Rolling Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2014 Thread Formerly Known as World

xps,

As far as i know English in Nigeria and French in Congo are in broadly similar positions - about 10-15% of people speak it fluently, another 20% or so speak a bit and the rest speak domestic languages. May be wrong, though.

France definitely had / has a big Congolese diaspora scene. I'd guess that someone like Papa Wemba was a bigger star in France than Fela was in the UK. Belgium, for obvious reasons, also has a big Congolese influence.

Re that 2013 National Wake reissue I was enthusing about upthread: more of them and a whole scene new to me:

Punk In Africa
Available on DVD on March 11th

Three chords, three countries, one revolution...

PUNK IN AFRICA is the story of the multi-racial punk movement within the recent political and social upheavals experienced in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

In these societies, the punk subculture represented a genuinely radical political impulse, playing out against a backdrop of intense political struggle, economic hardship and even civil war.

PUNK IN AFRICA traces this until-now untold story from its roots in the underground rock music of early 1970s Johannesburg, the first multi-racial punk bands formed in the wake of the Soweto Uprising and the militant anti-apartheid hardcore and post-punk bands of the 1980s to the rise of celebratory African-inspired ska bands which sprang up from Cape Town to Maputo in the democratic era of the 1990s. Today, an emerging generation of bands continue to draw on this legacy to confront the political challenges of contemporary Zimbabwe and the uncertain identity issues of the Afrikaans minority in South Africa.

Featuring music, interviews and rare and unseen archive footage of Suck, Wild Youth, Safari Suits, Power Age, National Wake, KOOS, Kalahari Surfers, The Genuines, Hog Hoggidy Hog, Fuzigish, Sibling Rivalry, 340ml, Panzer, The Rudimentals, Evicted, Sticky Antlers, Freak, LYT, Jagwa Music, Fruits and Veggies, Swivel Foot and more...
http://www.punkinafrica.com/?utm_source=Punk+In+Africa+traces+multi-racial+punk+movement+within+political+and+social&utm_campaign=Punk+in+Africa&utm_medium=email Trailer for this doc:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DzadzH1Tc0

Select Press Quotes:

"Interesting companion piece to doc hit Searching for Sugar Man...this aptly raw, energetic survey of a very DIY scene should appeal to programmers looking for an arresting intersection of music, politics and underground culture."

- VARIETY

"...bursting with the heyday of the multiracial punk scene...with a loving emphasis on the surprising - and often overlooked - role that punk music played in Africa."

- NAT GEO MUSIC

National Wake had the punk spirit and para-genre appeal (they were into ska, dub etc.), rather than hardcore purism; hopefully that will prove true of these other bands, in their own way (though some hardcore purism can work too).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8

Misogeny, autotune and herb back in the saddle again.... oy vey

Autotune has been used internationally for a few years now. Misogyny and herb have always been around

x-post

France definitely had / has a big Congolese diaspora scene.

Yes, a big African diaspora in general, although there's a backlash now from some.

i thought it sounded very happy + upbeat and it's dreary here in philly - i did not anticipate its divisiveness!

That Haiti Direct comp mentioned upthread is fun,I'm hearing influences fela picked up plus even some garage rock in the organ sounds on some cuts

Angelique Kidjo had a great guitarist the other night live, Dominic James, who is NY-based but African-born I think and can play multiple styles like Congolese rumba/soukous, funk, and more in a non-flashy but very effective manner.

x-post- wished I had seen the reunited National Wake (with maybe 1 original member or 2) performing in DC followed by a showing of that Punk in Africa movie. Saw mixed reviews of the film but it still sounds interesting

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/travel/where-tanzania-taps-its-feet.html?_r=0

Long article with various bands mentioned I need to check out

wanted to share some recent additions to my 1984 playlist of outernational rock:

Sourakata Koite - Sourakata Koite: Kora music from Senegal
Woubeshet Feseha - 1976: swinging addis ababa music - 1976 in the Ethiopian calendar = 1984 in the gregorian one.
Alhaja Queen Salawa Abeni and her Waka Moderniser—India Waka: Nigerian fuji music waka waka
Mashina - Mashina 1: Israeli rock
Yehudit Ravitz - Deresh haMashi: Israel female singer-songwriter - cowrote 16th sheep which i think is a Hurting fave
Sezen Aksu - Sen Aglama: Turkish pop
Omar Khairat - Fatma: Egyptian film music
Klezmer Conservatory Band - Klez!: self-explanatory
WITCH - Kuomboka: we intend to cause havok was a fantastic multidisc comp that came out like last year or the previous - more tracks from this funky Zamrock band
Karantamba - Ndigal: Gambian shuffle
Arik Einstein - End of Time: Israeli rock
Dissidenten - Sahara Elektrik: german band records in tangiers w/ local sha'abi band Lem Chaheb
Mandingo - Watto Sitta: Gambian funky electric kora music from Foday Musa Suso
Sankomota - Sankomota: from the Kingdom of Lesotho
National Percussion Group of Kenya - Roots!! - African Drums
Dina Bell - Blow: Cameroonian Pop
Dr. Oliver de Coque & His Expo '76 Ogene Sound Super of Africa - Mbuluba Uwa: Nigerian "ogene" highlife
Foday Musa Suso - Hand Power: see Mandingo above
Chris Hinze Combination - Saliah
Nohkis - Nohkis
FRanco and Tabuley - Omona Wapi
Sonny Okosuns - Which Way Nigeria?: I love this LP so much, such a great sound
Bebe Manga - Amie: female Cameroonian makossa singer
Bonga - Marika: folk and semba singer and songwriter from Angola
Dimension Costena - De Que Suda Suda, Palo De Mayo: Nicaraguan supergroup
Franco and His All-Powerful O.K. Jazz - Sorcerer of the Guitar: Congolese jazz that transforms u into a frog
Ismael Lo - Xalat: Senegal harmonica music!
Mangunga Cley - Kazi Saza Amelia: congolese soukous
Mory Kante - A Paris: kora harpist from Guinea
Nyboma - Double Double: congolese soukous
Orlando Julius Ekemode - Dance Afro-Beat: nigerian highlife + afrobeat
Oku & AK7 - Pressure Drop: Jamaican dub poetry
VA - Viva! Zimbabwe: early comp after fall of rhodesia, including artists like The Four Brothers, Devera Ngwena Jazz Band, and especially Thomas Mapfumo. There also are treats from Nyami Nyami Sound, New Black Montana, James Chimombe, and Super Sounds
Zao - Ancien Combattant: http://www.musiques-afrique.com/frames/art_zao.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PfjqEY2c8IU/TNg1d28yqNI/AAAAAAAAAG4/OtGBQ7GSAgo/s400/Ancien+Combattant_C_A_1000A.jpg

in more contemporary news, new tamikrest vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8j3jFN4NA

I was listening to some African music in 84. I can second

FRanco and Tabuley - Omona Wapi

Sonny Okosuns - Which Way Nigeria?: I love this LP so much, such a great sound

Bonga - Marika: folk and semba singer and songwriter from Angola
Ismael Lo and Mory Kante too

I was in my 20s when I liked that stuff. I hate when folks think only old folks burned out on popular stuff embrace African music with guitars

i'm in my 20s (barely) now! but there is something very refreshing about this kind of music idk.

I obviously agree, and that's not a dis of current programmed beat African stuff.

5 yr old article on international autotune - http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/pitch_perfect/

Just saw Kronos with Malian group Trio de Kali, and it was a great show (their first public show together). I liked Kronos better live than I did a year ago. They did 2 compositions themselves first-- a short impressive kinda noisy one and then a longer one that was dedicated to their friends in Ukraine. After the intermission they were joined by Trio de Kali- a great southern Mali female vocalist; a Malian balafon player, and a Malian bass ngoni player. They adapted Malian tradionals plus a Mahalia Jackson song. All very nice.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, February 23, 2014 9:09 PM (3 minute

Posted this on the Kronos quartet thread

Yeah, and their recording of "White Man Sleeps No. 1" got me into modern South African composer Kevin Volans. The two Orchestre Poly-Rythmo reissues I've heard topped my Pazz & Jops; hopeful about the current line-up's latest album, first in 20 years, with guests incl. A.Kidjo and a couple of Franz Ferdinands:
http://downloads.openimp.com/tid/d62c573341364d0153fabbbea6f9adc30fc350d4/eniqiwe/bgotvclhte/6801031430054.jpeg
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Cotonou Club

The greatest band in Benin's history, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, is back. After a year of illustrious comeback live dates including New York's Lincoln Center, WOMAD festival and Barbican London, the band releases its first studio album in over twenty years, 'Cotonou Club', on Strut / Sons D'Ailleurs in March 2011.
Produced in Paris entirely on vintage analogue studio equipment, this new album refreshes Poly-Rythmo classics such as 'Gbeti Madjro' (featuring Angelique Kidjo) alongside a firing selection of brand new compositions. The album also features a special bonus track, an exclusive collaboration between Poly Rythmo and Franz Ferdinand's musicians.
Tracklisting
CD Album (STRUT077CD)

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ne Te Fache Pas
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Pardon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Von Vo Nono
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Koumi Dede
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Gbeti Madjro feat. Angélique Kidjo
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Oce
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Tegbe
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Mariage / C’est Moi Ou C'est Lui feat. Fatoumata Diawara
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Holonon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ma Vie
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Lion Is Burning feat. Paul Thomson & Nick Mccarthy From Franz Ferdinand

12" Vinyl Double Album (STRUT077LP)

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ne Te Fache Pas
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Holonon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Von Vo Nono
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo featuring Angélique Kidjo - Gbeti Madjro feat. Angélique Kidjo
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Oce
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Koumi Dede
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Pardon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo featuring Fatoumata Diawara - Mariage / C’est Moi Ou C'est Lui feat. Fatoumata Diawara
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ma Vie
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo|Paul Thomson|Nick Mccarthy From Franz Ferdinand - Lion Is Burning feat. Paul Thomson & Nick Mccarthy From Franz Ferdinand
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Tegbe

Download Album (STRUT077CD)

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ne Te Fache Pas
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Pardon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Von Vo Nono
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Koumi Dede
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo feat. Angélique Kidjo - Gbeti Madjro feat. Angélique Kidjo
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Oce
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Tegbe
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo feat. Fatoumata Diawara - Mariage / C’est Moi Ou C'est Lui feat. Fatoumata Diawara
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Holonon
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Ma Vie
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo feat. Paul Thomson & Nick Mccarthy From Franz Ferdinand - Lion Is Burning feat. Paul Thomson & Nick Mccarthy From Franz Ferdinand

saw some early names for summerstage in nyc; some of y'all are gonna be pretty hyped

also: did we cover jeri-jeri last year? just found that album, so good.

Not sure if we did. Just checked 'em out on Youtube. Love those handheld Senegalese drums

I repped for Jeri-Jeri but I think it got lost in the flow of time.

Dunno if this is the thread where we talk about archival releases but the new Haiti Direct comp on Strut is a very good time.

― a man with legs made of sausages - that's not real! (seandalai)

This is really wonderful music; while it's Caribbean pedigree is certain, it definitely sets itself apart from the rest of the Antilles.

....and this vocal sounds like it could have come from Can's Damo Suzuki...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4umnxnMmQ1Q

great track!

i've never seen this doc, but this clip makes me want to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jl4IOSLX-o

Been enjoying Mamani Keita's Kanou album, especially the track Fanatan (Spotify link). Sent me back through her back catalogue, which contains some really fantastic stuff.

New album sounds nice. Wiki reminds me where I sorta vaguely remember her:

was a backup singer for Salif Keïta.[2] She is best known in English speaking countries for her album with Marc Minelli, Electro Bamako.

And I like both that relaxing Haitian track video and the thumb piano one with Bela Fleck (even though I'm not a fan of his)

I like the way Bela plays on that - he really tries to give himself over to the style and not overplay

True

i think he gets a lot of knee jerk "lol npr" hate, but bela is a helluva musician

dude, LIJADU SISTERS live in NYC doing the music of william onyeabor
http://nyc.redbullmusicacademy.com/#william-onyeabor
can't get too excited about the rest of that lineup but damn

Lijadu sisters live sounds like it would be great

Nigerian rapper Davido who Mordy posted a video of upthread is touring North America (some of it)

Tour Schedule (Part 1):
1, New York March 28th
2, Washington March 29th
3, Minneapolis March 30th
4, Dallas April 4th
5, Toronto, Canada April 5th

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/16/288687538/first-listen-yasmine-hamdan-ya-nass

Hamdan is the groundbreaking co-founder of the duo Soapkills, which was billed as the first indie electropop band in Lebanon, and certainly one of the first in the Middle East. Then, performing as Y.A.S., she collaborated with Mirwais Ahmadzaï (of Madonna's Music fame). Now performing under her own name, Hamdan has perfected a very particular kind of disaffected cool, like a less effortful Lana Del Rey, as you can see from the video we made with Hamdan at this year's edition of globalFEST in New York. It's no wonder that Jim Jarmusch cast this super-charismatic singer in his film Only Lovers Left Alive, starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, which is set to open in the U.S. next month.

She sings pop in Arabic

But:
Hamdan often proclaims her love for iconic Arab singers of the 1920s through the '60s, and her track "La Mouch" is a smart, dark reworking of "Laa Mech Ana Elli Abki," a classic tango by the Egyptian legend Mohammed Abdel Wahab.

Lucky for me-- more live Malian music coming to town

Imharhan Timbuktu (the guys who support the women performers in Tartit, have their own group) for only $5 at Bossa in DC tomorrow Wed. the 19th; and Tinariwen Sat. the 22nd. Current albums by both groups are growing on me, after I was initially underwhelmed by both (yea, yea yea desert nomad guitar...)

Speaking of Lebanon, this is a really good rock pop etc. comp from a few years ago

http://norient.com/files/2011/08/golden-beirut-xl-0.jpg

It was compiled by Thomas Burkhalter of norient, a fortifying musical resource, re Middle East and elsewhere :http://norient.com/blog/goldenbeirut/ This is released by norient and German label Outhere. I got it from Forced Exposure; it's also been on Amazon and iTunes.
The vibe made me think of Wanna Buy A Bridge? There's an expansiveness, wheeling out, but watchful as hell too, mindful of all the furor and collapse, implosion and explosion of the recent past.
1. Russian Roulette / Scrambled Eggs
2. Intikhabeit 2009 / Malikah feat. Zoog
3. Raksit Layla / Mashrou Leila
4. Ahwak / Shift Z feat. Hiba el Mansouri
5. Morr /Katibe 5
6. The New Government / The New Government
7. Don’t F*** with my Cat /Lumi
8. Herzan /Soap Kills
9. Rocket (Sarookh) /Praed
10. Keskonatten /Rayess Bek
11. Rawak / Ziyad Sahhab
12. Disposable Valentine /The Incompetents

I should check that out sometime. Plus all the youtube links just posted on the new Afrobeats 2014 thread.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2014/03/19/imarhan-timbuktu-and-tinariwen-talk-malian-desert-music-and-western-pop/

Was discussing with someone how, except for Tinariwen (who have guest rockers on their albums), most of these Malian guitar bands are kinda treated like avante-garde jazz---like its nice you like that weird stuff but its not mainstream in any fashion--but we both think its more accessible than that (not to dis avante-garde jazz).

Plus while old-school critics like Christgau and Pareles give it love, it seems to get less attention from Pitchfork

Pitchfork doesn't seem to cover anything African now that Tangari doesn't write for them regularly. Which is fine, I mostly respect that their genre coverage seems to be writer driven.

Desert Blues! https://play.spotify.com/user/glennpmcdonald/playlist/11Hb0CYKlvGFUA8yvDEJer

curm that seems as much like a marketing issue as anything, probably you need malian guitar bands on tour with american/british acts, some name-dropping by the right cool gatekeepers, spots backing up american/british artists on their records, etc.

Yea, that seems to be working for Tinariwen a bit-- Red Hot Chili P Josh on latest album, recording out in Joshua tree, rebel/refugees from war--

They have their own ilx thread too

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26654516

Cool. I need to check out some of the found vinyl that guy got reissed:

from album Pax Nicholas and the Nettey Family by artist Pax Nicholas, Daptone Records 2009

3. "Gbe Keke Wo Taoo" from album Psycho African Beat by artist Psychedelic Aliens, Academy LPs 2010