Last week we sat down with Peruvian percussionist Chico Chavez in our Minneapolis studios. He spent a lot of time sharing some insight about Afro-Peruvian music and culture. He also performed some examples of different styles of the genre with our VP of production (and guitar ninja) Cory Wong. Here is a tiny little sample of the footage we captured during our time with Chico last week.

Since the invention of recording technology, people all over the world have utilized it to capture music to be enjoyed over and over again. Often times, especially with today’s technology, recordings from one region travel thousands of miles across the globe and are enjoyed by a whole new audience. But, every once in a while an incredible form of music hardly seems to make it past the borders of the nation in which it was created. Such is the case with Afro-Peruvian music. Only a small handful of this music has ever been compiled and released outside of Peru. This spring Secret Stash Records will set out to change that.

On April 11th Minneapolis based Secret Stash Records is traveling to Lima in search of Afro-Peruvian music. A group of 3 people from the label will stay in the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco and record local talent. In addition to the recording project, they are also making the long journey in an effort to discover rare and lost recordings to reissue. They will film their entire adventure and compile a documentary detailing their experiences upon their return.

“We’ve been very fortunate to get hooked up with some very key players in the Afro-Peruvian scene. It’s been absolutely amazing to see the response of the Peruvians to our inquiries,” said Cory Wong, the label’s VP of Production. “They are just thrilled to see a group from the US so interested in not only their music, but their culture. They possess an incredible sense of pride in this music and are excited to share it with outsiders. You can’t really compare it to anything here in the states,” he added.

The beginning of this project can be traced back to Wong’s guitar studies in Saint Paul, MN with Lima native Andres Prado in 2007. It was during his time with Prado that Cory was first exposed to Afro-Peruvian music. Eventually he shared it with the rest of the Secret Stash staffers. The label, who specializes in compilations of very specific lost or forgotten niche genres of music such as Soviet Funk Volume 1 and Porno Groove: The Sound of 70s Adult Films instantly cooked up a plan to head down to Lima and compile new and old collections of Afro-Peruvian music for release throughout the word. Next week, they will finally make the journey, document every moment of it, and share their findings with music lovers everywhere. Be sure to check back right here for live updates from the guys while they are on their journey.

We are very excited to officially announce the release of our next LP, Gospel Funk (5/25/10).  This collection of rare funky gospel gems has been almost 2 years in the making!  We spent hundreds of hours sorting through and listening to a collection of tapes containing over 3,000 tracks known as the House of Beauty catalog to bring you this compilation.  Everything was remastered in St. Paul, MN by our very own staff (as usual).  Also, as is the case with all of our new releases, each LP includes a download card redeemable for an MP3 version of the entire album.  Check out the video below to learn a bit more about this record and hear some great audio samples.

Hope you dig it,

SSR

We felt pretty bad about bumping the release date of Soviet Funk Volume 2 back.  This is our attempt to make it up to you in some small way.  If you order your copy of this black and red split color vinyl + MP3 ($17) before 3/30/10 , we’ll throw in a t-shirt for only $3.  Click here to place your order now.   Offer only good while supplies last.

As you may have noticed, today is the planned release date of Soviet Funk volume 2, but it’s still not available in our store or any where else for that matter.  We ran in to some issues with the test pressings.  It’s taken a while to straighten out, but everything is fine now.  We’re just really glad that we didn’t go to press with flawed parts!   Quality is job one around here!

The new release date will be 03/30/10.

We will announce a value added pre-order special soon….

coming soon…

Paul Lorentz of Sonic File  just did an excellent review of Soviet Funk Volume 1.  It’s well researched and provides great commentary specifically about the music.  You can check it out HERE.

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.  CONGRATS TO PETE A. FOR WINNING

We are so stoked about the release of Soviet Funk Volume 2 that we’ve decided to give away a free copy (plus a slip mat).  See details below…

One fun thing about record collecting is to see and learn about the different types of pressings that are out there.  As you may have heard, Soviet Funk Volume 2 is printed on black and red split color vinyl.  This is a very rare type of pressing that has been recently revived by one plant in United States.  Unlike picture discs, split color records maintain the same audio quality as regular black vinyl records.  However, picture discs still have a very cool collectible factor to them.  The first picture disc was manufactured in 1904.  Since then, manufacturers have experimented with many different materials and processes for making them.  Eventually most manufacturers settled on the process still used today.  But, in the late 70s, a UK manufacturer started pressing picture discs utilizing a different method.  This new process proved to be inferior and was eventually abandoned.

Be the first to correctly answer the following and you will win a FREE copy of Soviet Funk Volume 2 (LP+MP3) and a Secret Stash slip mat.

1) Briefly describe the process used to make picture discs today.

2) Briefly describe the inferior method used in the UK starting in the late 70s.

3) Describe 2 ways you can tell which of the two methods a picture disc was made with.

Submit your answer here.

Good luck!

SSR

PS- even if you don’t win, don’t forget to grab your FREE MP3 track from Soviet Funk Volume 2

Yo Minneapolis,

If you haven’t been out to one of the many record shows here in town, it’s time to get off your butt and come check this out.  In case you aren’t familiar with this stuff, just think of it as the best record shop you can imagine, but on wheels and with really weird hours.  Every couple months (but more frequently in the summer months), a group of record dealers gather in one place (they move all over the cities) and sell records at great prices.  It’s super fun and you will meet some great people when you go.  We’ll be down there for sure digging for more items to add to our personal stashes.   This time around there will be some local DJs spinning for your entertainment.  See details below.  Be there or be square.

Location: (same as last time)
2285 University Avenue, St. Paul
It is being held in the ‘party room’ of the Carlton Lofts buildings, which is located between the two loft buildings. There is plenty of free parking on University.

Cover charge: FREE!

Date and time: Friday March 12th     4 PM – 10 PM
Saturday March 13th  10 AM – 10 PM
Sunday March 14th      Noon – 4 PM

Artist: pomogite
Track: ubijcy v belyx xalatax
From the album: soviet funk volume 2
Street date: 3/16/10

Like all of the Soviet Funk material, this track was recorded by Pavel Sysoyev during an unauthorized late night session in a studio intended only to make content for the USSR State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcast (state controlled media). It is the second track on the second volume of the series. In this number you will hear a higher level of musicianship and raw technical ability than the recordings featured in the first installment.

We hope you dig it,
SSR

-right click the download link below and select “save link as” to download-