Flamingods have always had broad minds.
A multi-national collective with roots in Bahrain, they fuse psychedelic urges with a percussive tick that really impacts on the body.
An enthralling live act, the band's debut was a cult success while a recent EP on Moshi Moshi saw the sound continue to broaden.
Set to return to the UK this summer, Flamingods have picked out the perfect soundtrack for the rising temperatures…
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1. Les Baxter – 'Oasis of Dakhla – Tamboo!'
Les Baxter really frames that golden era of exotica for us, from the late 50s to 70s. Les, Martin Denny, Piero Umiliani, Arthur Lyman are just a few of our go to summertime records, with those lush soundscapes and the exotic imagery that comes with it, its hard not to feel summery – it makes us feel at home!
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2. Asha Bhosle – Udi Baba
This was a singer that was a staple part of my childhood – I never truly appreciated how amazing old Bollywood music was until I was much older. The combination of an Indian approach to the vocals and melodies with cheesy disco backbeat is just killer! As well as that about 99.9% of music of the time was all from films, so all tracks and videos have a great narrative as part of the film.
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3. Banda Black Rio – Maria Fumaca
Reissued by one of our favourite labels Mr. Bongo – this whole record is an incredible Brazilian psych/funk journey from beginning to end with some pretty crazy time signatures and insane instrumentals! This track was basically the tune that we put on when we arrive to any festival after a long and weary journey, and a tune that always finds it’s way into our summer DJ sets!
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4. Kenichiro Nishihara – 'Fly With The Wind'
This is such a ‘driving down the highway with the windows down’ tune. Kenichiro has such a wicked approach, combining classical with jazz (and a lot of his other stuff with hip-hop). It's a sunny day song that we always have to blast!
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5. Rick James – 'Give It To Me Baby'
There’s no denying that we are huge Rick James fans, this track just speaks for itself on this playlist. This is such a funky tune that’s almost compulsory to dance to!
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6. Miguel de Deus – 'Black Soul Brothers'
Another Mr. Bongo reissue on their 45s this always finds its way into our DJ sets too, it is an absolute floor filler with that intro! The kind of track that we’ve been more than overjoyed to stumble into late night at a festival.
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7. Ros Serey Sothea – 'Jam 10 Kai Theit'
Cambodian psych and Garage rock is SO underrated. Ros Serey Sosthea (similarly to Indian singers) sang on literally hundreds of tracks from classical to blues and this stuff. This is a bit of a summer love jam – as are a lot of her other tunes.
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Catch Flamingods at Field Day, London on June 3rd – ticket LINK.
For tickets to the latest Flamingods shows click HERE.
