DUSTY CRATES

I love long weekends and this…

I Love You So (Krusha remix) – Cassius (mediafire)

Roots

About 60 years ago, Jamaican soundsystems gave birth to dub, a variety of reggae music that features sub-bass (bass less than 100Hz), skittering and jittery drums, distortive echo and reverberation effects. The prominent features of dub music, along with reggae’s pioneering use of dubplates, went on to not only shape a growing DJ culture but also continues to influence a variety of electronic dance musics today.

Dubbed

And true to that motif, there’s been a rumble underground since dubstep began spreading in late 2005. Although the now mainstream sound tips its hat to it’s irie origins, sort of, dubstep borrows more from drum & bass and grime. Many would even say that the “dubbed” bleepy, ominous dubstep sound had moved away from, and was out of step with, its genesis.

In ‘08, a limited pressing 12-inch “Iron Devil” was released featuring Lee Scratch Perry and Prince Far-I in a dubstep style. It included a tune based on the Perry riddim used on reggae hits like “Disco Devil”, “Chase The Devil” and “Croaking Lizard”. This was the first recorded example of a founder of Jamaican dub style acknowledging dubstep and creating new music in the genre, reinforcing the connection of dubstep to its roots in Jamaican dub reggae.

Soul Iration

So when fellow DJ Meshak dropped this Release the Lions Vol. 1 mix on me this week, I found myself scouring the ‘net to find more on “soul iration,” a French Algerian variation of reggae. Music keeps evolving and people will always put their spin on things creating the next sound.

But as I dig in to hear soul iration while revisiting some roots, I’ve kept this all-vinyl mix on repeat and I suggest you should, too.

Listen. Download.

Release the Lions Vol. 1 – DJ Meshak (Mixcloud)

Release the Lions Vol. 1 - DJ Meshak (Sendspace)

This weekend marks the end of the summertime with most school semesters gearing up within the week or so. And the only way we could cure the summertime blues and send this hot-ass summer off properly was with a gang of even hotter ladies.

The Tipping Point sneaker boutique, in collaboration with Charly East, put together a line-up of local female artists, performers and yours truly to DJ The ArtBreak: Ladies First Edition this Friday night at Betz Gallery (1208 West Gray, 77019). The show starts at 7pm and includes performances by IB3, No Name Jane and Charly East on violin. Free dranks courtesy of Dripping Springs and Grey Goose.

Wear your best skeakys, ladies, ’cause this is the spot to show ‘em out. But if you’re not up on your latest kicks, you can always enter the raffle for a new pair!

Here’s some lady-killer jams to get you ready:

Summertime Blues – Joan Jett (mp3)

Talk to Me – Peaches (mp3)

Dame Lo – Mexicans With Guns from System D-128 on Vimeo.

The Man. The Myth. The Mexican.

Mexicans with Guns releases his next track, “Dame Lo,” off his latest Me Gusto EP (Stones Throw/Innovative Leisure, Exponential). This sexy banger is accompanied by an experimental short film/music video that summons the raucous revelry of any Robert Rodriguez dusty cantina shoot-em-up flick over a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

MWG is making the short trip from SA to HOU this Saturday, August 14th, to put it down at The Backroom (Mink, 3718 Main St, 77006) for us. Pero no se to olvide…ponte los zapatos porque vamos a bailar!

For more on “Dame Lo,” check here.  Read the LA Times article on Mexicans with Guns here. He’s the masked crusader of big beats–big time!

“Dame Lo” – MWG (mp3)

From SummerFest Day 1: 2010-06-05

To say that things move slow down South in the summer is an understatement. Doing things “as slow as molasses,” as we say, is just how we do ’round these parts.

So, there. That’s my excuse as to why I’m just now following up two-months later on Free Press SummerFest 2010. Day One’s highlights included the air-conditioned Fancy Pants stage, Brett Koshkin’s soul 45 session and Kid Sis dub steppin. And although Day Two was over-cast with showers, the dirty mud people, Mic Skill’s rhymes, big pimpin with Bun B and the A/C stage still ruled!

Thanks to all the folks over at Free Press and Pegstar that made this year’s festival such a success. And thanks to all the performers at that DIRB! with us on the Fancy Pants stage!

Here are some flicks from that SummerFest weekend:

SummerFest: Day 1
SummerFest: Day 2

And just ’cause I made you wait this long, here are my favorite irie summertime slow jams:

• Chase the Cumbia Devil (Tupolev Soundcrash remix) – Max Romeo (mp3)
• Uptight remix- Stevie Wonder & Jay “Dusty” Smith (mp3 taken from the compilation Motown Flies Jamaica)
• Get Lite (Reggae remix) – The Beatards (mp3)

A day late (and always a dollar short), I finally got around to putting Sista Stroke’s sexy mix up for ya’ll.

As I celebrate yet another anniversary with the hub, I suggest you keep a copy at your bedside. It’s recommend for nights of heavy cuddling for years to come.

Should I say more?

LISTEN

Sensuality – 10 Yrs. Later (vol.2) mix – Sista Stroke (Virb)

Some of the more Latin-inspired dance rhythms with spicier bass lines swarming around lately have reawakened a new-found interest in my conquistadora roots. As a first-gen Chicana growing up in Houston’s Northside, I explored Papi’s concept albums and his 45 record collection of cumbia, boleros and traditional Mexican folk music along with his more modern disco, pop music, movie soundtracks and the newer “hip hop” sounds on KYOK radio in the early ’80s.

Fast forward. Today, I get to hear that familiar cultural blend in acts like Mexicans with Guns, a San Antonio producer that’s muy libre with his musical genres and always lucha for more bass. MWG’s recent well-received release, “Me Gusto,” featuring Chico Mann is an explosion of dubby, electro, 8-bit goodies all stuffed into one colorful piñata.

The lively track is part of the similarly titled five-track EP,  Me Gusto (Innovative Leisure/FoF Music), below:

Track List

1. Me Gusto ft. Chico Mann
2. Dame Lo
3. Los Perritos
4. Me Gusto ft. Chico Mann (Ghosts on Tape Remix)
5. Me Gusto (Instrumental)

Get the Mexicans with Guns Me Gusto EP on 12-inch vinyl at Stones Throw. 

Mexicans With Guns – “Me Gustó” ft. Chico MannbyFunny Ha Ha

Download: Mexicans With Guns – “Me Gustó” ft. Chico Mann (mp3)

With music like this, there was a good reason to revive Movida, a close-knit monthly party that featured soul, funk, 80s, 90s, plus other remixes and rarities to make you move. Instigated in 2007 by DJs Witnes (who’s holding down The Lot this Saturday night) & Antonio, the reoccurring night found a loyal niche audience for a good run at The Flat.

This Saturday, May 15, we’re bringing back Movida Remixed with special guest DJ Criminal V and hostesses Las Chiquitas at Dean’s Montrose (315 Fairview @ Morgan, 77006).

Join us for la Movida! RSVP now.

I’m kinda late (like, two months) on upping this mix, but Ramsey sent us another d&b mix exclusively for Dusty Crates to get us going this Monday. He promises his April (maybe May, too) mix will be in our in-box soon, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, push play and the day will fast-forward.

March Mix 2010 by jseventeenthmd

Ramsey’s March Mix

Track List

Lenzman – Fade Away – Soul:r
Bygones Spectrasoul – Shogun Audio
Flamethrower – Lenzman – Soul:r
Noir – Edward Oberon – 31 Records
The boy who cried wolf – SPY – 31 Records
Robocall – Nymfo – 31 Records
Minimal funk -Icicle – Shogun Audio
Working with Muppets – Vapour – 31 Records
Social Isolation – Nymfo – 31 Records
Silence – Calibre – Signature