3/23 new arrivals

Not a whole lot to recommend for this Friday aside some Latin jazz and British hip-hop.

Johnny Pachecho, El Maestro: The Dominican bandleader Johnny Pacheco was one of the founders of the legendary Fania Records, and this 1975 collection is, without a doubt, the best thing to hit the site today. Although Pacheco’s official site gets a bit carried away with its boasts (“For decades El Maestro Johnny Pacheco have been at the center of the universe,” the front page reads), the man is somewhat of a legend, although arguably more for being a Latin Ahmet Ertegun than for his own music. El Maestro, though, is a lively and fun record, more traditionally Latin than, say, Ray Barretto‘s output, but containing the same energetic feel.

Roots Manuva, Run Come Save Me: The only Roots Manuva record you need to own is also one of the only British hip-hop albums you need to own, as well. This album took off a bit in 2001 thanks to “Witness (1 Hope),” a great single, and elsewhere it’s a mix of trip-hop, dub and other “rootsy” sounds.

The Silent League, Seaside Sessions, Volume 1: Mercury Rev sideman’s Brooklyn outfit, big and orchestral. This is their first recording, if I’m not mistaken.

You Say Party! We Say Die!, Lose All Time: So the name is at least 68% of why this made the small cut for today, but the samples sound pretty solid, too. Female vocals, music upbeat indie-pop, definitely informed by both emo and the contemporary work of Of Montreal. Not spectacular, but better than good enough.