Beatz & Carrots #8 (May 2012)

01 - howie b, sly & robbie - ballistic squeeze (edit)

02 - doug hream blunt - gentle persuasion

03 - lee perry - jungle lion (instrumental)

04 - ranil y su conjunto tropical - chinito rulo (dengue dengue dengue! cumbiaton refix)

05 - sierra leone's refugee all stars - mother in law

06 - cal tjader - mamblues

07 - liam bailey - when will they learn
08 - c.love and aretha - say.a.little

09 - mi##ael jackson - rock w#th you (reeno 12 mix)

10 - the reflex - b.b. king - the thrill is gone (the reflex stems re-vision)

11 - the soul session - hamjam (tofu mix)

12 - stan getz - girl from ipanema (n.a.s.a. remix)

13 - leon - da gypsy groovy (exteneded mix)

14 - pbr streetgang - j2thab (original mix)

15 - donnie & joe emerson - baby

16 - outro - mikey dread in action

Hi everyone! I am back with another Beatz & Carrots compilation. But first I want to thank everyone who left a comment. It's good to get a little feedback, know that there are other people out there who enjoy some of the same music – especially if one lives in China, which musically is still a bit of a wasteland. Compared to other countries and places I have stayed at – musically there isn't happening much in China (well – it's been getting better. But there are still too many other things that held much greater importance for most Chinese I know). I am currently living in Chengdu, which is the 10 million people capital of the Sichuan province, south-west of Tibet. 10 Million people – and there are hardly any places where one can listen to good music or do some crazy dancing. Still – if you should ever come to China – go to one of those super-big-luxury-other-world night clubs full of sexy women, fake (and super expensive) whisky mixed with red tea, gangsters, businessmen, prostitutes, rich kids (or second-generation-rich, as they are usually called here) and more and more white-collar workers who are trying different ways and places to spend their hard earned money. It definitely is worth an experience! When I first came to China in 2003 I had my share of crazy nights in some chinese night clubs. But if you go out to listen and dance to good music played by a good DJ, then even 9 years later you will most likely be disappointed. Most clubs play the same „Happy House“ sets every night of the week... many places even every night of the year. You can basically set your clock to the songs the DJ is playing. I was once asked to dj in a Chinese club – not because of the music I play – but just because I was a foreigner; tall, blond hair, blue eyes – and that still "sells" in China. But then again - I was not even allowed to play my own music. I had to play their CD's according to their fixed playlist. I guess I was still „lucky“ - I knew some people who had to play a Mix CD for 2 hours and pretend they were mixing, while making „cool moves“ a DJ is supposed to make. Well – I could tell you more stories – but we are here for the music. Beatz & Carrots #8: find some of my favourite songs from the month of May here. Fresh discoveries & exciting re-discoveries. Compared to the other Beatz & Carrots compilations so far, this one seems to be more on the mellow & soulful side. Nevertheless, you will still find some songs in here to get yourself groovin' or movin'... Track #2 is Doug Hream Blunt's Gentle Persuasion which I first came across via the James Pants - Disco Mix, which is full of rare and obscure disco gems. „Gentle Persuasion“ is an incredible song, which blends some hazy lo-fi jazzy aesthetics with early eighties boogie funk/RnB grooves and has Blunt singing macked out sexual innuendos while noodling away on his guitar: “like ice your butt is the dice . . . now dance”. Go here for more info. Track #6 – „Mamblues“ is a fiery 1958 Latin Jazz groover from vibraphonist Cal Tjader, backed with the funked-up 1972 remake for the adult cartoon 'Fritz The Cat' featuring Bernard Purdie on drums. Heavy heavy heavy! Track #7 - „Liam Bailey - When Will They Learn“ - thanks to fellow blogger Duendiness for sharing & introducing me to this soulful beauty, backed by some heavyweight dubby bass sounds! If you liked „Griz - You Got To Change“ from Beatz & Carrots #7 – track #8 - C.Love & Zombies – Say.A.Little might be something for you again. A deep & soulful re-write and re-work of Aretha Franklin's „I Say a Little Prayer“ by the mysterious C.Love. Just the right combination of soul & electronics! Track #9 - Mi##ael Jackson - Rock W#th You (A Very Special Reeno 12" Mix) is an extented 12inch remix of this 1979 classic. Amazing track to chill to. Track #12 is a N.A.S.A. remix of the classic „Girl From Ipanema“ by Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz. Originally to be found on the „Getz/Gilberto“ album, which together with Stan Getz's „Jazz Samba“ album is a record I never get tired listening to. Track #14 - J2thab (OriginalMix) is a heavy going funk meets electronics James Brown tribute by Pbr Streetgang. My kind of dancefloor! I am fading out this selection of Beatz & Carrots favourites with track #15 – the haunting, slow groove „Baby“ by Donnie & Joe Emerson, which is beautiful blue-eyed soul at it's finest. Someone on Soulstrut described this song, “as if Shuggie Otis and Roy Orbison had a baby together” - Well, I can't describe it any better than that! And we are lucky! It just got re-released on Light In The Attic Records. Also check out Ariel Pink's cover here.

Enjoy; DubMe