Dorothy Ashby

While we're on the instrumental tip, here's the smooth harpist Dorothy Ashby with Afro-Harping from '68. Get some class and relax to this...
Soul Vibrations

Furlo Obscuro Vol. 2

Here's a killer mix of some old and new instrumentals I recently made for summer. Most of these are ripped off vinyl, it includes deep-funk, jazz-funk, fuzz, psych and a little surf and Latin touches. If you dig this, let me know you're out there...
Here's the playlist:

Theme from The Baden Persuader- The DT6
Grits 'N Cornbread- Soul Runners
Ballons- Peter Pan And The Good Fairies
wondur- The Takers
Handclapping Song- Meters
It Never Stopped In My Home Town- Les McCann
Blow Your Mind- Sound Experience
Trouble in the Streets- Lost Ones
Skeeter Dope- Pacers
Kick The Ballistics- 45 King
On My Knees- One Eyed Jacks
Sunday Kind Of Love- JD & The Evil's Dynamite Band
The Big Red Tomato- Growing Society
Musings To Myself- El Michels Affair
space- Galt Macdermot
Sugar Cube- Electrified Tomorrow
stone cold picnic- Mongo Santamaria
guajira sicodelica- Los Destellos
Test Pattern- Jimmy Gordon
Stoned Soul- Artie Christopher
Burnt Biscuts- The Triumphs
How Can I Love (Now that Your Gone)- The Olympians

Furlo Obscuro Vol. 2

The Flaming Stars

Here's a double album dip for you furls, I've been busy and a bit lazy lately- yada, yada, yada. England's the Flaming Stars haven't received much attention in the States, they are comparable to the Bad Seeds and Tom Waits except with a gritty garage edge. Here's my personal favorite compilation album Alternative Tentacles released in '01 titled Ginmill Perfume- The Story So Far 1995-2000. This comp is a great introduction to the band, it contains the best of their first four albums including "A Place In The Sun," "You Don't Always Want What You Get" and "Only Tonight." I'm also throwing in their '02 release Sunset & Void with hits including "Cash 22." Enjoy.
Ginmill Perfume
Sunset & Void

The Plastics

Japan's The Plastics with "Top Secret Man" off the album Welcome Plastics from '79. The Plastics are often compared to B-52's and Talking Heads, they are credited with helping create the famous J-pop sound in the early 80's. One of the band members apparently slipped David Byrne a Plastics demo which led to the manager of the B-52's representing them internationally. I describe this band as the Devo of Japan due to their eccentric style and synth, surf induced freak-outs and social satirizing lyrics. Check out their classic SCTV video here.

Public Enemy (Blazers)

Public Enemy's "By the Time I Get to Arizona" off Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black. This has been the soundtrack for the current Trail Blazers playoff series against those bitch ass Suns. It's going to be a grinder series, I might just have to fly down there and burn the whole fucker down. Blast this track as Dre, Marcus, and the furls dominate at the RG Thursday night. Chuurrch...

Loop

If I had to describe Loop, I would say its the combination of the shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine coupled with the rawness of the Stooges and the spacey psych sounds of Can, Hawkwind, and Spaceman 3. But this still doesn't quite capture the sound of this dark, elusive London band who are still surprisingly under the radar since their first full release Heaven's End in 1987. I give you this album along with their EP Black Sun from '88. The title track on the EP is a great listen, and it also contains a rad cover of Can's "Mother Sky." If you like hypnotic, repetitive riffs with spacey psychedelic overtones- this is the band for you.
Heaven's End
Black Sun

Gil-Scott Heron

The legendary poet, jazz-funk-soul pioneer Gil-Scott Heron is in Portland tonight for a gig at the Aladdin. Gil just released his new album I'm New Here a couple months back, firm evidence that he's still tapping into the social consciousness of the streets and himself. The first time I heard this shit it blew my mind, check out the video for his new track "Me And The Devil" here. Words can't describe the passion and influence Gil has produced in his music over the years, so I'm giving a couple of albums and tracks for your ears. Here's the full album Pieces of A Man from '71 along with his classics "The Bottle" and "Winter In America" with Brian Jackson on flute. Next is his new album I'm New Here. Enjoy.
Pieces of a Man
I'm New Here

Ultramagnetic MC's

Some old hip-hop from the Ultramagnetic MC's from '88. See the furl on the album cover in red, yep that's Kool Keith. After his introduction in the Ultramagnetic MC's, Keith went on to be the multi-personality rapper under different monikers such as Dr. Octagon and Dr. Doom. Let's not forget the seminal Sex Style either, one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time. This album still sounds great after all these years, check it.
Critical Beatdown

Eater

Been listening to a lot of old UK punk recently, so I give you Eater's debut Outside View from '77. The A side is the ripping title track, while the B side is the also good "You." Eater released five 7-inch records and one album before disbanding in '79.

Dr. Furlenstein Mix

No blues or country today, returning to some funk I just had to post. The Wyld Chyld just dropped me his latest mix containing some nasty Miami funk and other dope shit. I'm posting some of the funk highlights off the mix, they also go well with the Underground Disco mix I posted last Friday. Miami's main man George McCrae's "I Get Lifted" off Rock Your Baby seen above is the jam, following is All The People with "Cramp Your Style." I'm throwing in an instrumental "Hoppin' John" by the Packers, who later became the seminal Booker T and the MG's. Thanks to J for the mix.

The Kinks

Here's the Kinks with a great non-album tune "Sitting On My Sofa" from their early years.

Mystic Moods

Mystic Moods Orchestra released this blazing hot groove "Cosmic Sea" in 1973. The orchestra's creator Brad Miller, an alleged perfectionist and audiophile, created this crisp funky groove with synths leading into some serious strings. While most of their work encompassed orchestral pop and environmental sounds, it goes to show you never know when you're going to come along some funk in the strangest places.

Kraut

Queens punkers Kraut with their second EP Unemployed released in '82. Three tracks on this fucker... the title track along with "Matinee" and "Last Chance." Check out the tightness of the band and the killer drums- NYC had to love this back in the day.

Underground Disco Vol. 1

Yeah, that's right... Disco on Furltracks. Before you stop following this blog after this post, let me persuade you to check this mix out. I've stumbled across most of these tracks over the years accidentally with each one grabbing my attention at first listen. This mix is a listen into the underground disco scene over the last 30+ years. I guess I could label most of these tracks post-disco, but I'm not into labels. I could also say that most of these tracks have had a huge influence on hip-hop and electronic artists, but all of these tracks can stand on their own. This is a mix of dope clap beats, new and old synthy joints, space jams and plain weird shit that's a great soundtrack for a late night blown-out dance shindig. This mix travels to France, Italy, New York, and Chi-town to make you dance:

Artifical Intelligence- Nite Jewel
Cosmic Daddy- Venus Gang
Space Bass- Slick
Roman Photo- Ruth
Yellow Sunshine- Yellow Sunshine
Get Down Boy- Paper Doll
Atmosphere Strut- Cloud One
Lost Angeles- Giorgio Moroder
Dance- ESG
New York Moving- Ahzz
I Hear Music In The Streets- Unlimited Touch
Funky Stuff- Lizzy Mercier Descloux
The Rock- East Coast
"H" Friend- Black Devil
Your Love Is In The Pocket- Premonition
Rock Candy- Weeks & Co.
Last Nite A DJ Saved My Life- Mirage
In the Bush- Musique
Go Bang!- Dinosaur L
Is it All Over My Face- Loose Joints

Enjoy

T-Model Ford

No April Fools tomfoolery here, just a great blues album. T-Model Ford's arguably best album She Ain't None of Your'n from 2000 on Fat Possum Records. This is pretty simple- if you like blues, you will love this album. Nuff' said. Stay tuned for a new mix coming tomorrow.
Chicken Head Man