Guest Selector: MR TC

Tafi All Stars – Cantata (Autonomous Africa)

This is a track from a release that I was part of that recently came out on Autonomous Africa. Last year, Conal Blake (from Whilst/Domestic Exile) and I got some funding from Creative Scotland to travel to Tafi Atome in Ghana to record some music with our friends at the Tafi Cultural Institute. We came back with these six tracks and everything was finally mixed down in Green Door Studio in Glasgow.

The rhythms in this track are a traditional form of drumming called Cantata that’s played on narrow drums with sticks. The whole track was built around this one drum-take and we just added some effects and electronic sounds over the top. I love how weird and dark it sounds after all the processing. 

Naná Vasconcelos – Bush Dance (Antilles)

I got put onto this recently by a friend in Canada. It’s a great percussive mid-tempo, slightly psychedelic, kind of fourth-worldy jam with great vocals layered over a steadily rolling 707 drum machine beat. 

Gunnar Haslam – Ajapajapam (L.I.E.S.)

This is a great slow and soft acid builder by Gunnar Haslam that came out on Ron Morelli's excellent L.I.E.S imprint back in 2014. I’ve recently been getting a lot of enjoyment out of revisiting the early stuff from the label. 

Sheila Fleurator – E-Moon (Food For Thought) (Neubau)

I’m a sucker for weird sounds or details in a track that make it stand out, and the vocals in this track absolutely do it for me. Neubau is a relatively new label from Vienna that has put out five amazing releases so far. This is kind of deranged and dark, you understand what he’s saying but it doesn’t make sense; then there’s those industrial and electronic sounds whirling in the background. It’s amazing. 

Colours of Infinity – Replicator (Discos Del Quebranto)

This track is on a split EP that came out recently on Discos Del Quebranto, a sub-label of Brokntoys. It’s dark and crunchy, slow and trance-inducing. Perfect for setting an atmosphere in the beginning of a set.  

Otto – Full Auto (self-released)

Otto is one alias/side project of SpAceLex and Cid Hohner, two DJs from Berlin who run the Club Cosmic at Sameheads. As Otto they make music using only vintage organs and groove boxes. It’s kind of cheesy and tongue-in-cheek but also groovy and weird.

I had the pleasure of seeing them play live this year on the last night of Camp Cosmic festival. I just remember everyone dancing to this track and it being a really nice moment. Top stuff. Make sure to also check out their other project Aufgang B!  

Identified Patient – Een Lange Zwarte Weg (Mexico Relief)

Identified Patient aka Job Veerman from Amsterdam is one of my favourite producers at the moment. His stuff is super heavy, dark and really addictive. This track is part of a fund-raising compilation for victims of the disastrous earthquake that happened in Mexico recently. 

Bourbonese Qualk – Technophobia

I discovered this thanks to Tolouse Low Trax who posted it on Facebook a few months ago. It’s got a kind of big, ravey feel to it but it’s still relatively 'slow' for a dance track.  

Unit Moebius, Salò Mentale, Reverend Cor Gout – Fietsenmaker (World of Rubber)

This is one of those tracks that make you listen up and go “what the hell is this?” A collaboration by the great Unit Moebius from The Hague. I love the combination of the bizarre Dutch sing along/oratory style vocals and the kind of funky driving bassline and rhythm underneath. 

Chen Yi – Rug (90% Wasser)

Again, another insane vocal! This track just got reissued as part of a compilation EP on the Melodies Souterraines label (the original album that came out in 2006 goes for a lot of money on discogs). I can’t find too much information about the people who made this but apparently they existed as a commune in London in the late 70s to early 80s. I would have loved to have been there when they were recording this. It’s totally wild.  

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The next Night of the Jaguar is at The Art School, Glasgow, 9 Dec