BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2018
I know, I know … it’s 2019, and it’s time to start looking ahead to the new year. Before I do that, I need to get one final “Best of 2018” list out there. With so many great compilations this year, it would basically be criminal to not include this releases in any year-end recap.
With that being said, here is BeatCaffeine’s favorite compilations of 2018.
10. Levanta Poeira: Afro-Brazilian Music & Rhythms from 1976 – 2016
(Jazz & Milk Recordings)
Compiled by Tahira, who is one of the most active deejays and music collectors of São Paulo, Levanta Poeira is the first Afro-Brazilian compilation to come out of Germany’s Jazz & Milk label. This brilliant record features Brazilian gems from 1976-2016 that are heavily influenced by African and Amerindian musical roots. The compilation is a mixture of samba grooves, Brazilian jazz, Tropicália, African-influenced percussion, and Forró. Levanta Poeira also quite possibly features the best remix of the year in Tahira’s reworking of Gilberto Gil’s 1979 “A Toda Menina Baiana.” The perfect soundtrack for the tropical dancefloor!
9. Backstreet Brit-Funk Vol. 2
(Z Records)
There might not be a more knowledgeable music scholar when it comes to the Brit-funk movement than Joey Negro. Eight years after releasing the first compiled volume of obscure Brit-funk gems, the British deejay and Z Records boss returned in 2018 with volume two of the compilation series, unearthing many more forgotten tracks from perhaps one of the UK’s most under-appreciated genres. Staying away from some of the scene’s more notable and even top-selling groups like Hi-Tension, Light Of The World, Central Line, and Linx, this compilation shines a spotlight on the most rare selections. Thanks to this incredible two part, 2 x LP release, (as well as notably Mr. Bongo’s reissues of classic Atmosfear material) the legacy and history of the Brit-funk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s received some much deserved praise in 2018.
8. Spiritual Jazz 8: Japan
(Jazzman)
Volume eight of Jazzman’s groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed Spiritual Jazz series highlights some the greatest esoteric, modal, and progressive jazz recordings to come out of Japan in the 20th century. Compiled by DJ Yusuke Ogawa, this well-crafted two part, 2 x LP release features sixteen tracks of extremely hard-to-find recordings from many of Japan’s most virtuosic, yet lesser-known musicians and composers. Like all of the previous Spiritual Jazz compilations, this is must-have for jazz fans and collectors.
7. Onda De Amor: Synthesized Brazilian Hits That Never Were (1984-94)
(Soundway)
This brilliant compilation, put out by Soundway and compiled by Millos Kaiser, explores Brazil’s less explored synth-pop, boogie jams, and electro from the 1980s & 90s. The focus for Kaiser on this compilation was not to put together a collection of highly sought-after and outrageously expensive tracks that only the most serious vinyl collectors have in their possession, but to compile some of the most essential selections (regardless of their market value worth) that help highlight an important, and yet untold part of Brazil’s music history. Together, Kaiser and Soundway Records have brought forth and shined a much deserved spotlight on some of the region’s greatest forgotten treasures.
6. African Scream Contest Vol. 2
(Analog Africa)
Ten years following the highly-acclaimed African Scream Contest, Analog Africa label boss and crate-digger Samy Ben Redjeb has released volume two of the series featuring fourteen more rare Afro-funk gems from the small West African country of Benin. Just like it’s predecessor, this recording captures some of the most hard-hitting and raw African funk tracks you’ll ever hear. This well-crafted release also features many great photos and researched text. An absolute essential for anyone’s collection!
5. Soul of a Nation 2
(Soul Jazz Records)
Soul Jazz Records releases volume two of there critically acclaimed Soul of A Nation compilation series. The first volume of the series coincided with the exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power that debuted at London’s Tate Modern museum in 2017. The second chapter in the series features righteous jazz-funk, Afro-centric grooves, and socially conscious street poetry influenced by the Civil Rights and Black Power movement of the late sixties and mid-seventies. Some of the most groundbreaking African-American artists of this period are featured on the record including The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Funkadelic, Gil Scott-Heron, Don Cherry, and Detroit Tribe’s Wendell Harrison and Phil Ranelin.
4. J-Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984
(Soul Jazz Records)
BBE Music launched it’s ‘J Jazz’ series in 2018 with this brilliant compilation, and reissues of two classic Japanese jazz albums, Takeo Moriyama’s 1983 masterpiece East Plants, and Koichi Matsukaze Trio’s 1978 Earth Mother. This 10-track compilation uncovers some of the most sought after and rare Japanese jazz music from the post-World War II era. Compiled by two of the most notable Japanese jazz collectors in Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, this record features many obscure tracks that even the deepest collectors aren’t aware of. The music ranges everywhere from spiritual jazz to post-bop burners, and electric fusion-era groovers. Hopefully we will be seeing more releases from the ‘J Jazz’ series in the new year.
3. Nouvelle Ambiance !!!
(Nouvelle Ambiance)
Hugo Mendez, who is also co-founder of the renowned London-based tropical dance label and collective Sofrito, has just released an incredible new compilation off of his Nouvelle Ambiance imprint featuring twelve rare tracks that explore the underground Pan-African music scene centered around Paris during this period. Drawing on influences from the French capital, Francophone Africa, and the Caribbean, the music is a unique blend of Rumba, Bikutsi, Soukous, and Afro-boogie.
2. Gumba Fire: Bubblegum Soul & Synth-Boogie in 1980s South Africa
(Soundway)
Another incredible release from UK’s Soundway records, Gumba Fire highlights rare and obscure synth-based dance pop from the South African region during the 1980s. Compiled by label boss Miles Cleret and DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records), this compilation captures an exploratory music period in the region after disco was winding down, and where producers and artists were experimenting with drum machines and early analog synths. The album has an overall boogie feel to it, and is a great complimentary release to the hugely popular compilation Doing it In Lagos: Boogie, Pop & Disco in 1980s Nigeria that Soundway released in late 2016. Overall, Gumba Fire was easily one of the best dance records of 2018
1. We Out Here
(Brownswood Recordings)
Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label helped lead the UK jazz explosion in 2018 with the timely release of We Out Here, a brilliant compilation that highlighted some of the most prominent jazz musicians in the British scene. Music directed by saxophonist and composer Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, The Ancestors) over a three day period in North West London, this compilation features tracks by the Ezra Collective, Maisha, Moses Boyd, Theon Cross (from Sons of Kemet), Nubya Garcia, Joe-Armon Jones, Triforce, KOKOROKO (feat. Oscar Jerome on guitar), and Hutchings himself. The project also included a 40-minute documentary discussing the current UK jazz scene. Given the incredible lineup of forward-thinking musicians featured on this recording, and the strong global press coverage that circled this particular UK music scene throughout the year by major news outlets and journalists, there is a viable argument that We Out Here is the most significant and possibly important release of 2018, and I certainly would agree with that statement.
ALSO CHECK OUT:
Our Favorite New Albums of 2018
Our Favorite New EPs of 2018
Our Favorite Reissues of 2018
BeatCaffeine’s 2018 Tracks of the Year Playlist
