+1 on the bombino album
― PSY talks The Nut Job (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:16 (ten years ago) link
Oh yeah, and this for sure: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba---Jama ko: Language proved not nearly as much of a barrier as it might have, mainly cos I can tell all the tracks apart right off, not a given to this non-ethnomusicologist, even w that Mali vibe. So, so far this is my guitar album of the year, even though it's generated by little ol' electrified lutes (which also provide sufficient bass), looking like something from the local produce market. Sharp-edged and fluid as wine, elegant yet never pissy, drawing rough-edged male and bold female vocals into further focus, landing and spinning on a dime, at times, but nothing too showy. Wonder if they ever work with drummers? Sneaky grooves anyway.
― dow, Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:21 (ten years ago) link
i was hoping jama ko or bombino or traore would show up in the ilx top albums thread
― Mordy , Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:22 (ten years ago) link
I'm getting the debut album by a Sarahawi singer named Aziza Brahim in the mail soon; can't wait to hear it. I'm totally obsessed with the only other Sarahawi singer I know, Mariem Hassan. Her voice is just phenomenal. Her last album, El Aaiun Egdat from 2012, was surprisingly jazzy at times; my favorite is still her debut, Deseos, from 2005.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:29 (ten years ago) link
x-post -I got swamped with stuff, and missed the Ilx deadline to vote. Wonder if my possible votes for African albums and tracks would have made a difference...
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:32 (ten years ago) link
x-post to Wonder if they ever work with drummers
Kouyate had one when I saw he and his family band in a great DC gig last year
Mariem Hassan is another name I keep meaning to check out
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:34 (ten years ago) link
this looks cool:http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/item.asp?Item_id=107&cd=Radio-Niger
― Mordy , Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:40 (ten years ago) link
I should've voted in the ilx poll. Also hoping to receive the xpost Brahim album soon; here's the pitch:
Voiced with passion and grace, Aziza Brahim's music adeptly travels the expanse between her Western Saharan roots and Barcelona, the European cosmopolis where she now lives. Aziza is both a contemporary sonic poet and a prominent and eloquent spokesperson for the Saharawi people and their ongoing struggle for recognition and justice. Born and raised in the Saharawi refugee camps lining the frontier between Algeria and Western Sahara, Aziza's life has been marked by both daunting hardship and inspired will. Fleeing from these camps and the regime of political oppression that followed Morocco's 1975 invasion of Western Sahara, as a young teenager Aziza travelled to Cuba for her secondary school studies. There she experienced first-hand the deep Cuban economic crisis of the 1990s and the subsequent denial of her request to pursue a university degree in music. Music had been Aziza's passion since she was a small girl and despite this setback, she returned to the Saharawi camps in Algeria and began singing and playing in different musical ensembles, a process that continued when she moved to Spain in the year 2000. There she founded the eclectic Saharawi/Spanish band Gulili Mankoo with whom she released two acclaimed self-produced recordings: the EP Mi Canto (2008) and an album Mabruk (2012), both on Reaktion. In recent years Aziza has performed extensively, appearing at major festivals and venues including WOMAD Cáceres (2012) and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (2009). Aziza's album Soutak (trans. "Your Voice"), her debut for the Glitterbeat label, is her first recording to predominantly focus on the cadence of her majestic voice and the soulful critique of her lyrics. The album was produced by Chris Eckman (Tamikrest, Ben Zabo, Dirtmusic) and was recorded live and direct in Barcelona in June of 2013. In the liner notes to the album, Aziza describes her vision for Soutak: "Feeling the need to make an acoustic record, I imagined a somewhat modest musical outline, which would not involve too many instruments and in which the voices would take the expressive emotional lead. I wanted to further explore the range of possibilities found in the Haul, the Saharawi's traditional rhythmic sources, played on the tabal and a source of inspiration for the desert blues." The hand-picked band she assembled for the album consists of Spaniards Nico Roca (percussion) and Guillem Aguilar (bass), Malian Kalilou Sangare (acoustic lead guitar), Aziza's sister Badra Abdallahe (backing voice) and in addition to singing, Aziza contributes acoustic rhythm guitar and the tabal, the traditional Saharawi hand-drum. The music on Soutak is a powerful and nuanced mixture of musical cultures and features Malian, Spanish, Cuban and contemporary Anglo-European motifs all held together by Aziza's deeply rooted knowledge of traditional Saharawi song and sound. Though the songs on Soutak can be unsparing in their details of oppression, Aziza Brahim has delivered an empowered flight to freedom; an alternative world where hope is imminent and dancing is justified.
― dow, Thursday, 30 January 2014 16:42 (ten years ago) link
While I saw a few African dance songs and Bunji garlin on the ILM tracks list, I didn't see much non-Us non-European on the ILM album list...Omar Souleyman and ???
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 January 2014 22:41 (ten years ago) link
william onyeabor placed
― Mordy , Thursday, 30 January 2014 22:44 (ten years ago) link
oh yeah
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 00:16 (ten years ago) link
Onyeabor at 49, Souleyman at 95, John Wizards at 186, Rokia Traoré at 231. Also some K- and J-Pop.
I was the only voter for Tal National :(
― the first cologne based on a sea-captain based celebrity (seandalai), Friday, 31 January 2014 02:45 (ten years ago) link
I knew I shoulda voted. That would have given Tal National 2 votes!
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 04:21 (ten years ago) link
No se equivoquen, es COHUICHhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M68vRJi-yY
― DEBUSSY AND THE MAAD CIRCLE (lpz), Friday, 31 January 2014 05:09 (ten years ago) link
cumbia!
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 13:43 (ten years ago) link
I'be been listening to that psychedelic and meditative like Hailu Mergia reissue where he plays an electric Rhodes piano; accordion; and Yamaha DX7 synth with a Moog filter
Plus Angelique Kidjo's new one which is less crossover than I recall of a the last cd of hers that I heard (where she was trying for an r'n'b/funkier sound). This is a bit more West African
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 13:49 (ten years ago) link
OMFG that EEK/Islam Chipsy upthread. I need to get myself a record player so I can buy that record.
― Burt Stuntin (Hurting 2), Friday, 31 January 2014 13:51 (ten years ago) link
http://africaindc.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/the-old-man-is-being-crazy-now-ned-democracy-fellow-thiat-on-hip-hop-and-activism-in-senegal/
Senegalese rapper Thiat is behind a desk for now as a think tank fellow in DC
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 14:24 (ten years ago) link
I guess I haven't heard all of the Kidjo album--I liked the opening track with the Benin choir but I see she also has collaborations with Kronos Quartet, the Luxembourg Philharmonic and Dr. John. Haven't heard those tracks yet
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/25/265246056/ang-lique-kidjo-shares-the-shiver-of-hearing-a-beautiful-voice
plus a book
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 14:35 (ten years ago) link
I've seen good reviews of this (from Strut news)
http://downloads.openimp.com/tid/1996970155e0d6510164b75e0cc30e20945ec04a/enercvo/cuwamkbtas/15212395650054.jpeg
Various Artists - Haiti Direct - Big Band, Mini Jazz & Twoubadou Sounds, 1960-1978
"A fascinating document that swings like hell." Mojo ****
"The first in-depth survey of the Caribbean country’s unique and varied musical history... sure to make a huge impact." Vinyl Factory
Hugo Mendez from Sofrito presents the first ever retrospective of the golden era of Haitian music from the big band sound of compas direct in the mid-'50s to the inspired mini jazz scene of the '60s and '70s. The album covers influential bandleaders such as Nemours Jean-Baptiste and Webert Sicot and the wave of smaller bands that followed in their wake, many building ultra-loyal audiences from their local neighbourhoods. Tracks also cover the more folk-based and acoustic twoubadou style, popularised by artists like Coupe Cloue. Many bands would later make the move to the States and enjoy further success among the Haitian ex-pat communities including Tabou Combo, Shleu-Shleu and Ibo Combo. 'Haiti Direct' tells the full story.
Note: the 2LP vinyl version includes CDs containing all album tracksTracklisting12" Vinyl Album (STRUT093LP)
Ibo Combo - Ti Garçon Les Vikings - Choc Vikings Les Animateurs - Ti Machine Trio Select - Ensemble Select En Action Les Loups Noirs - Pile Ou Face Tabou Combo - Ce Pas Les Fantaisistes De Carrefour - Panno Caye Nan Bois Chêne Ti Paris - Cochon St. Antoine Super Jazz Des Jeunes - Coté Moune Yo Les Ambassadeurs - Homenaje A Los Ambajadores Les Frères Déjean - L’Artibonite Caribbean Sextet - Suspan’n Les Pachas Du Canapé Vert - Désordre Musical Bossa Combo - Line Scorpio Universel - Ti Lu Lupe
CD Album (STRUT093CD)
Ibo Combo - Ti Garçon Les Vikings - Choc Vikings Les Animateurs - Ti Machine Les Loups Noirs - Pile Ou Face Rodrigue Milien Et Son Groupe Combite Creole - 6ème Leçon Bossa Combo - Line Les Fantaisistes De Carrefour - Panno Caye Nan Bois Chêne Ti Paris - Cochon St. Antoine Groupe Les Chleu-Chleu - Compas X Râ Râ De Léogane - Gadé Moune Yo Les Difficiles De Pétion-Ville - An Septième Tabou Combo - Ce Pas Les Pachas Du Canapé Vert - Désordre Musical Scorpio Universel - Ti Lu Lupe Raoul Guillaume Et Son Groupe - Mal Élevé Super Jazz Des Jeunes - Coté Moune Yo Pierre Blain Et Orchestre Murat Pierre - Jouc Li Jou Ensemble Meridional Des Cayes - Calma Pèlerin Ensemble Etoile Du Soir - Messe Quatre Heures Nemours Jean-Baptiste - Ti Carole Orchestre Septentrional - Baptême Ratt Trio Select - Ensemble Select En Action Les Ambassadeurs - Homenaje A Los Ambajadores Les Frères Déjean - L’Artibonite Caribbean Sextet - Suspan’n Djet-X - Jive Turkey Orchestre Webert Sicot - Ambiance Cadence Orchestre Tropicana D’Haiti - Poun Paciance
Download Double Album (STRUT093D)
― dow, Friday, 31 January 2014 15:17 (ten years ago) link
Yeah it's really good.
― the first cologne based on a sea-captain based celebrity (seandalai), Friday, 31 January 2014 15:19 (ten years ago) link
(with some Haiti Direct tracks)https://soundcloud.com/strut
― dow, Friday, 31 January 2014 15:20 (ten years ago) link
Was briefly discussed upthread. Tabou Combo have a number of albums of their own that are worth checking out
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 January 2014 15:41 (ten years ago) link
http://www.afropop.org/wp/16464/benin-transforming-traditions-youtube-exclusive-music/
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 February 2014 23:32 (ten years ago) link
Was listening to that new Angelique Kidjo album again-- maybe I wasn't listening close enough as Dr. John was barely noticeable on the cut he is listed as being on; and the same for the Vampire Weekend guy Rostan Batmanglij. But she also has cuts with less known Benin singers. I am liking this. If she had a remix made by the right Afrobeatz producer she could a new audience I think.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 February 2014 14:16 (ten years ago) link
http://newsandnoise.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/iran-vs-israel-an-interview-with-sahand-sahebdivani/
How does the music sound?My proudest musical moment in this show is when we mix a Hebrew prayer with an Iranian partisan song. In rehearsals we realized that these songs, while completely different in feeling, have more or less the same rhythm and chord progression, so a new song was born. While Raffa and I play along, all music credit goes to our brilliant team of musicians Anastasis Sarakatsanos and Bas Kisjes.How is the interaction with the music?Anastasis professionally makes music for film, so he has a keen ear for when music should be there and when it should get out of the way. His interaction on Piano and Kanun is very subtle. The same goes for Bas, a jazz bassist who’s done a lot of storytelling shows with me. I also have a band with him, so as musicians we know each other very well. In fact, we met when we where the musicians for a show of two other actors.He’s also the coolest guy I know, never says no to an idea. So when we ask him to open the show while singing a Leonard Cohen song he of course does it, even though he’s not a singer. At all.
My proudest musical moment in this show is when we mix a Hebrew prayer with an Iranian partisan song. In rehearsals we realized that these songs, while completely different in feeling, have more or less the same rhythm and chord progression, so a new song was born. While Raffa and I play along, all music credit goes to our brilliant team of musicians Anastasis Sarakatsanos and Bas Kisjes.
How is the interaction with the music?
Anastasis professionally makes music for film, so he has a keen ear for when music should be there and when it should get out of the way. His interaction on Piano and Kanun is very subtle. The same goes for Bas, a jazz bassist who’s done a lot of storytelling shows with me. I also have a band with him, so as musicians we know each other very well. In fact, we met when we where the musicians for a show of two other actors.
He’s also the coolest guy I know, never says no to an idea. So when we ask him to open the show while singing a Leonard Cohen song he of course does it, even though he’s not a singer. At all.
― Mordy , Monday, 3 February 2014 16:42 (ten years ago) link
Interesting. I have mentioned somewhere on ilx hearing Iranian (classic Persian style) vocals that reminded me of the male cantor davening at my synagogue high holy day services when I was in my teens
― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 February 2014 16:56 (ten years ago) link
http://www.okayafrica.com/2014/02/03/elijah-wood-african-mixtape-earbuds/
― Mordy , Wednesday, 5 February 2014 03:07 (ten years ago) link
Cool, he's got good taste. I like the tracklist:
TRACKLISTAfro Express “Lahilah Ill-Allahu” [Nigeria (?)]K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas “Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu” [Ghana]Osakpamwan Ohenhen and His Feelings “Owman Ghe Ma Wme Ye Wmen” [Nigeria]Cos-Ber-Zam “Né Noya” [Togo]Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes “Ekassa 28 (Ebibi)” [Nigeria]Thierry Boco “Divorce De Cecilia” [Benin]Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies “Baby Let Me Go” [Nigeria]Bella Bellow “O Segne” [Togo]Sonny Okosun “Ozzidi” “Steady & Slow” [Nigeria]Victory Uwaifo “Destiny” [Nigeria]
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 February 2014 15:14 (ten years ago) link
Tinariwen's new one recorded in the Joshua Tree desert is out and NPR has it on first listen, and the ILM Tinariwen thread is getting comments. I haven't heard it yet
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 February 2014 15:16 (ten years ago) link
elijah with the lijadu sisters shout out, who would thunk it
― PSY talks The Nut Job (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 5 February 2014 15:49 (ten years ago) link
for some reason they took the ester rada lp down from bandcamp, but it's back up today fyi
― Mordy , Wednesday, 5 February 2014 15:54 (ten years ago) link
http://museke.tumblr.com/
African dance music site
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2014 03:59 (ten years ago) link
Was more excited about that (museke) before I noticed that it hasn't been updated in more than a year...
― glenn mcdonald, Thursday, 6 February 2014 14:47 (ten years ago) link
Try this one:
http://www.afribizcharts.com/top100.php
African club dance
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2014 15:47 (ten years ago) link
x-post Oh, the museke guy is gonna tweet out links to stuff he sees, plus do some blogposting here--http://mightyafrican.blogspot.com/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2014 15:53 (ten years ago) link
I'm behind on checking out audio and podcasts and blogging at http://www.afropop.org/wp/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2014 15:54 (ten years ago) link
Fantastic mix of mostly-80s African pop/synth/funkhttps://soundcloud.com/fadermedia/dj-gioumannes-afro-cosmic-club/
― pariah newsletter (seandalai), Thursday, 6 February 2014 19:10 (ten years ago) link
about one of my favorite reissues from last year:http://www.npr.org/2014/02/06/272638152/before-he-joined-congress-a-south-african-janitors-disco-past
― Mordy , Thursday, 6 February 2014 22:30 (ten years ago) link
Need to listen to that some more. I liked my one quick listen last year. Was overdosing on Angelique Kidjo's Eve as I was writing a preview of her upcoming gig. The 10 African choirs on Eve are more prominent than the Dr. John piano on 1 track, the Kronos strings on another, and the Rostam from Vampire Weekend guitar on 1 track and keys on another...Bernie Worrell is also on a track plus jazz folks Christian Mcbride and guitarist (from Benin I think) Lionel Loueke (who is a big deal in jazz circles). That Benin brass & percussion band whose name I forget is on it also. I like it.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 February 2014 16:08 (ten years ago) link
http://www.nowagainrecords.com/announcing-musi-o-tunya-give-love-to-your-children/
Funk, Psych-Rock, and Fuzz-Guitar-lead Afrobeat from Zambia’s groundbreaking band. Contains extensive booklet with liner notes, an exclusive interview with drummer Brian Chengala and guitarists Rikki Ilionga and Wayne Barnes, photos and ephemera. Limited deluxe edition LP contains bonus disc with rare 7” tracks, never reissued on vinyl. Out now!Finally! The legendary Zamrock band’s second album and rare 7” tracks presented a an album. We can only describe Give Love To Your Children as a medley of Funk, Psych-Rock, and Fuzz-Guitar-lead Afrobeat from this groundbreaking Zambian band. As you’ll read in our extensive booklet this album follows Now-Again’s first foray into the Zamrock genre, Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tuyna’s Dark Sunrise.Dark Sunrise hadn’t even entered production when we became aware of Musi-O-Tunya’s post-Ililonga trajectory, and its uniqueness in the Zamrock landscape. It is the corollary to Ililonga’s story. And now, that story can be told, and the music can be heard, thanks to the participation of Ililonga, Chengala and Barnes, who color the creation and release of Give Love To Your Children. This album’s grooves hold the last, sustained shouts from one of the first Zamrock ensembles: Musi-O-Tunya exploded at the height of the Zamrock movement, scattering its members everywhere, with only this last, fiery artifact to remember them by.
Finally! The legendary Zamrock band’s second album and rare 7” tracks presented a an album. We can only describe Give Love To Your Children as a medley of Funk, Psych-Rock, and Fuzz-Guitar-lead Afrobeat from this groundbreaking Zambian band. As you’ll read in our extensive booklet this album follows Now-Again’s first foray into the Zamrock genre, Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tuyna’s Dark Sunrise.
Dark Sunrise hadn’t even entered production when we became aware of Musi-O-Tunya’s post-Ililonga trajectory, and its uniqueness in the Zamrock landscape. It is the corollary to Ililonga’s story. And now, that story can be told, and the music can be heard, thanks to the participation of Ililonga, Chengala and Barnes, who color the creation and release of Give Love To Your Children. This album’s grooves hold the last, sustained shouts from one of the first Zamrock ensembles: Musi-O-Tunya exploded at the height of the Zamrock movement, scattering its members everywhere, with only this last, fiery artifact to remember them by.
― Mordy , Friday, 7 February 2014 17:10 (ten years ago) link
On last years thread I was asking about steelpan music and a month ago someone told me that Jaco Pastorius has several albums that have a lot of the instrument. Othello Molineaux is his steelpan guy and supposed to be one of the world's best.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 7 February 2014 22:48 (ten years ago) link
Really? I know nothing about jazz & jazz fusion steelpan music.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 8 February 2014 14:51 (ten years ago) link
That little bio video on Hailu Mergia with footage of him playing his keyboard in his taxi cab backseat and hanging at his home is pretty entertaining.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 February 2014 14:23 (ten years ago) link
here it is. Gonna see him at Kennedy Center Tuesday night for free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKiJhJQv-mQ&feature=youtu.be
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 February 2014 02:05 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB44JHu55Zs
― Mordy , Tuesday, 11 February 2014 14:47 (ten years ago) link
also i heard this on npr this morning and it's gorgeous:http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2014/02/11/274686955/monastic-life-at-the-top-of-the-charts
― Mordy , Tuesday, 11 February 2014 14:48 (ten years ago) link
Hailu Mergia was good but more jazzy than psychedelic with a band live last night at the Kennedy Center
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 15:04 (ten years ago) link
Congratulations!
Thanks to you and 535 other backers, Akounak: The feature film of a Tuareg guitarist in Agadez has been successfully funded.
― Mordy , Wednesday, 12 February 2014 18:42 (ten years ago) link
Awesome. Have you seen "The Last Song Before the War," a doc about the Festival in the Desert? It's pretty good, and has shown in various film fests.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 20:25 (ten years ago) link