Next up in our Record Club Guest Mix series is Paul Hillery of the Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadour blog. Paul is a hugely respected collector of private press obscurities, lost loner folk, strange musical fauna and intricately played floral powered wonders. Known in collectors’ circles for his deep digging adventures and his immersive mix series on the Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours blog (FFTT), Paul has gained a reputation as the go-to man for compilers and labels seeking information pretty much unavailable anywhere on the net. 

He recently released his FFTT compilation on the ever excellent RE:WARM records and it has become a firm favourite here at Mr Bongo HQ. To dig deeper into this rich seam of lost treasures and obscurities we asked if he would contribute a mix in our Record Club series. He’s a DJ / Selector of some pedigree, having played alongside The Polyphonic Spree, Arthur Lee & Love, Bonnie Dobson, Spiritualized, 4 Hero, Happy Mondays, Simian, The Bees, Julian Cope, Courtney Pine and many, many more. So, being the top gent he is, a sublime 2hr mix was promptly delivered and is now available for all to enjoy here. 

You can read more about his compilations, mixes and the music he loves in our Digging Deeper interview here - https://www.mrbongo.com/blogs/news/digging-deeper-an-interview-with-paul-hillery-folk-funk-trippy-troubadours

Mr Bongo Record Club Guest Mix - Paul Hillery : A Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours Mix

After being absolutely gutted that he couldn't make it to this years Riot Mark Seven has sent over a huge apology along with this mix of pretty much what he  had planned & prepped to play!

Enjoy!

Mark Seven - Airport Riot

"CUCINA BALEARICA" GUEST MIX BY VINCENZO 
( LOS ANGELES )

Vincenzo is a Los Angeles based vinyl DJ who is captivated by international and esoteric jams long ago forgotten and buried in obscurity.
 Motivated by coastal club culture, his selections unearth the balearic side of international dance music.
ENJOY!

"CUCINA BALEARICA" GUEST MIX BY VINCENZO ( LOS ANGELES )

We’re kicking off 2025 in style and scoring number 19 of the series, bringing you the one and only Jayson Wynters from Birmingham. This guy’s a selector whose skills are as sharp as his records are deep. This mix is all heart, full of surprises. Hit play, vibe out to these masterclass selections, and get your ears tuned in

LÉMAN MIX 19 - JAYSON WYNTERS

The Coin EP Vol. 3 - TLM037

Marcello Cassanelli
A1 - Starlight
A2 - Tropical Breeze
A3 - Dream Horizon

Caruso & Helen McCormack
AA1 - Have And Hold
AA2 - Love You More
AA3 - Central

First release of 2025 is The Coin EP Vol.3. Marcello Cassanelli is back on Ten Lovers Music with two stunning tracks and a beautiful outro solo on his Rhodes. Starlight kicks off side A with some superb Italian Disco for 2025, following that a trip to Cuba for Tropical Breeze on which Marcello employs long time collaborators and super talented Giulia Barozzi on vocals and Antonio Rapa on drums. Across both tracks Marcello plays the keys, bass, flute, guitar and drum programming. Rounding off side A is Dream Horizon an improvised one minute beatless outro jam on the Rhodes.

	On the AA side we have a new project from Caruso and Helen McCormack. First up is Have and Hold which harks back to the Manchester Street Soul scene of the late 80’s. Very simply constructed with electronic drums, bass, piano and a lead synth on top of which Helen’s vocal sits perfectly. Second on side AA is Love You More, a very atmostpheric track written by Helen with the strings arranged by Cormac Fulton. The percussion is from fellow TLM artist Takashi Nakazato (Kyoto Jazz Massive/Jazztronik). Both tracks were produced by Steve Conry who also assisted Jose Rico on the mixes. Finally to finish on side AA is Central, a beautiful Deep House instrumental using only real analogue synths like the Solina String Ensemble, ARP Odyssey and Oberheim Xpander, mixed by Steve Conry and Matt Cox.

Marcello Cassanelli / Caruso & Helen McCormack - The Coin EP Vol.3 - TLM037

The revival of vinyl has not only brought back the nostalgia of yesteryears but also elevated the music experience to an almost sacred level. The tactile pleasure of handling a record, the anticipation as the needle drops, and the warm, rich sound that fills the room – these are rituals that digital formats can scarcely replicate.

This time around, the spotlight is on Mar De Novo. Their return to the interesting label Vinyl Only is nothing short of spectacular. This release captures the essence of analog purity, transporting listeners through an auditory journey that is both timeless and contemporary. The themes are meticulously crafted, showcasing Mar De Novo's signature blend of ethereal melodies and intricate rhythms. Each note feels intentional, resonating deeply and inviting us to immerse ourselves fully in the sonic landscape.

Featuring lush synthesizers, groovy basslines, and shimmering guitars, "Call Me" masterfully integrates vintage drum machines and soulful vocals. The track's dynamic arrangement and layered production create an irresistible dance-floor vibe, paying homage to classic Disco while infusing it with present-day flair.

You can find (and buy) this and other music pearls on the Juno page of the label: https://www.juno.co.uk/labels/Vinyl+Only/

Follow @vinylonlyrecords, peeps!

PREMIERE718 // Mar De Novo - Call Me

Captain' Ahoy has been navigating the DJ waters for more than a decade now.

5 years ago, from the stern of his ship, he began crafting eclectic edits for his sets. After some jolly feedback & requests for some of his work, he started sharing his edits with fellow DJs & music lovers around the seven seas.

Sailing forward to present times: The Cap' now hoist sails to more international gigs while still lovingly releasing some of his nautical Cap' Edits to the world.

Cellar Sessions Vol 26: Captain' Ahoy

45 and Digital available on Bandcamp: https://universalcave.bandcamp.com/album/till-youre-back-in-my-arms

From the deepest trenches of deadstock 45s and the unsung halls of soft rock infamy, we present SR4HT02: (Till You're) Back In My Arms.

Universal Cave and the Street Road Band cover @dan-e-strimer with Insured Sound's cult anthem (Till You're) Back In My Arms which was originally released as a 45 in 1977 on Lost Nation Records out of Guysville, Ohio. When Universal Cave featured Back in My Arms on Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8 in 2023, we reached out to Dan Strimer to tell him how much we loved his record, and quickly made a friend who helped us release a cover of his song 47 years after it first came out. Dan is still making music to this day and there are even rumors of some unreleased recordings making their way out in the near future.

On vacation in Hawaii when we released Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8, Alex Tebbs Mitchell of Universal Cave kept coming back to Dan's catchy, rural classic rock tune. When Alex returned to Philadelphia, he assembled the Street Road Band to record a laid back, 'southwestern Balearic' cover version with @andreethier on vocals, Charles Simon on guitar, Jesse Spearhawk on Pedal Steel, Alex Tebbs Mitchell on Rhodes and bass, @ryanmtodd on synthesizers, and Shawn Ryan and Brian Cassidy on additional programming and arrangement. The result is a blissful soft rock ballad inspired by the likes of Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler.

After recording the cover, we called in the UK's finest Balearic maestro's @coyotesounds to take the multitracks to the White Isle and back for a remix worthy of Cafe Del Mar. Coyote send the song into a dreamy, dubby, deep house groove, confirming that the record is, in fact, Balearic.

Mixed by Alex Tebbs Mitchell
Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Special thanks to Dan Strimer, Coyote, Ryan Bishop, Joseph Shabason, Diego Herrera and Great Circles Studio.

© + ℗ Universal Cave Records 2024

(Til You're) Back in My Arms

Konohagare

Celia (Long play)

Buy on bandcamp

Flow Di - Celia (Long play)

Fractal Architect - Hope [Superordinate Music]

For DJ bookings and general contact please email tenloversmusic@outlook.com