As you might have seen, our Vibe session was on pause last month so it’s only right we come back bigger and bashier….especially as its almost summertime!

This month the Heads High/12 Tone camps will be joined by Wara, a crew of young musicians forging an explosive new brand of Afro-Cuban groove, infected with hip-hop, soul and a whole heap more. Born in 2009, Wara took the London latin alternative scene by storm from their very first gig. Their sound is  tropical  with an extra dose of Cuba, shaken not stirred, asere!

See below for flyer (inna old school block party style).

As I opened my front door to a spine-chillingly cold blast of Arctic air this morning I found myself thinking ‘When the rass is this winter going to end?’ Thankfully, the warmth and wellness of an equatorial existence was closer than I’d imagined as my inbox opened and a warm breeze carried news of the next Sofrito Tropical Warehouse bash!

Those that know tend to know about Sofrito’s functions, their heavyweight bills, heavier dubplates and contrastingly light-footed crowds have brought them much attention on these shores and beyond. Add to that a scorching release schedule and a propensity for rooting out excitingly unknown locations for their events and you have all the information required to confirm your attendance at their next session.

March the 6th is a big one, here’s the blurb:

“For our first party of 2010 we are very proud to present an exclusive DJ appearance from QUANTIC alongside many special guests!

Taking control of an amazing new two room warehouse space in the heart of Dalston, we’ll be playing the best in hot and heavy Tropical sounds in a costeño style!

We are bringing together the peerless Family Atlantica (featuring Luzmira Zerpa and Jack Yglesias) and Quantic to present the heaviest Vallenato and cumbia sounds in an exclusive live set that you won’t be able to see anywhere else!  The raw sound of the Caribbean coast, bringing together Afro-Venezualan sounds and the folkore of Colombia.

All this alongside a live set from Afro Latin masters Drymbago, DJ action from Quantic himself and the Sofrito Soundsystem plus some special guests!

Tickets are £10 in advance (plus £1 booking fee)”

So there you have it. Cheat winter and get your heat on. In the meantime, here’s a mix lovingly sculpted by the soft hand of Sofrito, taking in rhythms from Colombia, Benin, Trinidad, Angola as well as an exclusive track from Quantic’s Sonido del Valle project…

Download Tropical Warehouse Mix

I have to admit that Reggaeton has always been a guilty pleasure of mine (much to the dismay of certain other members of the Heads High crew LOL). But I’m continually exasperated at the unimaginative production and mindless posturing of most mainstream artists so it’s always refreshing to hear the output of people like Tego Calderon and Calle 13.

Calle 13 are one group from the Latin urban / Reggaeton world that should crossover more, eschewing the traits of most mainstream Latin urban artists, their enlightened take on the genre goes well beyond straight Reggaeton and Hip Hop, taking in elements of Samba, Cumbia, Tango and much more. Led by brothers rapper Residente and production man Visitante ,the combination of inventive music and knowing clever lyrics have contributed to their success worldwide. They have tapped into a kind of Pan-Latin American consciousness, making them accessible to both the discerning music listener and the Mamis and Papis, they even recently experienced a spiritual re-awakening in the high plains of Peru, the focus of a new documentary about them “A La Venta Ya”

Calle 13 held nothing back for their startlingly brilliant live show that debuted in London the other night (August 12^th) with an eleven-piece band that included a horn section, drummer and two percussionists, a welcome surprise I’m sure for many accustomed to the usual Reggaeton and Hip Hop PAs. A welcome addition to the show is the brother’s sister – PG13 – who punctuates some of the songs with her fantastic vocals and kooky stage presence, as illustrated on this MTV live clip one of their earlier tracks Hormiga Brava which demonstrates their live show whilst retaining the sound quality lost on most YouTube clips.

For some, Calle 13 mash up action courtesy of my main man in Buenos Aires, Argentina check Diamante’s website

or attached here for your convenience

Download Calle 13 vs MIA