Minnie Riperton - Adventures in Paradise 

Someone asked me yesterday what I thought objectively were the top 3 greatest albums of all time. I'm not particularly good with those sorts of lists but I made my humble contribution. 
What I find more interesting are people's favourite albums which led me to think about mine. 

Adventures in Paradise is one of them. 

Minnie has a become a bit of a cult classic now. With funky bass lines and dreamy Minnie vibes, this album is the perfect sunny Sunday morning record or a late night kitchen dance. Both great options. 

I have two copies. One I found in a $5 bin - it sounds like $5 and this one which I got for $20 at a fair. It has a Brashes price tag which was a blast from the past. I use to love going to Brashes as a kid. I always look for copies of this album but I don't find them often and when I do, they are often a tad pricy. 

It's a phenomenal album cover and the inspiration for Doechii's recent album. TIL the infamous lion story. Simba on the cover was apparently quite a chill lion. Minnie agreed to do a live promotional video recreation of the cover if they brought back Simba. But they didn't use Simba. As she went to sit down, the lion sniffed her arm and then lunged up at her. I watched the footage this afternoon. Oof. 

I enjoyed this so much I span it again when I got home.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records
#Minnieripperton #adventuresInparadise 

Miles Davis – Water Babies

Not sure why but this album keeps popping up in my feeds. Anyway I found a copy Friday night in Clarity for $35 so decided to pick it up. This features the same art work by Davis friend and photographer Cortez “Corky” McCoy, a Black illustrator from Los Angeles. The album contains two different quintets and outtakes from the late 60’s that Columbia released a decade later. But you Miles walking talking encyclopaedia's probably already knew that. I didn't. The closing track on the second side is catchy a hell from Chick Coera’s keys. I spun that side twice.

I then went on a giant rabbit hole of reading about the art work for On the Corner which I will post about later. There is little written about the artwork for this. I don’t understand who that guy is supposed to be in the corner and why he looks like he is going to prom. Also what’s that kid got planned with the can of sweat peas?

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #milesdavis #CorkyMcCoy

Stereolab - Mars Audiac Quintet

Yesterday in Australia there were nation wide antifascist protests. It was heartwarming to see the turn outs. But fuck me, what a cesspit things are at the moment. Stereolab seemed a fitting choice for this morning for the current climate and to digest my feels.

They were the last band I saw before the Covid wave hit Australia and when live music died for a few years. I remember saying if that was the last gig for awhile, I’m content as it would be hard to top. It felt very fitting that was the last one for years. I’d like to think Stereolab would have found that amusing too.

I was around 10yrs old when this came out. At the time I wasn’t clued in to the politics behind the band and album. I was attracted to the pop melodies and the retro aesthetic – oh and of course I thought they looked cool as fuck. I was in year 5 which was my favourite year of primary school. I got to sit next to Daniel (dreamy), had my first boyfriend which lasted a week, a few girl crushes, went to QLD, and had my appendix out. That last bit was less fun. It was also the year I remember properly exploring my own music outside what was on the TV and radio. I was an only child so I didn’t have any older siblings to influence me. However I’d become best mates with my friend Julia via the local tennis club. I’ve posted about this before, but her older sister, who was very musical and in bands shaped a lot of my taste then. It opened a whole world of music I hadn’t heard before - including Stereolab.

That Stereloab gig was like a reunion of my childhood and uni days in one. My friend and her sister were there, in addition to my mates. It was a really magical night and on the list of great gigs.

This is the repress. I decided some years ago to buy vinyl copies of the Stereolab albums I had on cd and others I didn’t own. I try and buy the originals in the wild when I see them. An expensive habit I’ve created for myself. I have a few originals from my uni days – some I was fortunate to buy before their prices skyrocketed and some I was given after a friends bad break up where they could no longer listen to Stereolab. Oof!

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #music #stereolab

Donald Byrd – Stepping into Tomorrow

Today feels like a proper spring day. With the windows open and coffee brewing I can enjoy my first Saturday coffee and tunes for a while. The title of this album feels very apt with a sense of relief in the air. For 2 weeks I was stuck in what felt like an eternal argument with the bank. Amongst other issues I uncovered a cluster fuck IT issues with their E-Contract system that broke them – haha. So after multiple complaints and 2 weeks of what felt like groundhog day listening to the hold music of Mitch Tambo First Nations artist covering John Farnham’s Your the Voice and then Savage Garden’s To the Moon and Back I finally got it resolved and my loan approved. Huzzah! It’s refreshing to be listening to some other tunes quite frankly. I thought I was going a little insane.

This is another Mizell Brothers production where they do their magic with a stack of guests. I love the guest vocals by Kay Haith on Think Twice. Google tells me she didn’t release her own material and remained a long term guest vocalist with Byrd. The only track I find hard work on this is Rock n Roll Again – it just goes on a bit with the doo wop vocals and feels kind of outta place…

I really love the cover art of this (painting by Greg Edwards) and the photography on Places and Spaces. They both feel timeless.

For a fancy Blue Note pressing with all the tick box criteria, I picked this up for a very reasonable price at Plug Seven recently.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #DonaldByrd #SteppingintoTomorrow #bluenote #jazzfunk #fuckbanks

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach.

Another belated post due to 40th celebrations. It's been a busy time.

Plastic Beach did not get the commercial success of it's predecessors. Perhaps it was due to its varied sound or because it was trying to cram a lot of ideas. Shame really, I think it’s quite underrated. I’m quite fond of it but that may be to this tour being one of the best concerts I have been too. A sore spot for some when I share.

During the making of documentary, Damon describes the concept to Bobby Womack about the world periling close to overload and the parallels with social realism and love. Channel that into the song Bobby - Damon looks with expectation and glee. Bobby sure as hell does!

There is the obvious envioro-political arc from the art work and lyrics. However Damon further describes the idea of albums in the modern age being lost due to playlists on streaming and wanting to craft an album that flows like a playlist in our plastic culture. You can hear that on this. Overall it’s a high concept album that packs a lot into it, not just musically but the social political themes, art, and humour like in the future we’ll all be eating jellyfish.

This album must have cost a fortune to make let alone the tour. You’ve got Bruce Willis in the film clip, and then you have the star studded line up including Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble just to name a few...arf.

Released in 2010 this now seems quite ahead of it’s time both musically and politically. They travelled to Beirut to meet the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music and collaborate. They also took them on tour. A huge political statement in the middle of the war occurring at the time and the racism surrounding it.

I saw this show on the December 8th 2010 at the Entertainment Centre. It was my first concert at the Entertainment Centre in many years and one of the handful I’ve been too there since. A long time Blur fan I was excited to see Damon but was not prepared for what was going to happen. Opening with Little Dragon, then a surprise set from De La Soul, then the full Syrian National Orchestra on stage, brass ensemble, then Bobby Fucking Womack came out on stage amongst others. Unfortunately Mos Def didn’t join our tour but to be honest I didn’t mind with everything else going on. I just remember being in complete awe throughout the whole concert and the vibe in the crowd was electric.

It’s been a good chunk of time since I’ve dug this album out and it sounds so fresh.

*Since giving this a spin I since watched the live concert from this tour in Paris on Youtube and have been thinking about this album a lot.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #Gorillaz #Damonalbarn

Turnstile – Glow On

* I actually played this yesterday but forgot to post.

I have a soft spot for some pop punk. For a couple of years this has been one of the albums I would drive to work listening to. When I was previously using Spotify, Turnstile appeared in my yearly wrapped second to Ryuichi Sakamoto in the same top 5 most listened to artists which was pretty hilarious – but it was true. I did listen to both that year…

My partner has the first two albums which are more of a straightforward hardcore punk sound, but doesn’t go for this one as much which has more melodies and synths amongst the punk sound. Whilst I like the mix and the cow bell! I missed them when they toured few years back but my mate went and saw them. He described feeling very old and before he got in the pit he did some stretches to which some gen z kids came up and asked if he was ok.

I decided I like this album so much I would buy it. It sounded really great on the big stereo.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #Turnstile

Uakti - Self Titled

This is my partners record. It’s a very them record – handmade instruments and all. They popped it on this am. It starts strong, then gets a bit much part way through and picks up at the end. My favourite is the opening track - Promessas Do Sol (Promises Of The Sun). However we realised after reading the album notes this 1987 compilation of tracks is linked to my previous post about Milton Nascimento here . The album is dedicated to Milton Nascimento who produces some of the tracks, features some of his covers, and they played on his album Sentinela. Ha! A very random music Segway moment.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #MiltonNascimento #brazil #Uakti 

Tinselwig

2025-07-13 04:42:55

Sunday Coffee and Tunes 13/07/2025

Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges* – Clube Da Esquina

I’m no Brazilian boffin. I first discovered this album via a copy of Milton Nascimento’s Minas for a buck in an op shop in addition to a Brazilian 80s record compilation. Both are a bit mixed but have brilliant album covers and were amazing finds for op shops these days. It’s from here that I went through the back catalogue and discovered this album (his most famous) and that he is a Brazilian legend. After a brief discogs search and the prices I settled this would be a streaming album only. Even the represses are spenny! However a repress appeared in one of my local record stores at a reasonable price. Little behold this might be a boot – it is the subject of much debate on discogs. It sounds way too clear and good for a bootleg though.

This is Nascimento's fifth studio album and is a collaboration with singer songwriter Lô Borges and a Brazilian music collective. Recorded in 1972, at a time of Brazil's military dictatorship, the album focuses on themes of freedom, resistance, friendship, and love. The album cover is a photo by Carlos da Silva Assunção Filho. Apparently for years people thought the photo was of Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges but it happened to be taken from a car as the photographer was passing by. I read in 2012 the two guys discovered their photo had been used and tried to sue but lost.

Apparently this album was canned by local music critics for it’s incorporation of various styles at the time but is beloved now. Whilst it has a mix of genre’s it sounds light and fresh. Lilia - the second tack on final side is my favourite from the album and has entered my permanent collection of favourite tracks. Although I read the track was inspired by Pink Floyd, Yes, and Genesis which has left me a bit baffled cos I am not a fan of any of those, nor do I hear it.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #MiltonNascimento #brazil

Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges* – Clube Da Esquina

I’m no Brazilian boffin. I first discovered this album via a copy of Milton Nascimento’s Minas for a buck in an op shop in addition to a Brazilian 80s record compilation. Both are a bit mixed but have brilliant album covers and were amazing finds for op shops these days. It’s from here that I went through the back catalogue and discovered this album (his most famous) and that he is a Brazilian legend. After a brief discogs search and the prices I settled this would be a streaming album only. Even the represses are spenny! However a repress appeared in one of my local record stores at a reasonable price. Little behold this might be a boot – it is the subject of much debate on discogs. It sounds way too clear and good for a bootleg though.

This is Nascimento's fifth studio album and is a collaboration with singer songwriter Lô Borges and a Brazilian music collective. Recorded in 1972, at a time of Brazil's military dictatorship, the album focuses on themes of freedom, resistance, friendship, and love. The album cover is a photo by Carlos da Silva Assunção Filho. Apparently for years people thought the photo was of Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges but it happened to be taken from a car as the photographer was passing by. I read in 2012 the two guys discovered their photo had been used and tried to sue but lost.

Apparently this album was canned by local music critics for it’s incorporation of various styles at the time but is beloved now. Whilst it has a mix of genre’s it sounds light and fresh. Lilia - the second tack on final side is my favourite from the album and has entered my permanent collection of favourite tracks. Although I read the track was inspired by Pink Floyd, Yes, and Genesis which has left me a bit baffled cos I am not a fan of any of those, nor do I hear it.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #MiltonNascimento #brazil

Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film

I was VERY excited about this release. I was so excited I forgot to post about it! I remembered when I put it on this morning. 

Gosh it's good when one of your favourites releases a new album after 15 years and doesn't sound shit (looking at you Pulp...sorry Jarvis). 

This sounds like classic Stereolab. Ariel Troubles is a timely critique and soundtrack to current political times. The transition on the fourth track Immortal Hands is chef's kiss. The whole album features stunning melodies, riffs, synth warbles, brass and woodwind. They are joined by Marie Merlet from Sadier’s side project Monade for the harmonies. I'd prefer this to be 1 LP however each side is its own little slice of Stereolab magic. 

Gotta say, for a band whose anti-capitalist philosophy runs deep had to chuckle that a) this is not a cheap pressing and b) they were selling Stereolab aprons, biscuit cutters, and ice cube trays on their recent May tour.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #stereolab #InstantHologramsonMetalFilm

Arthur Verocai - Self Titled

When I was around 13-14 and exploring different music, I had one of those Mojo best 500 albums etc. It would say things like "Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon is the album for true music fans" (or something to that effect). I was a bit confused because I didn't really like Dark Side of the Moon. 

As a person who has loved vinyl for a long time, the Arthur Verocai album felt like the collectors' reissue must have - your alternative Dark Side of the Moon. On first listen many years ago I didn't click with it. Then beginning of last month I was off sick feeling quite rotten. I was sitting on the couch with my cup of tea, sun shining in and decided to stream this on our stereo. I ended up playing it twice and ordering the record. Now I understand why this is so beloved. Although I don't think I'll have the same experience with Pink Floyd.

Mixing different genres of Brazilian Tropicália, jazz and dream like movie scapes, it's one of those albums I hear something different on each listen. It definitely benefits from a big stereo or headphones. 

This is the Mr Bongo repress. It's heart-warming to see ol' Arthur enjoy the success and admiration now. There's a really lovely guardian interview with him here

theguardian.com/music/2022/apr…

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #arthurverocai #Brazilian #tropicalia, #jazz 

Pleasure - Joyous

This is one of those records I'd keep picking up and then putting down cos I knew nothing about it but was drawn to the cover. I love the design of this album art!

I'd first seen it at a record fair years ago and the guy next to me digging said "ohhh that's great album you should get it" when I was checking it out. I didn't have enough money then to take a punt as it wasn't cheap and also wasn't sure about this random advice.

For the last few months I discovered it had been tucked away in one of our local stores which is more known for punk/metal/indie but has a small soul and jazz section. I finally gave it a listen the other week and it's tops! It brings the same "joyous" vibe that Donald Byrds Places and Spaces gives. It has a cast of thousands on it. Starts with an instant party mood lifter and ends with the track Selim which has crazy bass lines. 

This is a rerelease by Jazz Dispensary and one for the We Buy Records podcast bingo- mixed by Kevin Gray, proper inner sleeve, quality pressing, good price point etc.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #pleasure #jazzfunk #soul #jazz

Antibalas - Self Titled

It was a sunny 21 degrees here in Australia in the middle of winter. The planet is officially cooked. I made the most of it by opening all the windows and blasting some tunes to power up before surviving the dreaded task of buying a new fridge. 

First up was another Daptone one cos if you've been following you know I'm on a roll of late.

Today it's Antibalas - Spanish for bulletproof or anti-bullet.

I actually had never heard of this band until a few months ago when I was going through the Daptone back catalogue. That same week I watched the Fela Kuti documentary - Finding Fela where I learned they were the backing band for the musical (sounds weird but the film was good). In the documentary, Questlove comments Antibalas "is one of the few American bands I fear." He's referring to their skill and fury. Afterwards I was thought right, I need to listen. 

The 2004 album " Who is this America" is killer (still relevant album title) but hasn't been repressed since its release. However, this 2012 album is also very good. Brooklyn based outfit doing mainly Afro Beat with vocals by Nigerian/American singer Abraham Amayo. It kicks off with the opening track Dirty Money and it kind of sets the political tone from there. The saxophones on this album make it sound like they are playing in the room with you. Apparently, the singer has since left and some of the later albums have mixed reviews. 

I can't believe this band had been going since 1999 and I completely snoozed on it. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #Antibalas #Daptone

The Lijadu Sisters - Danger

I had a great mail day Wednesday. A huge one off my want list. My preorder from Numero Group arrived unexpectedly super early. I spent the next two days going to work waiting for the weekend to enjoy my coffee and records morning listening to this.

I previously posted about how I got into the Lijadu Sisters here: friendica.world/display/84b6ef…

I've only spotted an original in the wild once but it was snapped up within seconds before I had a chance. Gilles Peterson has a copy displayed in his Brownswood Basement (that basement refurbishment is stunning btw - dream!).

Whilst this is their third album from 1976, the other two are so rare I always thought this was the first one. The twins who were cousins of Fela Kuti were a fierce duo. This album features tracks about government corruption, social justice, and women's rights in both English and Yoruba recorded whilst under military rule in Nigeria.

Numero Group have worked closely with the surviving sister to seek the legal rights to their music, and reissue this giving it the love and royalties they deserve! 

Danger is all killer from start to finish. Blends Afrobeat, funk, jazz, reggae and soul. Gives me ESG vibes at times. The cover is one of my favourite album covers - cool as fuck. 

#numerogroup #thelijadusisters  #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records
#afrobeat

Tinselwig

2025-03-18 02:45:02

Tuesday Coffee and Tunes - 18/03/2025

I bought this back in 2017/2018 from a local DJ record fair. It was outside in a laneway and it was bloody cold and I was almost about to give up. But then I saw this and was intrigued by the cover. The guy selling it went "oof fantastic" when I went to purchase and told me how much he loved them. He looked a little pained he was selling it to be honest. This is an original 1978 pressing too. This is what started my love for The Lijadu Sisters.

I didn't know until today, there is a clip of them playing live on Jimmy Fallon in 2014 with David Byrne for the Atomic Bomb! Band. It's an awkward watch with Fallon acknowledging and introducing Byrne and other male members of the band, but ignoring the twins despite their significant legacy...

I was excited to read that Numero Group will be reissuing their catalogue as their records have been hard to come by and go for ++. They are now all up on streaming. They will also be the first ever to contain transcription of the record’s lyrics in Yoruba and English, in addition to correcting album credits.

#vinyl #records #nowplaying #nowspinning #afrobeat #LijaduSisters #Nigerianmusic #nigeria #afrodisia