Ultimae's Ambrosia -- another psybient gem

For those of you who love the music from Ultimae Records in France -- especially if you were into the Fahrenheit series -- you'll love this new compilation they released in November. Called "Ambrosia," you can buy it directly from Bandcamp (preview it here). If the currency exchange rate doesn't work out for you in euros, Amazon and iTunes carry it as well.

Enjoy.

Chill out mix

With all the podcasts I make myself, I never get enough music. One of my favorite mix artists is Deep Goa, so for some nice chillout time, have a listen to episode 25, from December 2008. This post is courtesy of www.mixupload.com.

Bollyhood Cafe

Last night I met some friends at a new lounge space that's starting up in the Mission. Four longtime DJs and scenemakers have started a new, cozy space called Bollyhood Cafe on 19th Street near Mission...the cafe will feature downtempo/eastern fusion music, Bollywood movies on a big screen, things to nosh on (I had coconut chicken and roasted corn with lime sauce), good beer on tap (Chimay, microbreweries) and wine from Kermit Lynch -- all at reasonable prices. It's right next door to Baobab Cafe, so there should be an interesting back-and-forth between the two when Bollyhood really gets going.

DJ Giamma is interested in featuring live music as well as DJ mixes, so if you know some musicians who perform in this genre....

Bollyhood Cafe is at 3372 19th Street.

Back to bad habits

Well, there's no denying it: I'm definitely back, and back to my old tricks, as well. Today I walked to Amoeba Records to peruse the wares. I know--it's a compulsion. I have plenty of music. But you know how it is when you're into something....it's never enough.

Astonishingly, I don't walk out of Amoeba any more with an armload of CDs. Times have changed. I have a lot of what I want already, and the stuff on my wishlist is largely available only on special order from Europe or by digital download from web-only sellers. And like any record shop -- used or new -- even Amoeba has a lot of what I DON'T want: rack after rack of awful circuit-music CDs with ugly 3D cover art on them, and a seemingly endless supply of chillout compilations from 2001 with basically the same tracks on all of them but different bimbos on the cover.

Well, OK....I did buy three CDs. But I went in with a wishlist, and the chances of finding any of them was pretty remote. I guess I just couldn't leave empty-handed.