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The circularity of music is astounding. Music-as-big-business is less than a century old, though humans have been creating sound since inception. During that time we’ve made gods/goddesses out of singular humans destined to be household names. Yet some of today’s top-selling albums are compilations, hinting at the idea that community is more enjoyable than any one person’s creation. Birthed in three metropolises—San Francisco, New York and London—the following DJ collections are this summer’s perfect triad, fusing the best global sounds this shrinking planet has to offer.
After the success of his South Asian trilogy, Cheb i Sabbah expands his palate to include Africa, Asia and Arabia with As Far As. This Algerian-native-turned-Bay-Area-DJ-turned-India-fanatic has been a tireless ambassador in promoting international music since his early turntable days spinning UNESCO vinyl in 1965 Paris. This collection features classics new and old, roving hardbeat drum ’n’ bass (Solace’s “Saptak: The Samaya Mix”) between anarchic political theory a la spoken word (ADF’s “Colour Line”) between hallucinogenic drones (Paul Horn’s “Agra, The Emerald Mix”) between…well, moving Middle East we encounter serious get-your-war-on dancefloor action. Natacha Atlas and Toires warm up Gnawa Impulse, an impressive segue into Africa where the Trilok Gurtu/Salif Keita Afropop collaboration of “Have We Lost Our Dream?” is a stunning crescendo in this hill-and-valley cross-continental journey.
Taking a different approach, Giant Step resident DJs Nickodemus and Mariano explore the world through the diverse boroughs of their beloved NYC. Turntables On The Hudson 4, also the name of their infamous booty-shakin’ parties (sans 4, that’s just keeping count), goes Brooklyn to El Barrio without hitch. This house collection seamlessly mixed is a celebration itself, showcasing the city’s many-cultural aspects underscored by a deep bass rhythm. Marzebian’s two contributions, “Let it Ride” and “Sandlewood,” are percussive mayhem, while The Pleb’s “One For Senegal,” sampling mbalax-inspired Afro-rock outfit Toure Kunda, makes this Fela-esque track a club smash. Afrobeaters Antibalas go absolutely loco on “Che Che Cole,” while Asian elements appear exquisitely on Ilhan Ersahin’s “Oriental Wind.” TOTH would not be complete without a Nickodemus track (or three), the highlight a remix of last year’s smash “Mariposa,” constructed alongside partner Osiris and featuring the gorgeously spacious vocals of Si * Se’s Carol C.
Crossing waters but not focus, Pathaan shelves the Stoned Asia series for a moment to release World Peace. True to its title, this collection throws cultures together into one ceremonial peace-piping hashed-out-amphetamated escapade. He starts slow to draw you in: Abhijit Pohankar and MIDIval PunditZ circumnavigate traditional India before cranium-exploding tracks by Kaya Project, the Spy From Cairo (that backbeat is ridiculous) and the Dum Dum Project, shaking cobwebs once and for all. Ikarus’s “Touched The Sun” is blazing, while Fun-Da-Mental reworks Nusrat’s nephews, Qawwali emissaries Riwan and Muazzam, in a stomping version of “The Last Gospel.” While the goal may be world peace, that doesn’t mean it has to be a quiet affair.
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