken rock
The Meters - Chicken strut
Jackie Mittoo - Chicken and booze
Jo-Jo and the fugitives - Chips, chicken, banana splits
Chickenwing allstars - Celestial dub (Anderson version)
Yabby You  - Dub it to the top
The Congos - Bring the mackaback
Keith le Blanc - Taxcider
African head charge - Somebody touch I
Upper hutt posse - No worries in the party tonight
Three degrees - Do it (use your mind)
Johnnie Taylor - Disco lady
Gwen McCrae - Funky sensation - MAW remix
Brenda Russell - A little bit of love  -Souleance edit
Neneh Cherry - Everything
Stinky Jim - Phantom bazaar (outside) demo mix
The Pharaohs - Pharaohs love y'all
Bobby Marin - Cisco kid
Revolution of St Vincent - The little you say

Hallelujah Picassos new bizz, soon come!

My band Hallelujah Picassos have been brewing up some new tunes, and are in the studio recording them. Soon come! [photos by John Pain]

Roland working on lyrics

Peter McLennan laying down noisy gutiar

Bobbylon recording drums

Darryn Harkness, at the control tower

A film about William Onyeabor

Lunokhod

Who are Lunokhod? "Lunokhod is the project of two guys who live between Italy and Belgium. It is a sound journey that begins with space melodies and ends up in a tribal rain. Fernando and Alex, who have already played together in indie-band Black Flowers Café, fill the distance with beats and music colors that they exchange through the web. In the spring of 2013 they decide to give birth to Lunokhod."

Their debut EP Cube dropped Feb 6 as a free download, listen here, and their first album is out Feb 27.

I dig this track, another one of theirs that they posted last month.. free download too..

Resonators: Sudan

UK reggae outfit have been having some choice adventures... "We're buzzing having just returned from a weeks trip to Sudan as part of a project organised by the British Council. We had the pleasure of working, collaborating and gigging with local Khartoum based musicians including reggae group Sudan Roots Band, as well as two gigs in Port Sudan. It was truly inspiring and uplifting, serious vibes! 

We're going to continue working with some of the musicians we met out there so watch this space for further collaborations! Check out our facebook for previews, videos, photos and recordings!A massive thank you to the British Council for making the whole thing happen and all the musicians and Sudanese folk we met for their heart warming hospitality, enthusiasm and inspiration! Big Love!

A special edition of our album 'The Constant' will be released in March on WahWah 45s. Expect previously unreleased dubs and remixes together with the original album tracks in one neat package! Available for digital download from wahwah45s.com soon.

Phil Warren

Phil Warren. Pic: Audioculture

Chris Bourke has written a great piece up now on Audioculture about music impresario Phil Warren, a hugely important figure in New Zealand nightlife. Go check him if you've never heard the name.

Bourke described Warren in 2002 as a man who "believed show business and politics were natural bedfellows. Both require the gift of the gab – and a natural charisma to encourage people to get out and vote for you. He knew the old gag – “politics is show business in drag” – and once put it to use when he booked Diamond Lil for a Labour Party conference. 

"Besides all the acts he booked, all the local body meetings he chaired, in the early 1970s he altered the social fabric of New Zealand when he acted like a one-man lobbyist to change archaic laws that prevented licensed drinking after 10 o’clock. “I always vote for Phil,” an Auckland friend once said. “He’s the only politician who believes people should be allowed to go out at night.”

Outside the Ace of Clubs, Cook Street, Auckland 1985, Aotea Centre
and carpark under construction in background.
Credit: Phil Warren collection

Mo Kolours - Child's play

Previewing another cool track off the debut album from Mo Kolours, out late March... One-Handed Music say "There's a month to go until we drop Mo Kolours' debut album, so here's a track to stop you gnawing your hands off with anticipation. Child's Play is a low-key gem, pairing Mo Kolours' unique beat-making with unashamedly conscious lyrics.

And if that's not enough, check the video Mo made, teasing the album's opening song, Brixton House, and giving you a glimpse of his studio (as well as the now sold-out t-shirts). Click here to view it on YouTube.

Want to pre-order the record before its March 23 release? We have LPs and we just added some recycled-card digipak CDs (they fold out and look a bit like they're made of egg-boxes, in a good way). You get a couple of free tracks now and the full digital album on release too. Check it here."

New Single from Scalper

The moody new single from the forthcoming Scalper album 'The Emperor's Clothes'.

Ring The Alarm playlist, Basefm, Feb 22

Western roots - Bogus buddy
Herbs - Meteli
Randys Allstars - Mission impossible
Hopeton Lewis - Take it easy
Wayne Smith (RIP)  - Under mi sleng teng
Tenor Saw - Pumpkin belly
Compass allstars - Peaut butter
Janet Jackson - Don't mess up this good thing
Shalamar - Right in the socket
Three degrees - Do it (use your mind)
George McCrae - You treat me good
Charles Wright and Watts 103rd st rhythm band - Loveland
Dee Felice trio - Nightingale
Melodians steel orchestra - Voodoo Ray
Chuck Brown and the Soul searchers - We need money
Goon squad - Eight arms to hold you
House shoes - So different
Pablo Crikta - Lima
Ray Lugo and the boogaloo destroyers - El ritmo de Nueva York
Andrew Ashong  - Love the way
Bev Lee Harling - Why don't you do right - Suonho remix
Beginning of the end - Come down baby - Kenny Dope remix
Brenton Wood - Some got it, some don't
Morgan Clarke with Bennys Five - Haka boogie
Zilla Mayes - Calypso blues
Breakestra - Northeast to Nippon
Mavis Staples - Koochie koochie koochie
Betty Davis - Anti love song
Taka Boom - Dance like you do at home
Grandmaster Flash - Message is conga

RIP Wayne Smith

Via Jamaica Observer: "Singer Wayne Smith, whose computerised song Under Mi Sleng Teng revolutionised reggae, has died. Smith’s son, Tidel Smith, told the Jamaica Observer that his father died yesterday at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

He was 48 years old. He said Smith was admitted to KPH Friday after complaining of stomach pains. His health improved on Sunday but yesterday it deteriorated and he died shortly after noon.

An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death. Originally from Waterhouse, Smith started his career in 1980 with producer Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James who produced Under Mi Sleng Teng four years later.

Under Mi Sleng Teng was orchestrated by Smith and musician Noel Daley on an inexpensive Casio keyboard. It was first played at dances on James’ sound system and got such strong response that James released the song in late 1984.

The ‘riddim’ of the same name produced numerous hit songs, including Pumpkin Belly by singer Tenor Saw.
Under Mi Sleng Teng was a trailblazer, triggering dancehall’s digital age.

It was Smith’s biggest hit, though he enjoyed more chart success with songs like Ain’t No Meaning In Saying Goodbye and Come Along.

Smith, who operated the Sleng Teng label, is survived by his mother, May Coley, five children, three grandchildren, and five brothers and sisters."

Freddys vs Theo Parrish

Via Kartel... "After a barnstorming 2013 Fat Freddy’s Drop are back with two brand new 12” singles with re-workings from Theo Parrish, Ashley Beedle & Darren Morris and Colleen “Cosmo” Murphy & Andy Yamwho?.

The first of the set features a vocal and an instrumental translation of ‘Mother Mother’ from Theo Parrish. The Detroit producer and DJ delivers a masterful yet twisted, ten-minute-plus re-wiring of Fat Freddy’s Drop’s soulful, techno-tinged workout. Taken from their 3rd LP ‘Blackbird’, Gilles Peterson described the original as “an incredible piece of music.”

‘Mother Mother’ gets the four-to-the-floor treatment from Colleen “Cosmo” Murphy & Andy Yamwho? on the A-side to the second 12”. On the flip side is Ashley Beedle & Darren Morris’s cosmic ‘Afrikanz On Marz’ remix of ‘Never Moving’, also lifted from the ‘Blackbird’ LP" Out  March 24.

AUDIO PREVIEW over at Juno

Holiwater - Maya, out now

Out January 27 on Dubmission Records, to coincide with their live performance at Splore. Originally working under the name Holiwater Project, this fruity blend of traditional Indian instruments with electronica is driven by Tom Bailey, aka thedubwise don behind International Observer. Listen below.

Holiwater Band are: Sarod – Pandit Vikash Maharaj; Tabla – Prabhash Maharaj; Keyboards/Electronica – Tom Bailey (International Observer/Thompson Twins); Percussion/Kit Drums – James Pinker; Sitar (Longing) - Abhishek Maharaj.

Arranged, produced and mixed by Tom Bailey. Compositions by Pandit Vikash Maharaj & Tom Bailey. Percussion/Kit Drums recorded by Angus McNaughton at MAINZ Studio, Auckland Aotearoa/New Zealand. Indian recordings by Narendra Tripathi at Nirmal Dhara Creations, Varanasi, India. Mastering by Angus McNaughton/Auralux.

Pablo Crikta: Peru via Sydney

Pablo Crikta are two Peruvian guys based in Sydney, Australia making some well tasty sounds. Free download of above tune.

Their Soundcloud bio says "We blend Cumbia (in particular, the Peruvian take on Cumbia called Psychedelic Chicha), Dub, Global Bass & Beats with touches of the ambiance of Shoegaze, the rawness of Grunge... and samples from Youtube and field recordings."

Odd Future: No future in NZ

This is also called "trying to post a blog from my stupid bloody phone."

US hiphop group Odd Future had been banned by the Nz Immigration service (their last visit in 2012 for the Big Day Out saw them dropped off the bill - they came anyway and did a sideshow at the Powerstation, withou incident or any protest). The reason is for inciting violence. This crappy turn of events brings about one of those delightful news blips, where Nz makes the international news, for all the wrong reasons. Major US music site Pitchfork has picked up the story, and gosh, NZ comes off sounding like blinkered idiots.

Keep in mind Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt played here two weeks ago (at Laneway) without incident or protest. And that leading gay  icon Eminem is headlining Rapture, the festival Odd Future were added to when Kendrick Lamar dropped out.

So, what gives? How does a lobby group like Stop Demand have such sway with central government? How does this decision get made so close to the event date that the promoters won't even have time to appeal it? How does his decision make Nz a better place?

What other performers has been banned from NZ over potential offence ? I remember when Ice T came to NZ with his metal band Body Count, in the early 90s- my band opened for them. Apparently the Nz police went on Holmes to object, pointing to Public Enemy's logo as a sign that Ice T hated cops, and really meant what he sang in their song Cop killer. How you confuse PE's logo with Body Count's is beyond me.

When Beenieman pulled out of Big Day Out after objections over his lyrics, one of the protest groups was disappointed he wasn't coming, as they'd planned to protest at the BDO to raise awareness and get some dialogue going on the artist's lyrical stance. Because discussing offensive lyrics with the people singing them is a sign of a civilised society. Banning them from our doors is not. That's shutting down dialogue. There's more nuance going than that, of course. And someone at Immigration appears to have an agenda. Wonder if they'll front to it?

Read Mosscaddie's post on Odd Future's banning here

Awesome Tapes For Africa return

Hat tip to The Corner, Awesome Tapes For Africa is returning to our shores soon, tour dates below...

"On top of his appearance at Splore this weekend, Awesome Tapes From Africa a.k.a. Brian Shimkovitz, has been announced to play three extra shows in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington. 

Dates and further details below and, if you need to get familiar with the project, read through Shimkovitz’ Collateral Damage column featured on The Wire right here.

Awesome Tapes From Africa tour dates:
Sat 15 Feb, Splore Festival, Auckland
Thu 20 Feb, Golden Dawn, Auckland, w/ DJ Uncle Barnie, 8pm start, $5 entry
Fri 21 Feb, Queens Bar, Dunedin, w/ Booof, David James and Dave Solo (Awesome Tapes From Aotearoa set), 9pm start, free entry with 2014 Radio Onecard, $10 without.
Sat 22 Feb, Mighty Mighty Bar, Wellington, 9.30pm start, ATFA onstage 10.30pm, $10 entry

@Peace new single, album coming

Yesterday, Auckland hiphop crew @Peace decided to release their new single Gravity by sending it to one person. And then ask that person to pass it on. Which is how it made its way to me. It's a novel way to release a single.

Their press release says "" Five dudes who spent the majority of science class in the dean's office have come together to make an album about cosmology, philosophy, and other things they can't spell.

Track 7 from the LP is entitled 'Gravity' a fundamental force of nature that existed before Sandra Bullock. Preorder their new album now at www.at-peace.bandcamp.com ." Listen to the single above.

The album is called "@Peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony"and comes out March 7. 

Tales of Prince

At the moment I'm reading Questlove's fascinating autobiography, Mo Meta Blues. Hes got a couple of great stories in there about hanging out with Prince, including one that involves going rollerskating with Prince and friends post-Grammys at 1 in the morning.

Then I watched the latest installment of Jerry Seinfeld's ongoing web series, called Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. And boy, does Chris Rock have a funny ass story about Prince. Tops Questlove's ones. Which I did not think was possible.

Won't let me embed it, so follow this link to watch it. 

Raggamuffin may move after poor turnout

Rotorua Daily Post reports that Raggmuffin fans in Rotorua have started a Facebook page to keep the festival in their town, in response "to an article in the Rotorua Daily Post earlier this week about organisers having doubts as to whether Raggamuffin will return to Rotorua following a poor turnout at the festival.

Organisers have now said if the event stays in Rotorua, it's likely to have fewer artists, be over one day and could possibly have cheaper tickets for locals.

About 19,000 people attended the festival at the Rotorua International Stadium last weekend, a 30 per cent drop from last year.

The turnout prompted organisers to reconsider the contract that would see Rotorua host the event for another year."

Ode To Ghana beat tape

Saw this mentioned on WahWah45s newsletter, cool highlife afrobeat tape. From OkayAfrica... "Worldwide beatmaking collective Hobo Truffles pay dope tribute to Ghana’s music heritage for their debut compilation, a beat tape based entirely on Ghanaian samples. On Ode To Ghana, participating producers (all 19 of them) sourced highlife and afro-jazz cuts into a new life as instrumental hip-hop bliss. Have a listen to all 21 tracks above."

Ring The Alarm playlist, Basefm, Feb 8

Bomb the bass - Bug powder dust - Kruder and Dorfmeister remix
Rae & Christian  feat Bobby Womack - Wake up everybody - Rae & Christian remix
Nightmares on wax - Flip ya lid
Fat Freddys Drop - Hope - Sonsine remix
Sound foundation - Ram dancehall
Johnny Osbourne - Budy bye - Kenny Dope remix (re-edit)
J-Live - Satisfied
Todd Simon - Richmond line
Pimps of joytime - PJT's high stepping
Young Holt Unlimited - Wah wah man
Osibisa - Fire
Jermaine Jackson - Let's get serious
The Upsetter - Bingo kid
Junior Murvin and the Upsetters - Get ready - Bongo mix/dubplate version
Che Fu - Get up stand up
Sluggy Ranks - Nah bow down
Beat pharmacy feat Paul St Hilaire - Sunshine
Manasseh - Skenga 12" mix
 Machinedrum - Stirrin
Collen and Webb - Golden
Cutty Ranks - Who say me done
LCD soundsystem - 45:33 - Padded cell remix
New order - Confusion
Jonzun crew - Space is the place

Amique: Mercy Light Exposure

New music from UK soul singer Amique, straight outta Liverpool. This is off his new EP 'Oh! The Ecstasy', out March, a followup to his debut EP Creation from June last year. Free download.

Amique says his many influences include Khalil Gibran, Prince, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Bilal, Erykah Badu, Salvador Dali. Arty dude with soul.

Very Tall Stories on BBE

Recent signings to UK label BBE ( alongside other Kiwis on the label like Julien Dyne, Electric Wire Hustle and Myele Manzanza), Very Tall Stories are playing shows in the UK before the album drops in March. Congrats, gents! The UK album release party is on March 13, details here.

BBE says: "Very Tall Stories is a soul band from New Zealand. Members are from a collection of other successful kiwi bands. Band members are; Olly Harris on trumpet (The Hot Grits/The WBC), Kurt Dyer on percussion (Solaa), Tom Everett on vocals (Kolab), Dan Collins on bass (P Bass Expressway), Simon Koziarski on guitar (@ Peace, King Kapisi live band), Shaun O’Cane on saxophone (The Hot Grits) and Mikey Rockwell on drums (JB and the Mic Smith).

Live gigs have included the Rugby World Cup Final supporting Ladi 6. Their first single ‘Home’ had Australasia-wide airplay including C4, Juice TV and ‘Thinking of You’ achieved airplay across New Zealand and Australia . VTS will be releasing two new singles over the next two months while releasing their second album ‘Be Cool Make Love’ worldwide in 2014." Album out March 10.

Nick Waterhouse new single, album

Out soon on LA's Innovative Leisure label, run by DJ Jamie Strong, one half of the DJ duo Haycock and Strong, who were out in NZ last month hosting the legendary day club event The Do-Over, with guests Cosmo Baker and Jazzy Jeff.

Via Rolling Stone: "Nick Waterhouse paid his dues as a teenager in the Orange County garage rock scene, opening for modern psych mainstays Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin and the Growlers. After a stint spinning classic R&B wax on the San Francisco soul scene, he moved back down south to record his debut album, Time's All Gone. He's about to release his second album, Holly, which underscores his dedication to the stylings of Sam Cooke, Sam and Dave and Solomon Burke.

"'This Is a Game' seems good for dancing to, has got a real good syncopation going, and I like singing the word 'visions,'" Waterhouse told Rolling Stone. "I wrote it in a dressing room in Rennes, France after months promoting my last record."

Indeed, the song bears the marks of something that was whipped up in a mad dash. As the sax howls thick, sleazy strands, Waterhouse's slicing guitar darts in, at first referencing surf music and then the hard notes of Chicago blues. Waterhouse's voice is ripped from the mid-Fifties, with a slight reverb referencing the single-microphone recording era. As with so many classics of that era, he caps the song off with a werewolf howl followed by an aggressive organ solo, suggesting that not all games are fun and games."

Holly will be released March 4 on Innovative Leisure records. Meanwhile, you can catch Waterhouse on tour in the US in February.

MORE: Backgrounder on Innovative Leisure, from Billboard

Bill Withers doco

I bought a copy of this fantastic doco on soul singer Bill Withers when it dropped on DVD a few years back. It's up on Youtube, go watch it, it is utterly compelling. Read more about the doco on the New Yorker.

Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - Behind the scenes of their new album

Daptone says: "Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Give The People What They Want. The video features Ms. Jones and the Dap-Kings discussing their history together, the adversity Sharon faced this year, and what the songs have come to mean to her since."

BBQ: HOT16 edit - free download

"Liquid Beat Records recording artist/producer HOT16 proudly presents his funky new edit of B B & Q Band’s mid 80s hit “Dreamer”. Fans of Onra & Dam-Funk will appreciate the way HOT16 flips the original for a modern take on the groove. Download it at Soundcloud

HOT16’s debut digital/7” single featuring his remix of Reva DeVito & Roane Namuh’s “C(h)ampagne” is still gaining a buzz, getting airplay on KCRW in LA, and was even named one of the top ten 45s of 2013 by influential DJ Skeme Richards (RSC). The digital and vinyl versions are available at the Liquid Beat Records Bandcamp page: bit.ly/1byWVMV

Additionally, be on the lookout for HOT16’s debut digital/12” Vinyl EP entitled “1983” dropping in late February which features collaborations with MC Melodee, Vursatyl (Lifesavas), Reva DeVito, and more."