Sunday, February 13, 2011

Afro Funk Comes Forward

Los Chicharones are back. The international duo of Ramon Santana and Morten Hansen present their fourth album and mark their return to Tim "Love" Lee's Tummy Touch label, home to Groove Armada and The Phenomenal Handclap Band.

Roots of Life is a cracking 11 song collection that sews together African and Latin percussion with funky dancefloor beats, but eschews any Fat Boy Slim "big beat" cliches. The album's grooves are closer to 1975 Lagos than 1999 Bristol . That's partially due to Morten recording in Mali before putting the finishing touches on the productions in London.

Tummy Touch has authorized a few freebies to whet your appetite. Check the free track and killer DJ mix below. And trust us, the full album, which dropped on January 25, does not disappoint. Look for it on CD and digitally in all your favorite shops now.

Download funky, Fela-inspired album track “Ma Do Nar

Download the  The Los Chicharrons Afro DJ Mix

1. Intro: Wilfredo Stephenson vs. Los Chicharrons: Mali Brass
2. Tropical Treats:  Afriken Riddims
3. Thony Shorby:  No Wrong Show
4. Manu Dibango:  Super Koumba
5.  Los Chicharrons:  Timbuktu vs. Big Daddy Kane Mashup
6. C.K. Mann & His Carousel: Medley
7. Fela Kuti: 7" Mashup vs. Los Chicharrons: Ma Do Nar Acapella
8. Fela Kuti:  Ako vs. Los Chicharrons: Ma Do Nar Mashup
9. MAW feat Wunmi:  Ekabo vs. Los Chicharrons: Ma Do Nar Mashup
10. Afefe Iku:  Mirror Dance vs. Los Chicharrons Koundadi Mashup
11. Los Chicharrons: Kounandi outro.

And for further inspiration check this forthcoming documentary about a DJ's quest for funk's roots in Africa.