Valeo November Top 10

So unlike last month, I'm posting my monthly top 10 within the proper time line!

I'm kicking things up with a Kwaito track from one or two years ago. Always good to start a night with some good vibes like this.

Hip-Hop Pantsula - Tlhabane Maftown [Download]


In kinda the same vibe, I really liked the Flying Lotus contribution to Hyperdub's 5 year anniversary compilation. Loving the way he switches the bassline and the snare from their usual place and the groove of the result.
Flying Lotus - Disco Balls




Next is a Masala selection that you probably won't get anywhere else. Dancehall from the French west indies meets Haitian Kompa-zouk and it sounds amazing! Brilliant alchemy on this one by Admiral T, who's singing about those who don't like Haitian people but would dance on Carimi, T-Vice, Tikabzi or Tabou Combo! This one is a couple years old but you can judge by yourself, it won't be getting old! Instant classic!
Admiral T - Yo Pa Enmé [Download]




I got to pay respect to mister Geko Jones for this month Top 10, because this sir gave me some serious heat when we met in NY a last month. Geko gave me this awesome piece of remix work by Subskrpt on Jahdan Blakkamoore's acapella. Don't know much about Subskrpt, but I read on Diplo's twitter that this should be released on vinyl with other voicing on it. Hopefully this will happen!
Major Lazer ft Jahdan Blakkamoore - Cash Flow (Subskrpt demo rmx)


Aside of some mind blowing accoustic cumbia from the coast of Columbia, he also pointed me in the direction of Batida, a Portugal based duo formed of DJ Mpula and Beat Laden, who are revisiting some original material and turning them into some awesome dancefloor magic. Great work Batida, we want to hear more like this! Buy here.
DJ Mpula e Beat Laden - Nufeko Disole



In the same vein of revisiting African (?) Congolese (?) Rumba (?) highlife (?) type of guitar playing, here's another producer from France named Débruit who's been putting out some of the best beatmaking out of the "Hexagone". This is getting released on Dec 7th on CIVIL MUSIC under the moniker of Spatio Temporel EP.


Still in France, Douster is ripping things up on the regular, just check out his latest release:
Malente&Dex feat. New Kidz - Lions (Douster Remix)[Download]


Blanquito Man is a usual suspect of Latin music in all kind of ways. He use and still is the lead singer of King Chango, has been in many other projects, and recently has been doing music under the name of Zuzuku. The acappella of Con Paso de Campeon has been circulating on the internet for a minute and Pedro Infame took advantage of it and turn it into something very unusual, a mix of kuduro inspired beats with dubstep, some rock harmonics all of that under the reggae pop singing of Blanquito Man. The result is highly recommended and pretty unique. Judge for yourself (Thanks to Toy Selectah for this one):
Blanquito Man - Con Paso de Campeon (Pedro Infame remix) [DOWNLOAD]



#9 is one of Mavado latest burner. I'm putting this here simply for the bridge at 45s. Rewind!!!


I'm finishing this top with a song I've heard a few months ago through this video. It took some time to grow on me but now I listen to it several time in a row. I always loved Chicago House and Azari and III are perfectly bringing back the sound of the early 90's on this song. Great producers from Toronto, definitely need to keep an eye on them!
Azari & III - Hungry for the power [DOWNLOAD]

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The Year In: Reggae / Dancehall

(english follow)

Le monde du reggae/dancehall a beau changer à l'ère du numérique, reste que la fin de l'année s'accompagne toujours des compils rétrospectives de chez Greensleeves et VP. C'est une bonne occasion pour ceux qui suivent plus ou moins la scène ou qui ne veulent pas se taper le même riddim pendant une heure de s'approprier les hits de l'anné et winer vos matantes à Noël...

Chez les 2 labels, on divise les compils en 2 CD, 1 roots et 1 dancehall. Ce qui donne chez Greensleeves The Biggest Reggae One-Drop Anthems et The Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems, et chez VP, Stricltly the Best vol.37 et 38.

Pitchfork dans sa série The Month in Reggae/Dancehall y va aussi d'une récap de l'année 2007 et parle de la fin des 45 tours, support mythique de la culture reggae, abandonné par les DJ et les labels. La compil de Greensleeves, From Dubplate to Download, est assez significative à ce sujet et la mise en place d'un magasin en ligne chez Greensleeves marque un tournant dans la commercialisation du genre.

Autre fait important rapporté par Pitchfork, "la roots" est maintenant entre les mains de 3 petits blancs-becs: Collie Budz, Gentleman et Albarosie. Comment un sicilien peut arriver avec une des plus grosses tracks de l'année (Kingstown Town) ? Le Come Around de Collie Budz a été énorme aussi et Gentleman nous a donné l'excellente Can't Hold Us Down avec le vétéran Barrington Levy.

Quant à moi, l'année 2007 a surtout été marqué par les nouvelles recrues comme Busy Signal, Mavado, Munga et Aidonia. Busy m'impressionne vraiment par sa polyvalence, passant du Raging Bull au VIP à ses propres pièces comme la récente Nah Go A Jail. Pour sa part, Mavado s'est créé un personnage facilement reconnaissable par son "anywaaayyyyy", baignant dans un imaginaire gangsta sombre et prophétique. Son album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks est le meilleur de l'année à mon avis.

J'ai aussi aimé les penchants rave-électro de Don Corleone sur des rythmiques comme Raging Bull ou Sativa. Il ne faudrait pas oublier non plus le ragga kreyol de Guadeloupe et des antilles françaises avec les sorties de Krys, Saïk et Daly.

Si la fin de la l'année marque le temps des rétrospectives, elle marque aussi le début de la saison du soca, à l'approche du carnaval de Trinidad et Tobago qui se déroule cette année les 4 et 5 février. C'est plutôt tranquille ces temps-ci, les aspirants s'observent et usent de stratégies afin de ne pas brûler leurs hits avant la parade des bands. Est-ce que Machel va réussir à conserver son titre ? Vous pouvez suivre l'action sur Toronto-Lime, Trini Jungle Juice ou sur le Low-Bee forum ou les soca geeks se font aller...


The world of reggae/dancehall is changing with digital dowloads and the takeover of the genre 2 biggest international labels, Greensleeves and VP. Still, the end of the year is always time for retrospectives. VP and Greensleeves have put out their roots and dancehall 2007 compilations and Pitchfork is already on the top 10 ting.

The Pitchfork article is also interesting because they talk about the end of 45 and pale-faced dudes like Albarosie, Gentleman and Collie Budz who are taking more and more place on the roots scene. Did you knew that the guy responsible for Kingston Town was Sicilian ?!?!

For my part, 2007 in reggae/dancehall was the year of newcomers like Busy Signal, Mavado and Munga. They sound fresh, each one have their own style and dancehall is going crazy with dem riding riddims from 95 to 130 to 160 bpm... Who knows what will happen next ??? Corleone still running the game with sick beats like Raging Bull or Sativa and veterans like Beenie, Elephant Man, or Mr. Vegas still putting levels high. And what about this mad ragga kreyol from Guadeloupe and French Caribbean !?

For me, dancehall is the most innovative and exciting genre right now, as hip hop and reggaeton gets more and more redundant and laughable.

The end of the years may be the time of retro but it's also the beginning of the Soca season. Things are pretty quiet now, songs are getting out slowly as opponents keeping their big tracks for the final. Carnival is early this year, parade of the bands will take place on February 4th and 5th in Trinidad and Tobago. You can follow the action on Toronto-Lime, Trini Jungle Juice or on the Low-Bee board where the fetes already started 2 months ago...

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