Five tracks vol. 8

Yay more tunes let's just go 4 it.

Herb Alpert - Rotation

I love how Herb Alpert was able to transcend his zany uncoolness with The Tijuana Brass (at least in my ill-informed opinion) and pull out some fucking good music in the late '70s/early '80s. Rotation sounds ahead of its time for 1979, kind of casually electronic rather than in-your-face electronic like others incorporating synths, drum machines and sequencers were doing as the 80s kicked off. A legendary downtempo groove with big, pulsating energy.

Greg Phillignanes - Lazy Nina

Yes it's the one cut off Greg Phillignanes' second album that I like and boy do I like it. There's a simple reason: it was written for Greg by the great Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and it comes through so clearly in the sweet vocal harmonies, masterful chord selections and laid-back jazzy yacht groove. The writing is complex but the result is easy lounge funk bliss. Skip the rest of this album and keep the Neens on repeat.


Jimmy Smith - Can't Hide Love

Jimmy Smith goes disco! The iconic Hammond player had a long career in jazz, R&B and funk that included sick moments like Root Down (a ripper live album whose title track was nabbed by the Beastie Boys on Ill Communication) and he was always great - even when trying his hand at disco, which loads of artists from other genres did a shit job of when they jumped on the bandwagon. Chunky bass, soaring vocals and slaying Hammond :)

Leon Vynehall - Inside The Deku Tree

I've never fully made my mind up about Leon Vynehall, but credit where credit's due - the opening track off debut album is just dazzling. Super evocative and emotive, it's a real composition with real dynamics and real arrangement that you wouldn't expect from your average house producer. Goosebumpsy stuff.


Len Leise - Desperado Dining

THROWBACK ALERT. Len Leise's magnificent edit of Azymuth's Despertar lives on in my heart as one of the finer edits out there. No lazy looping or quantised kick to sell some easy records - this one was clearly treated with respect and love to tease out a gently groovy side of an already awesome song. This was a coveted 12" when it came out in 2015 and it's still hot property on Discogs for good reason. A real nice trip.


Here's that YT playlist with all the tracks I've posted in the last few months if you wanna keep up to date <3

THANKSIES