The Wizard Dervish

5/6/2021

1. Mornings - Janko Nilović
   The ecstatic curtain-raiser from the Turkish born, Greek-Montenegrin composer’s 1974 album Chorus. A ton of gems buried on this record, whose tone is set by the euphoria of its opening track.

2. Congratulations - Dumbo Gets Mad
   A carnival boardwalk organ paints this blissed psych-pop number in dusky pastels.

3. Dsco - Sweet Trip
   With its chiptuney distortion, this 2003 song from California duo Sweet Trip foretold the kind of abrasive experimental pop that’s become ubiquitous in our post-100 gecs world.

4. Silk Rock - HaHa Sounds Collective, Laetitia Sadier
   This swaying single—originally by the Canadian Marker Starling and interpreted here by the London-based HaHa Sounds Collective—fixates on the problem of how to be ones’ self. It’s an interesting quandary for an ensemble whose IG bio describes itself as an “ever evolving cast of local musicians and fly-in friends.” The self, like the HaHa Sounds Collective, is ever evolving, and any apparent continuity is a comfortable illusion!!

5. Palavras - Caixa Cubo feat. Zé Leônidas
   Brazilian jazz masters Caixa Cubo drape a twinkling arrangement over over guest vocalist’s Zé Leônidas’ sonorous tenor.

6. This Cursed Life - Flying Lotus
   FlyLo’s production has always had the storytelling drama of a soundtrack, so his transition to scoring a Netflix anime—which he’s also executive producing—feels effortless. This short track is spookily groovy, and while I’m only an episode in, the anime is showing promise as well.

7. Mano d’oro - Crimi
   Luci e Guai, the swaggering first album from newcomers Crimi, plumbs the musical folkways of front man Julien Lesuisse’s rich Sicilian patrimony. Mano d’oro’s melody and central riff are irresistible. For further reading, click here.

8. Dance II - Discovery Zone
   One of those flawlessly constructed dance tracks that is simultaneously a realized vision and a blank canvas for would-be re-imaginers. This song has begat several remixes, but I’m partial to the original.

9. Arugula - Junglepussy
   A woozy head-bobber and the best of Junglepussy’s 2020 LP JP4. The accomplished NYC rapper directly addresses an ungrateful lover through what I imagine to be a thick cloud of blunt smoke.

10. Love to Love You Baby - Karate Boogaloo
    The Australian band’s filthy cover pays due tribute to Donna Summers’ equally filthy original sexfunk odyssey.

11. Every Day the Sun Comes Up - DJ Counselling
    A simmering house beat that would be just as apposite blaring in a sweaty club as it would be tolling from some hidden Bluetooth speaker at a cool friend’s house party or tucked into your go-to “chill lo-fi beats to study and relax to” playlist.

12. Khala My Friend - Amanaz
    Bracingly beautiful song from ‘70s Zambian group Amanaz about trying to talk sense into a loved one.

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