Bing Ji Ling

If you're in the mood for something light, fresh and funky, check out Bing Ji Ling's June Degrees in December EP. It's soulful, but also kind of glossy, so if you're in a Hall and Oates/Jamiroquai kind of mood, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Lots of pseudo-world sounds, like he's going for the Moreno Veloso +2/Jovanotti hip style; but as soon as he opens his mouth, it's way too Californian to sound exotic. There's nothing deep or difficult to decipher in the lyrics, it's just a light treat to open up the day. Still fun though!

Just a few things to watch out for: This guy's whole career is based on ice cream, as you can check out at his myspace. (Bing Ji Ling means "Ice Cream" in Mandarin.) He's also pretty ridiculous looking for a soul/pop singer, and his bio claims that as a baby he was writing pop jingles for (duh) ice cream companies. It's all absurd.

June Degrees in the December (mp3)

STAX Covering All Bases

Very cool treatment of both Motown and Beatles songs done by Stax artists:

• Soulsville Sings Hitsville
• STAX Does The Beatles
  

Why these compilations are so under the radar, I'm not so sure, but a lot of takes on both of these albums are great. They include Stax staples like Booker T and the MGs, the Staple Singers, David Porter, and more. (Isaac Hayes does a 12 minute rendition of George Harrison's "Something." Wow!)

The best part about Stax Recording artists is that they do the funk thing and the pop thing at the same time; so to take some of the best pop music of the 60s, only to funkify it, that's a recipe for a great spread!

Isaac Hayes - Something (mp3)
John Gary Williams - My Sweet Lord (mp3)

The Groove of Hugh Masekela

Before Hugh Masekela fell into the abyss of smooth-world-reverb, he was a badass funk who got his inspiration from a reservoir of musicians and rockers.  Take Fela Kuti's horns, Berry Gordie's pop sense, Herbie Hancock's top 40 jazz appeal, Os Mutantes' psychedelic guitar twang, and Bob Dylan's social sensitivity, and you finely shape yourself the funky sound of Masekela's 60's catalog.

One album I'd recommend in particular is 1967's Hugh Masekela's Latest.  I found this record accidentally; I wasn't looking for it, nor had I known about it prior.  I remember thinking the title sounded rushed at best, like an afterthought to throw on a world compilation for the record company.  But after listening, I realized that at the time, it was probably the best title available for Hugh.  Not only was it curt and simple, but you understand where he's coming from, musically.  On the album, he covers The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Janis Ian, and all the while using his own voice.  So yes, it was his latest release, but it was also his latest inspiration. 

Check out tha fresh sounds of Hugh Masekela's Latest.

• Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)(mp3) (Janis Ian Cover)
• Groove Me (mp3)