Street Knowledge

Saâda Bonaire - Wake Up City

Mine To Give

Curyman

Nação Tupi

Sounding simultaneously from the past, the present, and the future, the debut album 'MLDE' by Marxist Love Disco Ensemble seeks to eradicate both the trite from disco and the sobriety from political music. Half poetic, half tongue-in-cheek, this stunning compact eight-track album is influenced by Eastern European and Mediterranean 70s disco records. In the words of band member Paolo, ''it was written in response to hearing 'I love America' by Patrick Juvet. The song prompted the question: why does disco, a genre originally created by oppressed minorities, eventually become synonymous with Western capitalist excess?" MLDE seeks to break this connection.

Merging disco, post-disco 80s pop, and boogie into the fold, 'MLDE' was recorded using only analogue instruments, giving it warmth and space. Recorded on cassette, ½ inch tape, this gives moments of lo-fi abstraction between the beats of an aggressive, tight drum kit. Instruments used for this recording range from saxophone, trumpet, harpsichord, guitar, and rare analogue synthesisers. The bass sound is shaped by early 80s boogie records, whilst the influence of artists such as Hamlet Minassian can be heard in some of MLDE's more driving-disco outings, such as 'Hues of Red'. In the tradition of Soviet vocal group records, which the band has studied, some songs are sung by a vocal quartet in homage to this tradition. 

Tracks such as '1905' and 'Brumaire' have a greater pop aesthetic, with Paolo's vocal style on these more pop-driven songs evoking early 80s bands such as Orange Juice and Chas Jankel. 

The format and message of pop and disco are commonly viewed just to entertain and move bodies around a dancefloor; however, lyrically, the subjects range from dialectical and historical materialism, class struggle, Marxist theory and praxis, as well as the concept of Marxist disco music. 

Adding the icing to the cake, mastering don Joker aka Liam McLean dusted the album with his magic, giving the songs space where the room is needed, as well as the kick and punch demanded by the modern dancefloor.

Marxist Love Disco Ensemble - Material

BUY Błoto "Grzybnia" LP & CD
https://bloto.bandcamp.com/album/grzybnia

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CREDITS:
Wuja HZG - Gitara basowa, Moog Little Phatty Stage I, Perkusjonalia;
Latarnik - Fortepian, Moog Minimoog Voyager, Nord Stage 3, Junost 21, Perkusjonalia;
OlafSaxx - Roland Aira System-1, Roland Aira TR-8, Saksofony: tenor, sopran, Perkusjonalia;
Cancer G - Perkusja, Roland SPD-SX, Perkusjonalia;

Gość specjalny: Kwazar - flet [B2].


Nagrania zostały zrealizowane w Studio Pasterka (Warszawa), 29-31.01.2023.
Inżynier dźwięku: Piotr Zabrodzki
Mix / Mastering: Marcin Kwazar & Błoto
Producent wykonawczy, A&R, Manager: Sebastian Jóźwiak
Graphic Designer: Sainer
www.astigmaticrecords.com


© 2024 Błoto
Ⓟ 2024 Błoto & Astigmatic Records
All Rights Reserved

Grzybnia

Buy LP & CD

Błoto - Kozak

Listen on all platforms: https://idol-io.ffm.to/sholto-tell-me-myths
Pre-order the album on Bandcamp: https://sholto2.bandcamp.com/album/letting-go-of-forever
Listen to the DeepMatter Catalogue: https://tinyurl.com/dm-catalogue

Tell me Myths

SHOLTO - Tell Me Myths (Ft. Elle Músa)

Classic Afro-Funk from 1970's Cameroon. Iconic wah wah effect lead guitar, signature afrobeat horns, Onyeabor-style keyboard synths and irresistible fender bass solo lines. 

More info: http://www.stampthewax.com/2015/03/17/premiere-jo-tongo-jangolo/

Taken from 'Africa Airways One (Funk Connection 1973-1980)', out 23rd March on @africaseven. 

Premiere: Jo Tongo - Jangolo

The Transformations Suite combines music, theatre, and poetry to examine the radical history of resistance within communities of the African diaspora. The themes of the suite move through five distinct phases: Transformation, History, Cycles, Momentum (parts 1 and 2), and Ascension. Continuing in the tradition of artists like Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, and Tupac Shakur, the suite paints a musical picture of the current state of social inequality and injustice in the United States and beyond.

Within this framework, the project connects contemporary issues, such as the prison industrial complex and the Black Lives Matter movement, with the history of revolutionary movements of color. The composition builds a bridge between the past and the future – all within the context of poignant, beautiful, and sweeping moments created by the suite’s music. The powerful lyrics consist mostly of original poems by actor and poet Jeremie Harris, augmented by contributions from Pinderhughes, Saul Williams, and Tupac Shakur.

The Transformations Suite has been performed throughout South America and the U.S., at venues including the American Museum of Natural History, the Harlem Arts Festival, Juilliard, UC Irvine, NYU, Joe’s Pub, the Jazz Gallery, MoMA, and Columbia University. Most recently, the project was featured as part of Blackout for Human Rights’ #MLKNow event which was viewed by over 500,000 people and trended #1 on Twitter.

Centered in the belief that there is a soundtrack to every revolution, the vision for The Transformations Suite is that it will foster dialogue on social justice issues throughout the world, show how art can create social change, contribute to the powerful growing movement on behalf of black lives around the country, and empower all people – especially youth – to make their voices heard.

The release of The Transformations Suite was preceded by an event called “Black Male Re-Imagined”, a project co-presented by the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, where The Transformations Suite served as the prism through which artists and activists reflect on the current state of our nation. This event, doubling as the album’s release show, took place on October 11 at The Kennedy Center, including Lalah Hathaway, Freeway, Christian Scott, Haile Gerima, and more.

The Transformations Suite is released worldwide on October 12, 2016.

You can find the album on iTunes, Bandcamp, and all other outlets.
Special free bundles of the album will be available for youth organizations, activist groups, and schools.

“Wonderful...an absolutely gorgeous piece of music. A huge undertaking;; a nuanced, delicate, and powerful perspective on heavy and important topics."
- Anna Deavere Smith

"An urgent and powerful record by one of this generation’s most captivating composers. Not to mention an incredibly formidable player – Samora's command of the piano is out of this world! A must have record for anyone interested in progress. Musically or otherwise.."
- Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

“Samora Pinderhughes calls for reappraisal of black life's value in ‘The Transformations Suite’... it is a five-part tone poem, arranged over meticulously created big band jazz instrumentals, with aims to provide a motivational and emotional engine to push forward the mission of Black Lives Matter."
- Mic.com

Stefano Torossi - Running Fast

mr_k_rm