SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER: "SOMBRAS" - Blanca Rosa Gil

I used to regularly share old-fashioned, dusted-off vintage gems from all over the world here... Hugely impressed with Paddy Breathnach's "Viva" which I finally watched last weekend, I have indulged myself once again in the world of Latin American boleros, something I've always had a weakness for, this time concentrating mainly on the Cuban divas. I invite you back to my Vintage Corner thread with Blanca Rosa Gil's heavenly melodic "Sombras" used in the soundtrack of the aforementioned Spanish-language Irish drama. I found the note below to learn more about the singer behind "Sombras", a song I have completely fallen in love this weekend... Nothing quite compares to a pure, nostalgic, elegant, flawless melody like this...

"La Dueña Y Señora Del Bolero. This Cuban torch-singer has one of those rare voices that's at once tremendously seductive and frightening. Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Blanca Rosa Gil sings romantic boleros with quiet, quivering passion. She also lets loose half-screams of spurned outrage, depending on which is appropriate for the song. Making her mark in Cuban cabarets in the '50s, Gil performed with a Mambo orchestra that played melodramatic songs with great horn arrangements. Before the Cuban revolution she relocated to Mexico and never returned to her homeland."

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "DIAMANTES" + "ESPEJOS EN LAS AZOTEAS (1965)" - MULA

Anabel Acevedo, Cristabel Acevedo and Rachel Rojas formed MULA 2 years ago. The Dominican trio serve a tropical kaleidoscope of synth pop, merengue, reggaeton, bachata, electronica and South African Shangaan electro. This truly eclectic, energy-filled cocktail of beats, rhythms and genres put them on a musical map among the most innovative explorers of the so-called world music scene. I was looking forward to hearing MULA's "AGUAS" ever since I heard "No Hay Manera" for the first time (here it is among the best tracks of 2016 in our annual countdown) last year. Here are 2 stand-out tracks "Diamantes" and "Espejos en las azoteas (1965)" which are fittingly opening and closing the album respectively. Get your copy of "AGUAS" now on iTunes or Bandcamp.

Photo by María Mejía

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "TÁRTARO" - Buscabulla + "DANCE WHILE YOU SHOOT" - Noga Erez

The Puerto-Rican duo Buscabulla who blew us away back in 2014 with their self-titled, Dev Hynes-produced, debut EP are now back with a delectable new single "Tártaro". Continuing with their very own "Caribbean music of the future" ethos, the song amalgamates elements of exotica, funk, synth-pop and nu disco to an utterly captivating result. "Tártaro" is the first taste of the Brooklyn based band's upcoming "Buscabulla EP II".

Noga Erez is an Israeli musician, singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer. Her politically engaged single "Dance While You Shoot" is an aural eruption of harsh beats, cold electronica, grime, alternative R&B and avant-garde Hip-Hop. The Tel Avivian artist sure launches her musical career with a bang with this energy-filled electronic stomper. Thank you Disco Naïveté for the heads-up!

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "XXX ANGEL DUST XXX" - LSDXOXO

It's time to shake things up a little with some exotic beats. "XXX ANGEL DUST XXX" is an energetic blend of dancehall, reggaeton, urban rhymes, latin flavours and electro with some fun, gimmicky samples. LSDXOXO is a New York based producer who have previously worked with Cakes Da Killa on numerous occasions. The new single is a fiery number borrowing vocals from Dominican rapper La Materialista’s song "Chuleame" as reported by Pitchfork. You can download "XXX ANGEL DUST XXX" now for free on GHE20G0TH1K's Soundcloud.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "MALA" - Maluca

Maluca has been making planet music a more vibrant place since 2009 with her exotic mish-mash of electronica, dancehall, hip-hop and "ghetto tech, tropical punk and dominican rave", as she defines her own sound. Ever since her debut single dropped in December 2009 I instantly became curious about the singer making "El Tigeraso" one of the very first songs I blogged about on SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS. Maluca has collaborated with Oliver Twizt, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Don Diablo and Solidisco over the years, released a few one-off singles and joined efforts with Robyn for her La Bagatelle Magique project and their "Love Is Free" release last year, one of the 20 greatest tracks of 2015. Now the Manhattan born adept of bachata, cumbia, merengue, and mambo returns with "Mala" - the title track taken from her upcoming EP. Alongside the aforementioned "El Tigeraso" and "Lola (Ging Danga)", "Mala" sounds like the Dominican princess' most proficient work to date.



And here's Maluca's "El Tigeraso" once again:

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "SONO" + "TEMPORAL" + "CAER" - Buscabulla

Buscabulla's official blurb says it all really:

"Buscabulla (Spanish slang for troublemaker) is the music project of Puerto Rican designer and Brooklyn resident, Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo Del Valle. Heavily influenced by vintage Latin music like salsa gorda, Cuban psych and '80s Argentinian rock, the project combines both electronic and live instrumentation. Their diverse influences make up a hybrid that combines a mellow Caribbean sensibility with subversive wit."

I just stumbled upon this exotic duo browsing through the latest compilation from Kitsuné. With echoes of Trip Hop nostalgia and vintage Latin flavours their first self-titled EP is an instant treat for those musos always peckish for some exciting, fresh global grooves. I am hooked on these intriguingly eerie, ethereal songs since last night. Highly recommended.

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "FAMILY" /// "BLACK DOUGH" - Fatima

Eglo Records' long term prime diva and the owner of one of the most distinctive and soulful vocals in the whole planet of music, Fatima has shared her latest EP at the beginning of the month. The title track "Family" stands out among her strongest recordings to date with vibraphone and clap-along driven Latin flavoured rhythms and beautifully crafted vocal harmonies. The exclusive digital bonus track, Flako produced "Black Dough" echoes some of Fatima's previous joint efforts with FunkinEven and Floating Points with its amalgamation of broken beats, sleek nu jazz production and electronic funk. I am in awe with this lady for a couple of years at this stage and thrilled with this release once again. Find more of Fatima's delectable sounds on her fresh Soundcloud page.



Fatima - Black Dough Prod. Flako by F A T I M A

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Taki Rari" - Yma Sumac + "Estaba Escrito" - Monna Bell

I've got two delicious vintage Latin recordings for you today. First up it's the legendary Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac and her exotic take-on mambo with "Taki Rari". Following this sonic otherworldliness we have a Chilean queen of merengue Miss Monna Bell and her "Estaba Escrito" a song maestro Pedro Almodovar used for his feature debut "Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón".

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Agita"- Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band feat. Osdalgía & El Micha

I have always had faith in Mr Gilles Peterson's taste in music. The dj, the producer, the musician, the music selector and labels owner, he just always gets it right. One of his latest projects, "Havana Cultura: The Search Continues", his exploration into the Cuban musical underground, is a pure treat and a vibrant feats for all the global beats lovers. This particular cumbia-meets-salsa piece stole my heart instantly.

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER: "GOPHER" + "BABALU" - Yma Sumac

Shrem's vintage corner presents Peruvian legend, exotica pioneer and owner of an extreme vocal range, spanning 5 octaves - the great Yma Sumac...



"Babalu" (by Yma Sumac) by Vince Shelley

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CHOONS OF THE DAY: "LOOK AROUND THE CORNER" - Quantic and his Combo Barbaro feat. Alice Russell + "FEELING GOOD"

Tru Thoughts were among my most beloved record labels for years now. This however brings my admiration for this Brighton formed label to another level. Miss Alice Russell teams up for this explosion of good vibes with maestro Quantic and together they sound as delicious as Minnie Riperton from one her finest albums. Listen to their heavenly reinterpreation of "Feeling Good", the previous collaboration of the pair, below. Pure sonic bliss...

Quantic & Alice Russell with the Combo Barbaro - Look Around The Corner by Tru Thoughts

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "LOLA (Ging Danga)" -Maluca /// "Sin Oficio" - Systema Solar

Such an energy bomb of a Latin flavoured combo today. First up we have NYC based Dominican response to M.I.A. - Maluca and her brand new video "Lola". It's brazen, it's cheeky and it's so cleverly produced - an urban anthem in the making! Then we have Colombian electro-cumbia collective Systema Solar introduced to be my my dear muso friend Alva whom I consider an absolute expert on Latin american sounds, particularly Colombian and Brazilian grooves. Now you have to agree those two sound rather delicious back to back, don't they? Los ritmos fantasticos!!!

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SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS... "Un Canto a Mi Tierra" + "Mas Pan (Dj Day Remix)" - Quantic and his Combo Barbaro feat. Nidia Gongora

My I-tunes count tells me I played this Colombian gem 50 times already, somehow I forgot to post it here until now... How much flavour does this track have?



Quantic - Mas Pan (DJ Day Remix) by DJDay

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "LOLA (GING DANGA)" /// "EL TIGERASO" - Maluca

Dominican answer to M.I.A., señorita Maluca is back in action. "Lola" is the first taste of her upcoming EP. I couldn't resist and had to remind you all of the song that introduced me to the wonderfully brazen world of Maluca's electro merengue beats. "El Tigeraso" still sounds as fresh and innovative as the very first time I heard and danced to it. Miss Maluca is surrounded by strictly cool characters Diplo, Rusko, Dillon Francis, Oliver Twizt... For all updates check out her bold blog La Maluca Mala.

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "THE MUZIK" - Ebony Bones! /// "EL TIGERASO" - Maluca

Serious dancefloor filler from a post-punk discoteca, one of those inexplainable cases of an absolute true gem of a song that never became huge... Still mystery to me... Ebony Bones! is beyond cool!!! And as if it wasn't energetic enough here's some electro "rapido y furioso" produced by the mighty DIPLO and performed by the brazen Maluca too... What a combo!!!

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SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS: MUSIC TRANCE/NO NOS PARARAN - Charanga 76

Totally hooked by this rare 12" from 1979...



and as a dessert "No Nos Pararan", their fabulous version of "Ain't Stoppin' Us Now"...

Charanga 76 - Ain't No Stopping Us Now (Melo Edit) by azdjmelo

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Dub y Guaguancó" - Quantic presents Flowering Inferno

Quantic has been among the most creative and prolific latin artists 4 quite some time at this stage with his countless projects, collaborations and aliases. Here's a sample from his brand new album this time under the poetic name of Flowering Inferno.






ARTIST: Quantic presents Flowering Inferno
TITLE: "Dub y Guaguancó"
RELEASE DATE: 2010
COUNTRY: COLOMBIA

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER PRESENTS... CARA DE GITANA - Daniel Magal

In the mood 4 oldies since saturday Breakfast at Tiffany's set. Argentine answer 2 Julio Iglesias back in 1978... Irresistible melody, reliving its popularity since the soundtrack 2 Lucrecia Martel's "La niña santa".

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS

Lola la Grande and one of her timeless songs accompanied by this lovely tribute 2 Maestro Pedro Almodovar clip.



ARTIST: Lola Beltrán
TITLE: "Soy Infeliz"
RELEASE DATE: 196?
COUNTRY: MEXICO

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