Lay Llamas

Lay Llamas is the project of Sicilian composer Nicola Giunta which brings together an assortment of musicians to craft cosmic, spellbinding vibes with a swirl of psychedelic pop, krautrock, afrobeat, jazz, and so on.  New album "Hidden Eyes in a Ghost Jungle" dropped last month, and it's a lush and teeming amalgam of sounds.  Check out the exotic "Golden Snakes on Our Path" below and get the album here from Delete Recordings.

Sault

Mysterious UK outfit Sault are back with a new album today, after last year's one, two punch of "5" and "7."  The new record, "Untitled (Black Is)," is a powerful testament to blackness, channeling a whole range of emotions of this very moment in time and utilizing that anger and rage as well as that love and camaraderie to create something truly poignant and magnificent.  Elements of Motown soul, Afro-psych, gospel, hip-hop, and R&B shine throughout.  We just got ourselves a record of the year contender.  Check out "Eternal Life" below and get the record here from Forever Living Originals.

Shabaka and The Ancestors

Gonna dig on some Afrocentric jazz today from Shabaka and The Ancestors.  New album "We Are Sent Here by History is out now on Impulse.  Check out the haunting and entrancing video for "Go My Heart, Go to Heaven" below.  The music sounds like some sort of cosmic eternal entity that's being unearthed before you.  Nice.  Anyway, check it out and get the record here.

Blood Wine or Honey

I've spent the majority of my life seeking out new and interesting music, using whatever aides available to me, be it record store employees, music magazines, blogs, etc., but i've got to admit that Bandcamp delivers more than i ever could have dreamed.  It's more than i could ever possible listen to.  Anyway, check out the wild madness of Hong Kong based 3-piece Blood Wine or Honey, and their intoxicating mix of jazz, funk, psychedelia, Afro-beat, Tropicalia, post-punk, and so much more.  It's a kind of world stew of sound the grooves with unyielding experimentation and passion.  Listen to "The Undying Overrated" below and get the "Fear & Celebration" LP here via Do Right Music.

Here Lies Man

It's summertime and it's hot as crap here in central Texas, so some fuzzy, funky, Afrobeat psychedelia seems in order.  All hail Here Lies Man.  Listen to "Eyes of the Law"  below and get the self-titled album here via RidingEasy Records.

Golden Dawn Arkestra

Here's another album i missed earlier this year, this one from way back in February.  Austin cosmic psych-funk-afrobeat collective Golden Dawn Arkestra are very easily one of the funnest acts to catch around town, and their albums do not disappoint either.  "Stargazer," the band's second LP is full of interstellar funky jams to get you through the worst of days to come.  Listen to the wonderful, poppy "Clouds" below and get the record from Modern Imperial.

Goat - Try My Robe

Looks like we've got a new album on the way from Swedish psych rock weirdos Goat.  "Listen to the tribal, Afrobeat inspired "Try My Robe" below and look for the "Requiem" LP from Sub Pop in October.

Golden Dawn Arkestra pics

Last evening, i was able to catch a free show by Austin's Afro-psych-soul-funk masters Golden Dawn Arkestra.  I'm pretty sure they blew my two-year old's mind.  Here are a couple pics below and listen to the band's "Selemat."

Golden Dawn Arkestra

Here's something i should have written about last year: some funky, psych-tinged, mind-expanding Afrobeat from Austin, Texas from 10-piece band called Golden Dawn Arkestra.  It's exactly what funky, psych-tinged, mind-expanding Afrobeat should sound like, and that is to say wonderful.  Listen to "Afropocalypse" below and check out the rest of the record here.  The band self-released their self-titled EP, so i'm not sure where to tell you to go to buy it.

Tony Allen

Legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen has played with an array of different musicians over the years.  One of those musicians is Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn.  Allen drummed in such Albarn led bands as The Good, The Bad, and The Queen and Rocket Juice and The Moon.  With new solo album "Film of Life" due in October on JazzVillage, Allen has recruited Albarn for vocals on the stunning, summery track "Go Back."  Listen to it below.