The Gentlemen Of Leisure

Monday, August 20, 2012

Lord Shorty - Vibrations Groove

Soundway have been killing it recently. Everything, and I mean everything, they have put out in the last little while has been 100% on point - from the afro 12's to the Ondatroipica and Konkoma LP's Now they have decided to give us all a little taste of the new Sofrito compilation that will be dropping real soon - a deep funky soca groove from Lord Shorty. I love the way he builds this one like Memphis Soul Stew - bringing in percussion and bass all one by one until it's bubbling along like a ready-to-burst volcano. Dig on the free download!! Thanks Soundway

New afro heeeet!!

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra - How long it go take (Mr. Moonshine Dub)

Oooh yeah! You know when Mr Moonshine from the Woo-ha blog gets his mitts on the audio stems from 'How Long' by The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, he is going to be producing the goods. And he certainy did come through for the dancefloor, hitting us with a killer little beat heavy, afro-dub flip. We decided to give it up as a free download too so everyone's a winner!!

Kelenyke Band - Jungle Funk

Afro gems uncovered by Miles Cleret and released with the help Of Frank Gossner. 4 previously unheard tracks from Ghana's Afro Kelynke Band that have been blowing my mind. But how did such amazing music remin unheard for so long? Well sadly their amazing 'Moving World' LP didn't garner the attention that the band deserved and soon after recording, these tunes had to be shelved after the band ran out of money. Now some 40 years later I'm loving this new double 7" pack. This track, Jungle Funk is my current favourite; a mid-tempo afro burner that sounds exactly like it's name. Have road tested it at a couple of Scatter Scatter Tropical Discotheque gigs and it has caused some serious mayhem. Get yourself one from Northside Records today!!

Antibalas - new album!!

Antibalas are back after a few years and in better form than ever!! Returning to producer Gabe Roth and the Daptone studio had yielded some fine results. I don't wanna go so far as to say it's my favorite record they've done but it's gotta be a near thing.

You can dig on an edit of the title track here

And better yet here is them playing it live and in-full on KCRW

Go out and get it on vinyl people - it's the only real way to hear it. You could come buy it from me on a Thursday down at Northside Records even!

The Cumbia Cosmonauts

The new EP from The Cumbia Cosmonauts is killer! Heavy beats meet Mexican tribal cumbia madness via a couple of Melbourne's best producers Moses Iten aka Saca La Mois DJ!! and Soup aka Sopa Loca. Check out the title track...

And check the rest of the EP at The Cumbia Cosmonauts bandcamp page

And don't forget they are playing at this soon!

https://www.facebook.com/events/342343522512242/?ref=ts

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Kelenkye Band - Highlife.wmv

Our good friends at "Superflyrecords" in Paris have re-issued this incredible holy grail ghana funk record. "Kelenkye Band".

available for the first time in 30 years this high quality re-issue is one of the best attempts to adapt american funk and disco to the african market. Includes the african rare groove anthem "Jungle Music". limited to 1000 copies worldwide. Don't sleep.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Disco Blaze!

Rare as hell afro-disco-funk from outta Nigeria in the late 1970's. This is only taken from a reissue 'cos this one never shows up and when it does, it inevitably goes for some insane amount of money. I don't know anything about it, except that it is serious fire on the dancefloor. Check it out!

Disco Blaze - Jump Back (Comm' Of The Fireballs) (African Sun LP 'Jump Back' 2010 reissue)

Melbourne TPOAO 45 launch!

Holy crap.

We just toured Cairns, Sydney and Katoomba and we are feeling pretty damn good. 45 has been out for a week and the people are digging it! We are so excited about this one.
Also launching are the amazing Bombay Royale with their insane Bollydisco 45 'Sote Sote Adhi Raat'. Backed by the incredible Cactus Channel and with myself manning the decks this is shaping as my Gig Of The Year TM. If you live in Melbourne and you don't come... well I'm sorry buddy, I just can't help you.

Check out The Bombay Royale 45 here

Check out the recent 45 from Cactus Channel here

To buy yourself some tickets call 03 9427 9198 or click here

Ah yes but just who are these The Gentlemen Of Leisure?

Well sit back and let me learn you up... They are but men. Yet they are men unlike any others, oft separated by 3420kms of continent but drawn together by a love of fine musics, the lost art of moustache wearing and the majesty of expert swordsmanship. You've seen them shirtless, riding stallions in slow-motion on the beach undoubtably off to rescue some hapless, buxom environmentalists. You've heard tale of their exploits fighting hordes of invading Mongols alongside peasant villagers in the deepest Amazon. Sure they have occasion to gad about town quaffing cognac, wearing Blue Stratos cologne and indulging the fairer sex in their charm, wit and sparkling repartee but for all their futuristicness these are no robots. They are men. Men who all the while remain committed to their one true cause - being totally awesome Disc Jockeys.

Such are ways of The Gentlemen Of Leisure. They are men who stand together, alone in the sea of shit that is this interweb thingamy. They are freedom fighters. They are tireless artistes. They are the leaders of free men. They are first among equals. They are equal among firsts. They are each equal part lover and fighter. They are both Man and Beast.

They are the Gentlemen Of Leisure.

DJ Manchild

Biography

DJ Manchild has been bringing his trademark sound combining funk, latin, african, hip-hop, disco and beats to the dancefloors of Melbourne and beyond since early 2001. He has played and dug for records on adventures from Mumbai to Lagos to Tokyo and back; always bringing back booty for his radio show 'The Breakdown' which is now into it's sixth year of Friday afternoons on PBS 106.7FM.

In New York he and two friends were inspired to start an large afro-beat ensemble, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, which has since played Big Day Out, WOMAD and Falls as well as sold-out shows across Australia. Their debut album 'Do Anything, Go Anywhere' (which they together recorded, produced, mixed and independently released) was nominated for an ARIA in 2010.

DJ Manchild has supported the likes of Public Enemy, De La Soul, Eddie Bo, The Bamboos, LL Cool J, Eddie Floyd, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Rob Swift, The Jungle Brothers, Marva Whitney, Quantic, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Black Keys, DJ Roc Raida, Betty Harris, DJ Z-Trip, Aloe Blacc, DJ Dexter and Cookin' On Three Burners. In addition he has played onstage with The Beatnuts, Jeru Tha Damaja, Nfa and DJ Z-Trip.

Upcoming gigs:

- Thursday 28.07.10, 11-12am @ The Laundry on Johnson St, Fitzroy playing soul music

- Friday 29.07.10, Perth playing party music with DJ Charlie Bucket, The Gentlemen Of Leisure together!
- Saturday 30.07.10, Perth playing party music with DJ Charlie Bucket, The Gentlemen Of Leisure together!
- Thursday 04.08.10, 12-1am @ The Laundry on Johnson St, Fitzroy playing soul music

- Saturday 06.08.11, all night: Soul-A-Go-Go @ The Johnston playing funk 45's with Richie 1250, Pierre Baroni & Emma Peel
- Saturday 12.08.10, 9-11pm @ Southpaw on Johnson St, Fitzroy playing funk, disco, hip-hop and party tunes for the official launch party!
- Saturday 12.08.10, 12-1am @ The Laundry on Johnson St, Fitzroy playing funk, disco, hip-hop and party tunes for the official launch party!

and also...

On the radio each and every Friday 3-5pm on PBS 106.7FM in Melbourne or streaming via www.pbsfm.org.au/breakdown

DJ Charlie Bucket

Biography

Charlie began his musical career as a drummer playing in jazz and funk bands in Perth in the late 90’s but it was upon returning from a European trip he discovered the art of DJ'ing. With an already eclectic and diverse taste crossing the boundaries of funk, soul, hip hop, house, disco and reggae Charlie began to infuse his existing love of performing with his new-found passion for record collecting.

In late 2003 Charlie was introduced to a fellow funk fanatic and they founded a weekly night at the Leederville Hotel aptly named “The Funk Club”. What started out as a bit of fun and a chance to hear the music they loved soon morphed into club night of legendary status drawing huge crowds and playing host to variety of international performers.

As the chief resident of Funk Club, Charlie Buckets career began to flourish and soon he was touring nationally and he became a regular on the Perth festival circuit. He has held down residencies in too many of Perth's acclaimed venues to even mention.

In 2009 Charlie co-founded a promotional company, "Think Twice", alongside fellow Funk Club founder, friend and long-time collaborator Jimmy "The Lips" Murphy. Together they promote boutique club nights as varied as “Afrodisia”, Russ Dewbury’s “Jazz Rooms” as well as weekly hip-hop and disco parties at The Manor. They are also responsible for bringing out high caliber international acts such as Kool & The Gang, Roy Ayers, Kurtis Blow and Mayer Hawthorne.

For the last 5 years running Charlie has been nominated in the "Best DJ" catergory of the West Australian Music Industry (WAMI) Awards and in 2010 had the honour of been selected as the winner.

Charlie has supported many artists including; Femi Kuti, MF Doom, Roy Ayers, Aloe Blacc, Mayer Hawthorne, Arabian Prince, DJ House Shoes, Kurtis Blow, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada, Blackalicious, Norman Jay, Mr Scruff, Ghostface Killah, Amp Fiddler, Cut Chemist, De La Soul, Giles Peterson, Fat Freddies Drop, Q-tip, The Pharcyde and DJ Dexter.