May 13, 2024
→ This week! NYC's cumbia not cumbia band Combo Chimbita is back with the atmospherico psychedelic "Margarita", Moonshine collective from Montreal provides afro-house amapiano banger "Sakila", Philadelphia vibraphone maestro Angelo Outlaw presents his new LP Axis of Time with the sunny and cosmic instant classic "Free My Mind" (Roy Ayers fans will love it). Flying to the Caribbeean for more sunny tropical vibes, listening back to Junior Delgado's roots reggae classic "Movie Star" and The Beginning of the End's B-side "Fishman" turned A-side by Strut (re-issued in 2018)
Margarita
Combo Chimbita
Sakila (feat. Mwamba & Fédération Internationale du Bruit)
Moonshine, Spilulu, Gafacci, Mwamba, Fédération Internationale du Bruit
Free My Mind
Angelo Outlaw
Movie Star
Junior Delgado
Fishman (Original 45 Version)
The Beginning Of The End
January 30, 2024
→ This week! Brand new single "Loved" by British producer Four Tet, who's been lately seen working with the likes of Fred Again and Skrillex, here back with a much more laid-back work, mixing trip-hop like drums with ambient synths. Also British producer Seven Davis Jr just released a new LP which includes this fun, invigorating "Used to Jock". Always been digging his vocals very much. Flammer Dance Band! This one from Norway was released a while back in April 2023, totally missed out last year. Brilliant LP from A to Z, was hard to pick one track, but "Fri" it is! Afro funky psych raw energy, hope to see them live soon, must be something! Venezuelan 70s independent salsa with Ray Perez's "Campesino Nuestro", highly infectious, re-issued by Barcelona-based El Palmas Music. Wrapping it up with another re-issue by Numero Group of a couple of 7" records by American pianist and keyboadist Gene Russell's Trio on LA based Kris Records, probably end of the 60's before he went on to found Black Jazz Records in 1969. "Doin' the Snake Hips"!
Loved
Four Tet
Used To Jock
Seven Davis Jr.
Fri
Flammer Dance Band
Campesino Nuestro
Ray Pérez y El Grupo Casabe
Doin' The Snake Hips
Gene Russell
January 22, 2024
→ This week! Texas Khruangbin has a new single, new instant classic "A Love International"! So moving and elegant... Most featured and played band ever on Le Mellotron, Souleance released their 4th album "Beautiful" beginning of October. "Out Of Touch" with Kit Sebastian is such a killer I remember shazaming it when Ladies on Records played it during the most beautiful (indeed!) sunset the day of its release, with Souleance around as well :D Keeping catching up with 2023 releases, with already iconic cinematic funk project Whatitdo Archive Group, second album and the mesmerizing "Forbidden Cove". We're paying tribute to the great Marlena Shaw who passed away last week... "Look at Me, Look at You (We're Flying)" from here 1977 LP Sweet Beginnings, beautifully produced by Bert DeCoteaux. Amazingly crafted record! "Where Can I Go?" was released on another LP by Shaw, "The Spice Of Live", released on Cadet in 1969. Many classics on that one, from "Woman of the Ghetto" to "California Soul", but "Where Can I Go?" strikes a special chord.
A Love International
Khruangbin
Out of Touch
Souleance, Kit Sebastian
Forbidden Cove
Whatitdo Archive Group
Look at Me, Look at You (We're Flying)
Marlena Shaw
Where Can I Go?
Marlena Shaw
January 15, 2024
→ This week! Another great cover by German steel band Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band (thanks Guts!). This time covering Musa Masa's classic Love$ick. As addictive as the original! Belgium's best not-so-secret weapon Lefto released his first single out his first upcoming LP, somehow reminiscent of Thundercat, with those ethereal background vocals, featuring Simbad on saxophone, especially digging this housy rework by DJ ADHD, great mix of flavors here! Another rework, Australian this time by Oyobi, of a track by The Modern Artefact, for a great soulful funky electronica result. Floating Points's label Melodies International re-issued such a catchy soul number by obscure act Cinnamon Soulettes, which also includes a great flute solo! Ending this week selection in Cuba, out from the great Jazzanova compilation "Nueva Vision - Latin Jazz & Soul From The Cuban Label EGREM / AREITO" back in 2007 with Grupo Tema IV, eponymous track. Such a Brazilian vibe in this track, hard to believe this one's from Cuba!
Love$ick
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band
I Sing To Find Peace Of Mind (feat. Simbad) - DJ ADHD REWORK
LEFTO EARLY BIRD, Simbad, DJ ADHD
Apollonia (Oyobi Rework)
The Modern Artefact, Oyobi
Wishing On A Wishing Well
Cinnamon Soulettes
Tema 4
Grupo Tema Iv
January 9, 2024
→ Aaannddd... We back! I took a few months break to take some perspectives on Le Mellotron, and the relevance of such a project in a world where there's so much music content available everywhere out there. Conclusion is... Who cares! It's all about the passion for exploring, curating and sharing great music. So we keep going, with nothing else than music at stake. The shapes of Le Mellotron to come are unknown and there's a lot of excitement about it. Thanks to everyone who reached out! This week, catching up with new releases from 2023... Starting with very anticipated second LP by iZem and probably my favorite song of his, with the great vocals of Spanish, London-based Clara Serra Lopez. It's been such a joy to be a part of the creative process... Next is "give me ur love" by UK-based Another Chemical Love Story, great laid-back track. Paris-based Neil Bopperson, Le Mellotron resident DJ, released a very meditative and reflexive EP about wellness in general, and specifically in the music world. First release on his new label +33JOY, with spoken word by LA-based Bikbaye Inejnema. Love it! RIP Les McCann, the great American jazz panist and vocalist passed away at the very end of 2023, paying tribute with "Burnin' Coal" from his classic 1969 "Much Les" LP for Atlantic. Wrapping it up with "Bom Bon Boogie", very interesting latin-jazz-funk fusion by Lou Perez. Orquesta Aragon meets Labi Siffre... Looking forward to this new year in music. Happy 2024! Lekin
No Lo Busco
iZem, Clara Serra Lopez
give me ur love
Another Chemical Love Story
Consumption
Bopperson, Bikbaye, Sam Crowe
Bom Bon Boogie
Lou Perez
