I went to see TAMIKREST at the mighty 4AD club in Diksmuide last Wednesday. I was accompanied by my wife and oldest son (11) who really dug his “first ever rock show”. TAMIKREST are desert musicians from the Western-Sahara but they have an irresistible hypnotic groove that rocks for sure! I bought their new album afterwards called 'Toumastin' and it’s a real winner! Great music, a beautiful sleeve and 180 gram vinyl: thank you very much Glitterhouse Records!!!


This morning, I really enjoyed TAV FALCO & THE UNAPPROACHABLE PANTHER BURNS’ latest album which I think is released by Glitterhouse Records’ sub-label Stag-O-Lee Records although my vinyl copy states Bang! Records. Whatever, it’s a great album that no Tav Falco fan can afford to miss!


Bang! Records by the way has just released a deluxe gatefold double vinyl edition of the NEW CHRISTS’ ‘Lower Yourself’ album, limited to 1000 copies. Originally recorded and released in 1997 by Citadel Records, the record has been remastered with new artwork done all under Rob Younger’s (Radio Birdman) supervision in order to implement a still stronger sound and presence. Wonder why I mention this reissue? The NEW CHRISTS 2009 album ‘Gloria’ was my record of the year and proof that the NEW CHRISTS still rule after all those years!


I was recently diggin’ through the used records bins during a lunch break and found a copy of VIEIRA E SEU CONJUNTO’s ‘Lambada’ record, originally released by Stern’s Records in 1988. It was one of the first world music releases that became available in the West and one of the few that I forgot to buy at the time. I am glad I picked the record up recently because it’s a wonderful album full of inventive guitar playing and subtle rhythms. I am sure you can still find a copy on eBay for little money…


Ziya Ertekin (40) is a DJ from Rotterdam who prefers to call himself a musical anthropologist. For years, he travels the world around in search of old records and has released 2 cd compilations so far under the moniker Blue Flamingo. On ‘Congo Jazz’ he delivers 3 collections of old time world music: Jungle Crawl, Congo Jazz and That Old Religion. The first mixes Hot Jazz with Afro/Jungle Exotica, the second mix has old 78rpm tunes from the Congo while the third mix treats the listener to some great black gospel. I also bought his previous collection called ‘Blue Flamingo 78 r.p.m.’ which features 1930s Oriental Flavored Jazz-Exotica, 1930s-1940s Spanish & French Caribbean and 1950s Mambo & Rumba Flavored Rhythm & Blues. Both cd’s are available at a great price from Excelsior Records in Holland. I recently received a mail from Ertekin in which he tells me that he is just back from a 3 months backpackers adventure in Africa so I suppose he will treat us soon to some more exciting primal sounds from the jungle!


For one reason or another, I can’t really get into DAVILLA 666s latest album on In The Red Record (‘Tan Bajo’) but their previous mini album ‘12” EP’ on Rob’s House Records is definitely a must buy! I wish “Ohhh” and “Dos O Tres” were issued on a 7-inch so I could include them in my jukebox. Killer tunes!


Sundazed Records has released 2 amazing collections recently: SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET’s ‘The Mono Singles ’68 – ‘72’ and ‘The MGM Singles’ by SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS. Both gatefold double vinyl, rather expensive but absolutely essential!


‘Beautiful Songs: The Best of JAD FAIR’ is a great 3cd digipack collection for a Jad Fair layman like myself. Cheap and great food for the iPod!


I recently found the Ace Records Catalogue 2011 in my mailbox and boy was I happy: 269 pages of musical delights, reissued w/ style and the best sound! Too many recent highlight but don’t miss the 3cd collection THE MUSIC CITY STORY, SWAMP DOGG’s ‘A Singles Collection 1963-1989’ and CANDI STATON 2cd ‘Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters’!



The other quintessential European roots re-issue label Bear Family Records has recently released THE BRISTOL SESSIONS: THE BIG BANG OF COUNTRY MUSIC 1927-1928, a 5 CD & 120-Page Book. Here are the facts that I copy from a Bristol Sessions Vol.1 RCA cd from 2002:

“In July, 1927 Ralph Sylvester Peer came to Bristol, Tennessee with a carload of state of the art recording gear and high expectations. Peer, a record business veteran, stumbled into Southern music during his days producing music for OKeh Records. Now employed by Victor Records, he was in the field recording all the rural Southern musicians he could find. In Bristol, Peer recorded 76 songs by 19 different acts, two of them fountainheads: the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Along with brilliant music by other more obscure artists, the music of the Bristol sessions continues to resonate into the 21st Century.”

Need I say more?

That’s it for today. Expect a new post this week!