Los Apartamenos have been spreading Jamaican mento folklore since 2016 – from private pool parties to international festivals. Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska/reggae music. It is often confused with calypso, a musical form from Trinidad and Tobago, and although the two share many similarities they are distinct musical forms. Mento’s focus on acoustic instruments is preserved here, and all songs were recorded with one microphone with nearly no overdubs, capturing that old timey feel. Members of Los Apartamentos have played in well known German ska acts The Braces, Monkey Shop, and Kapelle 3. This debut album is inspired by 1960’s Jamaican sessions by Count Owen, Lord Fly, Count Lasher, and Lord Flea, and was produced by Boss Van Trigt (Boss Capone, The Upsessions) in the Masons Arms studio. “Water Di Garden” is guaranteed to excite the tourist inside you as you cry “take me to Jamaica where the rum comes from!” You loved our limited edition flexi postcard – now get the debut full length! Limited to 300 copies on black and poolside blue vinyl. Continue reading Mento Madness from LOS APARTAMENTOS “WATER DI GARDEN” LP (OUT OF PRINT – REPRESS FALL 2023)
Tag: mento
KING PÉPE & HIS CALYPSO COMBO “Tropical Invasion” 10″ LP (JUMP109LP) (OUT OF PRINT)
KING PÉPE & HIS CALYPSO COMBO not only are inspired by the Latin American and Afro-Caribbean music, they revisit it. They take us to distant lands in the middle of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, combining Caribbean rhythms with Latin and New Orleans jazz; it is a journey through time, from Trinidad to Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cuba and Colombia until Brazil, and up through the banks of the Mississippi. It’s the grace and beauty of Calypso and Mento mixed with Goombay, Highlife, Mambo, Son Cubano, Changui, Samba, Cumbia, Merengue, Jazz, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, and Oldies – a tasty musical stew indeed. This hard working French combo is a perfect fit for our “78RPM style 10” LP calypso series. It has the look and feel of those original Jamaican Mento albums, recorded in 33 rpm (don’t worry!). Antique olive green vinyl. Limited edition on JUMP UP Records. Continue reading KING PÉPE & HIS CALYPSO COMBO “Tropical Invasion” 10″ LP (JUMP109LP) (OUT OF PRINT)
COUNT KUTU & THE BALMERS “Take Me” 10″ LP (JUMP107)
Count Kutu & The Balmers is a Calypso and Mento band from Manila, Philippines. Formed in 2002 by original members Count Kutu, Senyor Lucca, Don Ustollano, Lord Santadio and Doctor Turbo, the band plays strictly rural style Jamaican mento music, lead by Count Kutu’s nasal voice and vintage acoustic instrumentation ranging from low end guitars, Tenor Banjo, maracas, catacoo, sand block, bamboo drum and rumba box. Continue reading COUNT KUTU & THE BALMERS “Take Me” 10″ LP (JUMP107)
