It's been a minute since we've had one of these hand-crafted mix things come through here. You get the home-assembled packaging, lovingly burned stenciled CDRs, a vintage rap baseball card, and even custom linear notes on folded 8.5 x 11" detailing the...
expand review background of the mix and the tracklist. The theme here differs from other digger's mixes, as Dula showcases records he got on the cheap (2-3 bucks), picking quality over scarcity. But what maybe obvious to Dula, is mostly likely a revelation to most. It will make you re-think that ugly crate you have hidden in the closet. Two full length mixes on double disc, so more value for that weak-ass buck. -the mgmnt
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CD reissue of the very first LP on Sun City Girls' Sublime Frequencies label. Some truly original guitar-based business going on here. The label say: "If you think you've heard all the great electric guitar styles in the world, think again. This...
expand review Saharan sand-blizzard of fine-crushed glass will grind your face to a bloody pulp. Group Doueh play raw and unfiltered Saharawi music from the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara. Doueh (pronounced "Doo-way") is their leader and a master of the electric guitar. His sound is distorted, loud and unhinged with an impressive display of virtuosity and style only known in this part of the world. His wife Halima and friend Bashiri are the two vocalists in the group. Sahrawi songs are from the sung poetry of the Hassania language. The music is based on the same modal structure as Mauritanian music, however, Doueh's style is a looser appropriation infused with a Western guitar scope, one that relies, in his words, as much on Hendrix as it does traditional Sahrawi music." If you're having a hard time getting your brain around what that all sounds like, just check these: "Cheyla Ya Haiuune(1)," "Wazan Samat(2)," "Tirara(3)," "Fagu(4)," "Sabah Lala(5)." 8-panel booklet included with rare color photos from Doueh's archives. 8 tracks; 40 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
With the additional title "Subtropical Sun Stroke Psych Out" splashed across a suntan lotion bottle on the cover, one can guess with some certainty that the third installment in Far Out's 'Brazilika' series will be crammed with all manner of fuzzy and...
expand review folky Brazilian gems perfect for summer listening. Of course with Andy Votel in the mix, it's also safe to assume that you'll never have heard a single one of said gems before in your life, and that you'll come out loving most of them. Anyone watching the collectors guides (or, um, Turntable Lab) will know that obscure Brazilian sounds have been quite en vogue recently, but instead of letting eBay be his co-pilot, Mr. Votel chose to stick mainly to releases from Sao Paolo's Som Livre and RGE labels, whose tracks are already known in Brazil and whose stocks haven't soared in the record fiend market (well, until now probably). And hey, if you've read this far you probably already know that Votel's great ear doesn't disappoint - whether it's Anatolian or sub-tropical sounds, it seems this man can dig no wrong. Includes tracks from artists like Mutantes, Azymuth, Tim Maia, Oz Brazoes, Sidney Miller, Trio Soneca, Novos Baianos and more. 26 tracks divided up into 12 sections. 50 minutes total. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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I wish current rap artists would take a cue from Brooklyn's Akoya Afrobeat. I mean, when is the last time you saw a full length album come out with six songs and no throwaways? I think Snoop's last album had...
expand review twenty-two tracks on it and maybe three were good. Of course, I wouldn't really want to hear Snoop rhyming over a thirteen minute loop, but the point I'm trying to make here is that quality still reigns over quantity. Akoya packs their second album, President Dey Pass, chock full of dynamic heaters with no filler. We've had some of these tunes on separate swift-selling singles, but to hear the entire album as one body of work really puts the depth of these compositions into perspective. Check "Fela Dey(1)" and "Oluya(2)" for the deep and deliberate slow burners. If you've been feeling the recent Nigeria comps from Soundway, you'll definitely want to give these a close listen. "Je Je L'Aiye(3)" featuring Cedric Im Brooks and "Wahala(4)" both have heavy afro funk flavors and are a good measure of Akoya's development since their last album. What I really like about them is the unique flavor that they put into their songs rather than being content to be mere revivalists. Instead they use a juicy bouillon cube of Fela's sound and stir in a lovely assortment of spices from around the globe. Put a cover on the pot and let it simmer in a secret studio in williamsburg, and you get something that tastes salty/sweet like "B.F.B.F. Panama(5)." It moves quickly, but digests nice and slowly. I love the way the horns work themselves into a frenzy right before the breakdown, making the vocals that much brighter when they come in. Lead vocalist Kaleta , who performed and recorded with Fela back in the day, gets authoritative and rugged as he steers the call and response into the sunset, a nice contrast to his more melodic moments throughout the album. There are quite a few Fela collaborators out there (Africa 70 + Eqypt 80 = at least 150 people saying they played with Fela once) and I actually stopped in to see a former horn player of his who was playing at this Nigerian cafe and performance spot around the corner from my crib two New Years' ago. I think there were eight people there. Granted it was three in the morning by the time I got there, but I still felt a little depressed, ate a delicious patty, went home, passed out, woke up the next afternoon and saw that they had closed shop forever. Needless to say, I'm happy to see Kaleta moving forward with a great group of musicians and performers who have no interest in just biting an old sound and claiming the right to do so by association. But then again, that wouldn't be a very Brooklyn thing to do, would it? -Telekinetic Kat
Put this in your CD player, smoke somethin', and be prepared for 45 minutes of wacky turntable hi-jinx. Your boy Platurn shows he has no shame in his game with the Debauchery mix. From the moment you hear the cut-up porno samples...
expand review placed over goofy folk sex songs you know your in for a cheeky ride. The Oakland Fader continues the aural assault with a "quality" selection of certified guilty pleasures and "so-bad-its-bad" groaners mixed and cut to smithereens for maximum entertainment. Features tracks and samples from the 'Liks, Jay and Silent Bob, Gap Band, Young Black Teenagers, Bob Saget, Amy Winehouse, Digital Underground, Homer Simpson, and "a shitload" more. -Mota Rolla
Blast from the Pizzast! DJ Emile, founder of the legendary Arizona Bombshelter parties, teamed up with partner Z-Trip in 1997 to make this 4 turntable classic b-boy breaks set, flavored by their precise scratches, and samples. The drums on here are so...
expand review raw, it still stands the test of time today. And the pure epicness of a 4 turntable set by some big dogs like Z-Trip and Emile makes this some pretty collectible material. Expect over an hour of turntable freakery from an era when these dudes were still sweatin', paying their dues. -C'mish
If you're going to pick up a dubstep mix, make sure it's this one. Seriously. First of all, it's flawlessly mixed by Skream, who is possibly the best in producer/dj in the genre. Skream's impeccable selection for Rinse 02 consists mainly of...
expand review his own releases and dubplates (check for plenty of unreleased tunes and cuts from the upcoming Skreamizm 4), and needless to say, the shit is HEAVY. Bass for daaaaaaays. But what sets Skream's mix (and production) apart from the rest is that even though it is obviously bass driven, it is also incredibly melodic and mesmerizing. The mix also features tracks from his label mates and Croydon homies Benga, Coki, Mala, Distance, and Zinc. Shota the Database is heavy into the dubstep scene and he assured me, this is one of the best. About 1 hour and 10 minutes long. Recommended. -snackmaster
"SHEEEEEE'S YOUUUUUUR QUEEEEEN TO BEEEEE!" Any mix with a Coming To America theme is pretty much guaranteed to get the Lab seal of approval, but Scott Melker goes in especially hard on this one. Melker (a Rub associate and tourmate of G.Love...
expand review & Special Sauce) mixes through a whole slew of 80s tracks here, some cheeseball (yet entertaining) and some surprisingly ripe for revisiting. Sandwiched between the Sexual Chocolate intro and the "She's your queen to be…" outro are acts like: Mark Morrison, Hall & Oates, Toto, Terence Trent D'Arby, Pebbles, Bell Biv Devoe, INXS and even a whole section dedicated to the kings of 80s open-shirt R&B, Bobby Brown & New Edition. (It's appropriately titled "Zamunda.") 74 minutes total. -Chris Lemon-Red
Ok so I've learned a lot about djing in the past 3 years, and the most important thing I learned is that sometimes you just should not dj. When you first arrive to a gig, it's important not to do shit but...
expand review get a drink, put on a cd, and do nothing until a respectable amount of people show up. Then at the end of the night when you're so fucking over it you just want to play Smiths b-sides and piss everyone off, you gotta give up the reigns too. Luckily The Woodman knows this. I'm too lazy to make cds to play at these times, so I play other people's. Even Kenny Dope's cds that have that sound "Dope Dope Dope Dope Dope Dope" all in the background get played, people don't got a clue. So a few months ago The Woodman blessed me with a trackless promo of this bad boy, and let me tell ya- it ain't left my bag since. Perfect mellow r&b and hip hop selections (mixed well) make this fucker pure gold. Songs from Biggie, 112, Eve, Michael Jackson, etc, please the opening minglers while I sip sparkling water and play BeJeweled on my phone. Also great for making out with girls who wear Roc-A-Wear. I just love this CD. Note: if you're making out with girls who wear Roc-A-Wear and you're in your twenties you've got fucking problems. Seriously, what's wrong with you? I mean really, you're twenty five and you wear a crooked baseball cap, at fucking dinner! Your momma raised you better than that. She'd tell you to take that hat off, sit up, act your age and buy Woodman's cd for fuck's sake. -roc
Back in my formative musical years, I'd scour the only local alternative station (WHFS 99.1!) and Thrasher mags- Caballero is wearing a Sisters of Mercy shirt! (but they sucked)- for any band to latch onto. If I had this mix back then,...
expand review I would have saved many wasted cassette dollars and chickened-out lifting trips to Waxie Maxie. The lab's own Woodman put out this mix; his first name was DJ Charming, but I recently changed it to Charming Man in memory of The Smiths' songs (the bosses are powerful!). Woodman mixes his way through some of the best that the broad New Wave genre has to offer. Of course you get your basic, lovable fare from Blondie, The Bangles, Joy Division, The Ramones, INXS, The Police, Depeche Mode, Smiths, Pixies, and others; but you also get some amazing under the radar stuff from Romeo Void, Gang of Four (your sweat is so sour!), The Pretenders (Mystery Achievement!), Wire, Anything Box (where's Living In Oblivion?), and more. And let me tell you, Woodman used to be a terrible DJ (think DJ Shadow meets Wesleyan College), but after a couple years of hanging out with Kev and Roc, his mixes are smoother than K-Lim's baby skin. I even liked it, and I hate most things that has to do with djing. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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Quiet Village is crate-digger extraordinaire Joel Martin and dance music master Matt Edwards (aka Radio Slave) making "sophisticated exotica for adults." Yup, that's pretty much the best description for it (from their own words). "Silent Movie" is their debut full length album...
expand review and after sporting a few sought-after singles on Whatever We Want and a some remixes for the likes of Francois K, Cosmo Vitelli, and Gorillaz, you already know its going to be serious. There aren't really any new albums of coming out that can take you through the realms of vintage movie soundtracks, library music, disco, soul, acid rock, and breaks, tropicalia and balearica all in one long play, but somehow "Silent Movie" does that - and does it exceptionally well. It's definitely one of those albums that has a kind of timeless feel - like was it made in the past? is it new? does it matter since it's so good? - and will definitely grow on you the more you listen to it and delve into the tracks. But enough blurbing, just take a listen to these selections and let the music speak for itself - "Circus Of Horror(1)," "Free Rider(2)," "Too High To Move(3)," "Pillow Talk(4)," "Can't Be Beat(5)," "Gold Rush(6)," and "Singing Sand(7)." 12 tracks total. Recommended. -snackmaster
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More buried treasure from the vaults of Dilla! This was one of his last projects he worked on before his passing. Thanks to the mastering by Ricci Rucker, it's now available to the public. Like his last album "Donuts," these tracks flip...
expand review soulful samples and snippets to true work of art. Ta'Raach lends a mic on "Say It(1)," and Baatin jumps in on the funky slump of "First Time(2)." Also peep the addictive soul on "Yesterday(3)" and "Oh Oh(4)," "Believe In God(5)" and "Can't You See(6)." As a bonus, the "Say It" instrumental is also included(yes!). A treat as always for the listener and true gold for the collector. Recommended. -C'mish
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Flamin' Hotz always stays deluxe with their packaging, but they went all out for the label's first CD release. The unmixed baile funk comp Pancadao Do Morro is another team-up with the Rio non-profit Two Brothers Foundation, who along with Rio's CFC...
expand review (Carioca Funk Clube) provide tons of photos and info for the release's two (count 'em, two) liner booklets. There's bios for every artist and full translations for every track - needless to say, these things are quite rare for a baile funk comp. And speaking of rare, even with the advent of all these "blawgs," good unmixed funk tracks are still surprisingly hard to come across, but this CD has them to spare. Also, where the hell else are you gonna see Mr. Catra's black and gold customized Nikes? Tracks to check: Cabide DJ's "My Neck, My Beck Remix(1)," MC Xana e Rio Ba$$ Commando's "Seduzir Você(2)," Phaybo DJ's "Electro Base(3)," Sany Pitbull's "Amazônia(4)," MC Sargento's "Tipo Bang Bang(5)," MC Loura e Sany Pitbull's "Troca-Aplica(6)" and Funkero e DJ Juninho Carioca's "Piloto de Fuga(7)." 23 tracks; 66 minutes. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Long-running Sao Paolo duo Tetine (aka Bruno Verner and Eliete Mejorado) link up with Soul Jazz for a debut album - only 10 years in the making! - that's crammed with every manner of new wave, punk, electro and baile funk sounds....
expand review If you snoozed on the single, here's your chance to get the sexcellent baile banger "I Go To The Doctor(1)" featuring funk star Deize Tigrona. It's the catchiest song on the album (and unfortunately the shortest too) but that's where the bonus CSS remix(2) comes in handy, with Cansei drummer/covert musical genius Adriano Cintra killing on the production end. There's more funk on "Melo Do Carrao(3)," hushed vox from Eliete on the sinister "Russian Roulette(4)," synth-pop on "Let The X Be X(5)" and the squiggly, almost spoken word single "A Historia Da Garca(6)." 15 tracks; 69 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
Back in print! Now in a full color digipak. J-Rocc has always destroyed James Brown records with his mix tricks, now we get a whole CD of it. Never heard JB mixed this smoothly or cohesively. This is really a no-brainer purchase....
expand review I'm gonna have to borrow a Woodman tag for this one: Pure Hot Fire. 27 tracks. Highly recommended. -the mgmnt
Warehouse find! Da'Ville is currently slaying reggae charts worldwide, but in 2005 he was cooking up this CD of collabos, exclusives and dubplates with Federation Sound's Curly Locks. It's got tracks like "Heaven" and "Lion Sleeps" plus many tunes exclusive to this...
expand review mix on riddims like Real Rock, Ali Baba, Free Up, Guillotine, Safe Sex and Baby Father, and guest spots from Vybz Kartel, Marcia Griffiths and more. Excellent summer listening. 39 tracks; 76 minutes. Limited stock. -Chris Lemon-Red
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New Yorkers have always been spoiled when it comes to cutting edge disco. By the late 70s, they were already dancing at groundbreaking clubs like The Sanctuary, Salvation I & II, the spectacle at Studio 54 and the legendary Loft parties. But...
expand review what about the rest of America? I'm talking about Georgia, Illinois, Baltimore, Ohio, Detroit, etc. These were places that felt the outside musical pressure of NY's glossy disco and modern funk that hit the industry nationwide. Unwilling to compromise their own soul and vision, the result was a hybrid sound that fused a disco music with the good ol' traditions of funk, soul, r&b and jazz. This special CD compilation is dedicated to the unsung heroes of that era. You may have heard of Tony Cook & The Party People's dancefloor hit "On The Floor," now check out his earlier disco boogie funk on "Get To The Point(1)." Also check the soulful boogie sounds of Detroit's Destiny In Time Band's "You Bring Out The Best In Me(2)," the funky soul disco on Chicago's Lonnie Givens' "Heat Is On(3)," Greyship Davis' extremely funked out number "Get Up Get Down And Let Your Body Pop(4)," and the proto-house sounds of Fabulous Kings' "If You Like What We're Doing(5). " All the selections are still fresh for today's tastes, extremely rare to find in the field, and years ahead of their time. Honestly I would link all of these, but I'll leave some surprises for you. Two CDs beautifully packaged in a glossy three panel digipak, one mixed by Jerome Derradji and the second giving you all the UNMIXED versions. Also includes a booklet with a brief history and bios for all the artists. I'd like to personally thank BBE for making this comp and to the original artists that persevered the funk in the face of adversity. Recommended. -C'mish
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The latest compilation from Strut takes you on a musical journey of the Compass Point Studios circa 1980-1986. If you've never heard of the studio, you've definitely grooved to their recordings or heard them on the radio. Grace Jones' "My Jamaican Guy(1),"...
expand review Tom Tom Club's "Genius Of Love(2)," or Talking Heads' "Born Under Punches(3)?" They're all milestones in Compass Point's illustrious history. Based in the Nassau Islands of the Bahamas, the studio was run by Chris Blackwell, who had an exciting new vision for music. It was a hybrid of everything from reggae to funk, new wave to disco. The backbone of this movement was all in the studio band, for which Blackwell hand-picked the players. Pop musicians from Paris, musical talent from NY, and key Jamaican players such as the famous rhythm duo of Sly & Robbie were all enlisted into Blackwell's new dream team. In the relaxed atmosphere in the Bahamas, away from the hustle and noise of the city, the studio provided freedom for experimentation, which was essential to its success. Check the dubby disco house sounds on the Larry Levan Mix of Gwen Guthrie's "Padlock(4)," Sly & Robbie's dubby version of the Yarbrough & People's hit "Don't Stop The Music(5)," Ian Dury's new wave disco jam "Spasticus Autisticus(6)," Francois K's mix of Set The Tone's electro funk heater "Dance Sucka(7)" and the new wave reggae sounds of Chaz Jankel's "Whisper(8)." Pretty much every song on here is modern for today's dancefloors (Chas Jankel just had a release on Tirk with a Hercules & Love Affair remix) and deserves to be played out. Comes in a glossy three panel digipak complete with booklet and bio written David Katz, author of People Funny Boy: The Genus of Lee Scratch Perry. Recommended. -C'mish
Revisiting some of the past greats from the Fabric Live catalogue, couldn't pass this one up. It's Spinbad in serious work mode circa 2004- that means all NY hip hop all the way (well just about, there's one Mystikal track on here...
expand review too), with plenty of his signature blends, doubles and scratching. The guy is a professional in every sense of the word, and while it woulda been cool if he revisited some of his 80s Mix, Spinbad could make an awesome mixtape out of First Family records. His selection is really on some "this is what I would play in a NY club for an hour" stuff- starts mid 90s a "Déjà Vu" blend, Blahzay Blahzay, Crooklyn Clan, ODB, then onto mid school classics (BDP, Special Ed, Black Sheep, Eric B & Rakim), then to the old school (Sugarhill, Flash, Run DMC) and finally finishing off with uptempo favorites "The Creator" & "Treat Em Right." Not too many risks being taken, but that's not what this is about: the payoff is in the details. And even though it's only been a couple years since this was made, it feels like a time capsule of the perfect NY hip hop set from many worlds ago, a time and aesthetic that's probably gone for good. -the mgmnt
Rub N Tug take their leftfield disco-electro crack game to the Fabric series. This mix focuses more on contemporary 12"s than previous RNT mixes. Sharp Lab DM buyers should be able to name drop a third of the selections here, but the...
expand review other part is where Rub N Tug make their name, presenting records you've never heard of or would never dream of playing. Of all the DJs we know, these guys are one of the best at creating their own style and selecting the records that other djs don't play. 17 fully mixed tracks from Jesse Rose, Emperor Machine, Serge Santiago, Ame, Nemesi, Dondolo, Gary Martin, Claude Vonstroke, Slok, and others. Packaged in a metal case. -the mgmnt
If you need to catch up the last two years of cool electro and punk disco, this is an awesome selection. Lab favorites Cut Copy select 25 of the hottest 12" tracks, most of which are so hot, we have a hard...
expand review time keep them in stock in vinyl. Big tracks from Joakim, Munk, Who Made Who, In Flagranti, Daft Punk, Mstrkrft, Soulwax, Justice, DFA, Presets, Midnight Juggernauts, and other buzz-worthy bands. In addition, the guys have included several of their own tracks of the unreleased / remix variety. Fully mixed. Comes packaged in a metal case. -the mgmnt
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First reason to buy dis piece: the cover art, an almost perfect duplication of the original gatefold featuring some of the illest illustration work. The front is a museum suitable depiction of minorities gettin bucked by the system and a bandaged Toni...
expand review Kukoc. The back cover has a picture of demons attacking JB unsuccessfully with one demon saying "He's too strong, we can't stop him." Word nasty. And the other replying "That's because he's the godfather." Word Yoda. The inside cover has a full length shot of the Godfather in his Sunday's best. Reason #2 the thirteen minute version of "Papa Don't Take No Mess." The longplayer classic track (sampled for Biz's vapors) can get you through a small crisis. Reason #3, another JB historical moment, the breakdown "Can't Stand It" complete with some of the funkiest drums JB ever produced. A bunch more tracks on here you'll recognize on this packed CD. So funky. -the mgmnt
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Wow, official MoWax CD compilation featuring an indelible selection of DJ Shadow 12" tracks. They've really dug deep here, including both the big name tracks like "Influx" 12" version(1), plus all the remixes, b-sides, and true obscurities like the soundtrack song "Dark...
expand review Days(2)" and the early Solesides joint "Send Them(3)." In the essential remix category, check the UNKLE remix(4) of Massive Attack's "Karmacoma" and the remix for Depeche Mode's "Painkiller(5)." I've gone over less than one-third of what's on this 17 track compilation, now go get it. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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All ten Clone Classics singles compiled onto one CD? Glorious. We've carried their 12"s for a while now, and I'm always on the lookout when a new one comes in. Unlike other dance 12" re-issue labels, they don't really stick to one...
expand review particular genre but specialize in influential tracks that defy a time stamp. Whether it's disco, electro, Italo or house, they've got the lock on it, remastering the originals for that extra bump needed on today's dance floors. For those that missed the releases we've carried, they're all here. Check the serious jacking house action on the Fingers Inc. cut "I'm Strong(1)," Mike Dunn's "Set Me Free(2)," Rodney Bakker's "House Girl(3)," some seriously rare Italo cuts like Gay Cat Park's "I Am A Vocoder(4)," Trophy's "Slow Flight(5)," Knight Action's "Single Girl(6)" and awesome leftfield electro tracks like Los Angeles TF's "Magical Body(7)." Going down the tracklist, it seems a prerequisite to Clone Classics must be the music and rarity. As I look up prices, all of these go for over a hundred bucks! Such a steal on CD. Also, If you love the tracks but wished there was a instrumental, that's where you have to get the vinyl version. Recommended. -C'mish
Hear what the hype is all about with the third installment of Radio Soulwax Live. The indelible duo of David & Stephen Dewaele (aka 2 Many DJ's) take a break from remixing as Soulwax to bring you another live set (live meaning...
expand review no post-production editing, just straight ahead mixing so live you can hear the crowd getting hype - really, the crowd cheers are very audible during some of the more quiet breakdowns) of pumping crowd-pleasers of the electro, disco, house, and electro-rock variety. Featuring tracks from Crookers, LCD Soundsystem, Justice, Daft Punk, SMD, Technotronic, Oizo, Prodigy, Midnight Juggernauts, Village People, Roxy Music, In Flagranti, Samir, and many more, this mix should go over well with most contemporary dance music connoisseurs and party-goers. About 1 hour long. -snackmaster
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