Keepin It Real : Classic Funk Chronicles 1

28/Jan/2012

In an effort to keep it real, we present to you a mix of classic funk from OG sources, spun out in one inspired session while loungin’ on the Mothership: Sly & the Family Stone (late period); Fred Wesley & the Horny Horns (featuring Maceo & the Godfather; Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye; Funkadelic (uncut)….and more. Feels good deep in the bones.

djfundi@podcastcafe.org
mixed dec2011/jan2012

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tagged: funk * groove * old school * danceparty

Purple Reign IV : Prince Mixxx

17/Jun/2011

The fourth (of five) installment in the Podcast Cafe’s Purple Reign musical mix tribute series to Prince opens up with an abstract funk-jazz track from his obscure “Xpectations” album, then segues in to the start-stop funk of “Dance On” from “Lovesexy” and a remix of “Irresistible Bitch.” It’s a promising start and lets the listener know right away that they are in the hands of a Prince master archivist and mixmaster supreme. This isn’t any kind of Greatest Hits compilation -- expect rare tracks, remixes, B-sides and other surprises that range the entire 30-some years of the Purple One’s extravagant career.

Other tracks along the way include “Call My Name,” “Raspberry Beret,” “Hot Thing,” “Let’s Pretend We’re Married,” “Thieves in the Temple,” “Lemon Crush,” “New Power Generation,” “Joy in Repetition,” “The Beautiful Ones,” “Rainbow Children,” “Private Joy,” “Paisley Park,” Do Me, Baby” and “Positivity.”

You can find Purple Reign episodes 1-3 at http://podcastcafe.org/episodes/files/category-prince.html.

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tagged: funk * danceparty * groove

Our Love is Our Power

18/Mar/2011

A mix of new soul, r&b love and loose-limbed funk, inspired and informed by my recent discovery of the musician Jamie Woon. Jeremy Sole dropped Woon's track "Lady Luck" on his KCRW show a couple of weeks ago, and I've been rocking it on the headphones every day since. I built this mix around 3 Jamie Woon tracks that I love, and they appear at the beginning, middle and end. Supporting the mood are jams by Raphael Saadiq, Digable Planets, Sade, Aloe Blacc, The Bees, Erykah Badu, Jamie Lidell, Lauryn Hill, The Roots, Andreya Triani, Galactic, Pharcyde and the Spinners. DIG IT Y'ALL!

Mehna-loveisspecial

Our Love is our Power by moontrolling

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Feedback: djfundi@podcastcafe.org

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tagged: funk * soul * hiphop * danceparty * groove

Analog Soul (Intergalactic 3)

01/May/2010

A fresh blend of soul, funk, gospel and hip-hop, with both contemporary and traditional flavorings. In tribute to those musicians who keep the soul-flame lit through the many generations. Performed across different technological mediums, but always emanating from the heart. Dig it if you can. Fundi hearts you!

Featuring Erykah Badu / Raphael Saddiq / Q-Tip / Al Green / Jamie Lidell / The Supremes / Galactic / Dirty Dozen Brass Band / Sade / Stevie Wonder / Aretha Franklin / Bill Withers / Gift of Gab / Saddiq / Sharon Jones & the Dapp Kings / Gnarls Barkley / The Stax Singers / Saddiq \\

Analog Soul ( Intergalactic 3 ) by moontrolling

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tagged: soul * funk * danceparty * hip hop * R&B * groove

Purple Reign III : Prince Mixxx

03/Mar/2010

The Podcast Cafe's 3rd Prince mixxx installment in the Purple Reign series, featuring Shockadelica, Strange Relationship, Housequake, Always in my Hair, Mad Sex, We Can Funk, It, How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?, New Position, 3121, Lovesign, The Work and other favorite jams from the Purple Funkster. Purple Reign I and Purple Reign II are waiting for you...

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tagged: funk * danceparty

Purple Reign II : Prince Mixxx

15/Sep/2009

Another tribute to the Funky Purple One (Warning: I'm just getting warmed up!). Part I can be found right here. Send feedback to djfundi@podcastcafe.org.

tagged: funk * danceparty

Blame it on the Boogie : A Tribute to Michael Jackson (Part 3)

22/Jul/2009

The first two sets have been downloaded over 500 times each in the short period of time they've been put out on the internets, which makes me very happy. I envision Michael Jackson dance parties happening around the planet to the soundtrack of joyful music I've weaved together here. I appreciate the positive feedback I've heard from many listeners in diverse corners and hope that those who appreciate these mixes will share them widely with friends.

Michael Jackson's story is a very complicated, weird, mysterious and, ultimately, tragic. Some think his troubles originate in his childhood at the hands of his father, other argue that he brought it all on to himself. "Blame it on the Boogie" sidesteps all of these debates and instead focuses on the unmatched legacy of Michael Jackson's music -- his original blending of Motown, disco, r&b, funk and soul, spiced up with a huge amount of confident showmanship. MJ was a musical genius who created a huge body of uplifting, emotionally moving, booty-rocking music, and I hope this tribute trilogy helps remind listeners of how, beneath all the controversy, MJ was an extremely and sensitive gifted artist.click for more...

tagged: funk * danceparty

Blame it on the Boogie : A Tribute to Michael Jackson (Part 2)

15/Jul/2009

Part 2 of my Michael Jackon Tribute series picks up where Part 1 ends, delving back in to the "Thriller" era before committing to an extended appreciation of "Bad" and then dropping in on a fast-paced, booty-rockin' exploration of MJ's underappreciated Late Period. I had no idead he was still putting out such amazing and ground-breaking music post-"Bad," tracks like "Scream", "They Don't Care About Us", "2 Bad", "Xscape" and "Jam." Like Part 1, this mix tells the MJ story through nontraditional tracks: home demos, remixes, dubs and rare tracks. I've been listening to both constantly these past 2 weeks, with mad appreciation for MJ's gift of groove to the world.

Against my better judgement, I had to start a third (and hopefully final!) installment in the tribute series. As I was mixing this one up, I kept finding amazing remixes and rarities online, but I wanted Part 2 to come in at under 80 minutes so it could be burned to CD, and the incoming rush of MJ music had to spill over in to a 3rd mix. A Michael Jackson "Trilogy" was unplanned when I first started out, but that is what this process has naturally evolved in to, so there it is. The man just put out too much great music -- blame it on the boogie!

tagged: funk * danceparty

Blame it on the Boogie : A Tribute to Michael Jackson (Part 1)

01/Jul/2009

This musical journey starts with some selections from the Jackson 5, of course, before exploring Michael Jackson's early solo career, with a multifaceted look at "Off the Wall" and his original melding of disco grooves with Motown soul. Eventually, we reach "Thriller," looking at half of the album's hits from various different perspectives, before running out of time at the 79:45 mark -- just the right length to be able to burn this mix to CD. Part two, to be released in a couple of weeks, picks up with the second half of Thriller and runs through various side projects and the most intriguing sounds from his later releases.

Now, those listeners looking for a run-through of his greatest hits can, well, purchase or dig out his many "Greatest Hits" collections. In other words, this ain't your mamas Michael Jackson. The mix is built on alternate takes, mash-ups, early home demos, interviews and, especially, remixes. There are many, many remixes of Michael floating around out there in cyberspace, and I chose a wide variety of reinterpretations: some ready to bump your booty, some corny and others just plain weird. I reveled in the wide, creative diversity of remixes that MJ inspired, and listening to them over the past week, it dawned on me just how universal his music was -- there was an essential DNA of heart, soul and groove in just about everything he performed, and those core elements were able to be fit in and reprogramed in all kinds of musical scenarios. House, reggae, grunge, glitch, ambient -- Michael's words and voice sounded natural in so many different genres and environments, in part because it was so real. And I guess that is why he was loved the whole world over -- his gift of song was universal. It touched the heart and moved the booty, no matter what culture or creed.

His great success in moving so many people killed him in the end. His superstardom took over his individuality and he gave himself away to our collective desire for hero-worship, gossip and judgement. In doing so, Michael lost touch with himself and then with reality and that's when the freak show began. I try to withhold judgement for all his oddities and naivete -- I feel like society pushed him in to the corner he was trapped in and we have no right to judge him. Especially now that he is gone and cannot respond. We can only go back to the music that was left behind.

Instead of getting swept up in the media frenzy of the past week -- the endless analysis of his finances and prescription drug use and relationship with his family and fate of his children -- I have turned to the music to remember. Just as I imagine millions of other fans are too. And my full immersion in Michael's glorious art -- "I'll Be There," "Ease on Down the Road," "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," "Jam" -- has reminded me that MJ was, ultimately, a bright light, brighter than most of us here on Planet Earth. He was born to sing and dance and make people happy. His soul was made of pure light and he came to us a bodhisattva, giving of himself to ease the suffering of humanity. "Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter," he sings, "Togetherness is all I'm after."

MJ fearlessly became one with his creative expression, merging his life with his gift, and all of us are that much better off because of it. He performed with selflessness, devotion, generosity and an amazing amount of courage. I might be getting carried away now, but hearing him sing the bridge in "Human Nature" makes me feel like Michael, in his heartfelt surrender to his muse, was channeling the divine spirit. He opened up for us and the bright light of something sacred poured forth. He made it more beautiful to be a human being. We won't ever experience another musical being like MJ in our lifetime.

This musical mix, to be released in two parts to keep it manageable, is my tribute to MJ and all that he gave. Like I said, it is exploratory and sometimes experimental, but hopefully reflects even just a little bit of the shine that Michael gave to the world.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. You've earned it. And thanks for all the amazing music!

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tagged: funk * danceparty

Purple Reign I : Prince Mixxx

20/Apr/2009

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The first in a series of Prince-centric podcasts -- a long time coming and pretty damn self-explanatory. Dig if you will the picture...

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P1010020

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tagged: funk * danceparty

Intergalactic 2 : Urban Beet Pharmer

01/Jul/2008

Featuring Ike & Tina Turner, Bassnectar, Missy Elliott, The B-52's, Jamie Lidell, James Brown, Gnarls Barkley, Herbaliser, Roots Manuva, Portishead, The Glitch Mob, The Time, Girl Talk, The Roots, Antibalas, Mr. Scruff, Alozade and Hollow, Al Green & even more funky things to play with from Fourth Corner Soundsystem -- crank it up loud and rock the block, summerstylee!

To download MP3 version, option/right-click on the "Listen Now" icon.
To download superior AAC version with chapters & artwork, subscribe to P'Cafe feed via sidebar links!

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tagged: funk * hip hop * soul * R&B * electronica * old school

freaky hijiki (god make me funky)

01/Jul/2007