raft

your musical flotation device

[musicalraft]

Bill Evans is considered by some to have been one of the most influential post WWII jazz pianist. His song "Peace Piece" is one of those songs that has stuck with me for months. It's timeless, full of emotion and one off my all time favorites list. This is a perfect track to end your day and fulfill it with just the right amount of relaxation you need. It's one of those songs that just naturally puts everything in slow motion. Sit back and enjoy. 

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A track to get you started with the week.

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D'Angelo's record that came last minute in 2014 shook the music scene. Especially all of those blogs out there who prematurely give their "Top" picks of the year, claiming reasoning behind their selections. That's something we won't be doing here. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but instead of throwing a once a year ranking system at you here on the raft, we're just gonna post up shit we like. Although sometimes content might be spotty due to our feeling on recent music, we have our runs when feeling inspired to share. We're honest. Now have a great rest of your weekend! This is raft's current Saturday mood, and I don't think we need to do too much talking about how bad ass this individual is. 

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Frank & Tony, also known separately as Francis Harris and Anthony Collins, make a fantastic pairing for both their sound, catalog and production value. From kick starting a mighty fine label entitled Scissor & Thread to performing extra long eclectic sets, this duo is a fantastic one to follow/listen to if you're a fan of minimalistic house music full of both emotion and character.  Check out a song off their latest release "You Go Girl" below. Also, I've attached one of their sets from Beats in Space. 

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Konkoma is a london based afro-funk band who have only recently released their first LP. If you're a fan of Afrobeat music, this is right up your alley and a must for your collection. Keep your eyes on these guys this year as they begin to cause a ripple in the scene and peep the first track on the record entitled "Lie Lie" below. 

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Panda Bear released his latest record Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper a few days back and it's really something special that grows on you. The flow creates an easy listening experience and still spins with psychedelia. It's great to see such an artist stay so true to his roots and still show signs of so much growth and maturity with his sound. 

Check out the video to one of my favorite tracks on the record "Boys Latin" above.

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Get down with the GET-DOWN and dig on this, the most FUNKY offering in Analog Africa's Selections Series. This mix was culled and cured by french music producer Déni Shain, and Samy Ben Redjeb, founder of Analog Africa. Listen below or download for free HERE!

-Mitch Freedom

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Originally released by Soundway Records in April of 2007... Colombia! is merely a piece of the catalog the label has put together documenting the music of South America, and an even smaller portion of the vast musical history within the Country itself. The original press release issued by Soundway states:

  "Since 1934, Disco Fuentes (Fuentes Records) has acted as the largest record label in Colombia, a country where it is impossible to escape music. This collection of tracks delves into the golden years of 1960-76 and is hand picked from the enormous Fuentes record catalogue comprising various tropical music styles. Cumbia, Gaita, Fandango, Salsa and Champeta all feature in the selection from one of the worlds best Latin music archives." Read the article, order the music HERE!: 

      Stream on bandcamp: HERE!

-Mitch Freedom

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Good day you scalawags!  It’s your beloved musical captain ready to move our stinkin raft away from this island of inebriation.  But how?  I know…let’s drink first and see where we are inspired to go!  

  I’ve got just the thing…..  Let’s get sexy 

THE BIRDS & BEES

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CHAMOMILE-HONEY SYRUP: 2 chamomile tea bags ½ cup honey

FOR THE COCKTAIL: 2 oz. gin 1 oz. chamomile-honey syrup 1 oz. fresh lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the chamomile-honey syrup: Place tea bags in ½ cup boiling water for 5 minutes; remove tea bags, squeezing water from them; discard bags. Add honey and stir to dissolve. Let syrup cool to room temperature. Makes about ½ cup; extra syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to two weeks.

2. Make the cocktail: Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake vigorously and strain into a coupe or martini glass.

Sip… Sip….AHHHHHHHHH!!!   GOD DAMN THAT’S GOOD.

Good like this much anticipated debut full length album from band Electric Wire Hustle titled Love Will Prevail.  What the hell is it from these New Zealand cats now a days?  This album is brushing shoulders with R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Electronic all in one.  With the lending endorsement from BBC giant Giles Peterson, these guys will be on the map in no time!  

The feeling of loving someone during the end of the world spill over the rim of the glass with lyrics like “If these are the last days, why don’t we spend the night together” in the album opener "If These Are the Last Days".  Old time soul and motown melodies swim throughout the album leaving you with that nostalgia of purpose.  Great memorable guitar lines in a lot of the tracks as well. Totally sunny warm tones brighten up the dark side of the turns.  There is desperation in every song, evoking intense feelings about loss, and apocalyptic thought processes.  "Light Goes A Long Way" might be one of my favorites on the album, it’s mostly instrumental, showing that these guys are not shy to math.  Time changes pronounce bizarre drum fills throughout the tune and switching the hits of the 1 around.  I’m really digging this and I hope you do too you dirty pirates!!! 

Drift away to this amazing album rafters!  Until next time my dears, stay afloat!  

-Sean B

Check out the video to "If These Are The Last Days" below. 

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{DEEP GROOVE!} Numero Group: Local Customs: Cavern Sound (NUM054)

Here it comes... The latest from the historic realms of The Numero Group's 'Local Customs' Series:

"Not quite hell, but close enough. Local Customs: Cavern Sound covers six years lost in the deranging darkness of Independence, Missouri’s Pixley limestone mine, where a team of misfit engineers captured the reverberating echoes of Kansas City’s rock ‘n’ roll blasting cap. Taped in the subterranean studio headspace of Cavern between 1967 and 1973 are previously unissued recordings by Jaded, Larry Sands & the Sound Affair, Sheriff, Mulligan, Stone Wall, Morningstar, the Montaris, and the Dantes, alongside the most explosive tracks released on KC’s Pearce, Rock, and Cave labels by the likes of the Reactions, Burlington Express, the Classmen, Fraight, American Sound Ltd, Baxter’s Chat, 21st Century Sound Movement, Pretty, Tide, and A.J. Rowe."

Here's an amazing bit of film showcasing the Cavern's style and sound:

You can buy it HERE! 

-Mitch Freedom

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Panda Bear has finally announced the release date of his fourth full length album entitled "Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper." The record, due out on January 13th, 2015, will be his latest release since 2011's Tomboy. He also dropped an EP including the single off the upcoming record alongside a few other b-sides, which you can listen to below via spotify. Also, check out the music video to his latest single, Mr. Noah, below. 

Here's the track list to his upcoming full length:

01. Sequential Circuits 02. Mr Noah 03. Davy Jones’ Locker 04. Crosswords 05. Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker 06. Boys Latin 07. Come To Your Senses 08. Tropic of Cancer 09. Shadow of the Colossus 10. Lonely Wanderer 11. Principe Real 12. Selfish Gene 13. Acid Wash

[musicalraft]

Good morning! Today feels like the perfect day to jam out to William Onyeabor. William is a funk musician based out of Nigeria, that unfortunately no longer graces us with his presence anymore. He is still well and alive but supposedly became a born again christian and no longer speaks of himself or his music. This fascinating individual self released eight albums between 1978 and 1985. You can give his record "Who is William Onyeabor" a listen via spotify, which is more or less a compilation put together of all his best tracks. It's wonderful music built to lift ones spirits to a higher place.

It's been hard to tackle an accurate biography of this individual due to the lack of information given from William himself, but Vice released a 30 minute documentary entitled "Fantastic Man," which you can watch below. Also dig on some of his great tunes, right here on raft. Cheers and have a lovely rest of your day!

PS. Luaka Bop, a world music oriented record label created by David Byrne, is releasing all of his records available for pre-order HERE! 

-Jake J Brennan

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... I'm hopin' that this is not a dream, cause that would mean one of us have to leave - depending on who's the dreamer and who's the dreamee...

  A more perfect sentiment, I venture to guess, does not exists in terms of describing a piece of music.

  What began in 2011 as an excersize in R&B sampling has continued on to sensual proportions in this latest installment of Hexual Sealings by Stones Throw beatsmith Glen Boothe aka Knxwledge aka Knx. This gauzy, albeit brief trip down lover's lane features delicately chopped samples from the likes of Miguel,Ty Dolla $ign, Anthony Hamilton, The Foreign Exchange, and Ashanti to name a slew... If you're on cloud-nine and don't want this feeling to end, be sure to check the back catalog on this beat tape series HERE on bandcamp. 

  -Mitch Freedom

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Frankie Smith's "Double Dutch Bus" has been a long time classic for me. There is something so damn groovy about this song. It's definitely a party favor and you're being gifted the classic for this weekends free vinyl rip. This track is ripped fresh off of the early 80's record "Children of Tomorrow." Enjoy the download/listen HERE!!! 

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For this weekends mixtape, get down to Steve Bug's live mix on BE-AT.tv. Great way to set the tone for your days off! 

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Greetings fellow rafters, my name is DWYR and today we are going to be taking a trip across the pond to focus on all things European. Europe has had a huge influence on many styles that have broken through the US scene but I want to touch on a few that are still under the radar at this point. So I will try and shine light on those worthy artists throughout my contributions to this fine blog. Today I would like to introduce Roche Musique a record label based in Paris, France. Having started in 2012, they are a relatively new label, and have already amassed a hugely impressive roster of artists. Label manager Jean Janin aka “Cezaire” has a familiar story as many up and coming labels. He started out as a music blogger and party promoter, which naturally led to the idea of starting his own label to push their electronic music taste. Their artists include FKJ, Zimmer, Darius, Karma Kid, Kartell, Cherokee and more. While many of these names may sound unfamiliar their presence online is anything but. While the sound of many of these particular producers don’t fit into a typical underground DJ set or have quite the catchiness of a mainstream hit, they have managed to find their following through the internet. Youtube Channels such as Majestic Casual, Eton Messy and even their soundclouds have garnered them millions of plays and tens of thousands of followers. So allow me to highlight a few of my favorites here and I hope it encourages you to dig more into what they are doing.

  First up, funky jazz fusion boy genius wonder FKJ or French Kiwi Juice. His productions are solid and his live show is a breathe of fresh air to the electronic scene. Here is a video of a performance at the recent Eton Messy sessions

  Here is one of my favorites from his soundcloud as well. Make sure to check out the full EP, its wonderful.

  Another standout is a producer by the name Darius. His productions are slow groovy and sometimes quite sensual. Its great music to just cruise around the city to, or spend a day on the beach. Check it out!

     -DWYR

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#SouthAmerica 

#Lima

#Velasco

#Dialogue

#Rebellion 

#Youth 

#Scorching 

#60s

#FreedomThroughArt 

#Ritmo 

#70s

#Hendrix 

#TheMeters 

#Tiger'sMilkRecords

#Classic 

#FIRE

  Catch the full album via bandcamp here! 

  -Mitch Freedom