This week’s show starts out with a track by the recently-deceased drummer Steve Reid, who Gilles Peterson started a foundation for on behalf of struggling musicians. The GPWW radio show moves quickly after that with some Roots, plus more great music by Morgan Zarate, Jack Soul, Riton and Hefner.

Then we get into the special mix from the latest Brainfeeder signing, a new LA-based pianist named Austin Peralta. He plays a nice variety of tunes alongside his own songs, including Bjork, John Coltrane, J Dilla, Archie Shepp and more. Gilles finishes off the show with more Coltrane (never enough ‘Trane) Sun-Ra, Bobby Hutcherson, Tortoise, Moloko and Arthur Russell.

Part 1
 

Part 2
 

Listen in Jukebox

More Info & Tracklisting

Mulatu Steps Ahead was released on Strut Records last year by Mulatu Astatke and now he’s touring around places like San Paolo, Brazil. Watch him perform a couple tracks from the new album: above is his song “The Way to Nice” and you can watch “Motherland” on Strut’s Youtube channel. Thanks to Strut for the great footage; live performances are rarely this clear and this sounds fantastic.

mulatu-steps-ahead.com

If you missed the first Electric comp from Brownswood Recordings, there’s still time to catch up in time for Volume Two, which will be available this Summer on June 27/28th.  [Volume 1 on iTunes]. We should have known they weren’t done. Volume 1, a selection of the finest new electronic music, including artists like 16 Bit, Rockwell, Mount Kimbie, B. Bravo, Mosca, Schlomo, opened a obvious opportunity for an ongoing series. So Volume 2 is on the way, thanks to the Gilles Peterson/Brownswood team, and of course the growing movement of so-far unclassifiable producers.

Here’s a teaser mix for Volume 2, plus the tracklist after the jump.

Brownswood electr*c 2 // Album Teaser by Brownswood

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Dirty Vegas dropped their latest release, Electric Love, yesterday and today they are finally stateside to give us a show after the long hiatus! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, then here is your chance to snag a pair of tickets to see them on Friday, April 29th, at Public Assembly in Brooklyn in a very special DJ set up. Simply answer the question correctly for your chance to win.

More Info || Enter To Win

Dirty Vegas – Changes (Body Language Juke Mix-Unreleased) by OMrecords. Uploaded with BandPage by RootMusic

Check out this footage from WNYC’s live performance program Soundcheck, featuring Femi Kuti & The Postive Force, a full 11-piece band. Here he performs the title track from his latest album, “Africa for Africa.” Today he will also be a featured guest on NPR at 3pm EST to discuss his music and politics – don’t miss it!

Africa for Africa the album is available now, as are tickets to Femi’s nationwide tour. Check a full list of tour dates and enter our contest to win tickets for the city of your choice.

Africa for Africa on iTunes | Amazon

“If you like Quadron, you’ll love Boom Clap Bachelors.” And if you don’t like Quadron, the Danish duo of producer Robin Hannibal and vocalist Coco O, then we suggest that you get your head fixed. Freshly released on Plug Research for the US, Boom Clap Bachelors are a kind of spin-off from Quadron, getting their friends involved: Ronni Vindahl, Thomas Bisballe and David Cytryn on production, with Liv Lykke joining Coco on vocals. The obvious difference between the two groups is that BCB has Danish lyrics, but nothing gets lots in translation. The Danish title Mellem Dine Læber translates to “Between Your Lips.”

Their new album Mellem Dine Læber is out now in the US, and streaming on Soundcloud with new videos on the way. Buy it now on iTunes to get a bonus track.

Boom Clap Bachelors – Mellem Dine Læber EP by Plug Research

BoomClapBachelors.net

Photo via Potholes in My Blog

The Stepkids are the latest signing to Stones Throw records, deviating from the label’s “indie hip-hop” reputation earned with artists like Madlib, Percee P, MED, Doom and Dilla. The Stepkids are made up of three meticulous session musicians who got tired of the back-up gigs (playing on stage for artists like Alicia Keys, 50 Cent and Lauryn Hill) and made this new music in their free time. We were lucky to have them open up for Aloe Blacc last year and they blew us away.  Aside from the main draw which is their fantastic new sound, they also enhance their live show with visuals by wearing all white clothing while standing in front of a white sheet with a projector in front of them. And lots of beautiful swirling colors.

Along with a free download of “Shadows on Behalf,” Stones Throw is offering this stream of “La La,” a track that Gilles Peterson had to rewind in his Worldwide radio show. Gilles had to make sure you heard the quiet lyrics early in the song because it’s such a lovely tune that it’s easy to lose the heavy meaning behind it. Both of these tracks are available on colored vinyl, made exclusively for Record Store Day. Looking like Spin Art, this is the best colored vinyl we’ve seen yet, making good use of those inevitable ink bleeds.

Their debut album will be released in September 2011.

“Shadows on Behalf” [MP3]
The Stepkids – Shadows On Behalf by stonesthrow

“La La”
The Stepkids – La La by stonesthrow

thestepkids.com

Check out the new video from Big Boi’s 2010 album Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Return of Chico Dusty, featuring our girl Janelle Monáe in one of the best tracks on the album, “Be Still.”

This track by Nick Pride & the Pimptones ft. Jess Roberts is just one of 18 killer singles on Smoove Presents Mo’ Record Kicks Act 2, out now. You can hear more on the Record Kicks Soundcloud page, which is hosting half of the album for sample listening. Fitting the raw soul of this album, many of the songs are available on vinyl 45s and we are giving away a few to one lucky winner.

Enter to win our exclusive contest for three 45s including “Waitin’ So Long” and more. Check the full list on the contest page.

Buy Smoove Presents Mo’ Record Kicks Act 2 on iTunes | Amazon | Record Kicks

VA SMOOVE pres MO’ RECORD KICKS Act II – MINIMIX by MO’ RECORD KICKS

The Red Bull Music Academy hosted a first live performance in their London studio with Raphael Saadiq, whose album Stone Rollin’ is close enough to taste (release date, May 10th). His videos for “Good Man,” “Radio” and “Stone Rollin” have been released, but in these Red Bull sessions we get to preview a few more songs from his new album, including “Movin Down the Line” and “Day Dreams.”

In early May, leading up to the official release date, Giant Step presents Raphael Saadiq Listening Sessions. First up, the next installment of our SVEDKA Vodka Listening Sessions series takes place in Miami at The Florida Room at Delano on May 6th. The next night, Giant Step and SOM. bring the listening event to San Francisco.