Following up where we left off with the first volume, here’s the second part of our "extravaganza" mix digging into the vast selection of current artists, bands and producers from the unique "Paris DJs universe". We’ve left you last week with a 25-tracks selection of American friends, let’s now check out the rest of the world, with 25 more productions and reissues originating this time from Spain, France, Germany, UK, Australia, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and Cape Verde ! Note that most of the vinyl versions of the releases played in this mix are available for sale at the Paris DJs private record store. Check some of our stocks here and Contact us for reservations & special prices. ;-)

Paris DJs Soundsystem presents Friends and Family Vol 2
Paris DJs Soundsystem presents Friends & Family Vol.1
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) 2017-02-15

Le fil RSS
[comment faire?/how to?]

Tracklisting :
01. Marcus I and Tucxone Army - Babylon Press I
(from 'Inner Calling' album, 2016 / Tucxone)
02. Courtney John - Strangers
(from 'Strangers’ 7 inch, 2016 / Gee)
03. Radio Citizen - Rise (Oliver Frost Remix)
(from 'The Remixes' album, 2016 / Sonar Kollektiv)
04. Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno - A Life Worth Living
(from '1000 Watts' album, 2016 / Tru Thoughts)
05. Out of Nola - Flash in the Pan feat. RacecaR
(from 'West Coast BBQ' album, 2016 / Association LAMR)
06. Onom Agemo & The Disco Jumpers - Liquid Love
(from 'Liquid Love' album, 2016 / Agogo)
07. Muyiwa Kunnuji & Osemako - Mo Juba
(from 'Mo Juba O' album, 2016 / self-released)
08. Black Disco - Night Express
(from 'Night Express' album reissue, 2016 / Matsuli Music)
09. Papa Chango - The Son and the Snake
(from 'The Lost Moon of Bellaris' album, 2016 / self-released)
10. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - Dazed And Confused
(from 'Late Nights & Heartbreak' album, 2016 / Record Kicks)
11. Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra - Zoned Out feat. Emskee, Audessey & Oxygen
(from 'Got To Get Down' album, 2016 / OfficeHome)
12. Girma Bèyènè & Akalé Wubé - Musiqawi Silt
(from 'Ethiopiques 30' album, 2017 / Heavenly Sweetness)
13. Voodoo Love Orchestra - Ghost Town
(from 'Inglorious Technicolor' album, 2016 / Movimientos)
14. Black Flower - Alexandria
(from 'Artifacts' album, 2016 / Sdban)
15. The New Mastersounds - The Minx
(from 'The Nashville Session' album, 2016 / One Note)
16. The Apples - The Kingdom of Halva
(from 'Dragonz' album, 2016 / self-released)
17. Jungle By Night - The Ottoman Highlands
(from 'The Traveller' album, 2016 / V2)
18. SJOB Movement - Love Affair
(from 'Friendship Train' album reissue, 2017 / Cultures of Soul)
19. Livy Ekemezie - Holiday Action
(from 'Doing It in Lagos Boogie, Pop & Disco in 1980's Nigeria' compilation, 2016 / Soundway)
20. Yta Jourias - Adome Nyueto
(from 'Togo Soul 70 (Selected Rare Togolese Recordings from 1971 to 1981)' compilation, 2016 / Hot Casa)
21. Lakuta - So Sue Us
(from 'Brothers & Sisters' album, 2016 / Tru Thoughts)
22. Manuel Gomes - Jelivrà Bo Situaçon
(from 'Synthesize the Soul - Astro-Atlantic Hypnotica from the Cape Verde Islands 1973-1988' compilation, 2017 / Ostinato)
23. Pat Thomas & Marijata - We Are Coming Home
(from 'Coming Home' compilation, 2016 / Strut)
24. Arat Kilo - Wondemiye
(from 'Nouvelle Fleur' album, 2016 / self-released)
25. Bitori - Bitori Nha Bibinha
(from 'Legend Of Funaná (The Forbidden Music of The Cape Verde Islands)' compilation, 2016 / Analog Africa)
Total time : 126mn 10s

Original cover artworks :
Marcus I and Tucxone Army - Inner CallingCourtney John - StrangersRadio Citizen - The RemixesQuantic - 1000 WattsOut Of Nola - West Coast BBQOnom Agemo and The Disco Jumpers - Liquid LoveMuyiwa Kunnuji and Osemako - Mo Juba OBlack Disco - Night ExpressPapa Chango - BellarisHannah Williams and The Affirmations - Late Nights and HeartbreakAfro Latin Vintage Orchestra - Got To Get DownGirma Beyene and Akale Wube - Ethiopiques 30Voodoo Love Orchestra - Inglorious TechnicolorBlack Flower - ArtifactsThe New Mastersounds - The Nashville SessionThe Apples - DragonzJungle By Night - The TravellerSJOB Movement - Friendship TrainDoing It in Lagos Boogie Pop and Disco in 1980s NigeriaTogo Soul 70 Selected Rare Togolese Recordings from 1971 to 1981Lakuta - Brothers and SistersSynthesize The Soul - Astro Atlantic Hypnotica from the Cape Verde Islands 1973-1988Pat Thomas - Coming Home - Original Ghanaian Afrobeat Classics 1964-1981Arat Kilo - Nouvelle FleurBitori - Legend Of Funana

Credits :
Selected by Djouls (parisdjs.com)
Mixed & Mastered by Grant Phabao (grantphabao.com)
Artwork by Ben Hito (facebook.com/benhito)

Download MP3

Links :
Paris DJs : parisdjs.com | bandcamp | facebook | pinterest | soundcloud | twitter | youtube
Ben Hito : official | discogs | facebook


TRACK-BY-TRACK INFO :

Marcus I and Tucxone Army - Inner Calling

01. Marcus I and Tucxone Army - Babylon Press I
(from 'Inner Calling' album, 2016 / Tucxone)

Reggae from Madrid, Spain, inspired by 1970s Jamaican music, recorded live in one take in the studio. The vinyl edition is the one to hunt down, it includes an exclusive bonus LP of dubs… You can even get a digital dubplate remixed to meet your needs on the track of your choice for 50€. After a great worldbeat album from Outer Space and a beautiful soul album by Shirley Davis & the Silverbacks, Tucxone are definitively putting Madrid back on the map.


Courtney John - Strangers

02. Courtney John - Strangers
(from 'Strangers’ 7 inch, 2016 / Gee)

After Ticklah in 2012 (the massive "Born To Fly" single released on Liondub45), Jamaican singer Courtney John finds another producer worthy of his golden falsetto voice : French keyboard maestro Guillaume Méténier, also know as Soul Sugar, a regular collaborator of our in-house producer Grant Phabao. Their single together, "Strangers", while a bit too calm & slow at first listen, is a soothing soulful piece of Jamaican tenderness. We recently started discussing about a collaboration between Courtney John Grant Phabao, which for sure would be a great idea. Hope those two cats will connect !


Radio Citizen - The Remixes

03. Radio Citizen - Rise (Oliver Frost Remix)
(from 'The Remixes' album, 2016 / Sonar Kollektiv)

For more than a decade now Munich-based Niko Schabel a.k.a. Radio Citizen has been one of the most interesting electronic/funk/jazz producers coming out of Germany. Following-up on his "The Night & The City" album from 2015, Radio citizen put out last october an eclectic album of remixes and reinterpretations, including this very cool, sun-drenched, reggae-pop-roots rework by Berliner Oliver Frost.


Quantic - 1000 Watts

04. Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno - A Life Worth Living
(from '1000 Watts' album, 2016 / Tru Thoughts)

At least once a year, Will Holland a.k.a. Quantic delivers a new album from one of his many projects. Last year he put out a grower of an reggae album with his Flowering inferno band, the kind you put on again because you can’t tire of it, the kind you feel you want to come back to. It wasn’t easy picking a track out of this record filled with great musicianship & songs, so we went back the easy way and choose the first, lead single, featuring legendary Jamaican deejay U Roy with soul singstress Alice Russell on vocals.


Out Of Nola - West Coast BBQ

05. Out of Nola - Flash in the Pan feat. RacecaR
(from 'West Coast BBQ' album, 2016 / Association LAMR)

A New Orleans brass band from Rennes, France ? Yes, please ! Our friend and collaborator RacecaR, worked with one and brought us back that band’s CD. Aptly named Out Of Nola, this French street band is surprisingly fresh and should bring many smiles to the summer festival goers. Chicago-born MC RacecaR only features on one song, which we picked here without any hesitation.


Onom Agemo and The Disco Jumpers - Liquid Love

06. Onom Agemo & The Disco Jumpers - Liquid Love
(from 'Liquid Love' album, 2016 / Agogo)

We’ve defended this Berlin-based afrofunk/north african/psych band led by sax player Johannes Schleiermacher since day one. Since the first song from them we ever heard a few years ago. They’re now releasing a second album worth of their unique blend of styles, where the authentic meets the old modern in an explosive psychedelic fashion. And you can contact us to grab a copy of the LP ;-)


Muyiwa Kunnuji and Osemako - Mo Juba O

07. Muyiwa Kunnuji & Osemako - Mo Juba
(from 'Mo Juba O' album, 2016 / self-released)

A superb record of afrobeat, juju & highlife from a band launched by former Egypt 80 trumpet player Muyiwa Kunnuji. It’s gonna be hard not to support this record mixed and mastered at Paris DJs by Grant Phabao… PS : the tunes previously featured in Paris DJs’ afro/tropical compilations are newly recorded versions here...


Black Disco - Night Express

08. Black Disco - Night Express
(from 'Night Express' album reissue, 2016 / Matsuli Music)

Matsuli Music is a London-based reissue label specialized in South African jazz. What differences Matsuli from others in the African music reissue niche is that something like 20% of their sales actually happen in the music’s country of origin. It’s not just a digger’s point of view, the records they pick and carefully re-release are always amazing discoveries of deep, spiritual, often groovy vibes. Matsuli’s latest LP originally dates from 1976 in Johannesburg. It’s highy recommended, and not only for the funky jam of the extended "Night Express" tune featured here, even if it makes this record’s purchase worth its while by itself alone.


Papa Chango - Bellaris

09. Papa Chango - The Son and the Snake
(from 'The Lost Moon of Bellaris' album, 2016 / self-released)

Our favorite Australian cinematic Ethio-funksters are back with a new album and many people in Europe would love to get their hands on a copy of the vinyl, once again. Fingers crossed that a distributor over here picks this gem, because we haven’t even got one!


Hannah Williams and The Affirmations - Late Nights and Heartbreak

10. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations - Dazed And Confused
(from 'Late Nights & Heartbreak' album, 2016 / Record Kicks)

Such a great performance this soul band gives on stage ! We had the chance to see them in Paris recently and highly recommend you check them out if they come by your town ! Our collegues Full Power Prod have shot some bits of their 2017 Parisian show, check their cover of Led Zeppelin’s "Daved & Confused" on YouTube. Extracted from the band’s great new album, we featured the killer studio take on the classic tune in this mix. Copies of the LP are available at the Paris DJs private record store for those interested.


Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra - Got To Get Down

11. Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra - Zoned Out feat. Emskee, Audessey & Oxygen
(from 'Got To Get Down' album, 2016 / OfficeHome)

Paris-based Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra are now releasing some privately pressed monsterful jazz albums. The quantities are very limited so we advise you invest in these deep analog grooves asap !


Girma Beyene and Akale Wube - Ethiopiques 30

12. Girma Bèyènè & Akalé Wubé - Musiqawi Silt
(from 'Ethiopiques 30' album, 2017 / Heavenly Sweetness)

With this collaboration with legendary Ethiopian lyricist, composer, arranger, vocalist and pianist Girma Bèyènè on record, released worldwide in the "Ethiopiques" series, the Parisian Ethio-Jazz band Akalé Wubé are finally getting the attention they rightfully deserve. And we don’t only say that because our collaborator Etienne de la Sayette plays saxophone (and a few other instruments) in the band. Just check their massively inventive take on the "Musiqai Slit" classic we’ve picked here and you’ll start to get our point… Copies of the LP are available at the Paris DJs private record store for those interested.


Voodoo Love Orchestra - Inglorious Technicolor

13. Voodoo Love Orchestra - Ghost Town
(from 'Inglorious Technicolor' album, 2016 / Movimientos)

We stumbled upon this Brighton-based brass band on Bandcamp, the magical music store for discovering new music. The band graciously hit us with a download code upon request so that we may play their spectacularly cool take of the "Ghost Town" hit from The Specials, but the rest if the album doesn’t disappoint. Party music all along.


Black Flower - Artifacts

14. Black Flower - Alexandria
(from 'Artifacts' album, 2016 / Sdban)

Nathan Daems and his friends from the Belgian psych-ethio-dub-jazz band Black Flower are truly nice people with a huge amount of talent. Their just-released third album "Artifacts" is a masterpiece you shouldn’t overlook…


The New Mastersounds - The Nashville Session

15. The New Mastersounds - The Minx
(from 'The Nashville Session' album, 2016 / One Note)

Featured in Paris DJssecond funk/soul compilation, The New Mastersounds are one of the tightest British funk band around, and it’s been going on for a long time now. Their latest album is a 100% analog recording, recorded to tape and cut direct to vinyl lacquers in Nashville. It’s already hard to find so don’t pass on a copy if you see one.


The Apples - Dragonz

16. The Apples - The Kingdom of Halva
(from 'Dragonz' album, 2016 / self-released)

Our favorite funksters from Israel have put out a new album that’s not distributed over here yet (but it seems it should be soon). We’ve played them many times in the past, their cover of Rage Against The Machine’s "Killing In The Name" is still many DJ’s bags. Consisting of 4 horns, drums, bass, 2 DJs and a sound engineer, The Apples' blend of funk, turntablism and oriental music is as potent as ever. Go hunt.


Jungle By Night - The Traveller

17. Jungle By Night - The Ottoman Highlands
(from 'The Traveller' album, 2016 / V2)

The 9 piece instrumental collective from Amsterdam has evolved a lot since their days of jumping madly around while playing afrobeat. The shift happened when they collborated briefly with The Gaslamp Killer in 2013. Since then the band’s been incorporating many influences in their music and have became hard to pigeonhole. Afro-rock-Ethio-jazz ? Energetic and contagious shit for sure.


SJOB Movement - Friendship Train

18. SJOB Movement - Love Affair
(from 'Friendship Train' album reissue, 2017 / Cultures of Soul)

Nigeria’s SJOB Movement’s first afro-funk-rock album, "A Move in the Right Direction", released in the mid 1970s, was rightfully reissued in 2009 on American label Academy LPs. It’s now followed by the band’s second album, "Friendship Train" from 1977, reissued by our friends from Cultures Of Soul, with help and liner notes from the mighty Uchenna Ikonne from the Comb & Razor blog/label. The band incorporated at the time Moog synthesizers sounds to their afro beat formula and the recipe became even tastier…


Doing It in Lagos Boogie Pop and Disco in 1980s Nigeria

19. Livy Ekemezie - Holiday Action
(from 'Doing It in Lagos Boogie, Pop & Disco in 1980's Nigeria' compilation, 2016 / Soundway)

A killer piece of afro-disco picked by the Soundway label for one of their always great compilations, which should also see the light of day on an album reissue on newly-launched Nigerian Odion Livingstone label (with back support from the Strut label in the UK)… Grab a copy of limited triple LP + bonus 45 Soundway comp at the Paris DJs private record store — if you’re fast enough cos’ we haven’t got many copies in stock, the thing is just flying off the shelves. Copies of the LP are available


Togo Soul 70 Selected Rare Togolese Recordings from 1971 to 1981

20. Yta Jourias - Adome Nyueto
(from 'Togo Soul 70 (Selected Rare Togolese Recordings from 1971 to 1981)' compilation, 2016 / Hot Casa)

Co-founder of the Hot Casa label in Paris Julien Lebrun told us stories of how this compilation took shape in his Paris DJs magazine interview. He might even have played some tracks at our party at Le Cabaret Sauvage last september… Get ready for a deep historical dive into enigmatic Togolese soul from the 1970s, from which we extracted the funky boogie tune "Adome Nyueto" produced by Jo Tongo. Once again copies of the LP are available at the Paris DJs private record store for those interested.


Lakuta - Brothers and Sisters

21. Lakuta - So Sue Us
(from 'Brothers & Sisters' album, 2016 / Tru Thoughts)

Brighton-based international collective Lakuta with roots in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Malaysia, and Europe have put out a massive, dancefloor-centric, uplifting first album last year on the Tru Thoughts label. Blending afrobeat with modern grooves, jazz, latin, funk & soul, this is a truly infectious collection of songs.


Synthesize The Soul - Astro Atlantic Hypnotica from the Cape Verde Islands 1973-1988

22. Manuel Gomes - Jelivrà Bo Situaçon
(from 'Synthesize the Soul - Astro-Atlantic Hypnotica from the Cape Verde Islands 1973-1988' compilation, 2017 / Ostinato)

The little sister from the "Space Echo" compilation the Analog Africa label put out a few months back, "Synthesize The Soul" is as essential to your record collection. Actually, a short time before knowing about this comp our co-founder Loik did this mix which includes a few tunes also to be found in this compilation from Us label Ostinato Records - a good indication for the quality of the compilation ! We’ll get a few copies at the Paris DJs store so hit us if you have a hard time coping it.


Pat Thomas - Coming Home - Original Ghanaian Afrobeat Classics 1964-1981

23. Pat Thomas & Marijata - We Are Coming Home
(from 'Coming Home' compilation, 2016 / Strut)

Following up on the Pat Thomas And Kwashibu Area Band marvelous album released in 2015, the Strut label put out a double CD/triple retrospective of Ghanian singer Pat Thomas’ original Highlife & Afrobeat classics from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Considering the price of the original vinyl, this is a bargain, just don’t wait.


Arat Kilo - Nouvelle Fleur

24. Arat Kilo - Wondemiye
(from 'Nouvelle Fleur' album, 2016 / self-released)

French afro/ethio/jazz band Arat Kilo were featured on Paris DJs’ second afro/tropical compilation, they’ve now put out a third record confirming the potential heard on their previous eP "12 Days in Addis" in 2013 and on stage in Paris those last years. The new (gatefold) LP is named "Nouvelle Fleur", the French translation of "Addis Abeba" from Amaharic, but the album now incorporates many influences and can’t just be filled in the Ethio-Jazz section… The band is getting tighter and tighter with the years, and it’s very nice to be able to see them quite often in the French capital.


Bitori - Legend Of Funana

25. Bitori - Bitori Nha Bibinha
(from 'Legend Of Funaná (The Forbidden Music of The Cape Verde Islands)' compilation, 2016 / Analog Africa)

We close this second chapter of our "Friends & Family" series with what we consider to be the hit of the winter, the opening tune from Bitori’s recent reissue on the unsurpassed Analog Africa label. What happened when the label’s founder Samy Ben Redjeb dropped this track at the Paris DJs party last september reminded us of when punk or jungle arrived in clubs: people going nuts on the dancefloor. As of course, copies of the LP are available at the Paris DJs private record store :-)

Original post on Paris DJs