Groovy pikrodafni

Truth is I'm not into traditional Greek music. I may like some pieces here and there, especially some polyphonic ones from Epirus, but I don't really have a special interest in this kind of music. "Pikrodafni", though, is one of those tunes, which I must say I loved when listening to it from a jazzy point of view by a kickass Greek group, Mode Plagal.

Up till yesterday, that was my favorite version. Until I got my hands (ears) on this groovy piece of music by another freaking talented Greek ensemble, On The Road.

Whatever shit we're into in this country, these are stuff to be proud of.

track's info:
Στης πικροδάφνης τον ανθό (traditional Greek song)
1. Mode Plagal version
2. On The Road version

The '90s have super powers

Just listened to it yesterday and it was a nice surprise from a Greek cover group, known for their 90s revival parties here in Greece, where they perform '90s party mash-ups -they surely can't miss in the 30-40 age groups.


                                               Wedding Singers - My Super Power


Simple, sweet and cozy. Can't help but love it.

Check out their fb page here to see what they're all about.  

track's info
Wedding Singers - My Super Power
Minos-EMI SA 2017
 

Time for mirla

Genuinely happy for this release which was strongly anticipated (finally). And genuinely ecstatic for these utterly and completely top of the top-notch tunes. Nu disco at its best, man.



No more words for this one. Just hit play till it hurts. And start dancing. And make good use of your speakers’ capacity. And spread the word. And support this fine work here or a blue dinosaur will jump off your screen and start dancin’ on your lap.

info:
Mirla Edits Vol.1
Mirla Edits 2014

Loop from cantaloupe

photo by The unnamed

Back in the '60s, Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe island” would make everyone sway - even the non-jazzers who would finally attempt to give a real chance to something other than rock'n'roll.

About thirty years later, during the '90s, we all had our moment at some point in time with “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” by those weird jazz-rappers Us3, who –in case you were wondering- are still active, having a discography that expands from 1993 till 2011.

A couple of days ago, this tune vibrated my speakers once again, quite different this time, but closer to my kinda thing. Jay Loot from the Loot djs, whose parties would often find me somewhere around enjoying good music during the mid-00s (I remember I first caught Martin Brew's "Galactico" in one of their parties, having my regular stroke), had quite an inspiration on this jazzy composition and transformed it into a contemporary sound with bass that kicks ass and a beat that doesn’t let you stand still. The 1.24 in duration is kind of a turnoff I must say, but I bet there‘ll be an endless version sometime soon, that will save us from straining our index finger clicking on repeat 1000 times per minute.



While you 're hanging around on Jay Loot's soundcloud page, don't miss out on the Loot djs mixtape. Top-notch.

tracks' info: 
-Herbie Hancock - Cantaloupe island
Empyrean Isles
Blue Note Records 1964

-Us3 - Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
Hand on the torch
Blue Note Records 1993

-Jay Loot - Cantaloot Groove
2013

Nothing wrong with groovin'

Don’t you just love it when you have a favorite song and you feel like it’s only yours and the world doesn’t know and doesn’t care about it, because they ‘d rather listen to Lady Gaga or that other chick, Lana Del Ray or whatever? Yeah, you love it. But the greatest part is when you listen to that favorite song of yours, outside in public, out of the blue, in a bar or a club or a place where someone else selected and pressed play to it and not you. Something that doesn't happen often for me and when it does, I find myself thinking that this world as we know it, may be coming to an end.

A couple of months ago I attended a street culture bazaar with handmade creations, helping a friend (Rthens) set up his stand and showcase his inspired jewelry -actually I attended this Street Culture Bazaar, which I hope I ‘ll get a chance to attend again in the future, cause I really enjoyed it. Sunday night and as the bazaar was coming to an end, people were packing up their stuff, maybe having one last beer and trying to get a ride home, this song filled the whole place.

                                           
 
Absolutely nothing changed when that happened, people continued to pack their stuff, have one last sip and search for a ride mate, except for one person (guess who) who almost had a heart attack with the first notes. I adored that song from the very first time it caught my attention from the Gilles Peterson & Norman Jay - Desert Island Mix and I believe I’ve never had the pleasure to catch this tune out in a public place from the selections of a dj. Till that minute.

The world is still there, but I must admit I had a moment. My moment.

Thank you espeekay for that moment.

(Don't forget to push the play -or the free download- button to this, from espeekay's soundcloud page, to enjoy his... mating rhythms)



tracks' info:
-Letta Mbulu - What is wrong with groovin' 
Jazzman Records

also found in Gilles Peterson & Norman Jay - Desert Island Mix
Journeys by Dj 1997

It's all Greek to me

In a time and a country where people are having great issues of getting through with decency and fight with the loss of democracy and dignity every fucking day, it's kind of a ray of light to see that some people can still be inspired and produce things that can make you proud that you live in this shitty era/country/world.

I've spent a great deal of time listening to the tracks below the past few days. For some reason, they really fill me up with hope. Maybe they 'll have some magic effect on you too.

Cayetano - Easy

                                            

You can't but just expect something like that from someone who released his first album when he was 19 years old. Lionel Richie would definitely shake his hand, while the rest of us are waiting patiently for his new stuff. Listen to his music here or find out more about him here. 

Larry Gus - Jaw Throb



He plays with words in his blog and he plays with music in his soundcloud page and all around the world, managing to put smiles on people's faces. This track is from the "Silent Congas" (2009) which you can download for free here. His new album is going to be released June 25th on DFA.

Dj Butcher - Turn it up



Although my heart belongs to "You 're so good to me" which I adored from the very first minute, I find "Turn it up" so refreshing that I actually feel like I'm cheating on my favorite one. One day that you 'll have plenty of free time, take a look at Dj Butcher's work here. Trust me.

Poka - '99 style



Poka speaks the best french I've ever heard from a greek person. He just does that with music, not words. And he does it well. You can download this track for free from the link above and you can search through his whole soundcloud page here.

Soul Seduction - Slip and do it (edit on Betty Wright's original track)



His sets are guaranteed to keep me good company, while this edit is always somewhere on my playlist, ready to set the speakers on fire the past few months. Check out his sounds here and download for free the "Slip and do it" edit in the cloud above.

High Heels - She didn't like disco



I don't know how the hell she didn't like disco, but this track may have convinced her. High Heels has given me many favorite tracks as Dizkoloco, since I accidentally discovered him on youtube. You can download the track for free from his soundcloud page, which you can scan right here.

tracks' info:
-Cayetano - Easy
 out soon

-Larry Gus - Jaw Throb
Silent Congas
DFA Records 2012

-Dj Butcher - Turn it up
Turn it up EP
out soon on Midnight Riot Records

-Poka - '99 style
French Express Vol. 2
French Express 2011

-Betty Wright - Slip and do it (Soul Seduction edit) 
2011

-High Heels - She didn't like disco
2013

The Serres late night wonder

As Monday sucks bad for everyone, I thought I’d share with you something that could light up your day – assuming that a Monday can actually be lit up. It’s a radio show hosted by Disco B and Dino Tziara on rodonfm95, sharing music that ranges from disco to funk, soul and many many MANY edits that are usually just brought into this world sounding fresh and mixed together.

Here you can find the soundcloud page of the show, where among the sets, edits etc., you can listen to the first release of Disco B with Nicko Marineli (Late Night Boogie EP), consisting of 4 awesome tracks - with "Heartless" as my personal favorite (sampling Evelyn Thomas - Heartless). Here you can listen to their shows to get the gist and if you prefer the live experience, tune in every Wednesday 23.00-1.00 (GMT+3) on rodonfm.net.

Time for my confession: apart from the fact that the music is really cracking (really. trust me), I’m also proud for this show as it is put together by fellow Greeks, from the city of Serres, in northern Greece. You can understand how exciting it can be -at least for me-, when most of the music selectors out there suck (remember, I’m getting old and weird), to find a show that absolutely suits my taste in music, from two people that are a few km away (ok, not a few, more like 600).

If you don’t mind the Greek (I know it sounds weird to everyone except for the Greeks, but give it a chance), check it out and share it with the world out there. Maybe you 'll make someone's Monday (or Wednesday) too.

Way to go guys. Proud. 

radio show: late night sessions
presented by Disco B & Dino Tziara, every Wednesday 23.00-1.00 (GMT+3) on rodonfm.net