Give the Drummer Some's
Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere
While some music-sharing blogs are content with offering a conveyor belt of free downloads and little else, others take a more conscientious approach, discussing, promoting and celebrating the sounds they cover. Launched nearly six years ago, the sublime Matsuli Music has focused almost exclusively on African recordings, digging up rarities, championing reissues and new releases and spreading the love and credit far and wide to musicians, labels and other blogs.
A year ago Matsuli maestro Matt Temple got into the reissue game himself, re-releasing Dick Khoza's deeply groovy '76 platter Chapita to wide acclaim. Now, Matt has identified another beloved mid-'70s gem worthy of resurrection, a self-titled album from the soul-jazz outfit Batsumi. Check it out:
Mining the Audio Motherlode Giveaway!
Matsuli Music will send a free LP copy of Batsumi to one lucky Motherlode reader! To win this record, be the first to email me with the answer to this question: Which blog has had the most recordings presented in Mining the Audio Motherlode?
The contest is now over. We have a winner. I will announce the answer in next week's Motherlode.
From the album: Emampondweni
Gene Shaw ~ "Carnival Sketches"
(Blog: Orgy in Rhythm)
Gene Cool
"One of my favourite LPs, this is a real beauty on Argo from 1965. Gene Shaw leads a great group including Charles Stepney on Vibes,Richard Evans on bass and Ed Higgins on piano-it also features Richard Evans as composer and arranger. As the tile suggests it's a series of pieces with a real south of the border flavour which work beautifully. I won't pontificate on about this gem just do yourself a favour and down load it. Highly recommended." (From Bacoso, at Orgy in Rhythm)
Panta Rhei ~ "Finis"
(Blog: Boxes of Toys)
Named for the Philosophy of Heraclitus
The East German jazz-rock combo lead by vocalist Veronika Fischer, not the Hungarian or Swedish bands of the same name.
Wayne ~ "¡At Last!"
(Blog: Buffalo Tones)
Wayne's World
"Wayne lived in Morgantown, West Virginia in the 1990s. Prior to that, by Wayne’s accounts, he lived just about everywhere (and nowhere). He was a self-described hitch-hiking hobo. Wayne walked with a limp, wore a beret, and showed up at a number of open mics and proper band performances to play along on one of his signature instruments: a pill bottle. There are some truly beautiful songs included on ¡At Last¡. So, for nostalgic purposes (’cause you lived in Morgantown and remember Wayne), for listening enjoyment (really only if you are fan of this kind of “outsider music” stuff), for shear curiosity, or to help a good cause, buy Wayne’s ¡At Last! And, Wayne, if you are out there, please get in touch." (Cornslaw Industries)
Various ~ "Arnhem Land: Authentic Aboriginal Australian Songs and Dances"
(Blog: Mrs Blucher)
Aboriginal Ganstaz
"Arnhem Land is located in the middle of Australia's northern coast and bounded by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria. This Aboriginal-owned expanse is made up of wild coastlines, deserted islands, rivers teeming with fish, lush rainforests, soaring escarpments and savannah woodland. This land is one of the last great unspoiled areas of the world. Its small population is predominantly indigenous, whose traditional Aboriginal culture remains largely intact. The didjeridu originated in Arnhem Land, and the area is also world-renowned for its distinctive, authentic Aboriginal art." (Description from Australia's Northern Territitories Tourism site)
Minette ~ "Come to Me at Tea Time"
(Blog: Allegory of Allergies)
Part-time Lady Is a Tramp
"Jacques Minette was born in Manhattan to visiting French parents, and raised in Boston. A child performer, her career as a female impersonator dates from the 1940s. As Minette she played all the big drag clubs of the period. She, and most drag performers, were driven out of Boston in 1948 when Archbishop Cushing banned them. In New York she was a regular at 82 Club. She put out an LP, Come to Me at Tea-Time, 1968, and was a guest singer in the seminal film, The Queen, 1968, hosted by Jack Doroshow (Sabrina). She was a regular in Avery Willard’s Ava-Graph films, and also a member of the Ridiculous Theatre Company. She also worked with the underground film director, Andy Milligan, even to the point of sewing dresses when he opened a dress shop." (Zagria, at A Gender Variance Who's Who)
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