Itation Sound - Dubplate Conquerer Vol. 1

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Originally based out of Burlington Vermont, the five-man crew Itation Sound consists of Dread Lion, Tosheba, Nickel B, J-Trees, and Heartical Dan.
Itation Sound has been blazin' up the reggae scene since the end of 1998, performing everywhere from Arizona to Amsterdam. Itation Sound first entered the reggae scene when Dread Lion and Selector Selah would play out at house parties, college dorms, and private functions throughout the state of Vermont.
More and more as their reputation grew so did their popularity, taking Itation outside of Vermont, performing at shows and festivals in areas of New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Pennsylvania. In the next few years a new addition of Itation came when selector Heartical Dan joined the crew. With the Sound expanding so did their vibes as Dread Lion and Heartical Dan each started holding down their own weekly reggae radio shows on WRUV 90.1, a radio station in Burlington, Vermont. Having two selectors on the radio and performing at bars and clubs throughout Burlington.
Having the opportunity as being the house soundsystem for the local reggae club, Itation has opened up for such artists as Capleton, Jimmy Cliff, Sizzla, Wayne Wonder, Beenie Man, Israel Vibration, Buju Banton, The Wailers, Warrior King, Mikey Dread, Meditations, Sanchez, Rupee, The Wu-Tang Clan, Culture, Sean Paul, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, T.O.K., Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Luciano, and Anthony B. Itation has also promoted gigs for artists Barrington Levy, Delly Ranx, Mega Banton, and Tony Rebel.
Itation Sound has begun to expand its interests and has started to produce their own riddims and voice artists. Regular trips to Jamaica keep the sound system updated on the freshest riddims and it also gives them the chance to record international stars in studios such as Black Scorpio, Arrows, Anchor, Flames and Big Yard.

Itation Sound - Dubplate Conqueror vol. 1
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Tom Liwa - Private Collection

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Yesterday an old friend stopped by with a good bottle of wine, some sentimental stories about his long lost love and his private compilation of Tom Liwa tracks, solo and with his band "The Flowerpornoes".

As the bottle was empty he agreed in sharing his compilaton with you, so here it is...

Tom Liwa was the frontman of one of Germany’s most influential but less known rock bands in the Eighties and Nineties, the "Flowerpornoes". Or rather is, as rumour says there will be a new album after a ten year break. In the meantime we had the opportunity to witness some Tom Liwa solo albums.

Tom Liwa live gigs are always very special evenings: He is bringing along a lot of charisma and dry humour to make the sometimes long breaks between the songs very entertaining and a good counterpoint to his mostly very melancholic songs.

Tom Liwa is a great songwriter whose solo material invites the audience absolutely into his very personal world of thinking and triggers a lot of reflections.




Tom Liwa - Private Collection pt 1
Tom Liwa - Private Collection pt 2
(192 kbps, front & back cover included)

Brave Old World - Song Of The Lodz Ghetto

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Today is the Holocaust Memorial Day, dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Army in 1945.
This is an opportunity to show our respect for the survivors of Nazi persecution and mass murder, and to listen to what they can tell us about the best and the worst of human behaviour.

So here´s "Song Of The Lodz Ghetto" recorded live in Bordeaux by New Jewish Music quartet "Brave Old World".
Developed over the last 15 years, "Song of the Lodz Ghetto" is a unique musical work, a song cycle in which memory and imagination freely interact to create a Proustian journey between present and past. At the center are "Brave Old World's" arrangements of the rare Jewish street and cabaret songs from the Nazi ghetto of Lodz, Poland (occupied by Germany), 1940-44. Leading through the Lodz repertoire like stepping-stones through the river of memory are "Brave Old World's" own original compositions, reflections on 17 years of performing Jewish music. Michael Alpert's moving "Berlin 1990" forms the emotional and musical counterpoint to the passionate and ironic street songs of the bard of the Lodz ghetto, Yankele Herszkowicz. A musical and spiritual journey of resistance, love, and reconciliation. The superior recording quality of this CD is matched by outstanding cover art by Steve Byram and Warren Linn, as well as detailed song texts and liner notes in Yiddish, English, and German.

Brave Old World - Songs Of The Lodz Ghetto
(95 MB, 192 kbps)

Roosevelt Sykes - The Honeydripper Collection

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Roosevelt Sykes (January 31, 1906 in Elmar, Arkansas – July 17, 1983 in New Orleans, Louisiana) was an American blues musician also known as "Honeydripper".
He was a successful and prolific cigar-chomping blues piano player who influenced blues piano playing with his rollicking thundering boogie.

Sykes grew up near Helena, Arkansas but at age 15, began playing piano with a barrelhouse style of blues at various places until ending up in the St. Louis, Missouri area where he met St. Louis Jimmy Oden. He started recording in the 1920s, signing with multiple labels and recording under various names including "Easy Papa Johnson", "Dobby Bragg", and "Willie Kelly". After he and Oden moved to Chicago he found his first period of great fame when he signed with Decca Records in 1935. In 1943, he signed to Bluebird Records and recorded with "The Honeydrippers".

Sykes, like bluesmen of his time, travelled around playing to all-male audiences in sawmill, turpenine and levee camps along the Mississippi River, and gathering a repertoire of raw, sexually explicit material. In 1929 he was spotted by a talent scout and sent to New York City to record for Okeh Records. His first release was "'44' Blues" which became a blues classic and his trademark. He settled in Chicago and began to display an increasing urbanity in his lyric-writing, using an 8-bar blues pop gospel structure instead of the traditional 12-bar blues. However, despite the growing urbanity of his outlook, he could not compete in the post-World War II music scene, though he did continue to record for small labels until he stopped recording in the 1950s . When he returned to recording in the 1960s it was to label like Bluesville Records, Storyville Records and Folkways Records, labels that were documenting the quickly passing blues history.

Roosevelt left Chicago in 1954 for New Orleans as electric blues took over the Chicago blues clubs. He lived out his final years in New Orleans until he died on July 17, 1983.
He had a long career spanning the pre-war and postwar eras. His pounding piano boogies and risqué lyrics characterize his contributions to the blues. He was responsible for influential blues songs such as "44 Blues," "Driving Wheel," and "Night Time Is the Right Time."
He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1999.

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(192 kbps, 88 MB)

Tropicalia - Ou Panis Et Circenses

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This is a landmark album in the history of Brazilian Popular Music, which represents the essence of the Tropicalia, a musical movement from the late sixties known for its total stylistic freedom.
Traditional Brazilian rhythms are mixed with European pop-rock and Caribbean tunes, and the whole is seasoned with high doses of psychedelic.

The album features performances by such great musicians as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Nara Leao and Os Mutantes. Gal's voice is especially magic in this release, as you can notice in her two tracks, "Baby" and "Mame Coragem", where she shows her exquisite singing at her best. An absolutely brilliant album.

The Tropicalia or Tropicalism movement didn't last long, but had a lasting effect on music, felt even today. One also has to remember what danger these artists (Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Os Mutantes et al) put themselves in to make this music under the military dictatorship that was in control in Brazil from 1964 until 1989--Caetano and Gil were even exiled to London for two years.
Tropicalism was a late 1960's vanguard movement of music and culture based on the philosophies of Oswaldo de Andrade. First trumpeted on Caetano Veloso's manifesto-song "Tropicalia" (from his 1968 self-titled release), it incorporates foreign influences to create a new and yet distinctly Brazilian style. The participants were artists at the forefront of the scene. It's exactly the groundbreaking, border-hopping, genre-blending result that you'd expect from such an impressive cast. The songs display a range of styles, mixing rural with urban, past with present, Brazilian with non-Brazilian. At the time of its release in the summer of 1968, this record caused quite a stir among its divided audience. The radical ideas and new sounds introduced by Tropicalism resulted in Caetano getting booed off the stage during the Third International Song Festival in Sao Paulo, censorship of his work, and his and Gilberto Gil's eventual arrest and subsequent exile at the end of the year. This CD represents not only a superb collection of songs by impassioned artists, but an essential piece of Brazilian musical history. A classic musical statement that challenged the thinking of the time.

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(192 kbps, ca. 53 MB, front cover included)

DJ Dawnjah - Reggae Mix

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Born in Bremen, Germany, on the 14th of September in 1976, Dawn' s interest for music started in the early 80's. Having his sleeping room next to the rooms of his two elder brothers, he was more or less forced to listen to all varieties of the 80's sound while getting asleep. As an effect of that, Dawn's passion for music was founded very early.
After listening to crossover and hip hop music for some years, Dawn got his first jungle mixtape in in the year 1997. The interest for djing started in the year 1999, after listening constantly to jungle music for two years.
Mr. Beeside and Mr. Lakin from Hamburg, Germany, both dj's themselves for years now, really pushed Dawn to try himself with two turntables and a mixer. After a great weekend with lots of practice and the patience of two routined Dj's, a new passion was born. In the beginning Dawn was deeply impressed by all sounds coming from the Good Looking camp, the label of mighty LTJ Bukem. After a few years there was going on a great development in the section of soulful and mellow dNb sounds, and records from labels like Creative Source, Defunked , Hospital, Soul : R, Signature and Innaground found their way into Dawn's record bag. Getting involved into the Team Orange Soundsystem in the year 2002, Dawn tried to find a a new sound for himself, which combines elements of Jungle/Drum'N'Bass, Garage/2 Step, Electro, Minimal/Techno and a few more... Currently, Dawn is deep into both styles, Drum 'N' Bass and Nu Breaks. In the year 2005, Dawn got involved into two regular radio shows. A dNb radio show called "Basstard FM"on the local radio station "Offener Kanal Bremen", and a Nu Breaks Radio Show on nuskoolbreaks.co.uk called "The Chilling Thrilling Sessions". The year 2006 brought a new sound into Dawn's repertoire. After listening to Minimal Techno for some years now, Dawn wanted to play this records for himself.
He also did some fine reggae mixes, here is one from the beginning of 2007:

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(192 kbps, 60 min., 82 MB, tracklist in the comment)

More infos on http://www.dj-dawn.de/.

Riddim Keepaz - Dancehall Mix

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Riddim Keepaz are a reggae and dancehall soundsystem found in 2001 in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The selectas 4Ward, Crizz and Saro together with shouther and singer Bubu The Lyrical Soldier are playing regularly in the Mannheim-Ludwigshafen region.
Their "Iriegenial Dancehall Vibez"-parties are now taking place in Frankenthal.

Here are two older, but still well worth listening mixes by the Riddim Keepaz. The dancehall mix is especially recommended because it represents the sound of my own wild dancehall days:

Dancehall (Promo 10/2003) 43.5 MB
Reggae (Promo 10/2003) 44.1 MB

You can find more infos and downloads on www.riddimkeepaz.de.

Walter Benjamin - The Work Of Art In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction (1936)

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Walter Benjamin was a German Marxist and literary critic.

Born into a prosperous Jewish family, Benjamin studied philosophy in Berlin, Freiburg, Munich, and Bern. He settled in Berlin in 1920 and worked thereafter as a literary critic and translator. His half-hearted pursuit of an academic career was cut short when the University of Frankfurt rejected his brilliant but unconventional doctoral thesis, "The Origin of German Tragic Drama" (1928).
Benjamin eventually settled in Paris after leaving Germany in 1933 after Hitler came to power. He continued to write essays and reviews for literary journals, but when Paris fell to the Nazis in 1940 he fled south with the hope of escaping to the US via Spain.

Informed by the chief of police at the Franco-Spanish border that he would be turned over to the Gestapo, Benjamin committed suicide.
The posthumous publication of Benjamin’s prolific output won him a growing reputation in the later 20th century. The essays containing his philosophical reflections on literature are written in a dense and concentrated style that contains a strong poetic strain. He mixes social criticism and linguistic analysis with historical nostalgia while communicating an underlying sense of pathos and pessimism. The metaphysical quality of his early critical thought gave way to a Marxist inclination in the 1930s.
Benjamin’s pronounced intellectual independence and originality are evident in the extended essay "Goethe’s Elective Affinities" and the essays collected in "Illuminations".
The approach to art of the USSR under Stalin was typified, first, by the persecution of all those who expressed any independent thought, and, second, by the adoption of Socialist Realism - the view that art is dedicated to the "realistic" representation of - simplistic, optimistic - "proletarian values" and proletarian life.
Subsequent Marxist thinking about art has been largely influenced by Walter Benjamin and Georg Lukács however. Both were exponents of Marxist humanism who saw the important contribution of Marxist theory to aesthetics in the analysis of the condition of labour and in the critique of the alienated and "reified" consciousness of man under capitalism.
Benjamin’s collection of essays The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1936, just follow the link and enjoy reading...) attempts to describe the changed experience of art in the modern world and sees the rise of Fascism and mass society as the culmination of a process of debasement, whereby art ceases to be a means of instruction and becomes instead a mere gratification, a matter of taste alone.

"Communism responds by politicising art" - that is, by making art into the instrument by which the false consciousness of the mass man is to be overthrown.

Funeral Songs - Dead Man Blues

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"We weep when a child is born into this world.
We sing and dance when the good Lord takes someone home." - Mourmer at a Jazz Funeral

The traditional New Orleans Jazz Funeral is as much a part of New Orleans culture as is traditonal jazz itself. If could almost be said, the jazz grew out of the funeral music of the New Orleans of the late nineteenth century. The roots of the tradition are believed to be hundreds of years old, and to be connected to the culture of the people who occupy the are of West Africa that is now called Benin and Nigeria; this region of Africa was known as the "Slave Coast" to the Europeans of the seventeenth century. The captured people of that area took with them to the New World a sophisticated social structure that included two aspects important to the traditional New Orleans Jazz Funeral. Firstly, societies, often secret, were formed to ensure that their members received a proper burial at the time of death, and secondly, a funeral was seen as a major celebration. With the "Christianisation" of the African-Americans that occured over the ensuing centuries and with the growth of the Baptist and Methodist Churches in particualr, another factor came into play that surely strenghtened this notion of a funeral as a celebration. This was the commonly held belief that a birth, an arrival in the secualr world, was a time for tears, and a death, an end to earthly sorrows, was a time for rejoicing.

So, it would be unusual for a New Orleans inhabitant not to be a member of some organisation or other. On their death, that individuals would be accompanied to their final resting-place by the brass band of the society of which he or she was a member. The traditional New Orleans Funeral had two stages accompanied by music. The first was a procession of mourners journeying slowly to the cemetery accompanied by a brass band playing a slow, mournful dirge or spiritual. This was followed after the burial itself by a lively return from the cemetery to the sound of rousing music. And what better rosing music could there be than that played by a couple of "hot" jazz musicians?

Wonderful compilation with songs by Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Kid Ory, Jelly roll Morton, Clarence Williams, the Eureka Brass Band and many more:

Funeral Songs - Dead Man Blues pt 1
Funeral Songs - Dead Man Blues pt 2
Funeral Songs - Dead Man Blues pt 3
(192 kbps, front cover included, ca. 84, 68 & 49 MB)

Guy Debord - Society Of The Spectacle

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Guy Debord, the self-proclaimed leader of the Situationist International, was certainly responsible for the longevity and high profile of Situationist ideas, although the equation of the SI with Guy Debord would be misleading.
Brilliant but autocratic, Debord helped both unify situationist praxis and destroy its expansion into areas not explicitly in line with his own ideas.

His text "The Society of the Spectacle" remains today one of the great theoretical works on modern-day capital, cultural imperialism, and the role of mediation in social relationships.

You can read it here:
http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/pub_contents/4

Floh De Cologne - Profitgeier Live

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This is the reissue of the 3rd album by the German outfit "Floh De Cologne", originally issued in 1971 on the OHR label: "Outrageous and purely innovative, Floh De Cologne, since their inception in 1966 as a student cabaret and music band, constantly surprised, puzzled and always deliberately broke convention. Their elaborate stage shows, socio-political theatrical productions and pure musical innovation lead to obvious comparisons with the similarly radical Mothers of Invention. Yet, while the Mothers were chiefly the vehicle of one musician, Floh de Cologne were a collective unit of creative musicians and actors, who continually dared to take chance, provoke and surprise their audiences via a blend of rock, satire and theatre. In this album, they aptly developed a more rock song based formula, and were also in a more aggressive mood."

The group was one of the best known of the German political rock scene. Few countries had so many politically active bands as Germany. Floh De Cologne was originally a radical theatre performance group of students that performed cabarets at the universities of Cologne from 1966 onwards. A natural target for political agitation at that time was the Vietnam War, and "Vietnam" (1968) became the title of Floh De Cologne's first album, the result of a collaboration with Dieter Suverkrup (recorded several political rock albums for Plane). All royalties gained were transferred to a foundation for helping the Vietnamese. They appeared at the Essen song festival in Autumn 1968.

With their blend of political lyrics, (German) humour and lunacy they became known as the German answer to The Fugs and Mothers Of Invention. Not surprisingly they were signed to the number one underground label then: Ohr records. "Fliessbandbabys Beat Show" was released in the Summer 1970. It was the first of the legendary Ohr LPs. This was a somewhat unique rock cabaret where the group parodied different rock styles. A highly entertaining effort containing much silliness and a sort of Bonzo Dog-like nostalgia, only that Floh De Cologne were as German as the Bonzos were English! It was all produced by Julius Schittenhelm in Cologne during April 1970. The sleeve showed a 19 point step by step guide on how to become politically active. I wonder if anyone converted to Marxism on the strength of this record?
Their next project was "Profitgeier" (1971), ('profit vultures'), that dealt with all of the disadvantages of the capitalist system. The record itself was pressed on glowing red vinyl, as if the group's political standing point wasn't evident from the agitated texts. Musically this was a highly imaginative rock opera, including even more parodies and silliness, perhaps the closest the band came to The Fugs and Mothers Of Invention. The group members acted as different characters or proclaimed political views on the class divided society, speaking with funny or strained voices. This was executed at a furious tempo, making the plot difficult to understand for non-Germans. Anyway, this was the essence of Floh De Cologne, captured on a peerless album.

Floh De Cologne - Profitgeier Live

(192 kbps, ca. 53 MB, front cover included)

The wonderful WMFU´s Beware Of The Blogs has a three minute video of "Floh De Cologne" that puts a bit of the Fugs into focus: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/08/xhol_caravan_an.html

Embassy Sound - Rock Away (Lovers Rock & Culture Mix)

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Here´s a fine lovers rock & cultural reggae mix by the Embassy Sound System called "ROCK AWAY"

Embassy Sound - Rock Away (Lovers Rock & Culture Mix)
(128 kbps, no cover)

More infos on http://www.embassypromo.com/
and on http://www.myspace.com/embassypromodotcom

Sonic Youth - The Mira Tapes (Bremen, August, 27 1991)

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Recorded live in Bremen, August 27th, 1991 @ Aladin.

The LP comes with a handmade cover, handnumbered in pink. It was a limited editon with 500 copies, later reissued on cd.

This bootleg was released on "Wombat Tontraeger" in 1991. It´s a fair quality recording of that concert. The drum part sometimes sounds a bit distant.

Tracks:

1. Mote

2. Tunic (Song For Karen)

3. Dirty Boots

4. Chapel Hill North Carolina

5. I Love Her All The Time

6. Mary-Christ

7. Kool Thing

8. Expressway (For Patty SM.)

9. Spot'ssz Christ?!

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(192 kbps, ca. 73 MB, front and back cover included)

New Orleans Rhythm And Blues - Good Rockin´ Tonight

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Half a century after holding jazz over the baptismal font, New Orleans breathed new life into Black popular music when the time came for rhythm & blues.
In the wake of the great pianists – from a city whose culture was decidedly rainbow-coloured (Professor Longhair, Archibald, Champion Jack Dupree) –, a new generation of singers appeared post-war and tackled a conjugation of swing and blues with incomparable verve.
Along with Fats Domino, who was the figurehead of the new wave, a multitude of creators came to light: shouter Roy Brown, bandleaders Dave Bartholomew and Paul Gayten, crooner Larry Darnell, adolescent duo Shirley & Lee, not to mention Guitar Slim, a flamboyant guitarist capable of electrifying the crowds whose first recordings were made with Ray Charles.

This collection features 22 remastered classic New Orleans R&B tunes from artists like Champion Jack Dupree, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim, and others.

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(192 kbps, cover art incuded, ca. 77 MB)

DJ Firestar - Kingston Selection

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Coming out of Vancouver Canada, Firestar (aka Andrew Abrey) has original sound worth checking out. Music is life for Firestar and it shows. With an artilery of sounds, this DJ/producer first started in 1998 with production. In his second year of producing one of his tracks made it to #2 on the number one independant music website in the world at the time, mp3.com. Many more made it into the top 10. While drum & bass is his main focus, you can also find Firestar's music in many other places, from Breakbeat to dancehall, even hiphop. From uplifting, harmonious tracks, to dark rolling landslides. What listeners can count on is his love of music and attention to detail in everything he does.

Away from the studio, Firestar has a wide spectrum of sounds he displays for the masses. Djing is the other piece of the puzzle. Firestar tends not to focus on promos and having the newest tracks first, rather playing music that he knows will rock the crowd. Have people jump up to the dancefloor. Firestar uses a good portion of his time using the lost art of crate digging, to find the biggest crowd rockers.


Here is Firestars "Kingston Selection Studio Mix", a rough journey through Jamaican drum n bass, a rollercoaster ride through ragga jungle sound:
Click Here to Download!
Click here for the tracklisting!

More infos and downloads:
http://www.djfirestar.com
http://www.myspace.com/djfirestar

Ambros, Tauchen & Prokopetz - Der Watzmann ruft

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The "Watzmann" is a mountain in Bavaria, Germany, near Berchtesgarden. Because of its picturesque setting next to the Königssee it is a great attraction for many tourists. It is the third highest mountain in Germany.

Since mountains don't just come about and modern theories of tectonic plates etc. don't make good stories, there is an old legend explaining how the Watzmann was created: once upon a time a king named Watzmann ruled the Berchtesgardener Land. He was cruel and ruthless, torturing animals and harrassing people. His family was carved of the same wood, enjoying wild hunts with dogs tearing the game to pieces. One day when king, queen and princes went about there usual hunting and torturing business, they went too far. Encountering the small and squalid hut of a poor farmer, they released their dogs on the innocent farmer's family. And the dogs were cruelly ripping grandmother, mother, father and daughter to pieces, blood splattering everywhere. As she is dying, the grandmother raises her shattered hand and curses king, queen and their seven children that God's punishment may reach them and turn them into rock. The earth is shaking, winds are screeching and fire raises from the ground. King, queen and their seven children are turned into giant boulders.

Even more importantly, the watzmann mountain also plays a central role in the musical parody "Der Watzmann ruft" ("Watzmann is calling") - a real cool record by the Austrian singer-songwriter Wolfgang Ambros from 1974 (born March 19, 1952 in Wolfsgraben, Niederösterreich). He produced this highly successful comically satiric musical "Alpendrama" together with Manfred Tauchen and Joesi Prokopetz. To date there have been several live revival performances of "Der Watzmann ruft", the latest in 2005.

This so called "Rustikal in 8 Hörbildern" (which means a special kind of a concept album) has sold more than 250.000 copies and is one of the most important works of the Austrian music scene.
It tells a story about the life of farmer family working near the Watzmann, whose son "is called by the mountain."

Ambros, Tauchen & Prokopetz - Der Watzmann ruft
(192 kbps, ca. 57 MB)

Winston Jarrett - Rocking Vibration

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Winston Jarrett began his career with Alton Ellis´s group "The Flames" and is widely acknowledged as the writer of Ellis´s classic "Sunday Coming" and "True Born African", although he is not always credited as such.

By the early 80s, Jarrett concentrated on his solo career, enjoying a modicum of success throughout the decade.

This is the truly enlightening 1984 album from Winston Jarrett, the lead singer of the "Righteous Flames". Eight tracks of pure genius...

Just listen to 'Ishen Galore'.... a cut of 'Hundred Pounds Of Collie'....awesome stuff...!!!


link dead
(192 kbps, ca. 41 MB, vinyl rip)



Playlist :
Never Love Again
Wise Man
Pyaka
I'm A Hurting Inside
Rocking Vibration
I Shen Galore
Tired Of The System
Mash Down Babylon

Engineer : Scientist & Barnabas
Producer : Roy Cousins

African Hip Hop Mix by Ghislain Poirier

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Here´s a wonderful 30 minutes mix of African hip hop by the excellent french-canadian electro-hip-hop producer and dj Ghislain Poirier.

Enjoy!

African Hip Hop Mix by Ghislain Poirier
(192 kbps, ca. 40 MB)

Tracklist:
1. 37mph - All In The Name Of Fun ( South Africa ) 2. Tuks – Clap ( South Africa)
3. Xplastaz - Msimu Kwa Msimu (Tanzania)
4. Peter Miles - Owango RMX ( Uganda )
5. Awadi - Stoppez les criminels feat. Tiken Jah Fakoli ( Senegal )
6. 994 Crew - Bad Boy ( Mauritania )
7. Unathi - Sgubhu Sam' ( South Africa )
8. Abass - Zibi zibi zaba ( Senegal )

More infos on http://www.ghislainpoirier.com/.

Rebeltronics

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It´s time for some more electronic & weird music.
"Rebeltronics" was a massive rave in Utrecht, Netherlands, on 27th December of the last year.

Here´s "REBELTRONICS", mixed by T-Mus and representing the flavour of that night: Dubstep, Breakcore and Jungle sounds were shaking the area.

DOWNLOAD
(Length 1:10:53 Size 125 MB Bitrate 247 (VBR), tracklist in the comment)

Klick here for photographs by Derek Djons.

Killamanjaro Remembers Garnett Silk

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The late Garnett Silk was one of the most promising of the "cultural" dancehall singers of the early '90s, a period when "slackness" was in the ascendant and few of Jamaica's top-flight talents were still bothering to deliver the lyrical messages of spiritual and political uplift that had been reggae's stock in trade for so long. Silk spent some time with the Killamanjaro sound system, singing over new and vintage reggae rhythms, sometimes in collaboration with other singers and deejays.
This collection brings together 21 such tracks, most characterized by the slightly rough, improvised feel that often attends sound system performances. Silk's talent, though, was such that even when getting lost in the chord progression of "Marley Medley" or grinding to a ragged halt on "Jaro Ruling," his voice still has the power to captivate. Notable team-ups on this album include a duet with Dennis Brown on "Sing With Me" and "Rule Dem" with Luciano. If you want a taste of real dancehall "inna de yard", this is an album that will stand the test of time.

Killamanjaro Remembers Garnett Silkr
(192 kbps, ca. 72 MB)

Garnett Silk - It´s Growing

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Only one Garnett Silk album was actually cut and released as the artist planned — "It's Growing". His projected debut, "Love Is the Answer", recorded between 1990 and 1991 for Steely & Clevie, wasn't released until 1994.

"Nothing Can Divide Us" appeared the following year, and compiled songs cut in 1992 for Courtney Cole. "Silky Mood", also released posthumously, rounded up numbers cut for the Jammys label, and a myriad of other sets compiled up hits, earlier offerings, and pretty much anything and everything that the singer had recorded.
So, "It´s Growing" remains Silk's only "true" album, and a masterpiece it is, as across ten tracks the singer showcases his stunning power on both romantic and cultural numbers.
On the gorgeous title track, Silk combines both into a spectacular lovefest. "Move on Slow" finds the singer at his sultriest, and "Come to Me" at his most passionate, while "Commitment" takes him into soulful territory. "Place in Your Heart" is a total charmer, and was a huge Jamaican hit; Silk would recut the song two years later for his projected debut for Atlantic. "Bless Me" was also a smash, a fervent prayer for Jah's intervention, backed by Michael Spense and Jazzwad's jazzy, high-stepping accompaniment. "Keep Them Talking" boasts an equally inspired backing from the Firehouse Crew, a dangerous, thumping rhythm that will indeed keep them talking, as Silk puts those who reject Jah firmly in their place. "I Am Vex" was even angrier, and another deserved hit, where the singer ferociously addresses racists, while his righteous anger also fires "Disadvantage." Both these numbers were vehemently backed by Danny Browne, who supplied accompaniment on two other tracks as well. Sly & Robbie and Steely & Clevie also provide phenomenal rhythms, with Brian & Tony Gold and Dean Fraser offering excellent vocal support. Bobby "Digital" Dixon's expert production and arrangements makes the whole set sizzle, adding glow to the romantic numbers, and fire to the cultural tracks. Every song within is a classic, the lyrics are strong, all penned by the singer and/or his writing partner Anthony Rochester. "It's Growing" is the album that established Silk's reputation, and is a continuing reminder of his ferocious talent.

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(192 kbps, ca. 50 MB, front cover included)

Karl Marx - Some Text Sources

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"The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country. To the great chagrin of Reactionists, it has drawn from under the feet of industry the national ground on which it stood. All old-established national industries have been destroyed or are daily being destroyed. They are dislodged by new industries, whose introduction becomes a life and death question for all civilised nations, by industries that no longer work up indigenous raw material, but raw material drawn from the remotest zones; industries whose products are consumed, not only at home, but in every quarter of the globe. In place of the old wants, satisfied by the productions of the country, we find new wants, requiring for their satisfaction the products of distant lands and climes."
- Karl Marx

The philosopher, social scientist, historian and revolutionary, Karl Marx, is without a doubt the most influential socialist thinker to emerge in the 19th century. Although he was largely ignored by scholars in his own lifetime, his social, economic and political ideas gained rapid acceptance in the socialist movement after his death in 1883. Marx's contribution to our understanding of society has been enormous

Karl Marx - Some Text Sources

The following works are included in the file:

Manifesto of the Communist Party
The present English edition of the Manifesto of tbe Communist Party is a reproduction of the translation made by Samuel Moore in 1888 from the original German text of 1848 and edited by Frederick Engels. Included in the present text are Engels's annotations for the English edition of 1888 and the German edition of 1890 as well as all the authors' prefaces to the various editions.

A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy
(GRUNDRISSE DER KRITIK DER POLITISCHEN ÖKONOMIE)
The Grundrisse (German language "Sketches") is a lengthy work by the German philosopher Karl Marx, completed in 1858. However, as it existed primarily as a collection of unedited notes, the work remained unpublished until 1941. The work is very wide-ranging in subject matter and covers all six sections of Marx's economics (of which only one, Das Kapital, ever reached a final form). The Grundrisse is often described as the rough draft to Capital, although there is considerable disagreement about the exact relationship between the two texts, particularly around the issue of methodology.The Grundrisse is one of the central works of Marx, due to its wide range of topics covered and its incorporation of themes from some of Marx's earlier works. The diverse subjects it covers include production, distribution, exchange, alienation, value, labor, capitalism, the rise of technology and automation, pre-capitalist forms of social organization, and the preconditions for a communist revolution.Marx wrote this huge manuscript as part of his preparation for what would become AContribution to the Critique of Political Economy (published in 1859) and Capital(published 1867). Soviet Marxologists released several never-before-seen Marx/Engels works in the 1930s. Most were early works -- like the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts -- but the Grundrisse stood alone as issuing forth from the most intense period of Marx's decade-long, in-depth study of economics. It is an extremely rich and thought-provoking work, showing signs of humanism and the influence of Hegelian dialectic method. Do note, though, Marx did not intend it for publication as is, so it can be stylistically very rough in places.

The Class Struggle in France
The Class Struggle in France actually appeared as a series of articles in the Neue Rheinische Zeitung between December 1849 and November 1850. Engels would "repackage" them into a more complete book in 1895, a dozen years after Marx's passing. In highlighting the importance of this work in the development of Marx's thought, Engels wrote: "The work here republished was Marx's first attempt to explain a section of contemporary history by means of his materialist conception, on the basis of the given economic situation. In the Communist Manifesto, the theory was applied in broad outline to the whole of modern history... Here, on the other hand, the question was to demonstrate the inner causal connection in the course of a development which extended over some years... to trace political events back to effects of what were, in the final analysis, economic causes."

Wage, Labour and Capital
What are wages?By what is the price of a commodity determined?By what are wages determined?The nature and growth of capital; Relation of wage-labor to capital; The general law that determines the rise and fall of wages and profit...The interests of capital and wage-labor are diametrically opposed...Effect of capitalist competition on the capitalist class, the middle class and the working class...This pamphlet first appeared in the form of a series of leading articles in the Neue Rheinische Zeitung, beginning on April 4th, 1849. The text is made up of from lectures delivered by Marx before the German Workingmen's Club of Brussels in 1847. The series was never completed. The promise "to be continued", at the end of the editorial in Number 269 of the newspaper, remained unfulfilled in consequence of the precipitous events of that time: the invasion of Hungary by the Russians [Tsarist troops invaded hungary in 1849 to keep the Austrian Hapsburg dynasty in power], and the uprisings in Dresden, Iserlohn, Elberfeld, the Palatinate, and in Baden [Spontaneous uprisings in Germany in May-July 1849, supporting the Imperial Constituion which were crushed in mid-July], which led to the suppression of the paper on May 19th, 1849. And among the papers left by Marx no manuscript of any continuation of these articles has been found.

The Civil War in France
Written by Karl Marx as an address to the General Council of the International, with the aim of distributing to workers of all countries a clear understanding of the character and world-wide significance of the heroic struggle of the Communards and their historical experience to learn from. The book was widely circulated by 1872 it was translated into several languages and published throughout Europe and the United States. The first address was delivered on July 23rd, 1870, five days after the beginning of the Franco-Prussian war. The second address, delivered on September 9, 1870, gave a historical overview of the events a week after the army of Bonaparte was defeated. The third address, delivered on May 30, 1870, two days after the defeat of the Paris Commune, detailed the significance and the underlining causes of the first workers government ever created.


There are many sites with free eboks in all languages, maybe you will start here: www.marxistlibr.org/
www.marxistlibrary.org/

Frankie Paul - Pass The Tu-Sheng-Peng & Tidal Wave

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Both the albums brought together here - one from "Juno" Lawes, the other from George Phang - helped confirm Frankie Paul´s growing reputation in the mid-1980s.
The Lawes-produced tracks include at least four classics - "Tu-Sheng-Peng" itself, "Jump No Fence", "Them A Talk About" and "War Is In The Dance" - along with tracks that fall only a little short.
The George Phang part is alsmost as strong, with the singer´´s energy amazingly infectious throughout, and Sly & Robbie showing they were not keeping all their best rhythms for their own label.


link dead
(192 kbps, front cover included, ca. 91 MB)

Latin Kulta - Mixtape Exclusivo

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"Latin Kulta" is a wonderful 2 hours non-stop mix containing non-english reggae from Panama, Chile, Puerto Rico, Italy, Spain, France and more.

This great party mix is hosted by Mc Joey Fever & Dj Kiljano.

You´ll find the tracklist in the comment.

Download:

link dead
(192 kbps, including covers)

More infos on http://www.myspace.com/latinkulta and on http://www.latinkulta.com.

Frankie Paul - Every Nigger Is A Star!

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Frankie Paul is often referred to as Jamaica's Stevie Wonder, and not just because of his visual impairment; like Wonder, he was a talented multi-instrumentalist with a tremendous vocal range. He was also extraordinarily prolific; part of the first wave of dancehall artists, he started his recording career in earnest during the early '80s, and has since flooded the market with product, releasing countless singles and well over 30 albums.

That's made his career difficult to track for all but the most ardent fans, but it's also ensured that he's never been too far out of the spotlight on a constantly changing reggae scene.

Paul was born Paul Blake in 1965. He was blind at birth, but an operation on a hospital ship succeeded in giving him a small visual capacity; he later went to New York to obtain a pair of high-powered glasses that helped even further. He attended a Salvation Army school for the blind, where he first began singing. When Stevie Wonder visited the school, Paul sang for him, and an impressed Wonder encouraged him to go into music. Paul learned the piano, drums, and guitar while still in school, and was most influenced as a singer by Dennis Brown in his early days.
As Frankie Paul, he made his first recording, "African Princess," in 1980, when he was still just 15. In 1983, he appeared on two volumes in Channel One's "Showdown" series, one with Sugar Minott and the other with Little John. The former LP contained Paul's first major hit, the Henry "Junjo" Lawes-produced "Worries in the Dance," which aligned him with the emerging dancehall sound. Lawes also produced 1984's "Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng", whose title cut — an ode to ganja — was a huge, star-making hit in Jamaica.
Paul reached his prime in the mid-'80s, cutting excellent albums like the George Phang- produced "Tidal Wave" (1985) and "Alesha" (1987), and the Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "Warning" (1987). He continued into the new millennium as a tremendously active presence on the reggae scene.

link dead
(192 kbps, ca. 62 MB, front cover included)

Selection Master Crew - Origination Mixtape

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"Selection Master Crew" are LuCiosa, Filogrania and A. C. from San Cesario Di Lecce, Italy.

They built a nice "Origination Mixtape" with wellknown international reggae and dancehall artist like Sizzla, Gentleman, Morgan Heritage, General Degree... and some italian artists.

Selection Master Crew - Origination Mixtape
(128 kbps, front & back cover included)

More infos on www.myspace.com/selectionmaster.

Greetings to Italy!

Peter Kropotkin - The Anarchist Prince

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"Although he achieved renown in a number of different fields, ranging from geography & zoology to sociology & history, he shunned material success for the life of a revolutionist."
- Self-description by Peter Kropotkin in the "Encyclopedia Britannica", for which he wrote the "anarchy" definition in the famed 11th edition.

"Freedom of the press, freedom of association, the inviolability of domicile, and all the rest of the rights of man are respected so long as no one tries to use them against the privileged class. On the day they are launched against the privileged they are overthrown."
- Kropotkin

Prince Peter (Pyotr) Alexeyevich Kropotkin (December 9, 1842–February 8, 1921) was one of Russia's foremost anarchists and one of the first advocates of what he called "anarchist communism": the model of society he advocated for most of his life was that of a communalist society free from central government. Because of his title of prince and his prominence as an anarchist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he was known by some as "the Anarchist Prince".
Some contemporaries saw him as leading a near perfect life. Oscar Wilde called him "the new Christ coming out of Russia." He left behind many books, pamphlets and articles, the most prominent being his works "The Conquest of Bread" and "Fields, Factories and Workshops", and his principal scientific offering, "Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution". He was also a contributor to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

Peter Kropotkin - The Anarchist Prince (link)

The file contents the following works:

Anarchism - 1910 - from The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1910.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1880 - The Commune of Paris.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1880 - The Spirit of Revolt.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1890 - Brain Work and Manual Work.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1892 - Revolutionary Studies.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1898 - Anarchism its philosophy and ideal.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1901 - Communism and Anarchy.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1913 - The Coming War.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - 1920 - The Wage System.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - Anarchist Morality.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - On Order.pdf
Peter Kropotkin - The Place of Anarchism in Socialistic Evolution.pdf

More infos on:
http://recollectionbooks.com/bleed/Encyclopedia/KropotkinPeter.htm

Mad Mike & Moiz - Jugglin´ From Mars (Dancehall Mix CD)

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The Italian reggae and dancehall djs Mad Mike & Moiz provide us with some new hot riddims inna juggling style:


"Jugglin´ From Mars" is their new mix-cd with an intro by Bobby Konders.


Download:

http://reggae.spaccioworld.com/music/MOIZ%20&%20MAD%20MIKE-Jugglin'FromMars%202006.rar


More infos on WWW.KALIBANDULU.COM.


You´ll find the tracklist in the comment.

Peter Whitehead - Wholly Communion (1965)

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The film "Wholly Communion" by Peter Whitehead captures the
historic event at the Royal Albert Hall on 11 June 1965 where an audience of 7,000 witnessed the first meeting of American and English Beat poets.

Among the performers featured are Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gregory Corso and Ernst Jandl. The event was viewed as the inaugural moment of the mass counter culture of the '60s.

Despite being organized in a matter of days, a press conference announcing the event the previous week guaranteed an estimated audience of 7,000 inside the venue, who had been invited to: "Come in fancy dress"; "Come with flowers," and "Come!"
Many more were turned away at the door, and, according to the press coverage the next day in The Guardian, those unable to enter were "clamouring to get in", with the event being described by many as the "biggest poetry-reading meeting in the English-speaking world".

The wonderful "UbuWeb" provides us with a copy of the film by Peter Whitehead about this event: http://www.ubu.com/film/whitehead.html.

Jazz Of The Beat Generation

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"Jazz Of The Beat Generation" is a unique collection of music, literature and spoken word material exploring jazz as a central theme in the counter cultural explosion in america in the 1950's known as the "Beat Movement".

This wonderful album is packaged in a glossy box with artwork reminiscent of fifties beatnik paperback book cover art. It includes an deluxe 36 page booklet with extensive liner notes. It´s worth buying this gem!

The mixture of Jack Kerouac's spoken word poetry mixed between Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Thelonious Monk and other beat jazz masters creates a perfect audio history of the "Beat Generation".

link dead
(192 kbps, front cover included, ca. 92 MB)

Emma Goldman - "Mother Of Anarchism"

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"To the daring belongs the future… when we run out of dreams, we die… - Emma Goldman said that. And it’s the truth."
— Federico Arcos

"Anarchism really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government." - Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) aka 'Red Emma', was a Kaunas, Lithuania-born anarchist known for her writings and speeches. She was lionized as an iconic "rebel woman" feminist by admirers, and derided as an advocate of politically motivated murder and violent revolution by her critics.
Goldman played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in the United States and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. She emigrated to the United States at seventeen and was later deported to Russia, where she witnessed the results of the Russian Revolution. She spent a number of years in Southern France where she wrote her autobiography, "Living My Life", and other works, before taking part in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 as the English language representative in London of the CNT-FAI.

Her commitment to Anarchism and her activist inclinations led her to champion the causes of labor, anti-militarism, atheism, prison reform, and women's rights -- not just in the U.S. but abroad as well. After her deportation to Russian in 1919, and subsequent disillusionment with the so-called Soviet revolution, Emma never gave up hope that her anarchist ideals might still find fertile ground. She saw the flower bloom in Spain. Citizens and workers, organized by the CNT-FAI, the Anarcho-Syndicalist union, quickly suppressed the July, 1936 uprising of the army, led by General Franco, in both Barcelona and the countryside. Emma, 67 years old, rushed to lend her support.


Here are some works by Emma Goldman and her autobiography:

Emma Goldman - "Mother Of Anarchism"

The file contents the following texts:

Emma Goldman - 1908 - What I Believe.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1909 - A New Declaration of Independence.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1910 - Anarchism What It Really Stands For.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1911 - Francisco Ferrer and The Modern School.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1914 - Voltairine De Cleyre.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1917 - Address To The Jury.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1918 - The Truth About the Bolsheviki.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1923 - My Disillusionment in Russia.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1924 - My Further Disillusionment in Russia.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1931 - Living My Life.pdf
Emma Goldman - 1934 - Was My Life Worth Living.pdf
Emma Goldman - Anarchy Defended by Anarchists.pdf
Emma Goldman - Socialism Caught in the Political Trap.pdf
Emma Goldman - The Social Importance of the Modern School.pdf
Hippolyte Havel - 1911 - EMMA GOLDMAN (Biography).pdf

More Emma Goldman materials on:
"The Emma Goldman Papers (DL SunSITE)":
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/

Mahotella Queens - The Township Idols (Best Of)

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The "Mahotella Queens" are a South African singing group that is noted for their three-part harmonies, "Mbaqanga" township music and fast-paced mqashiyo dancing.

This female vocal trio, still comprised of Nobesthutu Mbada, Hilda Tloubatla and Mildred Mangxola, have exerted enormous influence on the musical life of South Africa since forming in 1964. Mahotella Queens began as the backing group for the male singer Mahlathini, but the group has also performed as an independent trio since the beginning. They were hugely popular in Soweto in the 1960s, performing in up to 3 concerts a day. The Queen's singing style is called mbaqanga and is a mixture of traditional Zulu music, gospel, and modern electrified rhythm with a sprinkling of American soul. Everything is undertaken with sparkling enthusiasm and lively choreography. From 1970 to 1975 the group took a break when the members married and had children. But during the 1970s and 80s they were at it again and performed in several music festivals in France and other locations, and made a world tour in 1990-91. Since the group formed they have released over 20 albums. Mahotella Queens have been part of the South African anti-apartheid movement right from the start, and for their songs - mainly written by the members - they have taken themes from daily life in Soweto.One of their best known songs, “Kazet", deals with how the apartheid authority raided homes in a township with a bulldozer in order to drive away the inhabitants. Both the music - and social life - has gone through massive changes since Mahotella Queens formed, but the group have managed to maintain their power and vitality and have reinvented themselves without losing contact with their roots.

Mahotella Queens - The Township Idols (Best Of)
(192 kbps, front cover included, ca. 98 MB)

The Rootsman & D. Bo General - From The Dubplate Basket Vol. 2

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The mighty Rootsman, dub and reggae musician and DJ based in Bradford, did it again. A few month ago he presented the first volume of his "From The Dubplate Basket"-mix, now here is the second volume.

If you enjoyed the first one - with the killer track by Robert Lee as a firestarter - as much as we did, you will be pleased by Rootsman´s second dubplate mix as well:
It is real big too!

Here you can download Rootsman's second mix CD crammed full of killer dubplates straight from Rootsman's dubplate basket:

link dead

1. NORRIS MAN – ARE YOU
2. JOHNNY CLARKE – NONE SHALL ESCAPE
3. FREDDIE MCGREGOR – ROOTSMAN IS THE DON
4. BRIGADIER JERRY – ARMAGIDEON
5. WAYNE SMITH – COME ALONG
6. LINVAL THOMPSON – DREADER THAN DREAD
7. BIG YOUTH – JIM SCREECHY
8. YT – ROOTSMAN STORY
9. EARL 16 – WE'RE GOING
10. GREGORY ISAACS – UNIVERSAL TRIBULATION
11. MICHAEL PROPHET/DADDY FREDDY – YOUR SOUND
12. LUCIANO – FOR THE SOUNDBOYS
13. ROBERT LEE – CRUCIFY A SOUND
14. D.BO GENERAL – TEACH DEM
15. ANTHONY B – GOD ABOVE EVERYTHING
16. FRANKIE PAUL – SONG OF FREEDOM
17. U BROWN – GIMME DI MUSIC
18. SANDEENO – SO MANY FACES
19. JAH MASON – ALKIBULAN
20. CHRONICLE – HIGHEST GRADE
21. ANTHONY JOHNSON – AFRICA
22. COURTNEY MELODY – IN THE DANCE
23. ROUNDHEAD – HEMPIRE
24. EARL 16 – PURIFY
25. LUCIANO – IN THIS TOGETHER
26. PHILIP FRASER – DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGES
27. DETERMINE – MAMA
28. EDI FITZROY – I WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE YOUR FACE
29. ILL INSPECTA – RUDE BWOY ANTHEM
30. TOP CAT – REQUEST THE STYLE
31. YT – NAH WALK IN DEM SHOES
32. EVERTON BLENDER – CREATE A SOUND

Respect to The Rootsman!
http://www.myspace.com/therootsman

Fela Kuti - Koola Lobitos 1964 - 68 & The `69 L.A. Sessions

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It's almost impossible to overstate the impact and importance of Fela Anikulapo (Ransome) Kuti (or just Fela as he's more commonly known) to the global musical village: producer, arranger, musician, political radical, outlaw. He was all that, as well as showman par excellence, inventor of Afro-beat, an unredeemable sexist, and a moody megalomaniac. His death on August 3, 1997 of complications from AIDS deeply affected musicians and fans internationally, as a musical and sociopolitical voice on a par with Bob Marley was silenced.
A press release from the United Democratic Front of Nigeria on the occasion of Fela's death noted: "Those who knew you well were insistent that you could never compromise with the evil you had fought all your life. Even though made weak by time and fate, you remained strong in will and never abandoned your goal of a free, democratic, socialist Africa." This is as succinct a summation of Fela's political agenda as one is likely to find.

The first six tracks of this album are unreleased sides from Fela's first group, circa 1964-1968. It's really astonishing to hear Fela Kuti, the furious, rabble-rousing godfather of Afro-beat, singing high-life tunes about good times, but that's exactly what he did with the "Koola Lobitos", back in the mid-'60s. The first half of this set presents the band's hybrid of swinging London grooviness and African jazz, with Fela playing trumpet at least as much as he sings.

In 1969, he took the band (renamed Nigeria 70) to Los Angeles. Within a few months, he'd become radically politicized and started writing songs like "Viva Nigeria." The singles he recorded in America, collected on the disc's second half, are the bridge to the full-blown Afro-beat that blossomed a year or two later--spindly, propulsive funk riffs explored thoroughly. There's a newfound, roaring confidence coming through in Fela's voice, even as he gets a few last stabs at R&B structure (like "Lover") out of his system. Recorded in 1969 under duress courtesy of the Department of Immigration and Naturalization, the Los Angeles Sessions are among the earliest glimpse of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's developing Afrobeat sound. What makes this release different from much of his recorded work is the length and number of songs: ten tracks, average length 4:39. Unusual, since most Fela material is 15 minutes or more. The foundation of this music is still the classic highlife sound, but there are influences here that bespeak Fela's absorption with funk and soul. In fact, the opening track, "My Lady Frustration," sounds so much like James Brown, you'd swear it was Jimmy Nolen playing guitar and Clyde Stubblefield on the drums. A good intro for Fela neophytes, but by no means the only Fela recording you should own. Also, tracks like "Nigeria" show how important radical politics were in informing his sound.

link dead
(192 kbps, ca. 98 MB)

Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa

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Gail Hamilton writes in the liner notes of this album:

"In 1990, the world took a deep breath as the dawn of February 20th approached. The news of Mandela´s release was a moment of historical justice. I remember the news accounts of this man walking the streets of Soweto to a new-found freedom.
The same man is now the president of his country. The events represented one single word to me: HOPE.

It´s with a great deal of pride to release this project entitled "Place Of Hope". My travels to South Africa have given me a deeper spiritual insight and a greater appreciation of the people of South Africa."

This music project gave black south african and afro-american artists the opportunity to develop community.

Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa
(192 kbps, front cover included, ca. 68 MB)