Showing posts with label Kiko Navarro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kiko Navarro. Show all posts

Friday, 12 April 2024

Made for customers on the largest of Balearic Islands, is it Balearic? If your idea of Balearic is a fusion of synthy bounce North Africa influences with soaring Spanish vocals and some added flamenco guitar and percussion in your house; this is it! 

After getting his son, Hugo Navarro to help out on last months' release, 'Una Matttina (A Morning)' (see review HERE) the ever busy Kiko has called up Nuria Millán (vocals) and Benji Habichuela (Spanish flamenco guitarist) to give us this totally different new release, 'Nana Del Caballo Grande' (Lullaby of the Big Horse).

Nothing to do with the Northern Soul classic by Cliff Noble & Co. (The Horse) but a new cover of the flamenco legend, Camaron De La Isla's hit as a commission for Majorca's dance and acrobatics company 'House of Son Amar'.

The dance troop are fans of Kiko's 'La Fatiga' (2020) and were looking for something similar for their productions so it made sense to call Benji for percussion as he worked on 'La Fatifa'.
And he is the one who suggested to add 'cantadora' (female singer) Nuria Millán who gives this proper flamenco cred in both the 'extended' and 'orginal' versions.

Flamenco is culturally important in these parts and you don't want to upset folks and Kiko et al certainly won't with this version that's back of your neck tingling whilst you're a dancin'.  Even the Exhibit remix is evenly split between a mostly acapella Pt 1 and a deep house bangin' Part 2.

So different to Una Matttina' but equally brilliant - time to give Kiko the freedom of the Islands (that's if he's not got it already) 



Artist: Kiko Navarro feat. Nuria Millán & Benji Habichuela
Title: Nana Del Caballo Grande
Release Date : 12th April, 2024
Catalog Number : AFTNE063
Label : Afroterraneo Music
Format: Digital

Saturday, 27 May 2023

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , , ,

It's all about the drum and master of the Balearic house, Kiko Navarro, gets his mates DJ Pippi and Willie Graff to work their magic on this EP for guaranteed dancefloor madness.

Both 'N' Fumbei' and the even deeper Jungle synthed disco of 'Esanah' are Afro-Latin tracks that you can spin from beach to jazz house.

But the 'bonus' track is even cooler as it's the beat "dub" 'N'Funbeats' that should only be played in a darkened backroom disco with all the other illict grooves: so raw it'll make chafing a pleasure - for serious dancers only; and for you nerds, there's a slightest of references to Yello's 'The Race'.

If you're used to DJ Pippi and Willie Graff's more downtempo grooves you'll need to up the tempo to more like fans of Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' with the Osunlade remixes (see review HERE) and the incredible Beatkozina.Abirah Shah 'Nusrat Passion' (see review HERE) you'll going to love this too!


Artist: Kiko Navarro, DJ Pippi, Willie Graff 

Title: Tempistica Mistica 

Release Date : 26th May, 2023

Catalog Number : AFTNE055

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital


Thursday, 30 March 2023

Fans of the last release on the Afroterraneo label, Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' featuring Nader Behravan that included an Osunlade remix (see review HERE) might think they'd know what they'd be getting with this latest release; but would they?

Well, they won't be surprised that this is an excellent couple of tracks that you'll want to hear again and again but whilst you may want to head for the Kiko remix to start with - hold on and get absorbed with the original version, not only because it's nearly 10 minutes long but it's got the "truly show-stopping performance" vocals of Abirah Shah.

This track is a glorious mix of Afro-Arabic-Indian subcontinent with deep house and as Kiko loves his spiritual Alice Coltrance/Tai Chi you can tell he's up for the remix.  If someone was to update ex-CAN member Holger Czukay's 1979 classic 'Persian Love', this would not be that far away.

Bearkozina formed out of Gregory Jouandon travelling from is London home to Marrakech where he met fellow multi-instrumentalist Marehdi Naami and this is there first release and is a tribute to internationally renowned performer of Qawwali (Sufis spiritual music), Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  Not only is this a fitting tribute, both versions are totally dancefloor ready so be prepared to be surprised!


And featured on the latest Colour & Pitch Session with Sumsuch


Artist: Beatkozina ft, Abirah Shah 

Title: Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) 

Release Date : 31st March, 2023

Catalog Number : AFTNE054 

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

1. Nusrat Passion (9:16)

2. Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) (7:54)


Friday, 25 November 2022

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , ,

This is absolute brilliant madness as the Baleraic beach is now an acid house vs. tai chi dancefloor.

Fans of Kiko Navarro will be aware of his 'Sounds Of My Breath' collaboration with Tai Gung/Qigong expert Nader Behravan (and Navaro fan) but the idea of Osunlade 'Yoruba Soul' remix has turned mantra of 'less is more' on its head(stand) pose.

There's seems to be a trend with acid at the moment with the new Hieroglyphic Being album 'There Is No Acid In This House (Soul Jazz Records) and, of course, our favourite 303 in you're disco with Daniel Wang's 'DSDN EP' (Paloma).  Any coinsidence, that Osunlade made his name at Soul-Jazz with his Yoruba Soul sound?

Nader is a perfect instructor but if you find his spoken word distracting there's an instrumental version.  Osunlade is not scared of it as he takes it fully on-board as he takes us on a smooth trans-euro 303-acid drop trip . 

Shame no Kiko Navarro Motor City Jazz Remix but perhaps it's in the pipeline.  Video's of Nader's breathing technique can be found on Kiko's web site for further enlightenment. 

P.S. Osunlade is also featured in the latest copy of FAITH, Winter 2022 vol. 3 #8

Artist: Kiko Navarro ft. Nader Behravan

Title: You Take Over (inc. Osunlade Remix)

Release Date : 25th November, 2022

Catalog Number : AFTNE052

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital

1. You Take Over ft. Nader Behravan (8:31)

2. You Take Over ft. Nader Behravan (Osunlade Yoruba Soul Remix) (8:42)

3. You Take Over ft. Nader Behravan (Instrumental Version) (8:25)