Fresh Local Sounds

Avoid last-minute holiday shopping stress by prancing and dancing through two local CD release parties. Dive into the tasty libations and tropical gyrations found on The Elastic Bond’s latest psychedelic space odyssey Excursion. Experimental genius Andrés Ponce conducts the electro-programming, with backup by Buffalo on guitar, Claudio Cruz on sax and flute, Papayo on percussion, and David Burgos on trumpet, among others. Silken-voiced Sofy EnCanto and ragarappin’ rhymesters Livan Mena and Orion guide you through this jazzy Latin-reggae-dub dream sequence starting at 11 p.m. at Circa 28. Call 305-772-1858.

Once you’re head deep into fa-la-la-la-land, go swing from the rafters of Transit Lounge with members of the Monkey Village collective. The sound of Phase IV, their 14th compilation in three years, is under tight banana leaf wraps, but it’s said to be wildly different from the last. Band members double their identities between tracks by Locos por Juana’s Chamo, Tap Tap’s house Haitian artist Rara Kuru, the already legendary Afrobeta, and more. Mighty jungle fun runs from 10 p.m. till the hyenas turn in at the Transit Lounge, 729 SW First Ave., Miami. Call 305-277-4628. Admission to both events is free.
Fri., Dec. 21, 2007