Burnier and Cartier – Lenda Das Amazonas

To round-off the weekend, some sublime sundown Brazilian vibes from ace fusion duo Burnier and Cartier. This tropical slow-burner is taken from their wittily-titled 1976 outing Fotos Para Capa Do LP (I don’t speak Portuguese, but I think I get it).

Hawk-eyed readers of the blog may remember the Octávio Burnier name from a mix I did a couple of years ago that consisted solely of tracks from albums released on the Brazil-only Phillips MPBC label. It seems that one is no longer available following a Soundcloud spring clean, so I’ll look to (ahem) re-up it in the near future.

Download: Burnier and Cartier – Lenda Das Amazonas (right-click)

Dom Um Romão – Escravos de Jo

Not much to say here: hot music for the hot weather…

Download: Dom Um Romão – Escravos de Jo (right-click)

Guest Mix: Jenko – Drifting on the Sun Raft

This splendid mix from Jenko arrived at 500 Miles High Towers a few weeks ago and the only reason it’s not been posted before now is…the weather: how can a mix called “Drifting on the Sun Raft” be launched in the rain?

So with the sun finally poking-out between the SW12 clouds – and looking to stay there for at least today – we’re delighted to present this burnished gem from the South West (England, not London).

Jenko is a master of the horizontal approach to mix-construction – music for the mind rather than the dance floor – and makes Jose Padilla seem like David Guetta.

He’s currently looking to return from semi-retirement to launch a regular session in the Cheltenham area. As that would also involve his partner-in-crime Situation (who’s Get On Up edit we absolutely loved) the night could be a monster.

We wish him luck…

Download: Jenko – Drifting on the Sun Raft (right click)

Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard

If you were wondering what the site of the Paradise Garage looks like right now (well, last week) the picture above shows that’s it’s disappointingly covered in scaffolding…although the large photo-blocking truck has probably moved.

From this you’ll probably gather that 500 Miles High has recently visited New York City…an all-too-short trip that was actually low on music-related activity, but high on everything else.

So, what track – from the long list of classics – to post in our first (and probably last) Garage feature? Strangely, there’s never been an out-and-out disco track on 500MH before – an oversight I’m delighted to correct now…

Download: Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard (right click)

Lord Muck: Live at Unplanned Afternoons

When I started this blog, Lord Muck gigs were about as common as hen’s teeth, or possibly rocking-horse manure. Today however there is more than enough live Muck to go around…as evidenced by this recent recording at the Lyttelton Arms pub, NW1.

It was the day the weather changed from spring-heatwave to brass-monkeys…but, undeterred, I ploughed on as if it were summer. Hopefully the ambient temperature was nudged-up by a degree or two.

Please bear in mind whilst listening that this was recorded live (i.e. whilst fending-off punters asking for directions to the toilet, cheery interruptions from other Unplanned DJ’s etc. etc.) and that it represents the first 65 mins of what unexpectedly turned into a delightful five-hour session…

Download: Lord Muck – Live at Unplanned Afternoons (right click)

Guest Mix: Bazmani – Smiling Faces

I’ve been sitting on this mix for a while now, but in a sun-fueled burst of productivity I’m now delighted to share it with a wider audience. It comes from a man Down Under…the emerging Melbourne-based talent known as Bazmani.

Baz had some technical problems during this all-vinyl mix, involving a “massive skip” at one point, but we’re not hung up on mixing-perfection at 500 Miles High (as anyone who has seen me DJ will appreciate) and we present for your listening pleasure…Smiling Faces.

Download Bazmani – Smiling Faces (right-click)

Belchior – Paraíso

One working definition of Balearic might be those songs where you are never quite sure whether they’re works of genius or complete tat. This track certainly falls somewhere on that spectrum…it’s exact location being largely dependent on the weather.

So…given the recent Tropical heatwave we’ve been enjoying, this piece of 1980′s Brazilian cod-reggae currently scores quite high on the old Balear-o-meter (patent pending).

Enjoy while weather lasts…

Download Belchior – Paraíso (right click)

Lord Muck – Green Shoots

To celebrate the coming of spring, a new get-you-in-the-mood-for-summer mix from me.

I could blather on about the tracks and the overall “concept” but I’ve already done that over on SoundCloud, so instead I’ll leave you with a few apt lines from that most Balearic of poets William Wordsworth…

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Hermeto Pascoal – Rainha Do Mar

An obscure Brazilian nugget for a sunny Sunday morning in the UK. This dreamy little number put me in mind of Chuck Mangione’s mid-70′s orchestral fusion stylings…such as the completely bonkers Land of Make Believe…whilst being distinctively de Brasil.

Make your own mind up here…

Download:  Hermeto Pascoal – Rainha Do Mar (right click)

And, given it’s The Loft tonight, here’s Chuck’s classic 1973 recording and Mancuso favourite…

Finally a 500MH Public Service Announcement: Mother’s Day today – don’t forget card/flowers…or possibly a gift subscription to 500 Miles High.

Guest Mix: Almondos – Cumbia and Other Tales

I’ve recently been concerned that 500MH hasn’t really been delivering on the Tropical side of our musical manifesto…particularly the current digital styles.

Well, those concerns can now be swept aside, in the form of a short-but-perfectly-formed mix from Almondos taking in digital cumbia, balkan beats, gypsy sounds and digital dub.

Currently laid low with a broken leg (from which we wish him a speedy recovery), Almodos kindly put together this 38 minute blast of Tropical heat, just for us/you…

1. John Henry (Thornato Remix) – Harry Belafonte
2. El Ritmo (feat Deuce Eclipse & Caipo of Bang Data) – J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science
3. Bogle – Mungo’s Hi Fi
4. K Le Pasa (So Shifty Remix) – El Dusty
5. Cumbia Salvaje (J Boogie Instrumental) – Empressarios
6. 2 Sips & Magic (feat. The New York Gypsy Allstars) – Nickodemus
7. Move It – Balkan Beat Box
8. Dem Can’t Stop We From Talk feat. Jahdan (Bleepolar Remix) – Anthony B
9. Hold Me (Quincey Jointz Remix) – jazz.K.lipa feat. Soom T

Almondos sent the mix over via Soundcloud, so rather than waste time re-uploading elsewhere, we decided to share it from there (in the unlikely event you haven’t done this before, just press the downward-pointing arrow to download):

One the many nice things about the Almondos approach is that links are always supplied to buy the tracks…so this is where you need to go to get your Tropical fix:

1. John Henry by thornato
2. http://www.beatport.com/track/el-ritmo-feat-deuce-eclipse-and-caipo-of-bang-data-original-mix/2733701
3. http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/products/MungosHiFiFeat.IBogleKennyKnots-BogleGimmeGimme-ScotchBonnet-77225.html
4. http://www.manrecordings.com/2012/03/man-066-el-dusty-k-le-pasa-remix-free-download/
5. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cumbia-Salvaje-J-Boogie-Instrumental/dp/B00772MNTU
6. http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/1422308-02.htm
7. http://www.junodownload.com/products/blue-eyed-black-boy/1564471-02/
8. http://www.behance.net/gallery/Dem-Cant-Stop-We-From-Talk-%28Bleepolar-remix%29/3299416
9. http://www.beatport.com/track/hold-me-feat-soom-t-quincy-jointz-remix/2745168