OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS & ADRIAN QUESADA - The Alchemist Manifesto (2008)

The hippest work so far from Ocote Soul Sounds, a really funky little record with lots of sweet 70´s touches!! The groove here is almost in the territory of recent El Michels Affair work, a combination of small combo Deep Funk with some broader, more spacious 70´s touches, bits of Latin rhythms, soundtrack styles, and more, all folded into a groove that's electrified somewhat, but still warm and soulful throughout. There's a great balance here between gritty rhythms and smooth-gliding instrumentation, played by Adrian Quesada on guitars and keyboards, and Martin Perna on reeds, with help from a nice assortment of additional players on other tracks. Easily one of the funkiest albums ever on the ESL label!!

Tracklisting:

1. The Grand Elixir
2. La Reja
3. El Pescador
4. Les Dunes D'Ostende
5. The Alchemist Manifesto
6. Gunpowder
7. Hacia Un Manana Mejor
8. Contra El Sol
9. Pelican
10. One Hundred Years
11. Carino

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EL MICHELS AFFAIR - Enter The 37th Chamber (2009) (NEW LINK)

Cinematic funky Soul instrumentals from the El Michels Affair, the loose NYC collective's long awaited full length nod to the Wu Tang Clan!! The crew brings their tried and true slow rolling and dirty Funk to their interpretations of classic Wu Tang tracks, with some straight up beautiful sophisticated Soul backdrops, too, and Leon & the crew pull it all off masterfully!! The RZA's sonic stamp is too innovative and idiosyncratic for a simple live band rehash, and the group is wise to use the famous crackling sample built soundscapes to craft both an homage to the Wu Tang's best material, as well as the 70´s Funk, Soul, and cinema sounds that informed them in the first place!!

Tracklisting:

1. Duel Of The Iron Mics
2. C.R.E.A.M.
3. Mystery Of Chessboxin'
4. Can It All Be So Simple
5. Uzi (Pinky Ring)
6. Interlude
7. Glaciers Of Ice
8. Cherchez La Ghost
9. Criminology
10. Heaven & Hell
11. Bring Da Ruckus
12. Protect Ya Neck
13. Incarcerated Scarfaces
14. Shimmy Shimmy Ya
15. Outro

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