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Orion Agassi’s Spanish Jams

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The Ritmo Astral founder picks some of his favourite records from his home turf.

Orion Agassi is a producer who has kept a relatively low profile despite his music having found its way into some of the sets and record bags of some of the most famous DJ’s on the circuit. His music has been heavily championed by Solomun and much of his material has been the ‘secret weapons’ of a select few for a little while now.

This month marked the vinyl release of the “Hot Jams Straight Out The 330XX” EP which was released collaboratively between Huntleys & Palmers affiliated imprint Belters and Ritmo Astral. It’s the tracks from this EP which have been setting clubs ablaze for a little while now.

 

Orion Agassi draws upon a number of influences and musical styles connected to his heritage and lineage. There is a ‘Spanish’ theme which runs throughout – even if it’s not that of a stereotype or sound. It’s in the time signatures, the used of instrumentation and beyond.

In keeping with this, we asked Orion Agassi to curate a playlist of favourite ‘Spanish Jams’ and boy has he delivered.

Buy the record HERE.

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Orion agassi
LISTEN
Perlita de Huelva - Mi Almohada

From her awesome album ‘Quiero Olvidar’ released in 1980. I featured this song on a recent mix for Infinit Records. Flamenco-Disco at its best. Perlita sings amazing and the combination of her voice and the Disco production is very unique.

  • Perlita de Huelva - Mi Almohada

    From her awesome album ‘Quiero Olvidar’ released in 1980. I featured this song on a recent mix for Infinit Records. Flamenco-Disco at its best. Perlita sings amazing and the combination of her voice and the Disco production is very unique.

  • Remedios Amaya - Loco, Loquito

    Dalila put me in tune with this album from 1983, produced by Julio Palacios. ‘Loco, Loquito’ is my fave but the whole album is great, very solid. Remedios has a great voice and the production blends electronic music with flamenco perfectly.

  • Azúcar Moreno - Azúcar Moreno

    Julio Palacios on the production again. This is my fave song from the first LP by the duo Azúcar Moreno, which means ‘Brown Sugar’. Cant forget to mention their release ‘Mix In Spain’ from 1988, a salad made of Flamenco, Hip-hop and Electronic Dance Music.

  • Deblas - Puedes Buscarte Un Nuevo Amor

    Spanish Disco at its finest. I played it for my partner in crime DJ Bert and now its one of his essentials. Deblas were a duo that had some awesome and bold and open-minded lyrics for that era and the production is so nice. This song talks about seeking for a new love everyday.

  • Tino Casal - Tigre Bengalí

    Tino was from my hometown and has always been a big inspiration for me. Producer, composer, vocalist, painter, sculptor, fashion designer. ’Tigre Bengalí’ is one of my favuorites from his catalog. He had one of the first Roland TR-808’s in Spain, that he brought from Japan.

  • Rubi Y Los Casinos - Bailar Contigo En La Oscuridad

    Produced by Julián Ruiz, who was Tino Casal’s producer, in 1982. Probably one of the first Spanish songs featuring a Roland TR-808. I wonder if it was Tino’s 808? I discovered this song several years ago, and quickly passed it to DJ Kigo, who featured it in his ’Spanish Boogie’ mix series, that I recommend.

  • Chipen - Volao

    Good example of Funky Rumba / Gipsy Funk Disco. I included this song in a couple mixes and also played it live. They talk about a girl named Maria *coughs* who makes them crazy in the head. 

  • Al’ Oro - Al’ Oro

    Don’t have much info about this jewel. The vinyl costs some serious money on Discogs. Spanish Funk is something rare and on top of that you can tell by the lyrics and the style that these guys were street-wise. I haven’t heard the rest of the album, but I know somebody who knows somebody who owns a copy.