Rating: NNNNN
Swami’s hit predictions
Were Rocket from the Crypt not involved in the Swami label, it would still be my favourite punk operation of the moment just for releasing that awesome document of the Testors ‘ NYC snarl, Complete Recordings 1976-79. On their new Swami Sound System sampler, you get a heads up on what’s next, with unreleased tracks from the label’s stellar stable, including the aforementioned Rockets, Beehive & the Barracudas , the Husbands , the White Apes , the Sultans , Sonny Vincent , lo-fi genius Dan Sartain and the monstrous Mannequin Piss . Best of all, the thing retails for just $8.98.
Peruvian gold
Despite all you’ve heard about the cocaine and Incan temples, Peru also boasts an impressive legacy of garage rock, outlandish psych and raunchy funk. The enlightening Back To Peru ( Vampi Soul ), modestly subtitled The Most Complete Compilation Of Peruvian Underground 64-74, gathers some of the best of the largely overlooked gems in a stunning disc geared to the more progressive discotecas. If the names Los Mutables , Pax , New Juggler Sound , El Opio , Los 007 and Texao mean nothing to you, then all the more reason to hunt this down. Sonido Amazunico by Los Mirlos is now my official theme song.
Brazil bangin’
Unless you happen to be into batucada-flavoured drum ‘n’ bass exotica, Mr. Bongo ‘s Brazilian Beats 4 comp will be a huge letdown after the previous deep-digging ventures. On the upside, however, there’s a limited-edition pre-release 12-inch making the rounds that has Ivo Meirelles getting down with Funk ‘n’ Lata on a live Baile Funk medley that’s really just an excuse to get out the garbage cans and bash away at James Brown ‘s Make It Funk until their hands are about to drop off. I’m all for it.
House warming
Although I must admit to often being bewildered by the conservative nature of a number of Toronto house DJs, the recent spins being given to Seikou Nagaoka ‘s sexy, slinky Speed Of Love and the window-rattling Got The Funk (All Good Funk Alliance Mix) off the Fort Knox Foundation ‘s 12-inch EP has been very heartening. Hopefully, one day some crate-digging house maestro will discover the prescient glories of the Just Landed Cosmic Kid record Michael Bundt concocted some 25 years ago.
