Les McCann Ltd. - Bucket O' Grease 1967 (Limelight)

Label : Limelight

Value :

A killer little set from Les McCann -- one of his greatest records of the 60s, thanks to a fair bit of Latin Soul influences! The album's got a groove that's much grittier than Les' other work -- a solid, soulful emphasis on bottom rhythms -- which are mostly in a boogaloo and shing-a-ling mode -- clearly McCann's nod to the Spanish Harlem scene at the time! The backings here are a bit fuller than usual for Les too -- and his trio with Leroy Vinnegar is augmented with lots of added percussion, plus vibes from Lynn Blessing, sax and flute from Plas Johnson, and trumpet from Lee Katzman.

Taste :

Les McCann Ltd. - Music To Watch Girls By

Les McCann Ltd. - La Brea

 

Les McCann Ltd. - Boo-Go-Loo

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By Electric Looser

The Har-You Percussion Group – The Har-You Percussion Group 1969 (Oro)

Label : Oro

Value :

A legendary bit of Latin from the New York scene of the 60s – recorded by a host of youthful players working under the direction of percussionist Montego Joe! The group's name is a contraction of "Harlem Youth" – a program in which all players participated, as part of an effort to get kids involved in music uptown – spearheaded by Montego Joe, whose guidance in the set is greatly appreciated! There's a strong Latin Soul vibe running through the set – but one that's different than Joe's other work, a bit more rootsy at times, given all the percussion in the lineup – but warmed up nicely with bits of guitar, trumpet, and alto sax. The album's filled with great groovers – including the classic "Welcome To The Party", and the amazing "Oua-Train" jazz cut, which has a slightly spiritual feel.

Taste :

The Har-You Percussion Group - Feed Me Good

The Har-You Percussion Group - Welcome To The Party

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By Electric Looser

Experience Unlimited - Free Yourself 1977 (Black Fire)

Label : Black Fire

Value :

A wonderfully spiritual album and one that's maybe a bit of a surprise, given the later fame of the group! The group here is billed by their full name  Experience Unlimited  but where later known to most of the world as EU, the DC funk outfit that went onto become pretty big in the GoGo scene, and who scored big with the 80s party cut "Da Butt". Yet as a classic album on the Black Fire label, this record is nothing like their 80s material at all – and instead catches the group when they were part of a more spiritual scene, the same DC one that gave the world Oneness Of Juju and the larger family of Black Fire artists! This album has the group very much in a mid 70s Earth Wind & Fire mode jamming hard and free, with plenty of electric guitar riffing, funky keyboards, horns, and lots of percussion. Some tracks have vocals, and some are instrumentals but the whole thing's an extremely unified album with a great overall vibe and a message to match the title and the cover. 

Taste :

Experience Unlimited - Peace Gone Away

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By Electric Looser

Marie Laforêt - Album : 4 1968 (Disques Festival)

 

Label : Disques Festival

Value :

Beautiful and very groovy version of Margo Guryan’s “Sunday Morning” here called “Et si je t’aime” in French, with a cool breakbeat, wah wah and sompteous female vocals. Arranged and directed by André Popp. 

Taste :

Marie Laforet - Et Si Je t' Aime

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By Electric Looser

Antena - Camino Del Sol 1982 (Les Disques Du Crépuscule)

Label : Les Disques Du Crépuscule

Value :

Here with the 1982 debut Camino Del Sol from French / Belgian trio Antena. An effortlessly cool uber-fusion of icy-cold minimal synth-pop production and electro-bossanova rhythms that retains it's alluring appeal to this day, whilst inspiring the likes of Stereolab, Tortoise ++ in their wake. Spread across just five tracks, the then teenagers fuse slinky rhythms, sultry half-whispered vocals and wider-eyed new-wave slants all reduced down with post-punk sensibilities and daunting simplicity. A true classic and a much-needed reminder of more temperate, exotic lands..

Taste :

Antena - Camino Del Sol

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By Electric Looser