Los Angeles based Sol Selectas boss Sabo makes a contribution to our Five Tracks series this week, with a tribal-leaning chart which includes productions from names like Masaki Morii, Gregor Salto, and DJ Chus.
Starting 2025 off in good form, he just released a 13-track VA album titled ‘Global Entry 6’, which alongside his new original ‘Ragga Reality’, also features music from HAUMS, Cetrini, Emrat, and Desert Dwellers.
Masaki Morii – Tribal Rhythm
Label: eViVE
“This guy has been killing it for a few years now, putting out really soulful tribal grooves, that somehow sound very NYC early 2000’s to me. Amazing and original drum programming, with nice tension and drama in the strings, it’s been a staple in my sets for months. I love tracks like this that do not have obvious long breakdowns, but are great blending tools. They are so useful for steering your sound in new directions during long extended sets. Released on the legend Steve Lawler’s label, which has been putting out so much good music lately, steering clear of any trends.”
Matur – Tugan Tel
Label: Botanica
“This beautiful tune is a perfect sunrise feel-good track. It has familiar melodies and great use of organic percussion and wind elements, without sounding formulaic. I really love the vocals sung in native Tatar language, something I had not heard before, as it just gives me a feeling of positivity. The song has a throwback Burning Man vibe to it, while still sounding fresh and unique. Great for warming up the night, or closing out the morning.”
Sabo – Afro Chooz (DJ Chus Remix)
Label: Redolent Music
“This one still crushes every time for me. I can’t even play my original anymore because Chus just knocked it out of the park on this remix. The breakdown is ethereal, melodic, and just really powerful. Despite there being so many copies now of these drum patterns, this was the first time I really heard it work in a track. And man, do people MOVE to this one. Shout out to Redolent, one of my favorite new labels to watch.”
Sabo & Sarkis Mikael – Ragga Reality
Label: Sol Selectas
“Had to include my latest release, made in collaboration with LA local Sarkis Mikael, on my own imprint Sol Selectas. The obscure vocal sample I had been holding on to for more than 10 years, and knew one day it was going to make it into a track of my own. I really love Jamaican dub, African percussion, and trippy sounds, so we attempted to combine all 3 of those elements to make something fresh, and built this darker afro tech groove around it. This one’s for late nights when things are getting weirder and weirder.”
Gregor Salto – Mas Que Nada (Respect To The Masters 2040 Edit)
Label: Salto Sounds
“I’ve been playing this since it came out on vinyl in 2007, but recently Gregor sent me this re-mastered version, and it sounds incredible. Everybody knows this song by now, so instead of playing some cheesy Splice-made Afro remix, I always go to this classy Brazilian version. The percussion is so funky on this, it sounds like a live Samba school in the background. I have ended countless sets over the years with this gem of gems.”