Mademoiselle Coco

Following successful excursions into rare tropical and island sounds with the ‘Sofrito’ series, ‘Haiti Direct’ and ‘Calypsoul 70’ albums, Strut Records turns its focus to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius for a new compilation, ‘Soul Sok Séga’. Séga first developed as an insular music and dance form after slaves arrived on Mauritius (then île de France) from East Africa and Madagascar during the 17th to 19th centuries, using Créole language and rhythms played on the large ravanne circular drum, the triangle and the maravanne, a box filled with dried seeds.

If there is truly such a thing as elegant sound, it can be found on Prive: The Lounge Anthology: a luxurious 6 disc compilation that reunites the best of chill-out, trip hop and lounge classics. On this album we find all of the music that comprised the 'new cool' sound of the early 90's and today is part of a style that has changed the way young people listen to music. Prive: The Lounge Anthology offers tracks by artists such as Alex Gopher, Thievery Corporation, Jose Padilla (DJ and creator of the infamous Cafe Del Mar series), Emiliana Torrini, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Beirut, Kevin Yost, Pink Martini, Stephane Pompougnac (DJ and creator of the Hotel Costes saga), Angie Bowie and many more. The eye-catching package is this time but a compliment to what is truly a meeting of the greatest minds of contemporary music.

Der 25. Oktober 1929 war für Maria und Giuseppe Valente, die mit ihren drei Kindern Nina, Pietro und Silvio seit 1924 in Paris lebten, tCaterina Valenteatsächlich ein 'schwarzer Freitag'. Maria Valente hatte als Varieté-Star auf den großen Bühnen der Welt Erfolg und war auch in den USA so bekannt, dass sie mit ihrer Familie dort leben und arbeiten wollte. Der Börsen-Crash verhinderte diese Pläne, denn Familie Valente verlor, wie so viele andere auch, alle Ersparnisse. Sie blieben also in Paris, wo am 14. Januar 1931 die jüngste Tochter von Maria und Giuseppe zur Welt kam: Caterina.