En route to their forthcoming third album "Catastrophic Life", our very own Jewish Monkeys are back in Germany for a short but sweet weekend layover and two live shows. 

Boasting a new look as well as their recently released current single "All the Great Things", ze boyz will take to the stage today, July 20th, at the 100% organic and possibly also quite kosher "Bio erleben" festival in the northern Bavarian city of Nuremberg. And, what's more, you will be able to see the show for free. If you happen to be in Nürnberg that is.

If not, you will get another chance tomorrow, when the band brings its antics to the "Horizonte" festival in the central German city of Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. So grab your inflatable flamingos and pineapples and get ready to experience real heat.

This summer, Ghent-based Belgian record label, soundsystem and digging collective Radio Martiko returns with a host of highly collectible 7” reissues that will make like-minded seekers of “global eclectic supersounds” go, oh yeah!

Our favourite release of the batch is a green 45rpm gem containing two rare stunners, one from the Indonesian island of Java and one from Morocco’s Casablanca. Both tracks were dug up by Radio Martiko’s Fred Kramer, who shares his story on the Bandcamp release page.

Side A brings us the intoxicating, dream-like instrumental track “Es Lilin” (Ice Lolly) recorded in 1965 by Dutch-Indo ballroom band The Evergreens. Based on “a Sudanese (West Java) folksong (daerah) [and] composed on an ancient Gamelan scale” with laid-back guitar riffs we were amazed by this original love song’s distinct Ethio Jazz feel.

Side B unexpectedly serves up another fascinating find, recorded in 1962 by obscure Jewish-Moroccan formation Les Jaguar's de Casablanca, led by drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Jauk Armal, aka “the Okay Temiz from Casablanca”. A cover of British pop icons the Shadows, “Gonzales” reeled us in with its striking surf rock vibe and raw garage sound.

Do take a moment to read Fred Kamer’s words on “Java Surf” and make sure you add this to your collection. Once again, a big shout out to Radio Martiko on this superb release. Surf’s up!

One could call this a timely meeting of Istanbul's avant-garde: "Prolific crate digger, sampling whiz and producer extraordinaire" Grup Ses joins forces with Cologne-based electric saz phenom Elektro Hafız for a mind-bending potpourri of styles. Recently released on Debora Ipekel's Zel Zele Records, "Varyete" is the title to their collaborative new full-length and a dazzling display of variety is just what the two deliver, "from deep Anatolian psychedelic grooves to dirty electronics, playful beats and hip hop."

Listening to "Varyete" is quite an adventure, as we witness the two artists effortlessly bring together their parallel musical universes to create common ground. Head-nodding beats, cosmic chops, acid-induced forays into the unknown and arabesque melodies are only part of the picture; one track even includes Tuvan throat singing. "Varyete" ventures into the darker realms of our mind, guided by mutual flashes of brilliance that make for a riveting and wondrous listening experience. 

The full-length also features guest performances by Berlin producer Onofon, Istanbul's MC/producer Da Poet, Istanbul's Roadside_Picnic and a flipped sample of Egyptian jazz legend Salah Ragab. Naturally, you are bound to discover even more, once you give this record a spin or two. So head over Bandcamp now to stream/buy the release in full. You can also preview Elektro Hafız's "Mega Hafıza 2" as a Grup Ses Acid Cut below, just in case you needed any more convincing.

Sitting in Istanbul on a sweltering Tuesday morning, we can't help wishing we were on a tropical island, lying in a hammock, sipping something cold, anything cold, before walking over to the clear blue ocean and simply diving in. This is pretty much the daydream we just had, when listening to the latest 12" release on Swiss imprint Rocafort Records. 

Presenting two sun-drenched tracks by Barcelona trio Kokoro Disco-San (aka Lalo López, Miguelito Superstar and Thompson) side A features "Isla Fantasiá", a smooth-as-can-be disco burner, reminiscent of a Joey Negro/MAW (Masters at Work) production, complete with a loungy four-to-the-flour beat, "catchy synth riffs and echoey Brazil-inspired backing vocals" to take a cruise to. On the flipside is another laid-back tune by the name of "Sonic Feeling", which comes equipped with a driving, funk-filled bassline, disco flourishes and some extra fizz, perfect to sip on, while enjoying the Balearic view from your infinity pool. 

That being said, if you're looking for a new two-tracker to complete your set, get the evening crowd on its feet or simple zone out to, Rocafort Records has got you covered. Feel free to stream/buy this release as well as their other repertoire on Bandcamp. And most importantly, go find your fantasy island.

Like many others out there, we are constantly on the lookout for extraordinary music from around the globe. And so, when we heard that "Istanbul's don of the clarinet" Cüneyt Sepetçi was returning to Berlin to play another show and read that he will be supported by "legendary Turkish crate digger" Çerikunda, we couldn't help but wonder: Who is this Çerikunda?

Hailing from Istanbul, Emir Özer graduated from the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts as a painter and co-founded the notorious Bant magazine (which just turned 15), while working as a graphic designer, music journalist, DJ, producer and avid digger. One-half of Istanbul's notorious Çerikunda crew, alongside his partner in crime Hünkar, Emir is first and foremost an all-out music nerd, with in-depth knowledge in diverse musical fields.

Since 2014, he's also been releasing the groundbreaking annual Turkish Diggin' Report in collaboration with Istanbul's Grup Ses and Izmir's DJ No Frost, focussing on Turkish rarities from vinyl, cassette tapes and reels.

To give you a taste of what Çerikunda sounds like, click the SoundCloud player above and enjoy the sounds of their 67-minute "Helal Miks", which runs the gamut from Arabic to Greek to African to who knows what?! Unfortunately there is no tracklist included.

Çerikunda's Emir will be supporting Cüneyt Sepetçi live at Berlin's Urban Spree venue on Monday, July 8th. And we can't wait to see, which gems he pulls out of his bag. Check the event page to find out more. You can also win 2x2 tickets to the event via our Greedy FB page. 

After more than a decade in the business, Paris/Berlin-based imprint InFiné rightfully describes itself as "a harbour for adventurous, resolutely independent" and dancefloor-oriented music of all styles. Just recently it released "Digital Kabar", an essential compilation of electronic maloya, the  genre native to the French island of La Réunion. 

"At once sacred and secular; sometimes calculated but often improvised; formerly clandestine but now manifest: the Kabar is now an integral part of the Réunionnais landscape, eschewing any of the labels that are slung its way. The genre is like a snapshot of island life, with its artisanal musical instruments, its block parties, its ritual dances and its pamphleteering lyrics. A Réunion, in all senses of the term," reads the description.

"Digital Kabar" as such features the musical union of maloya and electronic music, brought to life by a host of diverse artists (including Loya) and incorporating a plethora of extraordinary sounds and musical nuances. The compilation's distinct blend of flavours provides an almost left-field vibe that will nonetheless light up pretty much any location possessing an able sound system.

You can stream/buy the entire release here on Bandcamp or preview the track "Gardien Volcan" by the Sheitan Brothers below. 

While the Women's World Cup in France has meanwhile entered the quarter-final round, this year's Africa Cup of Nations kicked off last Friday in Egypt. Among the 24 teams competing for the cup and making its first-ever bid is Northwest Africa's Islamic Republic of Mauritania. This in itself deserves mention, but what really got us going was a newly released video by Mauritanian rapper Taleb Latimore to support his country's national team, aka "les Mourabitounes".

On "C'est La Mauritanie" Taleb Latimore goes all in, as he is joined not only by Senegalese singer Viviane Chidid (also known as Viviane Ndour, the former sister-in-law of Youssou N'Dour) but also by the amazing Mauritanian vocalist and Glitterbeat-signed artist Noura Mint Seymali, whose second international release "Arbina" we previewed back in 2016.

That being said, "C'est La Mauritanie" was made to appeal to the popular taste and is everything you'd expect of a catchy, powerful and motivational rap anthem to support the country's national team. However, it also contains an abundance of beautiful shots of Mauritania and its contemporary populace as well as cheerful moments shared by the clip's protagonists.

Mauritania lost its first match versus Mali on Monday, but will be playing Angola tomorrow and Tunisia next Tuesday. Let's hope their new anthem will power them to their first tournament victory.

You can watch the full video below, produced by Sen Art Vision and Studio 308.

"The future of music happened decades ago," reads the catchy claim of Samy Ben Redjeb's Frankfurt-based imprint Analog Africa, specialising in unusual African music from the '70s, basically stuff you never even knew existed, but has nonetheless had a strong impact in certain regions of the world. As such, many of the Analog Africa releases are not just about the music, but also come with detailed liner notes and equally unusual stories. 

Last Friday, the label dropped another amazing compilation, focussing this time on a melting pot of mythical sounds from the Amazon, namely the city of Belém, aka the "Caribbean Port", in the northern Brazilian state of Pará that "has long been a hotbed of culture and musical innovation", home to "Amerindians, Europeans, Africans – and the myriad combinations between these people” as well as diverse musical genres, including "Carimbó, Samba-De-Cacete, Siriá, Bois-Bumbás and Bambiá."

Together with Australian DJ and producer Carlo Xavier, Samy Ben Redjeb began to immerse himself into this rich parallel universe, the history thereof, its recording industry as well as its thriving sound system culture. The musical result being "Jambú e Os Míticos Sons Da Amazônia": "The music and tales found in Jambú are stories of resilience, triumph against all odds, and, most importantly, of a city in the borders of the Amazon who has always known how to throw a damn good party." 

Jambú also happens to be the name of a plant found in Amazonian and Paraense cooking and known among other things for its "appetite-stimulating effect." That being said, this compilation has definitely whet our appetite for more of these extraordinary, organic musical blends.

To listen, support and to find out more about the extensive research that went into this great project, head over to the Analog Africa release page on Bandcamp. 

On Thursday, just in time for Shabbat, our phenomenal Victoria Hanna delivered a spectacular new music video to her debut album track "Orayta" that features an absolutely unique display of Aramaic rap or spoken word. On "Orayta" the Israeli vocalist brilliantly pairs the raw and mystical sounds of ancient Hebrew with Tamir Muskat's (APE Records, Balkan Beat Box) sleek and expansive hiphop-styled production. 

"The lyrics are taken from the main book of Kabbalah, praising the wisdom nestled in the old texts in a language bordering on incantation. 'Orayta' is the Aramaic term of endearment for the Torah [...] a book which is 'more than a book', so much so, that it becomes something like a woman in the eyes of the writers."

Ella Sade Chen, Alin Baray and Junior Romero now created an animated music video to "Orayta", telling Victoria Hanna's life story in mesmerising kaleidoscopic images; "the daughter of a rabbi, peeking into the men's section at the synagogue and discovering the rich world of silenced womanhood." 

Victoria Hanna will be performing live at this year's WOMAD festival on July 27th. 

We're happy to finally announce a special collaboration album released a few weeks ago on "genre-defying" London-based record label Wah War 45s and featuring Ghanaian xylophone master Isaac Birituro alongside the Leeds-based producer/singer/songwriter Sonny Johns, also know as The Rail Abandon. That's not to say they hadn't given us a fair warning with their first two singles "Yesu Yan Yan" and "Für Svenja” – the latter instantly sparking our germanophone interest. As we later found out, the project was made possible with the help of Tim Becker,  Svenja Albers and the Rüt'n'Rock Festival team, that has been raising money for over a decade now to support projects in Africa, namely in the North Ghanaian town of Kalba. 

But back to the "boundary-crossing duo" of Isaac and Sonny and this remarkable album project. What brought the two together was their innate "desire to hear the usual done unusually and play with the shared influence of the music from afar." As an album, "Kalba" stands for a lot more than the town where Isaac resides. It represents "the combination of differences" and emphasises "the importance of community, of preserving and presenting local cultures, the ardent desire to contribute to changing the world around us and, of course, the love and power of music created from a genuine place." 

Isaac and Sonny bring their individual backgrounds, experiences and stories to musical fruition on an album that makes for a great listen and also features contributions by the likes of Seb Rochford, Leafcutter John, Raph Clarkson, and Elliot Galvin. You can stream/buy the 10 tracks on "Kalba" via Bandcamp. Part of the proceeds will be used to fund the building of a school in Kalba. Visit the This is Kalba website for more information.

This Friday marks release day for part three of the Venezuelan trilogy of 45s on Olindo Records. The series started back in 2017 with the release of "Abeja b/w Black & Decker" by Monsalve Y Los Forajidos, was followed by Insólito UniVerso's "Vuelve b/w Décima" in 2018 and now concludes with Isaac Sasson's "Cantos Campesinos".

The EP features two original, folkloric compositions by Caracas-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Isaac Sasson, which previously appeared on his self-released 2017 album "Memorias del canto campesino", as well as a remix by London producer and drummer Hector Plimmer (Albert's Favourites). 

On Side A we find the short composition "Paseo en un sueño", a dreamlike tune, riding the melodic flute of Tomasito Garcia, before we are carried away by "Canción para mi familia, Venezuela", "a sort of mantra prayer dedicated to Venezuela and Isaac's family an friends; it's spiraling guitar riff and various percussion instruments quickly descending towards a chaotic state of bliss", the description reads.

The flipside features Hector Plimmer's remix of Sasson's "Cantos Campesinos": "Hector retunes the rhythm to his purposes, building tension and borrowing a bell sound to raise it even further, before releasing a skittering drum pattern, [eventually] adding sensual synth chords a flute-like synth solo to complete this musical trip." 

Isaac Sasson's "Cantos Campesinos" releases today. Head over to the Olinda Records Bandcamp page to stream/buy the release in full. There will also be a limited run of 300 vinyl records available. 

Hailing from the city of Wrocław, Polish seven-piece EABS (Electro Acoustic Beat Sessions) just released a new full-length of original material. Two years after their well-received debut album "Repetitions (Letters to Krzysztof Komeda)", paying homage to Polish Jazz legend Krzysztof Komeda, the group continues their free and spirited approach to "blending traditional Polish Jazz with sounds from other genres, thus creating a new and personal interpretation of modern jazz. EABS have created their unique compositions by employing an approach exercising the idea of 'reconstruction from deconstruction' where sampling and looping are merged with jazz improvisations." 

On "Slavic Spirits", EABS set out "in search of Slavic melancholy" and are joined by none other than London producer, "saxophone renegade and flute enthusiast" Tenderlonious: "The material is an attempt to radically break out of the status quo of national mythology which currently steers the collective imagination of the Polish society. The musicians turned to Slavic mythology and Polish demonology, while pondering upon the contemporary spiritual condition of Poles. [...] Slavic Spirits is an endeavour to get in touch with the world of a long- and brutally lost culture which, due to lack of sources, will never be thoroughly explored."

This also explains the album titles, i.e. "Ciemność" (Darkness) to "Przywitanie Słońca" (Sun Worship). Head over to Bandcamp for the full 44-minute experience that is "Slavic Spirits", a brilliantly atmospheric, somewhat challenging yet highly engaging tour de force in the spirit of jazz. Out now on Astigmatic Records. 

EABS are: 
Marek Pędziwiatr (Nordiska Bambino piano, Fender Rhodes MKII, Minimoog Voyager, Crumar Performer, Physharmonica E. Krauss Stuttgard, Korg Polysix, Roland DC-30 analog chorus echo)
Marcin Rak (drums)
Vojto Monteur (electric guitar) 
Paweł Stachowiak (bass guitar) 
Spisek Jednego (percussion, sound fx) 
Olaf Węgier (tenor saxophone) 
Jakub Kurek (trumpet)
Tenderlonious (flute, soprano saxophone)