Sonically, we take you from a streaking themed instrumental album, to Middle Eastern funk a reggae refit of a Carpenters classic to the vocal (and original) version of Leone's spaghetti western theme..
Dig in and DL here or where-ever you get your podcasts
A double whammy celebration wherein we tip our collective hats to The Railway Hotel, (RIP) with Piley, Mondo and Lord Hastings spinning in a selection of Railway faves they've played from the pulpit...
And buckle up as two of the most blazing players ever to fizz-up a gig at The Railway - Trev and Nasser of Big Boss Man and The Bongolian, talk us through tracks from the new Bongolian album - Harlem Hipshake, plus provide a primer on best Latin and reggae albums for newbies, remember the lively nights at Blow Up club and demo Hammond and percussive techniques for beginners
That's 'P' for Podrophenia and 'Q' for the 17th edition of the Podrophonic Alphabet: Queen, Quintessence, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Quantic Soul Orchestra - NONE of which will be featuring on this month's playlist.
So who are the Qs getting a run out in the July Podrophenia? Tune in from 9pm (Southend time) at Radio Novalujon for the full reveal. But we will be bringing you - glam/electro covers, homo-erotic-jazz-disco, Hungarian Funk, a quintet and a quarteto
We may even be joined by a special guest from 8 Rounds Rapid, and will be updating you on all the latest #Whereswoodcock news
Remember backawhiles, before the music nattering masses migrated to Twitter. Facebook and whatnot - we used to get on some sort of a goodly foot by cueing up a few funky tunes of a Friday...
Well, if you're any stripe of drinker or dancer - wander your way to Southend's Railway Hotel tonight - where I'll be winging in a few fleet-footed frisky discs from 7 30 (ish). No bands - just you know who and a crateful of soul, funk, hammond, motown, northern, glam, garage and godknowswhatelse.
Playlist-free, (that's too prescriptive) - I'll be winging in sizzlers and scorchers to fit the mood of the room. Funky nuggets such as ...
We didn't get to the Bronx, but Battery Park, yes - on our last full day in New York, passing through on route to the Staten Island Ferry for a sail-by sighting of the Statue of Liberty.
So what was New York like? Everything we'd hoped for at twice the scale. An all-absorbing, truly incredible metropolis - a clean, friendly and super-safe city (we were strolling around the back streets at 11 pm, riding the subways and mooching Central Park as dusk turned to dark – and felt perfectly fine and unrattled). Instantly familiar from films, TV (and comics) we were immediately installed, settled and at home from the first footsteps into Fifth Avenue.
At last: the lengthy wait since Record Breakers is over
So what sights were seen - Harlem and Spanish Harlem (by night), Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, New York Public Library, the Dakota Building, Central Park, the Chelsea Hotel, the Flat Iron building, West Village, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Times Square, Union Square, Washington Square, Brooklyn (both DUMBO and Williamsburg by way of two visits), a panoramic spread from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building (with 25 miles visibility).
86 floors straight down
And take note any future trip-takers some of the finest views to be had came from: the East River Ferry and its skyline commuter cruise - followed by the hair-tingling walk back across Brooklyn Bridge, the High Line and its newly-landscaped elevated railway aspect and finally gliding/hovering across East River riding the Roosevelt Island Tramway.
Roosevelt Island Tramway (as seen in Spider-Man 1) - yes we did brave a ride
For eats Sarge’s Deli is the place to park up (where I had my first Reuben) and my recommendation for a chow down – 24 hour service, on the premises prepared meats and home-made corn beef without any of the rush and bustle of Carnegie Deli or the NY's higher profile eateries - and is almost exclusively non-touristy. For shops J J’s Hat Centre will fit all your get ahead needs.
I've never returned from any holiday - anywhere! unable to shake off the sparkle of a visit like our trip to New York.
Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building
Central Park and city
If you do get the chance to go - jump at it! I'm already prepping a tick-list for round two... while listening to New York's finest jazz station WBGO, which has given jazz a new and panoramic extra dimension after hearing it soundtracking the city of hootin'-tootin' cabs, steaming manholes and endlessly stretching skyscrapers
Looking south Brooklyn on the left and New Jersey on the right - Flat Iron in the middle
Should you fancy a squint at the full set of New York Pics have a peep hereabouts.
Only a couple of trips to record shops: Rebel Rebel in Greenwich Village where a Fania comp and Joe Batann were bagged, and Earwax in Brooklyn for DJ Shadow and Sharon Jones...
Aye Carumba amigos - how about this for a for two-fisted find - not uno, but dos Spencer Davies ditties given a hot tropical going over by way of this collection of samba stompers and shakers.
Hurrah for Mrs M and her list of infinite invention. I am a fussy bugger to buy for when it comes to Christmas and birthdays - yet on every occasion she comes up with some kind of wonderful.
The lumpy bundle I guessed may have been a crate of booze, was unwrapped and revealed to be - bongos hurrah! (again). And I've been tip-tapping away, lost in the crazy rhythms on an almost daily basis since. A couple of patterns getting cribbed and copied have been from these found videos...
Vid A
Vid B
Two tunes perfect for practicing along to were found on Christmas/birthday CDs
Vid A: Lee Dorsey's voodoo grooves are a snug fit for
Picking up from Tuesday's funky run-out, today, I'm pitching in a 22 track, 70 minute mix whisking together all shades of soul, funk and groovy doings. Heavy-handed Hammond,
New Orleans grinders, mod stompers, Jamaican moogie-woogie and Latin flavoured
wig-outs. Mostly fitted around the letter 'F' wrapping up with two fast and furious and finishers. And a first in this neck of the blogs - funky country. Literally!
Dial in below to fill your fruity boots....
Dial F for Funky
Or to back track and catch up Tuesday's Radio Podrophenia (the letter F) dig in here..
Should you fancy shaking an anniversary leg of a Friday night, our chums over at Blow Up celebrate 18 years of Pop Art club nights, hip-swishing sounds and big, beaty, retro groovy doings. Get on your sharpest finery and head westwards to W12 as Blow Up DJs - Paul Tunkin, Ian Jackson will be spinning 60's Soul, Beat, Garage, Funk, Ska, Soundtracks, Electronica, Library Music colliding with British Pop, Glam, Indie-Pop and New-Wave. Click on the pic for all the info you need to know..
Here at Mondo HQ we offer an 18th birthday soul salute and wish all of the Blow Uppers past and present a rip-roaring, rug-cutter of an evening..
Or, if you're a Word mag' reader and happen to be round and about Goodge Street way this evening - there's a get together of Word bloggers, browsers and contributors at King and Queen, 1 Foley Street, W1W 6DL - organised by Hannah
Those who've put an attending hand in the air include: Drakey Girl, Katy G, Jo dB and Retro Man. From the Southend Chapter, Marmite Boy and myself will be chipping along for a scoop or two.
If you do happen to be round and about Goodge Street/Foley Street way tonight - why not pop in for a toddy and a chat from 6. All the info you need is here
Phill Jupitus, Block (head)rocking Chalkwell Park last year
Tomorrow sees the third Village Green Arts Festival pitching up in Chalkwell park. A one day free event bulking up from 5000 festival go-ers in it's first year, to a borough-busting 20,000 in 09. And with the word of mouth buzz still spinning from last year - I'd expect to see that total topped this Saturday..
The tone of the day is a park-sized, polite picnic with tents and events: comedy, films and kiddy bits - soundtracked by live music from the main stage. Almost a louder, large-scale companion to the Leigh Folk Festival, wrapping up with a sensible 10pm turn in.
Home-grown talent always adds some local muscle to the bill. The Blockheads, Billy Bragg and Phill Jupitus for '09, and Snowboy and the Latin Section, The Famous Potataoes and The Dirty Fairies for '10
Grockles a go-go on the lineup include Carlene Anderson, Carter USM's Jim Bob and ex-Beta Band and Aliens man - Steve Mason whose set is top of my to-do list, having been looping his Boys Outside album for the last couple of months.
If only Wilco or Eddie and The Hot Rods to could be tempted to take the stage while the sunsets over Oil City for next year, that would be something truly special for us seasiders..
In the Teepee Tent with Billy Bragg - yes I am in here somewhere, and in the clip below
As an antidote to the shoulder-slumping parade of puppets, poppets and gumps that is the Eurovision Song Contest, May is World Music Month on the PM blog. We start off on the road to Brazil with probably one of the finest tunes ever logged in my cyberspace scrapbook - Não Aguento Você
It may sound like a song reformed from Set Me Free and Sha-na-na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - but bounces and breezes with the sort of tropical waft that the Brazilians do so well. See also Menino
Following a week of local based bumbling: pubs, beaches and bikes - for the next week it's Southwold here we come (isn't that a Smiths album?)
If you've never visited, the highlights include: Suffolk's tea colured sea, the Adnams brewery, Aspall's Suffolk Cyder, the Southwold Picture Palace, the pier, crabbing in Walberswick, one of the UK's finest chippies rated Number One (here) just a nip away in Aldeburgh, - and Southwold's high street lighthouse. But like Mrs PM says - why the high street? Aren't lighthouses meant to be on a rocky outcrop, spit or somesuch - not plonked next to the pub and brewery surely?
If you've never visited why not take a taste test here - Southwold tour
PSWe're not leaving until tomorrow - but I'm bored of usual holiday tunes (XTC, Beatles, Monty Python albums) having played them too many times - so any recommendations for must have holiday listens would be appreciated..
So, I'll leave you with Two summer soundalikes that were on my subs bench for the last Podrophenia..
Phew what a blooming scorcher. I'm sneaking my 'Summer Sounds Like This' Mix up for a limited run. It's a bit more Balearic than the usual Mondomania - but never mind the Balearics, it just seems simpatico in this crazy heat.
*offline*'Summer Sounds Like This'*offine*
Variety Lab - London In The Rain Big Muff – My Funny Valentine Physics – Leaving Monte Carlo Scubba (featuring Moana) - Fool To Cry Rouge Rouge – L'amour Ohm G & Bruno – One Grandadbob - Hide Me (Al Usher Dance Mix) The Streamers – Zwing Ting 311 Porter - Surround Me With Your Love (Mental Overdrive Mix) Stigmato Inc. - Reality Check Nouvelle Vague – Ever Fallen In Love Patricia Marx and 4 Hero – Menino Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band – L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice Parov Stelar - Kiss Me Twice Nouvelle Vague – Dancing With Myself Pink Martini - Sympathique
Hola! Hola! Hola - it's all gone Channel 9 and Mondo Bossa shaped for todays fistful of funky numbers, revolutionary remakes and south american shakedowns - so fill your botas mi amigos.
Well we've given 'guitar' a go-go (although some ol' spoilsport's pulled the vid's since), thumbed around with 'bass cadets' , tinkled with 'keyboards' and covered 'vocals' - so how about those bad boys (or girls - check out Chaka Kahn here) at the back of the band then?
If you've ever fancied a go at air percussion or desktop drums - these two tunes are the perfect soundtrack to some fantasy flailing.
I've no idea who the anonymous bod banging out back beat in Pucho's band is, but, like all truly top drawer drummers he balances his heavy handed crash, bang, wallop with perfectly positioned breathing spaces. Check out the light but tight tension and small scale pauses teased into his demolition drum breaks during this flute tooting tear up.
Tony Newman is a legendary session drummer that's played with Bolan and Bowie (all three are seen in this clip) Jeff Beck and Donovan (all three can be heard on the Donovan's funky number posted last week).
'Let The Good Times Roll' is a full pelt belter with scattergun drums thunderpunching their way through this Northern Soul thoroughbred that gallops out of the traps like a Grand National winner - it can't surely be possible to pack any more action into 2:36 - can it? Tony's non stop stomper was featured as part of the 'Cool Britannia' mix over at the Fu Fu blog(congrat's on your recent wedding Vince).
And you just can't do a drummer post without an appearance from the 'The King of Sticks' Mr Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie who demonstrates the delicate difference between Salsa and Afro Cuban styles.
I couldn't let Sir Stevie's 60th birthday go unblogged, so in keeping with this month's theme of a worldwide eye (and ear) we have..
An album that features Stevie Wonder, one of Toto and Pele - has there ever been a more random guest list!
Phew what a blooming scorcher.
