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"Nande" is a mighty burner from the African Souls Band – a tune that mixes balafon lines in with Afro Funk rhythms, and a bit of strings too – all to create a really compelling blend that's unlike most that we know from the time – yet still damn funky, and with a great lyric too! "El Abanico" has more trippy bass, almost psychedelic at times – and pops and percolates with some great funky energy on the back/forth vocals!

Amazing work from a legendary Peruvian guitarist – an electric player who works here with a really wonderful sense of groove – and often an echoey tone that's completely sublime! Most numbers have this bouncy, tropical sort of vibe – but the guitar really gives them all an edge, and seems to underscore the strong percussion work that really gets things moving – a balance that's a bit like champeta at times, but maybe a bit more unique! Teo's instrument is often recorded with a style that's more 60s surf than you'd guess from the date of the sessions – and that echo trips things out nicely, and almost brings a spacey edge to some of the best numbers on the set. The package features a bonus insert with notes and images – and titles feature Teo in a number of groups – "El Sha La La" by Cielo Gris, "El Rey Loco" by Los Blue Kings De Nana, "Mi Orgullo" by Los Sanders De Nana, "El Borrachito Peruano" by Conjunto Luz Roja, "Los Hombres Tambien Lloran" by Los Jharis De Nana, and "La Tanga Carioca" by Costa Azul.

After "The Bottle", Joe's big remake of the Gil Scott Heron song in 1975, "Rap-O Clap-O" was probably his second biggest club cut. The track's got a very catchy groove – with sort of a stomping beat that Joe used to cook up his own dance. Arranged by the great Marty Sheller, so it's still got some Latin soul cred.

A wonderfully edgey album – and a lost classic of South American jazz! The album's a rare 1966 set cut by Argentinian tenorist Chivo Borraro and his quartet – done in a style that uses some fantastic influences from American modal and soul jazz of the 60s, filtered through some of the freer rhythms of the European scene of the same time. There's a number of cuts on here that remind us of the best expatriot work of American player Nathan Davis – raw and emotive playing, yet always swinging as much as possible – as you'll hear on the album's killer cut "Half and Half", it's great take on "Summertime", and the standout "Charlie's Blues".

Great stuff – and a very sharp album cut by Willie during the Latin soul era, featuring a bunch of tracks that veer more towards the boogaloo side of things than his later albums! The groove is nice and hard – stripped down with the youthful energy that Willie brought to the scene at the time – and the record features great vocals by Hector Lavoe, Yayo El Indo, and Elliot Romero. Features the wonderful piano-bassed groover – "Jazzy" – which spirals out with descarga-like energy! Other great tracks include the boogaloo numbers "Skinny Papa", "Willie Baby", "Willie Whopper", and "El Malo" – but the whole album's a winner!

Great stuff – and a very sharp album cut by Willie during the Latin soul era, featuring a bunch of tracks that veers more towards the boogaloo side of things than his later albums! The groove is nice and hard – stripped down with the youthful energy that Willie brought to the scene at the time – and the record features great vocals by Hector Lavoe, Yayo El Indo, and Elliot Romero. Features the wonderful piano-bassed groover – "Jazzy" – which spirals out with descarga-like energy! Other great tracks include the boogaloo numbers "Skinny Papa", "Willie Baby", "Willie Whopper", and "El Malo" – but the whole album's a winner!

An excellent reissue of funky work by this obscure European combo – a favorite with grooveheads for years because of their unique mix of funk, exotica, and strange studio touches! In a way, these guys are kind of like a collision between Mandingo, Chakachas, and Serge Gainsbourg – with lots of nice conga work, breathy wordless vocals, funky flute, and sexy tribal grooving. The set includes their classic slow funk cut "La La La", plus the tracks "King Kong", "Streaking A Gogo", "Wild Groove", "Bantu", "Please Love Me", "Girl Safari", "Brigitte Bardot", and "Music For A Playboy".

Hanni El Khatib's superior second album for Innovative Leisure – mixing up raw, fuzzy garage rock stormers and raucous R&B influences even better than before! The blend of riff heavy garage and unshakable rhythms references Hanni's influences every step of the way, but the way go down together isn't like anyone else out there right now, or from the glory years of the late 60s. There probably couldn't be a better producer for a record like this than Dan Auerbach, either – who perfectly captures the both the raucous edge and the surprisingly soulful touches just as well as he does in The Black Keys. Includes "Head In The Dirt", "Family", "Skinny Little Girl", "Penny", "Nobody Move", "Can't Win 'Em All", "Pay No Mind", "Save Me", "Sinking In The Sand", "House On Fire" and more.

A seminal album by El Kinto – a short-lived but crucially important group in the Uruguay rock scene of the late 60s! El Kinto were a seminal link between the beat group sounds of the earlier South American scene, and some of the headier, tripper work to come in the psychedelic years – and their music was an unusual blend of local roots and more ambitious rock – served up in styles that were somewhat different than the candombe music of other artists on the scene. Core rock instrumentation was often augmented by a bit of Latin percussion – used in a way that created a nicely earthy feel at the bottom of most of the tunes, which was in contrast to the cleaner, but also somewhat spare use of guitars on the top. There's a criss-crossing sensibility here that's not unlike Brazilian Tropicalia at times – although clearly not as politically motivated, nor as culturally radical – and what really blows us away about these tunes is the overall sense of sound – a simple, but extremely effective placement of all the simplest elements, to create music without easy comparison (even though we've been trying for the last few lines!) Group members include percussionist Ruben Rada and South American rock legend Eduardo Mateo – and the album features 14 tracks that include "Jose", "Mejor Me Voy", "Don Pascual"," Voy Pensando", "Esa Tristeza", "Yo Volvere Por Ti", "Estoy Sin Ti", and "Pippo". Great reissue – very heavy vinyl and cover, and with an insert with notes!

Wicked stuff – and 2 tracks that offer a whole new take on the modern sound of deep funk! "Creation" is a weird little offbeat number that snaps along the beats, blasts them with horns, and almost goes for a Chicago Brunswick sort of style! There's a bit of strings lilting along with the grooves, and even some vibes that seem to sneak out from time to time! The vibes come in even more strongly on the flipside – making "Behind The Blue Curtains" sound somewhere between the work of Lionel Hampton on Brunswick, and some of the recent instrumental funk from the Madlib side of the spectrum!

Wu Tang gets funky – as El Michels Affair serve up spare funky versions of two older classics – almost turning them back into the core samples from which they came! "Duel Of The Iron Mics" is totally great – slow-stepping drums, spare spooky piano, and flowing wave of sound that often carries dark little sounds and noises that shimmer at the bottom of the mix! "Bring The Ruckus" is more straightforwardly funky, but still keeps things slow – starting with a great drum break on the intro, then rolling into a very weird-sounding blend of instruments that has plenty of odd Eastern elements!

Monumental Afro Soul from El Rego Et Ses Commandos – El Rego's best recordings from the late 60s to early 70s – a beautifully done compilation put together by Daptone and Frank Gossner, the deep digging West African music expert behind Voodoo Funk! Theophile Do-Rego is a legend in his native Benin, essentially credited as the godfather of Benin funk – but to date, he hasn't been celebrated around the world nearly as famously as the superstars of African music hailing from Nigeria and Ghana. That's something that can change really quickly if enough people pick up this truly great compilation of pioneering recordings. Singer El Rego and his excellent, diversely capable band – sax and flute by Baboni Oudou, sax by Michel Diogo, guitar by Oscar De Souza, trumpet by Emmanuel Ganssounou, guitar by Roger Coffi, tumba by Marcelin Kpohonon, additional vocals by Christian Agueh, and bass by band leader Paul Hounnou – take a tighter approach to funky soul. Just a couple tracks on this set roll past the 4 minute mark – which gives it a tighter soul sound, along with some Benin blues and some riveting JB-indebted vocal affections. We owe Voodoo Funk and Daptone big for putting this together! Includes "Feeling You Got", "Zon Dede", "E Nan Mian Duku", "Dkobime", "Dis-Moi Oui", "Djobime", "Hessa" (the centerpiece of the album, 3 minutes of Afro Soul perfection. . .the whole set is great, but this track is unforgettable), "Kpon Fi La", "Do Do Baya", "Vive Le Renouveau", "Achuta", "Cholera" and "Ke Amon-Gbetchea".

Wow! Straight up incredible Afro Funk from Benin's El Rego Et Ses Commandos – the pummeling, yet soulful "Vimado Wingnan" and the slower, more hypnotic "E Nan Mian Nuku" – rare early 70s numbers on Daptone! "Vimado Wingnan" is one of those tracks that's so incredible that it should be an Afro Funk staple, yet we have to admit we were just recently hipped to it. The drums and percussion are amazing and it's got a wild organ in the mix that gives it something of a psych funk feel. Some flute lightens things up just a bit and the vocals are nice and funky, too. The flip isn't as intense, but it's got a rhythm that's just as insistent in it's less perspiring way. The material was brought to Daptone by Frank Gossner of Voodoo Funk and a full album is promised. We cannot wait!

An amazing lost recording from Kahil El'Zabar – and a Ritual Trio record to rival the great sessions cut for the Sound Aspects label in the 80s! As on some of those records, this one features Kahil's beautiful percussion blended with the bass work of Malachi Favors and trumpet of Lester Bowie – both players who step out here in ways that are even more soulful and spiritual than their performances with the Art Ensemble of Chicago! The tracks are very lean, organic, and build beautifully during the course of the recording – these thoughtfully-flowing numbers that are a perfect summation of the essence that Kahil was trying to get at with the Ritual Trio – almost a more spiritual, righteous take on the Great Black Music ideas forged by the AACM – taken to territory that was even more naturalistic than before. Favors' playing is amazing – and the recording is a perfect example of why his work on bass has always been so revolutionary – and Bowie is really at his best too, with none of the hoke that he could sometimes pick up in his later years. Titles include "Inner Sanctum", "Ju Ju Call", "In The Belly Of Now", "Dawning Of The Aware Ones", "The Ancestors Are Among Us", and "Celestial Dance".

One of the freshest albums in years from Chicago percussion legend Kahil El'Zabar – the recording debut of a great little combo he's been heading for the past few years – and a group who would have been right at home during the more progressive 60s years at Blue Note! The sound here is wonderfully soulful, but in ways that are different than some of Kahil's other records – thanks in part to the strong use of tenor from Kevin Nabors – a player who helps give the record a bold bite right upfront, with tones that hearken back to some of the late 60s' best soulful and spiritual moments – played with more forward focus than some of El'Zabar's other reedmen. The album's definitely got an AACM pedigree, but it's more straightforward, too – and we mean that in a good way – often pushed by modal elements that seem to also give Kahil a rich new sort of energy in his drumming too. Justin Dillard plays some great Hammond, Fender Rhodes, and piano – and the group's completed by Junius Paul on bass. Titles include "Song Of Myself", "What It Is", "Impressions", "The Nature Of", and "Kari".

Che Guevara never sounded so groovy – thanks to some sublime soundtrack scoring from the great Nico Fidenco! The music is a bit more exotic than usual for Nico – some touches of pan pipes and acoustic guitar to signify the South American scene, but mixed with other elements that are pure Fidenco all the way – including little swells of sound that slink along slowly, rootsy percussion that gives a few moments a nice earthy touch, and other elements that are sometimes more sensual than dramatic – and we mean that in a good way! Most tracks are short, and trade a few themes back and forth throughout – and titles include "La Boliviana", "Los Federales", "I Regolari", "I Compagni Morti", "Los Federales", "La Ballata Del Che", and "La Leggenda Del Che". CD also features 5 bonus tracks too!

Amazing, simply amazing – and light years ahead of the staid sounds that Chico Hamilton was cutting in the 50s! Hamilton's one of those players who has an amazing range to his music – almost all of it really incredible, as Chico always shifts things up over time – continually trying new things, and new modes of expression – even though, given his popularity, he could have just kept recording the same things year after year. This album is true testament to that propensity for growth in Hamilton's music – a wonderfully unbridled set that's filled with unusual rhythms, odd instrumentation, and even some of the first touches of psychedelic jazz to appear in the 60s! Players include Sadao Watanabe on alto and flute, Gabor Szabo on guitar, Jimmy Cheatham on trombone, and Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on percussion – all working together in a really wonderful range of modes from track to track – always groovy, but also pretty far-reaching and exploratory too! Titles include "El Moors", "Helena", "Strange", "Marcheta", "El Chico", and "Conquistadores".

Incredible funk, soul, jazz, post psychedelia and funk rock from the JJ Band – recorded in Brussels and featuring core players who were also integral members of Chakachas & El Chicles! The JJ Band find a hard grooving style steeped in horns, with heavy drums, bass and percussion, fuzzy guitar, and group vocals that range from psych styled group singing and soaring, kind of blue eyed soul. It's a mix of originals and tripped out cover tunes – ranging from walloping funk and funk rock, to some more laidback styles, but most of the tunes have pretty punchy sound. Totally great, and all to rare stuff! Titles include "Love In Them There Hills", "Now I've Found Out", "Leaving You", a fantastic, brass funk & psych jazz take on "Norwegian Wood", "Bip Bip", "To Love Somebody" and more. Also includes 2 bonus tracks recorded earlier and not on the original Polydor version, which was only released in Belgium and Canada: "Cousins Jack" and "Nicky's At The PC".

Incredibly captivating work from the legendary Alexader Jodorowsky – a soundtrack that's beyond compare, penned for a movie to match – and issued famously as one of the key releases on Apple Records! Given the lack of distribution for the film, the record's become one of the few lasting relics of the bizarre El Topo project – filled with tunes penned by Jodorowsky that are as offbeat as the images on the screen! The movie's kind of a surreal western, with lots of trippy touches – and the soundtrack runs from straight numbers that echo an Italian spaghetti era, to others that have a playful almost circus-esque aspect, to others that come across with a weird mix of organic instrumentation and psychedelic inspiration. Titles aren't listed individually, which is great – because the whole thing works together as some brilliant sound collage – better absorbed as a whole, and with plenty of space for contemplation!

Kako and Totico do way more than jump start the car with this killer collaboration – and really make the record burn brightly with a classic 70s salsa sound! There's lots of dark twists and turns to the set – not just from the horn parts and the way they roll along the grooves easily – but also from Totico's excellent vocals – which, given that he's also a percussionist, seem to have an inherent sense of rhythm right from the start! The sound is nice and raw, and the album is filled with great moments like "Para Ya, Bandolera", "El Trabuco Special", "Atencion Senores", "La Maquina Y El Motor", and "Oye Los Tambores".

A never-issued session from a young Terry Manning – later a big force on the Memphis scene, thanks to his work for Stax and Ardent – but here heard in one of his first musical outings ever, a small trio with just his own vocals and guitars, plus drums and percussion! The recording quality is nice and raw, and the lack of bass or any other instrumentation really makes the sound of the group very gritty – just shakey guitar over rattling percussion – with Terry's vocals captured in this echoey brilliance that really lives up to the Wild Ones promise of the group's name! Hats off to Norton for digging up this gem, dusting it off, and providing us with notes that even tell the tale of Manning bringing Stevie Nicks to a high school dance. Titles include "Just This Once", "You're In Love", "Mathilda", "Forever Christine", "Patty Baby", "Sorry", "The Dog", and "Nervous Breakdown".

A never-issued session from a young Terry Manning – later a big force on the Memphis scene, thanks to his work for Stax and Ardent – but here heard in one of his first musical outings ever, a small trio with just his own vocals and guitars, plus drums and percussion! The recording quality is nice and raw, and the lack of bass or any other instrumentation really makes the sound of the group very gritty – just shakey guitar over rattling percussion – with Terry's vocals captured in this echoey brilliance that really lives up to the Wild Ones promise of the group's name! Hats off to Norton for digging up this gem, dusting it off, and providing us with notes that even tell the tale of Manning bringing Stevie Nicks to a high school dance. Titles include "Just This Once", "You're In Love", "Mathilda", "Forever Christine", "Patty Baby", "Sorry", "The Dog", and "Nervous Breakdown".

A stunning album from Orquesta Harlow – one of their wildest of the 60s, and filled with delights! The record starts with this strange sound of a train pulling into a station, then rolls into a massive boogaloo groove that really sets the pace for the album – hitting hard with some heavy percussion, and really pushing the group through a great blend of English and Spanish language numbers! The whole thing's great – easily one of the best by the group – and titles include "Be Free", "El Exigente", "That Groovy Shingaling", "Mess Around", "Freak Off", and "Groovin' to the Afro-Twist".

A great testament to the depth and versatility of Orquestra Harlow in the 70s – and a record that shift easily between traditional modes and more contemporary styles! Larry Harlow is at the top of his game here – working with careful sensitivity on some of the more fragile numbers, but still letting the group hit with the power that made their fame on others – and in doing so, Harlow continues to move right in pace with the changes on the New York scene at the time, particularly the return to charanga modes and its use of violin and flute. But in addition to that instrumentation, the album also features a wider range of sounds – including bits of moog and celeste from Larry himself, plus tres, guiro, and plenty of percussion. Vocals are by Junior Gonzalez, and titles include "El Negrito Nengere", "El Lugar", "El Dolorcito De Mi China", "Buenavista Guaguan O", "Agonia", and "Latin Roots", which is a fantastic NuYorican groover, with plenty of percussion, touches of funk, and a sweet electric groove!

Beastly salsa from Orquesta El Macabeo – a record that bursts out with power right from the start – soaring forth at a level that almost knocks out most classic salsa records we can think of! This youthful group just keeps getting better and better with each new release – and this set is definitely the greatest they've given us to date – a non-stop burst of musical creativity all the way through – put together with all the raw energy and jazzy spontaneity that so few groups can get this right these days. The vocals carry a lot of punch, too – and really send the whole thing home nicely – on titles that include "El Sueno", "La Dieta", "Swing", "Alacran", "La Noche", "La Conga", and "Lluvia Con Sol".

One of our favorite Latin jazz albums ever – and a truly amazing record! Bobby Pauntteo, aka Bobby Vince Paunetto, is probably best known for his groundbreaking Latin fusion albums of the NuYorican era – but this rare gem from the 60s shows that he was a really forward thinker, even at a younger age! The sound is incredibly hard to define – a blend of modal jazz, Latin rhythms, and a uniquely lyrical approach to the percussion that makes the record take off to places you'd never expect. Bobby's conception is mindblowing from start to finish – and the record's even got some wonderful tracks that feature English vocals on top of the hip vibes-driven sound of the instrumentation. A gem throughout – and the kind of record we'll take to the grave! Titles include "Aguantando", "Why Is Woody Sad?", "Mambo Sevilla", "El Senor Sid", and "Dig It Like It Is". Great stuff!

Features arrangements by Joe Cain and Javier Vasquez!

A great mix of Afro rhythms and timeless dance music from Mexico – mid 60s to late 70s recordings in a continuous mix by Tropicaza for Mochilla – and a strong statement on the diversity of Mexican music of the period! There's quite a stylistic breadth here of Mexican music that was no doubt progressive and modern – and built to last, too – it still sounds fresh! For all of the eclectic sounds, some strong Afro roots in the percussion and rhythms carry throughout, with global funk, soul, psych and disco touches. It's a continuous mix that runs nearly an hour – with no tracklist – all we know about the music here is that it's great! Mixed nicely by Tropicaza, too!

A very different side of the sound of Fania Records – tracks that draw heavily from the club and disco rhythms of the New York scene of the 70s, but serve up the music with a sweet little Latin twist! The set really illustrates the evolution of Latin Soul from the 60s – showing a generation of artists who were equally willing to draw from the styles of their African-American contemporaries on the scene, but in different ways than the Latin artists of a decade before! Most tracks still have a fair bit of Latin percussion in the mix (it's no secret that Latin rhythms were a big influence on 70s disco) – and the selection of cuts is really wonderful – way past the obvious, and in ways that are different than other collections of this nature, including the Nuyorica classics on Soul Jazz. Titles include "Waterbed" by LTG Exchange, "Dance Dance Dance" by Orquesta Novel, "To Be With You" by Jimmy Sabater, "Good Times" by Charanga 76, "Salsa" by Louie Ramirez, "Mambo Rock" by Seguida, "Afro Hustle" by Lou Perez, "Call Me" by Joe Bataan, "Es Un Demonio Ella" by Fausto Rey/Larry Harlow, "My Love Supreme" by Milton Hamilton Crystalized, "Wata Wasuri" by Tito Puente, and "Johnny's No Good" by WRLC.

A killer batch of boogaloo and Latin Soul – and a set that even features 2 unissued gems from the vaults of Fania Records! As with the previous entry in this series, the sound here is plenty darn soulful throughout – lyrics that are often in English, and rhythms that borrow heavily from American funk and soul of the late 60s – mixing African-American musical styles with Puerto Rican and Cuban elements – all to come up with a groove that's as fresh today as it was back in the Spanish Harlem scene of the time! Previously unreleased tracks include "Evil Ways" by Pete & Louie, and the full length version of "O Elefante" by Ray Barretto – and other tunes include "Rise Up" by Orchestra Harlow, "Safari" by Tito Puente, "Revolucionando" by New Swing Sextet, "Times Are Changing" by Jimmy Sabater, "MC2" by Willie Colon, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Joe Bataan, "Musica Del Alma" by TNT Boys, "Here Comes The Judge" by Pete Rodriguez, "Ape Walk" by Al Escobar, and "Rat Race" by Ralfi Pagan.

Stunning sounds from the farther reaches of the El Paso scene – amazing music that really gets at the rich array of underground acts working in the shadow of bigger local hero Bobby Fuller! The cuts here are very heavy on guitars, and often recorded with an echoey approach that makes each twang as resonant as thunder – a perfect way to make a heck of a lot out of a little, and really bring the best out of some of these groups! Our favorite cuts here are by Bob Taylor & The Counts – a combo that sports some really wicked guitar right up front, and raw vocals and tumultuous drums that almost recall the sound of early work by Johnny Burnette. Bob Taylor titles include "Taylor's Rock", "Child Fortune", "Thunder", and "Jill" – and other cuts include "You're Wrong" and "The Shadows Dance" by Johnny Garmon & The Shadows, "Be Mine" and "Jim's Jive" by Jerry Bright & The Embers, "Runaway" by Rock Kings, "Party" by Al Sims & The Alpine Two, "Little Rome" by Max Alexander & The Hi Fi Combo, and "Finders Keepers" by Don Guess & The Rock Kings.

Stunning sounds from the farther reaches of the El Paso scene – amazing music that really gets at the rich array of underground acts working in the shadow of bigger local hero Bobby Fuller! The cuts here are very heavy on guitars, and often recorded with an echoey approach that makes each twang as resonant as thunder – a perfect way to make a heck of a lot out of a little, and really bring the best out of some of these groups! Our favorite cuts here are by Bob Taylor & The Counts – a combo that sports some really wicked guitar right up front, and raw vocals and tumultuous drums that almost recall the sound of early work by Johnny Burnette. Bob Taylor titles include "Taylor's Rock", "Child Fortune", "Thunder", and "Jill" – and other cuts include "You're Wrong" and "The Shadows Dance" by Johnny Garmon & The Shadows, "Be Mine" and "Jim's Jive" by Jerry Bright & The Embers, "Runaway" by Rock Kings, "Party" by Al Sims & The Alpine Two, "Little Rome" by Max Alexander & The Hi Fi Combo, and "Finders Keepers" by Don Guess & The Rock Kings.

Badass sounds brewed up in the border town of El Paso – amazing guitar-driven gems recorded for a handful of indie labels in the late 50s and early 60s – served up here with wonderfully great sound, and a full set of notes as well! The set's a stunning volume in Norton's deep-digging project on the El Paso scene – and it's really rich with discoveries throughout – loads of rough-edged rockers that lie somewhere in a space between rockabilly and 60s garage – every one a treasure. Titles include "Across The Bay" by Joe Richie, "Lonely Before Dawn" by Night People, "I Love You Baby" by The Ravons, "Cradle Rock" by Rhythm Heirs, "Long Grey Highway" by Frank Thayer & The Lyonals, "Sarah Jane" by Don Orr & The Original Rockets, "Lonely Teardrops" by The Fortunes, "Jungle Bunny" and "Bacardi" by Jerry Bell & The Original Rockets.

Badass sounds brewed up in the border town of El Paso – amazing guitar-driven gems recorded for a handful of indie labels in the late 50s and early 60s – served up here with wonderfully great sound, and a full set of notes as well! The set's a stunning volume in Norton's deep-digging project on the El Paso scene – and it's really rich with discoveries throughout – loads of rough-edged rockers that lie somewhere in a space between rockabilly and 60s garage – every one a treasure. Titles include "Across The Bay" by Joe Richie, "Lonely Before Dawn" by Night People, "I Love You Baby" by The Ravons, "Cradle Rock" by Rhythm Heirs, "Long Grey Highway" by Frank Thayer & The Lyonals, "Sarah Jane" by Don Orr & The Original Rockets, "Lonely Teardrops" by The Fortunes, "Jungle Bunny" and "Bacardi" by Jerry Bell & The Original Rockets.

Raw rock from the El Paso scene of the early 60s – most of it material produced by local music hound Calvin Boles – a force as important to that scene as Lee Hazlewood was to Phoenix! Boles has a great ear for a sharp guitar line – and really manages to bring the best out of all the players here, giving the tunes an echoey feel that's mighty nice – and which really serves to fan the sparks of genius into a much longer-burning flame! Norton's done a great job with this volume – and have managed to unearth some rare Bobby Fuller tracks, along with gems from contemporaries on the Yucca and Exeter labels. Titles include "Black Out" and "Tickler" by The Sherwoods, "Hot Rod Ford" by DY & The Motivaters, "Lonely" by David Hayes & The Pawns, "Pawn" by The Pawns, "You Hold My Letters" by Bill Taylor & The Sherwoods, "Judy" by The Chancellers, "Dance To The Palisades" by Frank Gonzales & The Palisades, and "You're In Love" and "Say Honey" by Bobby Fuller.

Raw rock from the El Paso scene of the early 60s – most of it material produced by local music hound Calvin Boles – a force as important to that scene as Lee Hazlewood was to Phoenix! Boles has a great ear for a sharp guitar line – and really manages to bring the best out of all the players here, giving the tunes an echoey feel that's mighty nice – and which really serves to fan the sparks of genius into a much longer-burning flame! Norton's done a great job with this volume – and have managed to unearth some rare Bobby Fuller tracks, along with gems from contemporaries on the Yucca and Exeter labels. Titles include "Black Out" and "Tickler" by The Sherwoods, "Hot Rod Ford" by DY & The Motivaters, "Lonely" by David Hayes & The Pawns, "Pawn" by The Pawns, "You Hold My Letters" by Bill Taylor & The Sherwoods, "Judy" by The Chancellers, "Dance To The Palisades" by Frank Gonzales & The Palisades, and "You're In Love" and "Say Honey" by Bobby Fuller.

"Scenester" produced by Blockhead. "Left To Us" produced by Camu Tao. Features El-P, Aesop Rock, Tame One & Yak Ballz.

Tight Latin Funk from El Chicano – a bit slicker than some of their earlier albums, and with tracks that are a tad weak, but there are still plenty of fine moments. The title track "Pyramid" is a wonderful Latin groover – all instrumental, and in a slow Chicano funk mode with nice organ solos, and plenty of great congas and timbales. Other tracks include a remake of "Barretta's Theme", plus "I Love You Anyway", "Lake Aquabi", "Such A Good Life", and "Michael's Theme".

Hanni El Khatib's superior second album for Innovative Leisure – mixing up raw, fuzzy garage rock stormers and raucous R&B influences even better than before! The blend of riff heavy garage and unshakable rhythms references Hanni's influences every step of the way, but the way go down together isn't like anyone else out there right now, or from the glory years of the late 60s. There probably couldn't be a better producer for a record like this than Dan Auerbach, either – who perfectly captures the both the raucous edge and the surprisingly soulful touches just as well as he does in The Black Keys. Includes "Head In The Dirt", "Family", "Skinny Little Girl", "Penny", "Nobody Move", "Can't Win 'Em All", "Pay No Mind", "Save Me", "Sinking In The Sand", "House On Fire" and more.

An amazing lost recording from Kahil El'Zabar – and a Ritual Trio record to rival the great sessions cut for the Sound Aspects label in the 80s! As on some of those records, this one features Kahil's beautiful percussion blended with the bass work of Malachi Favors and trumpet of Lester Bowie – both players who step out here in ways that are even more soulful and spiritual than their performances with the Art Ensemble of Chicago! The tracks are very lean, organic, and build beautifully during the course of the recording – these thoughtfully-flowing numbers that are a perfect summation of the essence that Kahil was trying to get at with the Ritual Trio – almost a more spiritual, righteous take on the Great Black Music ideas forged by the AACM – taken to territory that was even more naturalistic than before. Favors' playing is amazing – and the recording is a perfect example of why his work on bass has always been so revolutionary – and Bowie is really at his best too, with none of the hoke that he could sometimes pick up in his later years. Titles include "Inner Sanctum", "Ju Ju Call", "In The Belly Of Now", "Dawning Of The Aware Ones", "The Ancestors Are Among Us", and "Celestial Dance".

Percussionist Kahil El'Zabar leads the Ritual Trio, and the group's one of the truest extensions of the AACM spirit to still exist in Chicago. No wonder, though, as it's got Malachi Favors of the Art Ensemble on bass, as well as multi-faceted reedman Ari Brown on saxes. El'Zabar's the real core of the group, though, and his soulful approach to percussion adds in a degree of warmth that always humanizes the work of the group, pushing it past simple virtuostic improvisation. This set from 1995 still has the group going strong – and it features many strong tracks, including "Sweet Meat", "Fatsmo", " Save Your Love For Me", "Golden Sea", "Trane In Mind", and "Ornette".

Do not buy this expecting hissy, atonal blip hop – El-Producto is the marquee name here, but this is decisively a late model avant garde jazz record – and a pretty sweet one at that! As with many of the better records in the Blue Series, Matthew Shipp's piano rolls through the center most of the time, loosely keeping the groove going so the crack group can improvise around the edges. Blessedly, the group is more than happy to keep an underlying melodicism at the core – it's always a little ragged, but never too self consciously out. The usual Thirsty Ear subjects are in the mix – Guillermo Brown on drums, Roy Campbell, William Parker on bass, and Steve Swell on trombone. "Produced, arranged, composed and mixed" by El-P – which seems like a pretty heavy workload, but we think he fleshed ideas out with the group at the stage of conception, and let the boys do what they do, largely improvising the results. And you really can feel El-P's intellectual presence in spots, particular the sudden shifts in drum patterns, which kind of mirror the producer's penchant for drivingly broken beats. Regardless of whoever is most responsible, it's a very nice record. It's interesting without trying too damn hard to be weird, and melodic without being too cloying. Tracks include "Please Stay (Yesterday), the epic "Sunrise Over Bklyn", "Get Your Hand Off My Shoulder, Pig", "Get Modal", "Intrigue In The House Of India", "Something Is Wrong", "When The Moon Was Blue" and more.

Smoking salsa from La Protesta – a group who really benefits from the lead trumpet lines of Tony Pabon, who also sings on some of the record too! The group have a tight sound that's right on the money – a groove that's right up there with the best Fania salsa combos of the time, but perhaps even leaner too – less overblown with any superstar sensibilities, and delivered here with a nice amount of youthful fire. Nestor Sanchez sings on tracks that don't feature Pabon – and titles include "Madre", "El Capitan", "El Errante", "Que Tienes Titina", "Tu Y Yo", "Dejenme Llorar", and "El Quincallero".

A great little live set from Sergio Mendes and his Brasil 65 group – a pre-Brasil 66 combo that features Wanda De Sah on vocals and Rosinha De Valenca on guitar! The style here is more traditionally Brazilian bossa than Sergio's later work on A&M – a fluidly jazzy groove captured with a good sense of intimacy despite the live setting – and issued by Atlantic as a nice antidote to some of the more watered-down bossa work on the US market! The vocals are wonderful – often spare and a bit more fragile than the two-voiced sound of A&M – and titles include "Tem Do De Mim", "Noa Noa", "Caminho De Casa", and "Arrastao".

Beastly salsa from Orquesta El Macabeo – a record that bursts out with power right from the start – soaring forth at a level that almost knocks out most classic salsa records we can think of! This youthful group just keeps getting better and better with each new release – and this set is definitely the greatest they've given us to date – a non-stop burst of musical creativity all the way through – put together with all the raw energy and jazzy spontaneity that so few groups can get this right these days. The vocals carry a lot of punch, too – and really send the whole thing home nicely – on titles that include "El Sueno", "La Dieta", "Swing", "Alacran", "La Noche", "La Conga", and "Lluvia Con Sol".

A masterpiece of baroque fusion, and one of the most legendary sessions on the CTI label. Don Sebesky brilliantly arranges a complex set of jazzy grooves with a feel that's a bit larger than other titles on the label, and which also has a spooky scary soundtrack-y feel at its best moments. Titles include "Moon Dreams", "Footprints Of The Giant", "Lucky Seven", and "Skyliner".

A surprisingly great batch of modern salsa tracks – recorded with a really classic feel! The group's led by pianist/arranger Oscar Hernandez – and it features work by a number of older salsa legends, including Jimmy Sabater, Ruben Rodriguez, and Bobby Allende. Tight all the way through – with the feel of a mid 70s side on Fania Records – and with tracks that include "Tambori", "Obsesion", "Mam Guela", "La Banda", and "Pa Gozar".

Thievery Corporation's Latin percussion flavored gem "El Pueblo Unido gets a nice little EP of Miguel Migs dub remixes! Includes the side-long Miguel Migs Deep Dub Deluxe remix, plus a couple of alternate dubs on the flip - Miguel Migs Petalpusher Dub and Miguel Migs Salty Dub.

The first album by trippy Turkish trio 3 Hur El – a great blend of Eastern sounds and western styles – all coming together with a slightly progressive feel! The instrumentation often includes some heavy basslines underneath lighter lines on acoustic strings – a blend of folksy and modern that's topped by passionate vocals and often underscored by some great heavy percussion – all in a style that's a bit otherworldly, but oddly quite compelling! The set's definitely the kind that makes you say "I don't know what's going on here – but I sure like it anyway" – and titles include "Haram", "Ve Olum", "Ask Davasi", "Diday Dom", "Kara Yazi", "Olum Al Beni", "Pembelikler", and "Anadolu Dansi".

A mix of singles, album tracks, and unreleased stuff from Mike Alway's El Records.

One of the more contemporary videos we've seen from the Chicago steppers scene – and one that definitely shows a real evolution in dance styles, especially with the Wobble slide! Gone are the classic moves from the soul oldies years, and gone are even the very mellow, very slow steps from the 90s – and in their place are some more upbeat, full body-styled moves – showing a definite influence from the hip hop generation. DVD starts with just a bit of vintage footage, then moves quickly into some instructional shots – with slides that include Turbo Hustle, Chicago El Stop, Jamie Foxx, Wobble, and the Woody Pop.

One of our favorite albums ever by El Gran Combo – largely because it's a smoking Latin Soul set! The group were known for a more traditional groove on other records, but here they nicely jump on the younger bandwagon of the time – and step out with a crackling batch of boogaloo numbers that groove with the best of the Fania and Tico scene of the time! The sound is tight, right, and outta site – mostly instrumental with lots of heavy percussion and soaring horns – plus both English and Spanish vocals that really keep the soulful spirit of the session! Tracks include "Clap Your Hands", "Como Tu", "Sabor", "Combolu", "Shake It Baby", "Gran Combo's Boogaloo", "Vas Bien", "Chua Chua Boogaloo", and "Avelino Plumon".

Standiout cuts from The El Michel's Affair's instant classic tribute tribute to Isaac Hayes! – covering "Run Fay Run" and "Hung Up On My Baby" in a raw instrumental funk mode! "Run Fay Run" rolls along with some incredible percussion – faithful to the original, but not a straight up replication, putting their own twist on the classic style. The Affair's got a sinister bass groove here that's unshakable! The group's take on the sample classic "Hung Up On My Baby" is just as great.

The first 12" single on Soul Fire – and a real doozy! The track's an extended jazz funk number with some great guitar on the intro, and an expanded horn section that's so big, so mighty, it needed a full 12 inches of wax just to hold it. Horn work is incredible – on a par with the JBs, with all those great little twists and turns on the solos – much more than just mad funking – purely expressive soulful dyn-o-mite!

Cinematic funky soul instrumentals from the El Michels Affair – the loose NYC collective's long awaited full length nod to the Wu Tang Clan! The crew brings their tried and true slow rolling and dirty funk to their interpretations of classic Wu Tang tracks, with some straight up beautiful sophisticated soul backdrops, too, and Leon & the crew pull it all off masterfully! The RZA's sonic stamp is too innovative and idiosyncratic for a simple live band rehash, and the group is wise to use the famous crackling sample built soundscapes to craft both an homage to the Wu Tang's best material, as well as the 70s funk, soul and cinema sounds that informed them in the first place. A few of the tracks first blew our minds as funky 45s, and this full formed set was worth the wait – from the moody organ funk of "Can It All Be So Simple", the funky drummer rhythms of "Uzi (Pinky Ring)", the string accented moods of "Heaven And Hell", the brass band and children's chorus cover of "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and lots more! Other tracks include "Glaciers Of Ice", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Bring Da Ruckus" and more.

Cinematic funky soul instrumentals from the El Michels Affair – the loose NYC collective's long awaited full length nod to the Wu Tang Clan! The crew brings their tried and true slow rolling and dirty funk to their interpretations of classic Wu Tang tracks, with some straight up beautiful sophisticated soul backdrops, too, and Leon & the crew pull it all off masterfully! The RZA's sonic stamp is too innovative and idiosyncratic for a simple live band rehash, and the group is wise to use the famous crackling sample built soundscapes to craft both an homage to the Wu Tang's best material, as well as the 70s funk, soul and cinema sounds that informed them in the first place. A few of the tracks first blew our minds as funky 45s, and this full formed set was worth the wait – from the moody organ funk of "Can It All Be So Simple", the funky drummer rhythms of "Uzi (Pinky Ring)", the string accented moods of "Heaven And Hell", the brass band and children's chorus cover of "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and lots more! Other tracks include "Glaciers Of Ice", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Bring Da Ruckus" and more. Limited edition cassette!

Cinematic funky soul instrumentals from the El Michels Affair – the loose NYC collective's long awaited full length nod to the Wu Tang Clan! The crew brings their tried and true slow rolling and dirty funk to their interpretations of classic Wu Tang tracks, with some straight up beautiful sophisticated soul backdrops, too, and Leon & the crew pull it all off masterfully! The RZA's sonic stamp is too innovative and idiosyncratic for a simple live band rehash, and the group is wise to use the famous crackling sample built soundscapes to craft both an homage to the Wu Tang's best material, as well as the 70s funk, soul and cinema sounds that informed them in the first place. A few of the tracks first blew our minds as funky 45s, and this full formed set was worth the wait – from the moody organ funk of "Can It All Be So Simple", the funky drummer rhythms of "Uzi (Pinky Ring)", the string accented moods of "Heaven And Hell", the brass band and children's chorus cover of "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and lots more! Other tracks include "Glaciers Of Ice", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Bring Da Ruckus" and more. Limited 12" vinyl picture disc edition!

Easily one of the greatest new funk records of the 21st Century – and a set that goes way beyond some of the cliches that are currently gripping others in the deep funk underground! El Michels Affair have a cool, easygoing style to their music – one that's as much 70s jazz as it is 60s funk – and which makes for tunes that have a looser structure overall, which allows much more room for instrumental interplay, and the kind of sweet surprises that make the album so great! These guys have a real penchant for an unusual rhythm and interesting instrumental flair – and they borrow as much from 70s soundtracks and Latin albums as they do from the funky 45 era that clearly gave them their start. Totally fresh all the way through, and a record that delights us a lot more than we might have expected! Titles include "Detroit Twice", "El Pueblo Unido", "Behind The Blue Curtains", "Ocho Rios", "Hung Up On My Baby", "This Song's For You", and "Slide Show".

A mighty take on the music of Isaac Hayes – put together by the El Michels Affair! The album's every bit as funky as the combo's own work – and it's an amazing rework of familiar funk favorites from the 70s – redone here with a slightly leaner feel by the group, and without any vocals at all! There's still a relatively full approach to the tunes – given that the group has a great horn section at its heart – but the keyboards, guitar, and bass are much more up in the mix than on the originals – which makes these cuts burn like funky 45s! Drums are great too – completely rock-solid, and essential to the grooves – and the whole thing's produced with the right raw funky edge to make this one come across as way more than just a simple cover of Ike's original greatness. Titles include "Walk On By", "Run Fay Run", "Hung Up On My Baby", "Red Rooster", "Bumpy's Lament", "Shaft", and a shorter edit of "Walk On By". Note that this is apparently the same material as on the Memphis Sounds album Ike's Moods – except that this album features 7 tracks.

A cool early 70s psych folk set from Peruvian combo El Polen – the group's second album – and it's a great one! For a group that's utilizing acoustic instrumentation so heavily, this is really atmospheric stuff – lots of buzzing guitars, earthy percussion, violin, harp and flute. There's a bit of a nature vibe at play, too – and it's really evocative stuff! There's some strong group vocals, but also some long instrumental passages. This CD edition from Lion and Repsychled includes a bonus track with vocals by Susana Baca – "Ahijada De la Luna" – plus "Concordancia", "Mi Cueva", "A Las Orillas Del Vilcanota", "El Hijo Del Sol", "La Puna" and a live version of "Valicha".

El-P as visceral and inventive as he's been in years – easily his best since Fantastic Damage! You know damn well well that El-P is going out spit out ominous, though entrancing futuristic boom bap, and he does that as well as he has in years right here. What feels like an improvement over the past couple or 3 releases is in the vocals – sharp, furiously creative storytelling stands out really strongly on this one. It takes a major talent to shoot out such relentless and angry product that's easy to love and nod your head to, but you already know that's El-Producto, right?! Includes "Request Denied", "The Full Retard", "Works Every Time", "Drones Over Bklyn", "True Story", "The Jig Is Up", "Sign Here", "Oh Hail No" with Mr Mf'n Exquire and Danny Brown, "$4 Vic/Nothing But You + Me (FTL)" and more.