Review: Believe it or not, but DJ Shotnez (aka Ori Kaplan) was a founding member of Gogol Bordello. Now he makes inspired fusion hip-hop featured here in four tracks with corresponding mixes. Highlights include the catchy and quirky "Hoje Festa", the gypsy beat of "Part Of The Glory (feat Balkan Beat Box)" and the feelgood cumbia (with a hint of Lambada?) of the Superpendejos mix.
Review: You could never accuse UrbanWorld of delivering compilations with confusing titles. You see, Global Bass Vol 3 delivers exactly what you'd expect - a kaleidoscopic collection of bass music flavours from around the world. There's humming Brazilian beats (Los Chicos Altos), funk-infused tango-step (Superpendejos), middle eastern shuffle (Silver Bullit), dubwise African hip-hop/breaks (Jalan Surabaya), Brazilian/Arabic B-more fusions (Pops Jabu) and wizened South American cumbia (Agencia Sonoria). Oh, and loads more besides. Whether or not you usually check out "world music", this is well worth further investigation.
Review: Despite the unmistakably Latin sound of Copia Doble Systema, they actually hail from Denmark! Founded a few short years ago by DJ Copyflex, they achieved rapid international popularity; even collaborating with labels like Mad Decent. This newie is released via Urban World and it's an infectious, almost salsa, sing-along based around a shuffly mambo loop. There's three further mixes of it, the best being Joelito's slowed and stripped down version. "Boom Boom" is more of the harder edged digital cumbia that they've become known for; with a female MC, piano and synth riffs and a pounding, distorted electronic kick throughout. It's also is remixed in a killer reggaeton style by Thornato.
Review: For DJs enthused by the world of South American music - be it the tango of Argentina, Cuban mambo or Brazilian samba - there's much to enjoy on this EP. With the aid of a string of remixers, Los Chicos Altos have successfully fused the past and the present, combining traditional styles with contemporary beats. All of the seven tracks are worth a loook, from the skanking, slo-mo calypso-house of Azaxx's "Se Va Mamba", to the Nuyorican Soul-ish Stereo 77 rework of "Jose Antonio". Perhaps the standout track, though, is the carnival-friendly cambia of "Senora Santara" as remixed by Idan K and the Movement of Rhythm. Heavy? You bet.
Review: A Technicolor fusion of cumbia, ska, Balkan and exotica on this latest release from Dutch producer Bas Voorn, operating under his Solo Moderna alias for the Sonido Pouble EP. The opening title track has a rootsy slo-mo dub vibe to it, replete with playful brass and organs that remind us of Perez Prado, while "The Scatterer" is a more upbeat electro-swinger. Our favourite though has to be the ethno-jumble of "Solta Futura", which throws a plethora of sampled sounds over a tight, jazzy beat. Look out for some radical overhauls by Farrapo, Dixone and Second Sky & Thomas Blondet too.
Review: Fast and fresh hi-energy electro-samba from this pair of Brazilian producers, who fuse unlikely styles into a truly distinctive sound on the Oliveto EP. Opener "Samborigeno" runs at a juke-like tempo yet is subtly delivered thanks to a range of organic instruments - there's even a didgeridoo providing the bass frequencies, which obviously makes this a real head-turner. It's Bert On Beats' mix that UKF/tropical house fans will want to hook up with though, while modern afrobeat fans will love Maga Bo's treatment of "Samborigeno".
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