Syncopated rhythms, sweeping strings and a flute help carry that 70′s California-pop sound to a T.

D’OWNLOAD

She was only 17 at the time of her hit single. Would her parents even let her ride a bus alone? At night? Anyway, the steamy funk of the verse gives way to bouncy disco chorus more typical of a teen popstar.

Tae Shin and Top Song put a Korean spin on an old Ray Charles song.

Smoothest guy in all of Seoul? Junghyun would have taken the title back in ‘74. He wrote songs for all the popstars of the day and had his own band as well. The Yupjuns back him up here with a sparse but airtight groove that wouldn’t be out of place on an early Lou Reed album.

I recently got a chance to check out one of my favourite producers, L-VIS1990, dropping a DJ set in Manhattan. The venue was a Dim Sum restaurant in a closed Chinese mall hidden well under a bridge, in the Lower East Village. Needless to say, the venue was fantastic, drinks were cheap, the people were poppin’ and the music was nothing short of pure dopeness!

I had always wanted to see L-VIS perform, but living in Toronto, it was a difficult thing to do. He had only ever been brought to the city once. You can bet I jumped on the opportunity to see him do his thang. Wouldn’t you know it, before L-Vis’ set, my wallet got stolen by some asshole kid and I managed to find out who did it. I plotted and waited for an opportunity to confront the kid and get my wallet back in a way that would avoid us both being ejected from the club. My hope was that he would pull it out and I could catch him red handed. Unfortunately, my muscle head friend noticed me stalking this kid, and asked what was happening. Long story short, he ended up causing a scene with the kid, and all 3 of us got kicked out of the club before L-Vis took the stage. After all that, I got my wallet back, but I didn’t get to see L-Vis in his only Toronto appearance.

Some time later, I finally got my chance, and the previous failed attempt just added to my excitement. L-Vis dropped an eclectic mix of American Ghetto flavoured jams. I got the feeling that he was taking advantage of the underground vibe and playing stuff that he didn’t normally get to drop. It was nothing but good looks all night.

The following day, once the hangover subsided, I felt a need to write my own ghetto inspired jam. Using some BMORE break beats and an old JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE VINYL, I soon had a new creation.

It’s called ROCK RIGHT NOW, and it’s a glitchy, filthy, ghetto Bmore/DUBSTEP thing. I don’t know how else to describe it.

Oldschool Hip-Hop gets ZOMBIFIED! Check dis out….

If you wanna hear more stuff like this, LEAVE A COMMENT and let me know it. Would also be good of you to REPOST the tune on your STATUS, or TWEET dat. Hook a nigga up!

“Whatcha wanna do Jeff?”

“I wanna ROCK RIGHT NOW”

Get down y’all!

Myungdong is a popular shopping district in Seoul and it’s not hard to imagine Sung Ryu sulking through the crowds. Plush horns and bongos accompany him on this decadent single.

D’OWNLOAD

Falsettos and animal sounds abound in this shamelessly saccharine dance track. This would be the perfect time to work on your Running Man.

A new Korea disco favorite of ours.

D’OWNLOAD

Singer is nailing the Steve Perry / Jagger look on this album cover. This is total classic ballad.

We’re gonna go all the way back to 1985, for a DANCEHALL SMOKERS ANTHEM by PETER METRO.

PETER METRO

He was  DEEJAY for the METROMEDIA SOUND SYSTEM that made several Dancehall records over the course of the 1980′s. Peter became known for using Spanish in his lyrics, and is now recognized as the first multilingual Reggae toaster.

FRONT LINE GET RAID, is a somewhat political jam, but more of a story, about prejudiced police searching Jamaicans for weed, in England. Some things never change, huh? Blaze up and spin dis.

DOWNLOAD: Peter Metro – Front Line Get Raid (RIGHT CLICK>SAVE AS)

GET MORE PETER METRO:  WIKIPEDIA / JUNO

By the way, you may have noticed that this is a VINYL RIP, but it wasn’t ripped by me. Bomboclat!

We’re gonna go all the way back to 1985, for a DANCEHALL SMOKERS ANTHEM by PETER METRO.

PETER METRO

He was  DEEJAY for the METROMEDIA SOUND SYSTEM that made several Dancehall records over the course of the 1980′s. Peter became known for using Spanish in his lyrics, and is now recognized as the first multilingual Reggae toaster.

FRONT LINE GET RAID, is a somewhat political jam, but more of a story, about prejudiced police searching Jamaicans for weed, in England. Some things never change, huh? Blaze up and spin dis.

DOWNLOAD: Peter Metro – Front Line Get Raid (RIGHT CLICK>SAVE AS)

GET MORE PETER METRO:  WIKIPEDIA / JUNO

By the way, you may have noticed that this is a VINYL RIP, but it wasn’t ripped by me. Bomboclat!

ARMAND VAN HELDEN

An older friend and mentor of mine once told me that he wanted to explore some electronic music, and asked me to recommend some artists. One of the names on my very short list was Armand. I recommended him because he has been a trend setter consistently on the edge of electronic music since the early 90′s. Listening to his discography is like taking a trip through the history of underground EDM, from 20 years ago to the present.

Let’s pause, for a moment, on 1999, and a single called THE BOOGIE MONSTER. This track was featured on Armand’s 2 FUTURE 4 YOU album from the same year,which is still widely accesible, BUT the 12″ single of Boogie Monster has become quite hard to find. This track may not be on the top of Armand’s greatest hits list, but it absolutely KILLS IT in a club. The big drop, with it’s funky quitar line, is a guaranteed hip shaker. Give it a spin and prepare to get funkdafied!

DOWNLOAD: Armand Van Helden – The Boogie Monster (RIGHT CLICK>SAVE AS)

GET MORE ARMAND VAN HELDEN:  WIKIPEDIA / SOUNDCLOUD / FACEBOOK / JUNO

With it’s MONSTER theme, this tune is an official Z JAM. So make sure you add it to your library, DEAD KIDS.

I know nobody has said “funkdafied” since the 90′s. It’s appropriate, alright?!?!

What’s to say? This is smokey, lovely. Horns, strings, smoothness, heartwreck.Pizzicato follow on vocals.

Really love these synth toms that sound like old lasers. And love how straight-laced Lee Jae Min looks on his album sleeve.

Joe Frazier Round 2 by Dennis Alcapone (Trojan 1989)

Download Here. (for a limited period only)

Like arpeggios? Basement synths? This track’s got it all, including searing male/female vocals that keep the sexual tension at a fever pitch.

Did ABBA release some Korean b-sides? No, it’s Yoon Shi Nae singing a rousing song of encouragement for the nation’s diligent students. Never give up, kids.

D’OWNLOAD

Keep On Jumpin’ by Beatboxx feat. Chazzie (Strictly Rhythm 1991)

Download Here. (for a limited period only)

THE SURFARIS

In the early 60′s, SURF ROCK was exploding all over the USA, and a 3 piece (they were joined by a 4th member later on) band from the shores of California laid down a song that would become one of the biggest anthems of the movement, and one of the most iconic instrumentals of the entire decade, if not of all time. You can read all about WIPEOUT on WIKIPEDIA. What I will let you know about the song is that it was actually the bands manager who laid down the famous vocal at the head. “Hahahahahaaaaa, wipe out!”

You might also be interested to know that The Surfaris are still together and touring today, although only one original member still remians in the group. Check out the video below, of the current incarnation of the band preforming Wipe Out. It’s adorable, if nothing else.

Even if you already have Wipe Out in your digital music collection, you should replace it with the version below, because it’s a VINYL RIP and that’s the proper way to listen to a classic OLDIE like this.

DOWNLOAD: The Surfaris – Wipe Out (RIGHT CLICK>SAVE AS)

GET MORE SURFARIS:  WEBSITE / WIKIPEDIA / JUNO

Definately one of the best instrumental sing-a-long songs. Know what I’m sayin’?

Siqhamuka Kwazulu by Mahotella Queens (Earthworks 1977)

Download Here. (for a limited period only)

So, Random Selection No. 2. comes in the form of the Izibani Zomgqashiyo album by Mahotella Queens. I bought this Afro Beat/Pop album for the many samples to be had, but never did get round to sampling it. And I love the cover too!

A nice bit of footage of the Queens in action…

One of my favourite Rum Runner/80s tunes…

Disco Rough by Mathematiques Modernes (Celluloid 1980)

Download Here (for a limited period only)

I’ll be DJ’ing at Only After Dark on November 18th with non other than  Mr Rusty Egan. Watch this space for more info.

Venere by Omniverse (Antima Records 1991)

Download Here (for a limited period only)

There was a lot of cheese coming out of Italia around this period (my record collection can vouch for this) but certain Italian producers were more than able to hold their own and produce cuts of sublime deepness.