RIDE OR DIE

Listen to RIDE OR DIE by The Budos Band.

While the El Michels Affair may do a little recording with the Wu Tang Clan, the Budos Band is actually from The Slums of Shaolin.™

The Budos Band call themselves "afro-soul" but are still part of this little scene we're talking about. Actually, they're just a couple of degrees of separation from being a big deal--Amy Winehouse was a huge sensation last year, so much so that some people are aware that she recorded with a Brooklyn group, the Dap-Kings, whose best work has been with Sharon Jones, who is label mates (Daptone Records) with the Budos Band.

So why "afro-soul"? As is apparent on today's selection, they have an obvious thing for the Ethiopiques series. But it fits this general new funk, neosoul aesthetic, with (again) plenty of breakbeats, horns, an analog aesthetic, and an obvious pride in being strong players.

Photo: Local churches (2).