Posted on Radio

Breakdown: Best So Far of 2009

 

Here’s my rundown of the best releases from this first half of 2009, with a couple that I didn’t really get a chance to hear in late 2008. This show will be archived for several months on KCRW.com, at least until the end of the year round up of the complete year in music.

Here’s the list of everything I played…

Peter Bjorn & John – Nothing To Worry About – Living Thing
Boozoo Bajou – Sign – Grains
Sa-Ra Creative Partners – I Swear – Nuclear Evolution
Carlos Nino & Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – Find A Way – Suite for Ma Dukes
Andrew Bird – The Privateers – Noble Beast
Nomo – Crescent – Invisible Cities (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Azaxx – Exotic Delight Bay – Tru Thoughts

Azaxx - Exotic Delight Bay
Azaxx - Exotic Delight Bay on Tru Thoughts

Azaxx – Fiesta Tropical

Six+months after first hearing it, I am still deeply lovin’ this record.  Largely up tempo sample based music with a latin flair from this Parisian DJ/Producer.  Dig on “Zorbanissimo,” “Fiesta Tropical” (which samples Juaneco and is my wife’s favorite track), “Groucho,” or “The Pygmy Ballad” and you’ll fall for Azaxx too.

Posted on Ephemera

Pound For Pound: Off The Wall vs. Thriller

OfftheWallvsThriller

With MJ’s passing I know that I’ve been revisiting a lot of his music and I’m sure many of you have as well, so this seems like an apt discussion. Pound for pound, which is REALLY Michael’s greatest record???

1979’s Off The Wall, his first record with Quincy Jones and fully away from the Motown sound, or 1982’s  Thriller the highest selling record of all time? I’ll be interested to hear what you think…

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Real Authentic Reggae Vol. 2 – BBE

Real Authentic Reggae Vol. 2
Real Authentic Reggae Vol. 2

Chaka Demus & Pliers – When King Tubby Used To Play 

 Being that I do research on Authenticity and view it as contextual and fluid, I’m always skeptical of anything that includes the concept in the title, but this IS a solid collection compiled by British DJ David Rodigan. One of the many new and older classics on here is this track from Chaka Demus and Pliers, riding the riddim to Phyllis Dillion’s “Perfidia” one of my all time favorite tunes…

Posted on Ephemera

Under Review: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Honest Jon’s

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Hypnotic
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Sankofa

This is a record that I’ve literally been waiting for 2 years to be released.  The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is currently based out of Chicago and now features 8 sons, (that’s right, 8 sons…and that’s out of 15 total children!), of jazz musician Phil Cohran (former Sun-Ra Arkestra member) on assorted horns, with honorary family member Chris Anderson on the skins.  Their sound is a mix of soulful, stirring, spiritual jazz, funk & Hip-Hop, though I mean “Hip-Hop” here in a purely philosophical way, not the way we generally think of Hip-Hop/Rap music. They self-released a stunning 10” record back in 2007 that now routinely garners $100+ on Ebay and have been performing all over the world in the ensuing years, with Damon Albarn, Tony Allen & Mos Def.  This record is the culmination of that work, released on Albarn’s Honest Jon’s record label and featuring guest work from three exceptional drummers, The Heliocentric’s Malcolm Catto, Jamiroquai’s Sola Akingbola and perhaps the greatest living drummer today, a true master, Tony Allen, former drummer for Fela in Africa 70.  (more…)

Posted on Dig Deep

Dig Deep: Tim Maia – Tim Maia – Polydor (1973)

Tim Maia's 1973 Self-titled Album
Tim Maia's 1973 Self-titled Album

Tim Maia – Compadre
Tim Maia – Over Again
Tim Maia – Gostavo Tanto De Voce

Just in case you don’t know, Tim Maia is one of the founding fathers of the Brazilian Soul movement. His 1970s output is highly prized because of its soulfulness, in terms of his own vocalizing, always big and strong with at times a wild falsetto in the early days, and the music, which stood in stark contrast to the Tropicália produced by Caetano Veloso and others, because of it’s solitary emphasis on US styled soul and funk. This record was his fourth for Polydor, all of which simply carry his name without an album title.

I’d heard tracks from the prior releases before tracking them down, but hadn’t heard anything from this one. When I first got it I was disappointed, the sound isn’t as sharp as prior releases, it’s a bit smoother and generally more laid back. Over time however, this record has become perhaps my favorite (the 1971 album is a close second) precisely because of those reasons, the groove is oh so mellow throughout and the use of acoustic guitar on many tracks brings a new flavor to a still very expansive funky palette. (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Jovenes y Sexys – “Amor Platonico”

Venezuela's Jovenes Y Sexys
Venezuela’s Jovenes Y Sexys

Jóvenes y Sexys – Amor Platonico

{Update: While it doesn’t seem that Jovenes y Sexys has released a full-length record yet, they have released an EP, which you can download for free from their record label Poni Republic}

I can’t fully express how completely, obsessively enamored I am right now with this Venezuelan group.  Just a perfect indie, acoustic electro pop song, found on the Rudo y Cursi soundtrack.  I’m hoping to hear more from them soon.

Just so you can see how they completely transformed this song, check the original… 

Posted on Ephemera

Michael Jackson Tribute on KCRW

mj1

 

Michael Jackson’s funeral and memorial were today in Los Angeles. Like so many other people, many of my childhood memories were connected to Michael’s music and artistry. One of the first records that I bought (or rather was bought for me, since three year olds don’t really buy records) was the soundtrack to the Wiz, featuring Michael as the Scarecrow. I can remember missing the Motown celebration (My mom was a teacher and it was a school night!) and waking up in a completely different world, where everybody was talking about and trying to imitate the moonwalk. My first concert was the Jacksons Victory reunion tour at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1984. As a DJ, I’ve marveled at the sheer joy that’s unleashed on the dance floor when you drop the needle on classic J5. On the day of his passing I was fortunate to celebrate and pay tribute to Michael on KCRW, playing 2 hours of music from what I consider his “golden era” from the Steeltown, pre-motown recordings of 1967 to Thriller in 1982. Music critic/scholar Oliver Wang stopped by to share some thoughts on the legacy of Michael Jackson, but most of the focus is where I hope it will remain in the future, on the pure magic in his music.

 

Michael Jackson Tribute 6/25/09 Playlist:

1. The Jackson 5 – Big Boy
2. The Jackson 5 – Let Me Carry Your School Books
3. The Jackson 5 – A Fool For You
4. Michael Jackson – Ain’t No Sunshine
5. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Bet You
6. The Jackson 5 – ABC
7. The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
8. Michael Jackson – Rockin’ Robin
9. The Jackson 5 – The Love You Save
10. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (alt. mix)
11. The Jackson 5 – 2 – 4 – 6 – 8
12. The Jackson 5 – Hum Along And Dance
13. The Jackson 5 – It’s Great To Be Here (Kenny Dope Remix)
14. Michael Jackson – We’ve Got A Good Thing Going
15. The Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine (alt. mix)
16. The Jacksons – Enjoy Yourself
17. The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)
18. Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road
19. Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
20. Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
21. Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It
22. Michael Jackson – Rock With You
23. The Jacksons – Can You Feel It
24. Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Something
25. Michael Jackson – For All Time

Posted on About Melting Pot

Welcome to Melting Pot!

Here’s the first official post for my new audioblog, Melting Pot.  In the coming months and years you’ll find notes on a variety of sounds from funk and soul to latin and psych to punk and jazz and back again.

I thought I’d start the festivities off with a song, one of my favorites that share the title of this blog.  The original is a classic B-boy cut by Booker T & the MGs from 1971, something that should be in every DJs collection.  The version I’m posting here was done shortly after that by Jamaican Boris Gardiner on his record Is What’s Happening, which I got on a crunchy Jamaican vinyl reissue of the original album, bought at Amoeba Hollywood some time ago.

Heres the label to Boris Gardiners Is Whats Happening featuring Melting Pot
Here’s the label to Boris Gardiner’s Is What’s Happening featuring “Melting Pot”

Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot

While this version retains much of the original’s funky feel, Gardiner does add some mean tambourine and fuzzy guitar into the rhythm, plus there’s a massive drum break towards the final third, something that always seems about to happen in the MG’s version, but never really materializes (at least not to my satisfaction, though I do love the original).

If you’re new to Gardiner’s music, there’s an excellent retrospective put out by Vampi Soul that you should definitely check out.

Onwards and Upwards,

Michael

Posted on About Melting Pot

About Michael Barnes

FunkySole82215FarahStop
Michael Barnes at Funky Sole, August 2015 © Farah Sosa

Originally from Atlanta, GA, Michael Barnes has worked as a DJ for almost 30 years at non-commercial radio stations around the country, including WRAS-Atlanta, WORT-Madison, KALX-Berkeley, KCRW-Santa Monica and KPFK-Los Angeles.  Most recently, he hosted “Moods In Free Time” on Artform Radio/Worldwide FM. Barnes holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and is presently a lecturer in Sociology at CSU-Long Beach. He currently resides in the Los Angeles area.

Posted on About Melting Pot

About Melting Pot

{Update ~ July 14th, 2023}  Following the lead of my “blog-fathers,” Oliver Wang & Matthew Africa, I began this website on July 7th, 2009 with the following message:

“The metaphor of the Melting Pot is just a way to symbolize the variety of music that you’ll find on this audioblog.  My tastes lean towards the funky, but you’ll find notes on a variety of genres from many different periods of time, from contemporary to classic and in between. I generally add new content two or three times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less… My hope is that the music you find here inspires you to support these artists (especially if they are performing nearby to where you are), discover something you might not have heard about or perhaps to be reminded of some sounds you might have forgotten. If you’re an artist or label rep and you object to your music being placed on this blog, kindly (emphasis on kindly) request that I remove the music and I’ll leave the pretty words only.” 

After seven years, I decided to essentially start all over again, partially connected to no longer regularly being on-air at a radio station, and thus no longer having access to a music library and new releases, and also connected to a desire to start over very much connected to where I was personally back in 2016.  Fast forward another seven years, and my feelings about that separation had changed, and so shortly after my 14th anniversary, I decided to bring back all of those older posts and merge the two versions of Melting Pot, into a single site, in recognition of the fact that these days I felt much more comfortable with the past, present & future of all these multitudes contained within.

This present version, connects to my current philosophy in regards to sharing music, now with an emphasis on music that is apart of my collection, virtually all of it on vinyl. The only feature I held over from the first version of Melting Pot is “Dig Deep,” which was always my favorite section, a reflection of how sharing rare records remains a major part of why I enjoy doing this.  I’ve left virtually all of the original posts from the first seven years just as they were, and am in the process of cleaning up those posts, (and getting my mixcloud up-to-date, so that future mixes will have a home there as well as here) and replacing dead links.  These days I’m a total ghost on social media, so if you actually want to get a hold of me, reach me via e-mail at eljefe[at]meltingpotblog.com.  I am forever it seems trying to get into a good routine, with posts and responding to comments and e-mails, so forgive me if it takes me some time to respond to you if you do reach out.

Thank you to those of you who have been with us since the beginning and thank you to all of the new people who’ve come through since. It is a pleasure to share this music with you and to spread some beautiful Bright Moments to all who will listen here on Melting Pot.