The fight for diverse and conscious voices

Still catching up on end-of-year and best-of lists. I was particularly disappointed with Bootie this time. They list lots of mashes, most of which I've already heard, from a pretty narrow list of half a dozen artists. Here are two of the good ones, followed by some new-to-me stuff.

http://bootiemashup.com/bestofbootie2011/Best%20of%20Bootie%202011%20(Unmixed)/Lobsterdust%20-%20Roll%20It.mp3
Lobsterdust has been busy (see his 2011 mashed download page). This one, called "Roll It" is a pretty simple three-way of Salt 'n' Pepa's "Push It" and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, with some A Trak thrown in for vocal variety.

http://bootiemashup.com/bestofbootie2011/Best%20of%20Bootie%202011%20(Unmixed)/Titus%20Jones%20-%20Dont%20Stop%20Believin%20In%20This%20Love%20On%20Earth.mp3
Titus Jones has a thing for female and high-pitched vocals. Here he's got another brilliant mega-mix with four current and past divas along with Journey and Bruno Mars who fit in just right. Notably lacking in Katy, it manages to work in a big helping of Ke$ha without setting off my teeth-grinding. And yes, it's got a standard party-banger beat in places, but what makes the mix work well is that Jones doesn't rely on a single beat throughout. He mixes it in and out, dropping both vocal and instrumental samples in.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/The_Limousines/track/Call_Me_Al_Paul_Simon_Cover
The Limousines (http://myspace.com/thelimousines) are a pair of guys who manage to walk the line between respect and irreverence in style. Here they're covering a massively (over)played Paul Simon track and doing it with verve and originality. They keep the signature trumpet and the vocals on the cover are similar, but there are fillips and flourishes and a modern electronic sensibility that re-infuse the song with fun.

If you know The Limousines at all, it's probably for "Internet Killed the Video Star", their biggest hit to date. Itself an homage to the (over)played Buggles tune "Video Killed the Radio Star" (sometimes called the MTV anthem). You can find the video and a free download of the MP3 for it on their MySpace page.

http://audioporncentral.com/2012/01/illegal-sunday-gotye-somebody-i-used-to-know-rey-kjavik-repaint.html
Gotye's quietly beautiful "Somebody I Used To Know" gets even more haunting and yet more soothing in this "repaint" from Rey & Kjavik. It's an extended mix that rolls gently along fading vocal bits in and out over snap rhythms and understated electronica samples.

http://audioporncentral.com/2012/01/amadou-mariam-ft-santigold-dougou-badia.html
Amadou and Mariam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadou_%26_Mariam) are a blind couple from Mali who perform traditional Malian music infused with modern electronic instrumentals - primarily guitars - and a wide variety of vocal styles, ranging from melodic choral backing to near-rap intense vocal fronting. The word "unique" gets abused a lot but I feel confident saying theirs is a unique sound and if you like afro-beat, tribal or Caribbean styles at all you'll recognize bits of those in here and - I think - enjoy it as much as I do.

http://audioporncentral.com/2012/01/illegal-sunday-mighty-mike-remember-my-dollar.html
Mighty Mike puts Blueboy's 2009 UK dance hit "Remember Me" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGIeJswiJU4) side-by-side with the modern soul track "I Need a Dollar" by Aloe Blacc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6oYX1D-0w). Blacc brings both the Motown horn sound and the mournful vocals of great classic soul, which plays up certain parts of the other tune and gives the overall mash a wonderful chill.