(Volume 13 of Clifton’s Corner. Every other week on the blog Clifton Weaver, aka DJ Soft Touch, shares some of his favorite spins, old and new, in the worlds of soul, r&b, funk, psych and beyond.)

A few weeks back I was talking to my friend Rich, who books and promotes 60s oriented nights like The Bullet and Live Kicks, about new bands that we were into. I mentioned a group called Capital Grey (more on them later) and he waxed enthusiastically about a group he had recently booked called Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel. I looked them up on YouTube and all I can say is, “WOW!” The song “Right Where You Ought To Be” totally nails that late 60s Strawberry Alarm Clock sound. From the swirling organ, the Latin rhythms, the 60s style pop chorus and the psychedelic sheen that coats it all, this song is near to perfect, in my estimation.
MP3: Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel :: Right Where You Ought To Be
Quiet and introspective but at the same time jazzy and funky, ‘It Will Become’ by Eyas is not easily classifiable. Eyas is the solo project of LA musician Andres Renteria. Best known as a drummer/percussionist for such acts Mia Doi Todd, Jose Gonzalez, Flying Lotus, Build an Ark, the Life Force Trio, Pharaohs, and Nick Waterhouse, ‘It Will Become’ features a distinctive blend of those various styles as well as contributions from a few of those musical friends. Soul/jazz textures with Nick Drake-esque songwriting make for a surprising and satisfying musical combination.
MP3: Eyas :: First Light
MP3: Eyas :: No Need To Think
Finally, I’d like to leave you with some brand new funk from LA Afro/Latin-funk group Jungle Fire. I received these tracks a couple of weeks ago and kept putting off listening to them. My mistake! I thought I knew what to expect and I was wrong. These two tracks are pure dancefloor heat. I had to resist the urge to dance in my seat as I listened to them. It’d be easy to call them LA’s answer to the Budos Band but those kind of comparisons are unfair to both bands. Within the niche of Afro/Latin funk, both bands have carved out unique sounds. I’m hoping these are released on vinyl soon (or if they are, I can get my hands on it). “Tokuta” and “Comencemos” make up Jungle Fire’s new digital release.
Wonderful stuff, as usual.
Thanks for some cool new songs. Been listening to “Comencemos” for a couple weeks now–fantastic track.
this is badass
I Like it! Thanks for sharing all this wonderful music.
Thanks so much Clifton!
Filip
Capital Grey
facebook.com/capitalgrey
omg, JUNGLE FIRE! dj soft touch, i always know i can trust you.
Amazing selection of tracks! Comencemos is my favorite.
The Capital Grey song is going on my early summer mixtape. Mindblowingly good.
sweeeet!
Comencemos is a good cover of a song by Phirpo Y Sus Caribes, a Columbian band that played in the 70’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIKyjyLlkY
hesus, this is mighty mighty. thank you!!!
Download?
I downloaded ‘Comencemos’ from this page and just noticed its playing in the back of one of the episodes of Eastbound & Down from the last season. Fuckin Eh right