LateNightTales - The Cover Versions

LateNightTales - The Cover Versions

If you like covers, and some downtempo music quite suited for after-hours listening, Late Night Tales' the Cover Versions will be perfect for you. The songs are the same covers featured in the cover artiste's Late Night compilations (I think). Correct me if I'm wrong. They are samples, and not full tracks though. Still makes a good listen. Buy the album, support the musicians!

Bollywood Bloodbath

I was at Red Cat Records along Main Street a couple of weeks ago, browsing through CDs when I came across this little beauty. Now, many people tend to rave and rant over bollywood movies, and simply adore the songs from those films. And it's not surprising, as the music composers for those movies are quite gifted at making songs that appeal to the masses. They are quite adept at blending classical indian melodies with western beats. They are able to keep abreast with contemporary pop music and today, make use of synthesisers and other technology to create heart-melting, foot-tapping, chart-topping classics.

However, I've always felt that in the indian movie industry, the best music genius was showcased in the 70s and 80s. That was a time of funk, disco and the birth of bollywood funk as we know it today. There are several bollywood films in that era that adopted bolly-funk themes as scores and soundtracks. Due to the strong similarities those films had with the 'blacksploitation' films in western cinema with regard to storyline and music, they soon became known as 'brownsploitation' movies.

Some very kind music lovers have taken songs from a number of these films and put them together in a compilation, that is Bollywood Bloodbath. I'd like to thank the wonderful people at Finders Keepers Records for this amazing album. I probably wouldn't recommend it to real bollywood fans. However, if you love to check out different types of music, then this could be something for you. At it's worst, this album can feature as background at a kitsch desi party. Listen to one of the tracks below.

Hemant Bhole - Sansani Khez Koi Baat

Recent Cover Lover Favourites

I was checking out the Cover Lovers after a long time and came across many amazing tracks! So I decided to feature a few of my favourites from their recent posts.


 Maps >> East 17, 2007
Tanz Ohne Muzik >> The Stooges, 2012
Beautiful Small Machines >> M.I.A., 2012
Xiu Xiu >> Erasure, 2012

Shiva Soundsystem - Shiva Theme

Shiva Soundsystem - Shiva Theme

Almost a decade ago, I heard this song in one of Shiva Soundsystem's mixes that I had downloaded from their website. This was a time before podcasts and such. I loved the track so much! I had to have it! But it seemed impossible to find. Eventually, I forgot about it, being distracted by other interesting sounds. I am so thrilled to have found it again.

One amazing asian underground track. A sloka (if i'm not wrong) invoking the lord Shiva, makes up the vocals for this song. Set against a tune that starts of slowly, taking you gently from a hypnotic lull to a hard stepping breakbeat seamlessly. Amazing creativity and productions make this tune one of my all time favourites in this genre.

The Havana Cultura Sound System // A Brownswood Mixtape

The Havana Cultura Sound System // A Brownswood Mixtape

An eclectic mix of tribal drums, chants, squelches, bleeps and more! I'm listening to it mid day, and it's got just the right tempo and beat to keep me active this day.

Music and yoga

I was surfing the net and somehow, I landed at the website of an event that was held in Santa Monica last weekend. The Tadasana International Festival of Yoga & Music was held on the Earth Day Weekend. It's a unique festival; one I would have loved to attend. Perhaps the something similar could be organised closer to where I reside. I practice yoga myself, (albeit irregularly), and I love music! Both together, it's a pathway to nirvana.

Many people know the benefits of practising yoga. Yoga Inc. has proven that. People are joining various yoga groups to keep their minds and bodies healthy. Lesser known is the therapeutic benefits of music. Furthermore, with the right type of music, one's yoga routine can be a lot more wholesome, and enjoyable! The tempo and rhythm can help you relax your mind and body, as well as assist in maintaining a steady breathing technique as you exercise.

Anyhow, I was browsing the website, interested in the music featured at the festival. And lucky for us, there's a compilation available! You can also download 30 songs featured in the Tadasana Festival for a limited period. Just follow the link below. If you are a yoga practitioner seeking some inspiration, a music lover who wants to add on to the collection or a simply a hippie/hipster, this album is worth the listen. I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.tadasanafestival.com/sounds-of-tadasana

Birthday #1s

Thanks to thisdayinmusic.com, I was able to find out the number 1 songs in USA, UK and Australia. Also Canada and Germany, but who cares right? So here they are!


USA (and Canada, if you care)

Phil Collins  - Against all odds (take a look at me now)

UK

Lionel Richie - Hello

Australia

Nena - 99 Luft Balons

Germany (if you really care)

Alphaville - Big in Japan