CHOON OF THE DAY: "MOVE" - Lynda Dawn

Photo by Hannah Faith

If you are nostalgic about 1980's vibes, the rare grooves, those smooth and slick soul anthems à la 1985 you are pretty much guaranteed to fall for this oldskool-flavoured absolute gem of a song. Lynda Dawn is a London based vocalist whose "Move" could trick us into believing it was some previously undiscovered lost gem of the era... The track comes from the latest edition in Gilles Peterson's cult series of compilations "Brownswood Bubblers". A lucky 13th volume! Think Mtume, The Fatback Band, Loose Ends, René & Angela and Gwen Guthrie... I am so looking forward to hearing more from this talented young songstress.

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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 DOUBLE TROUBLE: "De la Vitesse à l'Ivresse" /// "Il n'y a pas d'Amour Heureux" - POOM

There are numerous genres, styles and musical niches I am particularly fond of. I do have a special love for classic Egyptian music for example, Italo disco, balkan beats, post punk, late 80's house, 90's R&B, rare grooves, mambo, cumbia, nu disco, freestyle, Scandinavian synth-pop, electronica, oldskool Hip Hop, Central Asian pop... The list is very long and eclectic. I also adore Chanson Française in its full and rich tradition but when contemporary musicians borrow from the classic French Pop it tickles my fancy enormously. I have fallen in love with Cinema and Exotica in the past few years and have recently properly discovered another Parisian duo POOM. The sensual "De la Vitesse à l'Ivresse" is a string laden, rich composition paying a lush vintage hommage to the greatest French songs of the decadent 60's and 70's. Camille Ferrera et Siegfried de Turckheim fit in splendidly somewhere between the classic Françoise Hardy and Air's dreamy first two albums. The upbeat "Il n'y a pas d'Amour Heureux" is a glorious electro pop rendition of Louis Aragon's poem which became Georges Brassens' hit all the way back in 1953. Formidable!

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Unde O-fie Puiul de Aseara" + "As munci la plug si coasa" - Romica Puceanu

Romina Puceanu - the queen of Roma music and an astonishing interpreter of urban lăutărească music in Romania. One of the most unusual and breathtaking vocals I have ever discovered browsing through archives of music.

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SHREM GOES FILM FATALE: "THE PHILADELPHIA STORY"

It's that glamorous time again! I am getting all giddy at the thoughts of teaming up again with my dear fellow muso friend Piotrek from NoSnobsAllowed under the alias of The Andrews Sisters Brothers to spread some retro chic magic at another of the Film Fatale events. We promise a vibrant mix of vintage finest in swing, charleston, boogie-woogie, doo-wop, rock'n'roll with big band evergreens, upbeat jazz anthems and some of The Andrews Sisters too of course! Tickets for the entire event are selling fast on the entertainment.ie and the after party is unlimited with just a fiver at the door of the Sugar Club. For more details check out the official Facebook event or Film Fatale's blog. Here's a bunch of juicy tunes you can expect on the saturday dancefloor from us this time:

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SHREM GOES FILM FATALE: "NORTH BY NORTHWEST"

I am extremely happy to be playing again alongside my good friend Piotrek from nosnobsallowed.tv, under The Andrews Sisters' Brothers alias, at Film Fatale's 2nd-season-opening event tomorrow night. The theme is Hitchcock. "North by Northwest" to be more precise and our after party set will be dedicated to the wondrous sounds of the 1950's. If you happen to be in Dublin tomorrow night and if you're in search for an alternative saturday night experience, come and dance the night away with us to the lush vintage soundtrack varying from swing, upbeat jazzy classics to exotic mambo and rock'n'roll anthems. The party starts at 11pm and it's only a 5 Euro in! For more details keep an eye out on our event page on Facebook. See you tomorrow glamour girls and boys and don't forget to put on some dancing shoes!

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "BANZO" - Leny Andrade + "DEIXA A NEGA GINGAR" - Stan Guetz Quartet feat. Flora Purim

Leny Andrade, Flora Purim, Elza Soares - three Brazilian divas of the 1960's. Blissful, sophisticated and timeless sounds...

Leny Andrade - "Banzo" by SHREM

And here's Elza Soares' much more upbeat version of this classic:

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SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS: "GAJ" - Marek Grechuta & Maryla Rodowicz

This song always makes me very nostalgic and sentimental. It was released back home, in Poland, the year I was born. It saved itself a very safe spot among my most beloved Polish songs ever. Both Maryla Rodowicz and Marek Grechuta were back then the indisputable giants of the local pop scene. My iTunes tells me it's the 14th most played track of the +10k songs in my library... I do seem to have a particularly soft spot for it then indeed...

Marek Grechuta & Maryla Rodowicz - "Gaj" by SHREM

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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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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "GIRL FROM IPANEMA" - Amy Winehouse /// "GAROTA DE IPANEMA" - Astrud Gilberto

One of the most beloved classics among the lavishly rich lexicon of Brazilian songs interpreted by many many artists all through the years. I picked this charming and wonderful version by back then only 17 years old Amy Winehouse from before her debut "Frank" era. And then the lady herself the exquisite and multi-talented Astrud Gilberto.





Ok I couldn't resist, let's make it a triple trouble and play Maestro Antonio Carlos Jobim too:

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VIOLETTA VILLAS 14 September 1938 – 05 December 2011 - R.I.P.

Such sad news coming from my homeland today... The owner of the highest vocal range among all Polish singers and one of the most vibrant artists in the history of Polish music - Violetta Villas has passed away earlier on today...

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER: "16 lat i 7 dni" - Violetta Villas + "Jeg snakker med mig selv" - Gitte Hænning

Two ladies. One Polish, one Danish. Two heartwarmingly old-fashioned early 1960's gems.

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER: "Na drugim brzegu tęczy" - Breakout

This was always my mum's favourite band, their gritty sound was quite innovative and alternative in comparison with Polish mainstream music back in the 1960's. Mira Kubasińska remained for years one of the most charismatic and uncompromised Polish female vocalists. The sax intro is to die for... What a timeless gem...

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SHREM GOES FILM FATALE: "ROMAN HOLIDAY"

So here we are myself and our favourite music reviewer Pan Di-Dziej from nosnobsallowed.tv teaming up again in the most glamorously retro way possible for the next installment of the fabulous Film Fatale this saturday @ The Sugar Club in Dublin. Our 4th edition will be entirely dedicated to "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn. For all the details check out the event on Facebook. Here's a little taster of what you might expect at the after party...

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano" - Renato Carosone /// "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - The Andrews Sisters

Yes my boys and girls it's that wonderful time again! Shrem goes FILM FATALE! I will be teaming up again with my dear friend Piotrek aka dj Pyro:tek from NoSnobsAllowed and the glamorous Film Fatale crew for our 3rd nostalgic cinema extravaganza @ The Sugar Club, this time with an exclusive screening of the cult "Casablanca". As The Andrews Sisters Brothers we promise to cherry-pick strictly delicious tracks all in retro-chic vibe from the movie, from the era and from all the modern music influenced by the 1940's and 50's. From Tickets are selling really fast @ tickets.ie. And if you can't make it for the entire event make sure to come over for the After Party which is only 5€ in!!! Heaps of fun to be had!

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER: "MY BOY LOLLIPOP" - Millie Small

Number 2 in the UK. Number 2 in the U.S. Number 1 in OZ. 7 million copies of the single sold worldwide!!! Plus one of the "sunniest" songs in the history of music. Big smile :-)

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER PRESENTS... "The Glow-Worm" - The Mills Brothers

I have the ultimate pleasure to provide soundtrack to the second outing of the spectacular new bi-monthly retro cinema event Film Fatale this very evening in Dublin. The joy of selecting some vintage chic recordings for this glamorous occasion is even bigger since I will be sharing the dj booth with my dear friend & music guru Piotrek (Pan-Di-Dziej) of NoSnobsAllowed. And for the run of Film Fatale events we called ourselves THE ANDREWS SISTERS BROTHERS! If you happen to be in Dublin tonight and looking for an alternative saturday night experience the exclusive screening of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and its themed after party is not to be missed! For any info on this and any following Film Fatale events check out our Facebook Page and the blog.

** TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE ON www.tickets.ie **

Expect plenty of jazz and swing delights, charleston, boogie-woogie with a pinch of rock'n'roll classics and electro swing at the later hours of the night. Hope to see you @ the Sugar Club ce soir!

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SHREM'S 50 WOMEN OF HIS LIFE: 36 - Edith Piaf

36 - Edith Piaf



COUNTRY: France



FAVOURITE ALBUM: "Le Disque D'Or D'Edith Piaf"



TOP 10 FAVOURITE SONGS:
10- "Les Flonflons du Bal"
09- "Paris"
08- "Johnny tu n'es pas un Ange"
07- "Sous le ciel de Paris"
06- "L'Accordéoniste"
05- "La Vie en Rose"
04- "Non, je ne regrette rien"
03- "Milord"
02- "La Foule"
01- "Padam Padam"

DISCOGS

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER PRESENTS... AGUA DE BEBER - Astrud Gilberto

One word: timeless...

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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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