Like last year, and in some prior years this thread is for whatever "whirled", international, frequently non-English language genres you choose. Yes we hate the term "world" also. Yes, we know there are separate threads for Arabic music, Latin hiphop,K-pop, Afrobeatz and various other international genres. Yes, we know that Ethiopian old-school tunes sound very different from Angolan club beat filled ones. But since there are not enough folks on this chatboard forum to sustain separate threads for each country's current releases (or reissues), we have this. Ok, enough defensiveness. I am looking forward to hearing more guitar-using Afropop, more hybrid tunes using club beats and traditional sounds and vocals; and more exciting unique vocalists, instrumentalists and producers from many parts of the globe.
Here's last year's thread:
Return of the World Music Thread: 2012
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 January 2013 17:37 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/29/opinion/save-mali-before-its-too-late.html?smid=tw-share&_r=2&
An editorial by a female northern Mali mayor, Oumou Sall who has fled; and a tribute song to her by Khaira Arby
https://soundcloud.com/chrisanolan3/oumou-sall-par-khaira-arby
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 January 2013 17:48 (eleven years ago) link
this is one of my fave ilm threads even if the title is a misnomer!
― Mordy, Tuesday, 1 January 2013 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
I assume everyone here knows about Awesome Tapes from Africa but the tape this morning, Blind Musical Flames' Flames Morale, is so warm + sunny. Blind Musical Flames are a sight-impaired group from Sierra Leone.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 13:56 (eleven years ago) link
FATOUMATA DIAWARA (Mali)and others are gonna be at Global fest 2013 on January 13th in NYC. I wish she would come back to W. DC
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 January 2013 22:20 (eleven years ago) link
looking forward to globalfest, pretty fun lineup and i trust those guys
― What am I, in France? (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 6 January 2013 01:22 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.globalfest-ny.com/gf2013
― curmudgeon, Monday, 7 January 2013 05:38 (eleven years ago) link
KAYHAN KALHOR AND ERDAL ERZINCAN (Iran/Turkey)
I like the little bit I have heard of this duo (who are coming to Globalfest in NYC and to DC's kennedy Center) and think Rudiph might like 'em too.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 January 2013 14:02 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/world/africa/mali-islamist-rebels-france.html
― Mordy, Saturday, 12 January 2013 04:45 (eleven years ago) link
They are going to have to send more troops to dislodge the radicals. What a sad mess.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 12 January 2013 21:43 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/13/us-mali-rebels-idUSBRE90912Q20130113
Le Drian said France was deploying a further contingent of 80 soldiers to Mali on Sunday, bring the total to 550 soldiers , split between Bamako and the town of Mopti, some 500 km (300 miles) north. State-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets would be dispatched to reinforce the operation on Sunday, he said.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 January 2013 15:51 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/168882594/despite-censorship-malis-musicians-play-on
― Mordy, Monday, 14 January 2013 21:04 (eleven years ago) link
I hadn't heard the Amkoullel album (came out in Dec) but it's on Spotify and worth a listen: http://open.spotify.com/album/5F8lIS8oposAM5nAkxTM2X
― Mordy, Monday, 14 January 2013 21:10 (eleven years ago) link
A Tribe Called Red were badass last night
― an old penis drawing is now "new and notable" (forksclovetofu), Monday, 14 January 2013 21:50 (eleven years ago) link
The things being done by Islamists (or whatever, more precisely, they may be) in Mali are horrible, but I'm not so sanguine about US/NATO troops going into Mali or anywhere else.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 05:09 (eleven years ago) link
I read that the US is giving support but it looks like France is going alone atm. Not sure how you feel about that, but I can't imagine much different from US/NATO.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 13:50 (eleven years ago) link
That African Unity Group (of soldiers from various African countries) is supposed to get involved also, but they seem to be very disorganized.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:19 (eleven years ago) link
Sunday 1-13 NY Times
Some Defense Department officials, notably officers at the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command, have pushed for a lethal campaign to kill senior operatives of two of the extremists groups holding northern Mali, Ansar Dine and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Killing the leadership, they argued, could lead to an internal collapse.
But with its attention and resources so focused on other conflicts in places like Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya, the Obama administration has rejected such strikes in favor of a more cautious, step-back strategy: helping African nations repel and contain the threat on their own.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:45 (eleven years ago) link
We should just let the French handle this one. They know the place much better than us.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:45 (eleven years ago) link
I guess. Our training of Malian soldiers so far hasn't done much but make things very worse.
x-post-Amkoullel, that Malian rapper has kind of an old-school rap feel in the brief excerpt I heard
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:49 (eleven years ago) link
Sorry I was being kinda snarky. I just meant that the French have more of a colonial presence in Mali than the United States.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:50 (eleven years ago) link
That they do.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/event/music/168491351/fatoumata-diawara-globalfest-2013?ft=1&f=10004http://www.npr.org/event/music/168491292/oliver-mtukudzi-and-the-black-spirits-globalfest-2013?ft=1&f=10004http://www.npr.org/event/music/168490717/kayhan-kalhor-erdal-erzincan-globalfest-2013?ft=1&f=10004
there are a bunch of these - they're all great, but these 3 are my faves
― Mordy, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 16:43 (eleven years ago) link
^^^^Yes.
Rudiph should check out Kayhan - Kalhor I think he might like that.
Was once skeptical of a long-ago Mtukudzi release, and decided back then that he was too much of a pop world music Zimbabwean and not rebellious like Thomas Mapfumo, but then I saw him live and liked his sound (and recognized how complex the political situation was in Zimbabwe and that based on that and Oliver's personal preference he can be as apolitical or pop as he wants). I like both he and Mapfumo (the latter I think is still in exile in Portland, ore)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 16:53 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/01/14/169358371/discoveries-from-globalfest-2013?ft=1&f=10004
― Mordy, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 17:17 (eleven years ago) link
Salem, who everybody said was the major discovery, was the one i missed. Gonna try the NPR tape now.
― an old penis drawing is now "new and notable" (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 16 January 2013 18:02 (eleven years ago) link
Zieti, the Ivory Coast band with some members in DC, are hoping to record a second album over there by the end of 2013.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 21:06 (eleven years ago) link
awesome!
― Mordy, Wednesday, 16 January 2013 21:11 (eleven years ago) link
Mali music ban by Islamists 'crushing culture to impose rule'Rebels' clampdown on live performances, from Amadou and Mariam to Tinariwen, is driving music underground
Robin Denselow feature in today's Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jan/15/mali-music-ban-islamists-crushing
― mike t-diva, Thursday, 17 January 2013 08:46 (eleven years ago) link
Wonder if Glen Greenwald, Guardian columnist who has written about France's incursion back into Mali, but never dealt with the Sharia Islamists vs secular Muslims issue, will read that.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 January 2013 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
i kinda love this "international" song off amkoullel's album
― Mordy, Friday, 18 January 2013 02:24 (eleven years ago) link
http://i48.tinypic.com/8yubrp.png
― Mordy, Friday, 18 January 2013 20:49 (eleven years ago) link
that fatoumata npr performance is really so great
― Mordy, Friday, 18 January 2013 22:36 (eleven years ago) link
she's such a rock star
― Mordy, Friday, 18 January 2013 22:37 (eleven years ago) link
i thought she was a lil restrained at gfest but even so yeah, total rockstar
― an old penis drawing is now "new and notable" (forksclovetofu), Friday, 18 January 2013 22:52 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elwA7SHM8_U
Published on Jan 17, 2013In response to the situation in Mali, Fatoumata Diawara has gathered together over 40 of the Country's most renowned musicians to record a video and song calling for peace. The group is collectively called 'Voices United for Mali' and the track is called 'Mali-ko' (Peace / La Paix). Artists performing on the track include Amadou and Mariam, Oumou Sangare, Bassekou Kouyate, Vieux Farka Toure, Djelimady Tounkara, Toumani Diabate, Khaira Arby, Kasse Mady Diabate, Baba Salah, Afel Bocoum, Tiken Jah, Amkoullel and Habib Koite amongst many others. Any revenue generated by the ads on this video will be donated to a charity supporting refugees in Mali.
Any revenue generated by the ads on this video will be donated to a charity supporting refugees in Mali.
― Mordy, Saturday, 19 January 2013 02:08 (eleven years ago) link
Ester Rada’s cross-cultural sound is a deep reflection of the Israeli born Ethiopian’s heritage. Ester has most recently teamed up with acclaimed Israeli producers Kuti (Kutiman/Thru-You) and Sabbo (Soulico), to release her first self-written and composed solo EP.
She just got a profile in Haaretz and I guess there's a full length due out this year:http://esterrada.bandcamp.com
i think she's playing sxsw this year.
― Mordy, Saturday, 19 January 2013 12:21 (eleven years ago) link
Ester Rada at Indnegev 2012:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDF-R93sWpE
― Mordy, Monday, 21 January 2013 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
this one is better:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCirOZs5whQ
― Mordy, Monday, 21 January 2013 19:44 (eleven years ago) link
Tiken Jah Fakoly, a well-known reggae artist who’s been based in Bamako’s Niamakoro neighborhood for the past several years, just released a single entitled “An ka wili” or “Let us rise up,” urging Malians to unite against the Islamists who have taken over the north of their country.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 22 January 2013 14:03 (eleven years ago) link
New Sounds from the Arab Lands, February 2013 US Tour:
New Sounds from the Arab Lands is led by the versatile clarinetist Kinan Azmeh. Born in Damascus, Kinan graduated from that city’s High Institute of Music and subsequently, from New York’s Juilliard Conservatory.
Basel Rajoub, born in Aleppo, Syria, graduated from the Damascus High Institute of Music, where he studied European and Middle Eastern classical music as well as jazz. He performs widely as leader of the Basel Rajoub Quartet.
Jasser Haj Youssef, originally from Tunisia, currently lives in Paris, and performs both on violin and on the Baroque viola d’amore,
Khaled Yassine is from Beirut and plays both Middle Eastern and Western percussion. He co-founded the Lebanese fusion band Fu Jan Shai, tours with Anouar Brahem, and is artistic director and producer of the Beirut-based CD label Edict Records.
Feras Charestan, comes from the city of Al-Hasakeh, in northeast Syria, and studied qanun at the High Institute of Music in Damascus. He performs regularly as a qanun soloist with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra as well as in the bands Roubai Toueis and Woujouh.
Full Tour Schedule
02/15/2013, Fri Cambridge, MA Harvard University Graduate School of Design 48 Quincy Street
ph: 617.495.1000
02/16/2013, Sat Washington, DC Freer & Sackler Gallery Meyer Auditorium 1050 Independence Avenue SW Show: 7:30pm
Ph: 202.633.1000
02/26/2013, Tue Hanover, NH Dartmouth College Hopkins Center for the Arts 2 E Wheelock St Tix: $10- $38, Show: 7:00pm
ph: 603.646.2422
02/28/2013, Thu Waltham, MA Brandeis University Slosberg Recital Hall 414 South St. Tix: $5- $25.00, Show: 7:00pm
ph: 781.736.3400
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 January 2013 15:37 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.afribizcharts.com/
African electronic dance music mostly
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 24 January 2013 04:37 (eleven years ago) link
Vusi Mahlasela's new live album is on Spotify!
― Mordy, Thursday, 24 January 2013 23:49 (eleven years ago) link
Vusi's another guy who I have pushed to the back of the line of artists I want to hear because I have vague memories of him somehow being involved with Putumayo and being too folky mor or something. But I should probably listen again though, as maybe my recollections are incorrect.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 25 January 2013 19:25 (eleven years ago) link
i haven't been following putumayo closely but whenever i see one of their albums for a genre/country i know well they always well-represent some good artists, so i don't think identification w/ them is necessarily a deal killer. i think the live album is pretty rocking fwiw, worth a listen (esp for free on spotify)
― Mordy, Friday, 25 January 2013 20:23 (eleven years ago) link
http://sahelsounds.com/2013/01/remembrance-of-kidal/
― Mordy, Sunday, 27 January 2013 04:43 (eleven years ago) link
Belgium PM Laurent Louis is not sanguine about Euro/American military intervention in Mali: http://youtu.be/uCTZDH3WDjo
― _Rudipherous_, Sunday, 27 January 2013 21:51 (eleven years ago) link
Some good points but some overly simplistic and exaggerated points as well. Meanwhile the Festival in the Desert that was this year to involve a traveling caravan approach through "safe" countries in the area has now postponed one portion:
From Khaira Arby's Facebook page-
Dear friends of the Festival in the Desert,As you are likely aware, Mali has entered a State of Emergency. This week, the Government has requested that the Festival au Desert temporarily postpone the Sahel portion of the Festival, as insecurity in the region could jeopardize the safety of tourists, technicians, artists, journalists, etc. The February caravan in the Sahel will be postponed most likely until late fall, after the rainy season.The Festival Organization is working diligently on these, as well as Festival-in-Exile international logistics, which will commence this spring. They will post more information on all of the above in a matter of weeks at www.festival-au-desert.org.Thank you for your understanding and continued support of the Festival. The Organization looks forward to continuing our cultural movement of peace & tolerance with you.The Organizing Committee
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 January 2013 23:07 (eleven years ago) link
French and Malian forces pushed toward the fabled desert town of Timbuktu on Sunday, as the two-week-long French mission gathered momentum against the Islamist extremists who have ruled the north for more than nine months.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57566059/french-mali-forces-head-toward-timbuktu/
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 January 2013 23:09 (eleven years ago) link
That newish cd with cellist Vincent Ségal and kora player Ballaké Sissoko is very pretty on a number of compositions in a classical kind of way, but some of it is just too tasteful and nice for me. I think they're gonna be touring the US of A and elsewhere shortly
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 30 January 2013 17:20 (eleven years ago) link
Jon Pareles put 1 of my faves, Tal National, in his NY Times top album list
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 05:51 (ten years ago) link
And Mordy likes them too
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:38 (ten years ago) link
i do!
― Mordy , Monday, 16 December 2013 15:38 (ten years ago) link
But while New York Magazine's Jody Rosen tweeted about Tabu Ley Rochereau's death, alas no African albums are in his top 10.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:40 (ten years ago) link
what do you think accounts for the limited appeal of this kind of music? is it the language barrier? in 2013 it seems like there aren't really geographic barriers to hearing almost anything you want (esp w/ all the labels releasing stuff online/bandcamp/spotify/etc). maybe it's just the sounds are generally more stripped down / folk / acoustic for a critical community that seems primarily invested in electronic / future noises?
― Mordy , Monday, 16 December 2013 15:42 (ten years ago) link
Both guitar played "traditional" African music as well as state of the art African music are being largely ignored.
Metal and avante artsy Wire magazine stuff from the US, UK and Europe seem to get more love in critics lists that I have seen than African, Asian and Caribbean music of any style.
Part of the lack of attention is the wrongheaded Putumayo like stereotyping of the music, and part of its the marketing(the afrobeatz dancey stuff like that song "Khona" may be on Spotify and Youtube but no one's is hyping it to Pitchfork or Spin or alt-weeklies and getting it into kid's instagrams), and part of it is being overwhelmed by the amount of music from all genres. But the under 30 Pitchform mindset also seems locked into a pop, rap, r'n'b, rock, and electronica only worldview.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:51 (ten years ago) link
no one is hyping
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:52 (ten years ago) link
Yes the language barrier too. Latin music is also largely ignored
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:53 (ten years ago) link
NPR's Ann Powers' listed the Rokia Traore album and played up the PJ Harvey connection (producer/guitarish John parrish)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 16:19 (ten years ago) link
Aster Aweke's remaining gigs on her North American tour
Dec 21st: Toronto | Dec 28th: Minneapolis | Dec 31st: Dallas | Jan 1st: Las Vegas
******GRAND FINALE - Jan 4th: Washington DC ******
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 16:30 (ten years ago) link
Bob Boilen of NPR went for Bombino in the 20th slot of his top 20 albums for the year
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2013 19:33 (ten years ago) link
Joe Tangari from Pitchfork who is their only reviewer of African music lists the following in his lists
Albums:8.Vieux Farka Toure: Mon Pays9.Bombino: Nomad
Singles:
5.Dieuf-Dieul de Thies: “Na Binta”6.Bombino: “Amidinine”
Skimmed through some of the rest of the Pitchfork individual ballots-- nothing but indie rock, rap, Euro & US electronic dance, metal & experimental....
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 15:00 (ten years ago) link
Eh,stuff from this thread is just as worthy as James Holden
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 17:44 (ten years ago) link
somehow missed this when it came out?? http://tzadik.com/volume.php?VolumeID=718
― Mordy , Wednesday, 18 December 2013 20:56 (ten years ago) link
experimental shofar music...Wow.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 21:02 (ten years ago) link
i'm listening now - it's wild
― Mordy , Wednesday, 18 December 2013 21:03 (ten years ago) link
from the liner notes:
"So when Jews first stood upright in the savannah they blew on their shofars, bobbed up and down, dropped stones, and praised lightning and thunder... everybody else ran for cover ... When noise, breath, speech and music were all the same. In those days c. 40,000 years ago, sea shells, human bones, animal horns and bamboo were the instrumentarium of the wind-section of the human big-band. On occasion they would jam in the great Rift Valley, or Nubian desert, in a club on the Nile or the Euphrates rivers or in some asteroid crater in Tajikistan. Roving groups of just a few, or hundreds, would meet by chance in these special locations—take out their beautiful ram, eland, kudu, gazelle, elephant, or argali horns and go for it."
― Mordy , Wednesday, 18 December 2013 21:04 (ten years ago) link
http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-16/worlds-dj-picks-2013
I heard the Dj from Zambia's pick Mokoomba and they sounded promising. Need to check them out
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 December 2013 21:51 (ten years ago) link
They're from Zimbabwe and their latest album actually came out in fall 2012
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 01:55 (ten years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/vansguard/syria
VansGuard explained the motivation for the song in an email:One day i was reading the news, here in America, and Syria was on the headlines. But right under that headline was a big article about the Grammys that would take place the next day… This juxtaposition of suffering and luxury existing so closely together in our consciousnesses, blurring the line of right and wrong, and allowing us to click on the next hot topic without a second thought, struck me as terribly awry. The next day photos from the Grammys were in the spot where the article on Syria had been the day before. The Grammys had now become the most important topic. I cried for the apathy of America and i knew i had to write a song to speak out for the people of Syria. So i did.
One day i was reading the news, here in America, and Syria was on the headlines. But right under that headline was a big article about the Grammys that would take place the next day… This juxtaposition of suffering and luxury existing so closely together in our consciousnesses, blurring the line of right and wrong, and allowing us to click on the next hot topic without a second thought, struck me as terribly awry. The next day photos from the Grammys were in the spot where the article on Syria had been the day before. The Grammys had now become the most important topic. I cried for the apathy of America and i knew i had to write a song to speak out for the people of Syria. So i did.
― Mordy , Friday, 20 December 2013 04:01 (ten years ago) link
Rachid Taha – Zoom (Naïve)
Just saw this on Chuck Eddy's list of his 100 fave albums from the year. Did not know Taha had a new one out
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 04:24 (ten years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/blogs/bestmusic2013/2013/12/17/250734466/10-favorite-world-music-albums-of-2013
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:19 (ten years ago) link
Haha, I had no idea Rachid Taha had an album out this year either, but I'm not surprised Chuck caught it.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:21 (ten years ago) link
Can you link to Chuck's list? I am not finding it.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:24 (ten years ago) link
Too dumb to use Google properly, apparently.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:25 (ten years ago) link
I just saw it last night on his Facebook page. He does some writing for Rhapsody, not sure if it posted there.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:31 (ten years ago) link
On that NPR list I want to check out:
Qat, Coffee & Qambus: Raw 45s From Yemen
a collaboration between French producer and musician Débruit and the Sudan-born, Yemen-raised and now Brooklyn-based vocalist Alsarah.
La Santa Cecila mix of Mexican norteño and ranchera, Cuban mambo and Colombian cumbia, and other sounds from around the Americas, including good old rock 'n' roll,
Plus the Mulatu Astatke
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:38 (ten years ago) link
The Débruit/Alsarah album is called: Aljawal
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 December 2013 18:40 (ten years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/12/20/255848806/a-jew-and-a-latino-walk-into-a-recording-studio
― Mordy , Sunday, 22 December 2013 17:43 (ten years ago) link
The Débruit/Alsarah album is called: Aljawal― curmudgeon, Friday, December 20, 2013 6:40 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― curmudgeon, Friday, December 20, 2013 6:40 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
It's pretty good, definitely worth checking out if it sounds like your kind of thing.
― freemen (on the) space (seandalai), Sunday, 22 December 2013 23:28 (ten years ago) link
http://www.mixcloud.com/hectikthebionic/hectik-cafe-gibraltar-guest-mix/
More about it here:
http://972mag.com/mixtape-sounds-from-the-other-israel-1967-1978/84050/
(I couldn't get soundcloud to work for me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and I haven't figured out the pattern if there is one.)
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 17:46 (ten years ago) link
Very worth checking out.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 17:47 (ten years ago) link
thx for the tip - this is amazing stuff
― Mordy , Tuesday, 24 December 2013 18:12 (ten years ago) link
i see he has grazia on the playlist - that whole album is fantastic
I was unfamiliar with Grazia, but that definitely was one of the standout cuts for me. And I just read she was 14 when she recorded this!
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 19:01 (ten years ago) link
Posted this on the 2013 year-end lists thread also:
http://www.afropop.org/wp/16106/banning-eyres-top-ten-for-2013/
Lala Njava, Malagasy Blues Song (Riverboad Records): Mesmerizing songs from a deep-voiced siren of Madagascar. It’s a spectacular voice—craggy, earthy and real—mostly backed by acoustic guitar and light percussion. Despite the overworked “blues” reference in the title, this is a great album.
The Creole Choir of Cuba, Santiman (RealWorld): Christian vocal music, Haitian folk songs, and deep voudou ceremony come together in this gorgeous choral set, much advanced since the group’s 2010 debut. Tasteful instrumental backing lifts these tracks, but fabulous, passionate voices are the show.
Houria Aicha, Renyate (Accords Croises): This grand dame of Algerian song makes a “journey into heritage” here, interpreting the work of 10 female singers of Algeria’s past. Her sources are not well known, but her refined, soulful renditions of women’s popular song and folklore dignifies their memory, and makes for one of the most satisfying discs I’ve heard out of North Africa this year.
The Pedrito Martinez Group, The Pedrito Martinez Group (Motema): Cuban music doesn’t get any hotter than this. The group is small—just four—but the sound is enormous! Singer and percussion genius Pedrito has been a beloved secret for New Yorker music mavens for yearss. Now, the world can share in this expansive set of songs ranging from Santeria roots to a Robert Johnson cover.
Mamadou Kelly, Adibar (Clermont Music): Of all this year’s great releases from the north of Mali and neighboring Niger, this is my favorite. Song after song, singer/guitarist Kelly’s group seduces with crisp grooves, brilliant playing and arranging, and a vibe that just won’t let go.
Bombino, Nomad (Nonesuch): The Tuareg singer/guitarist from Agadez, Niger, gets a stylish, but restrained, makeover from Grammy-winning guitarist/producer of the Black Keys, Dan Aurbach. Robust guitar sounds and tasteful additions, like pedal steel guitar, enhance rather than compromise Bombino’s rootsy folk-rock appeal.
Tal National, Kaani (FatCat Records): Not a new band, but a discovery for many of us this year, Tal National are a multi-ethnic electric guitar boogie band from Niamey, Niger, led by a local judge! What animates these tracks is the polish and drive that comes only from playing long gigs before adoring dance audiences five nights a week. Too rare these days!
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Jama Ko (out here records): Ngoni pioneer Basssekou Kouyate’s third album was recorded amid the troubles in Mali in 2012, and the musicians’ love and hope for their nation comes through on every track. Not a lot of new ground here, but powerhouse acoustic grooves, joyous riffing by a team of ngoni aces, some choice guest spots, and the sublime voice of Ami Sacko are quite enough.
Rokia Traore, Beautiful Africa (Nonesuch): Too much Mali, I know. But there’s no way to ignore new work by one of this hyper-musical nation’s most innovative singer/songwriters. Finding new colors in her voice, new themes, even humor, in her songs, and continuing her fascination with classic guitar sounds, Rokia has taken 5 years to make this album, and the care and attention to detail show. Like Bombino, she is working with a rock producer (John Parish), and like Bassekou, she made this record amid the 2012 crisis in Mali. For all that, it’s 100% Rokia, and brilliant.
Kobo Town, Jumbie in the Box (Stonetree Records/Cumbancha): This disc is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Though based in Toronto and multi-national, this group delivers the classic sound of Trinidadian calypso. Smart, witty lyrics delivered with a wink and a nod; strong, spare grooves that will make you want to dance like it’s 1966; understated passion in every track—what’s not to love?
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 23:57 (ten years ago) link
The Houria Aichi is very good so far.
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 00:15 (ten years ago) link
And I want to like the Pedrito Martinez more than I do. It's obviously well crafted. Maybe I will make it through the whole thing some time when I am in the right mood.
Ha
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 16:59 (ten years ago) link
Tried last night but soon hit a bluesy English language track that I was just not having.
You should check out the Houria Aichi album. I think you'd appreciate it.
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 17:04 (ten years ago) link
Listened to a few songs..."classic" Algerian. I'm not won over by Pedrito Martinez either.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 December 2013 21:45 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9su1UxtaI7I&feature=youtu.be
― Mordy , Thursday, 26 December 2013 23:11 (ten years ago) link
that sounds pretty nice
― Strangers look on with a discernible, barely contained ‘wow’. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 26 December 2013 23:25 (ten years ago) link
woah. who's that?
― Daniel, Esq 2, Friday, 27 December 2013 01:37 (ten years ago) link
teaser...Aww
http://sahelsounds.com/mdou-moctar/
Ah, he's from Niger
only see 1 song plus a remix on Spotify
― curmudgeon, Friday, 27 December 2013 04:45 (ten years ago) link
2014 thread?
― festival culture (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 January 2014 21:41 (ten years ago) link
Edgy new thread title: Rolling Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2014 Thread Formerly Known as World
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 15 January 2014 21:43 (ten years ago) link
Peru Maravilloso: Vintage Latin, Tropical & Cumbia
I came across this today and it's a fun and varied selection of music from 1960-70s Peru.
― bodacious ignoramus, Saturday, 5 April 2014 06:12 (nine years ago) link
Can anybody recommend a good site for buying new Vietnamese pop CDs?
― RAP GAME SHANI DAVIS (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 3 April 2015 23:07 (eight years ago) link
http://morevietnamese.com/vietnamese-pop-music/
cds, no
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 4 April 2015 05:03 (eight years ago) link