On the show this time, it’s the Indonesian funk of Ali.  Ali incorporates 70’s soul, disco, and afrobeat with elements of arabic and middle eastern music.  They released their first single “Dance, Habibi” in 2001, and followed up with their debut album Malaka in 2023 on Anukara records.  Their latest EP - Patterns was released independently.

Live on KEXP, Episode 489 - Ali

On the show this time, it's the heavy-rock of alt-metal pioneers, Helmet. Helmet’s tunings, rhythms, and chord voicings are startlingly original, and easily as heavy as anything that came before or after them.  Their latest releases are the studio album Left available through earMUSIC, and Move On, a compilation of covers and live tracks.

Live on KEXP, Episode 490 - Helmet

On the show next time, it’s the danceable singalong punk-rock of Scottish band Franz Ferdinand.  It's one of-a-kind sessions from your favorite artists, and from a few, you're about to discover.  From our studios in Seattle it’s Live on KEXP.

LOK 491 PROMO

On the show this time, it’s the danceable singalong punk-rock of Scottish band Franz Ferdinand.  They released their debut single in 2003.  They followed it up with “Take Me Out” in early 2004. After a slow start, the song caught on, partly thanks to heavy rotation on MTV.  They were awarded the Mercury Prize, and their debut album sold millions of copies.  They’ve been on a steady roll since, recently releasing their 6th studio album The Human Fear available through the Domino Recording Company. 


Live on KEXP, Episode 491 - Franz Ferdinand

On the show next time, it’s the northern African desert-blues of Étran de l’Aïre.  It's one of-a-kind sessions from your favorite artists, and from a few, you're about to discover.  From our studios in Seattle it’s Live on KEXP.

Live on KEXP, Episode 492 - Etran De L'Aire (Promo)

On the show this time, it’s the northern African desert-blues of Etran de l’Aïr.  The group is a family band from the city of Agadez in Niger, who got their start playing weddings.  They play guitar driven desert blues, made for dancing.  They sing in chorus, in Tamasheq, filling the air with glorious celebratory Saharan music.  Their latest album is “100 Percent Sahara Guitar”  available on Sahel Sounds out of Portland Oregon.

Live on KEXP, Episode 492 - Etran de L'Aïr

Live on KEXP, Episode 493 - maya ongaku (Promo)

On the show this time, it’s motorik psych-rock from a Japanese beach, with maya ongaku. They hail from the island of Enoshima, famed for a shrine to Buddhist deity Benzaiten.  They play long-form psych rock, sometimes meditative, sometimes folky, sometimes even jazzy.  Their debut Approach to Anima features quiet singing, fingerstyle guitars, ambient recordings of bird calls, acoustic percussion, flute and saxophone, and spoken word.  Their latest EP Electronic Phantoms leans more towards drum machines for the rhythm samples, and rich synth-tronica to balance the guitars.  Both are available on Guruguru Brain.


Live on KEXP, Episode 493 - maya ongaku

On the show next time, it’s the hook-laden, R&B chill-groove of English electronica producers Maribou State.  It's one of-a-kind sessions from your favorite artists, and from a few, you're about to discover.  From our studios in Seattle it’s Live on KEXP.

Live on KEXP, Episode 494 - Maribou State (Promo)

On the show next time, it’s the return of Moroccan dance-rockers Bab L’Bluz.  It's one of-a-kind sessions from your favorite artists, and from a few, you're about to discover.  From our studios in Seattle it’s Live on KEXP.

Live on KEXP, Episode 495 - Bab L'Bluz (Promo)

On the show this time -  it’s the hollow-body harmony and sharp-suited soul of Joey Quiñones and Thee Sinceers.  Their single “Seems Like” is available on 45 from Penrose Records - an imprint of Daptone, and “I Don’t Mind” is available on Colemine Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 253 - Joey Quiñones & Thee Sinseers (Promo)

Under The Needle - KEXP Sessions