Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2020 Thread (Often African bands)

Oops you're right. Curious about a number of these. Full list for each month goes to 40.

1. Aynur · Hedûr / Solace of Time · The Orchard / Dreyer & Gaido (-)

2. Lina_Raül Refree · Lina_Raül Refree · Glitterbeat (16)
3. Antibalas · Fu Chronicles · Daptone (-)
4. Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou · Oulad Lghaba · Ajabu! (3)
5. Nelia Safaie · Songs from Lands of Silence · Kirkelig Kulturverksted (-)
6. Sam Lee · Old Wow · Cooking Vinyl (-)
7. Ballaké Sissoko & Baba Sissoko · Sissoko & Sissoko · Homerecords.be (4)
8. Maria Mazzotta · Amoreamaro · Agualoca (-)
9. Evritiki Zygia · Ormenion · Teranga Beat (-)
10. Roberto Fonseca · Yesun · Mack Avenue (7)

That Lina_Raül Refree album is really good. I interviewed them both for Bandcamp.

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela album coming soon. A song or 2 already available

Manu Dibango was hospitalized for Covid-19 but is now home and recuperating, I see on Facebook

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51978459

Aurlus Mabele, singer/dancer from Congolese rumba/ soukous band Loketo led by guitarist Diblo Dibala. He was 67 & died from stroke complications and coronavirus . Loketo was last based in Paris.

A charismatic performer back when, I saw he & Loketo a number of times

My locally based Malian and Ethiopian musicians are laying low and not video streaming as far as I can tell. Local clubs are unable to pay employees. Musicians and promoters who are independent contractors are unable to qualify for unemployment benefits

RIP Manu Dibango. There’s a separate thread all about Mr Soul Makossa

New Hailu Mergia album is good

agreed! new tony allen hugh masekela great too.

Hailu album/EP is lovely

opener reminds me of some pop tune, maybe "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAQ6rjz-XaU

just digging into the full hailu album but the singles are one and all excellent
Need to crack the Masekela/Allen album; two gods.

I need to hear the Masekela/Allen album. Did like 1 advanced track I heard

https://www.gofundme.com/f/barbes-needs-you?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Barbes in NYC

https://www.gofundme.com/f/bossa-bistro-community-support

Bossa Bistro in Dc go fund me and likely many homes for international music everywhere

x-post--- Kurdish singer Aynur’s new album Hedûr.

Aynur's opening track on this is beautiful-- Her slightly rough vocals over tinkling piano keys and strings

Wasn't as impressed by Masekela/ Tony Allen album as I hoped I would be

Really liking the whole recent album from Kurdish singer Aynur. Melancholy and mixes piano with traditional strings under her modern yet traditional vocals

The Hailu Mergia album is great— looks back and forward

The Hailu Mergia album is great— looks back and forward

cosign

yeah, i dug into it properly and it's wonderful.
also just watched this and would recommend it for a spin if you can find it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_A7wsQAAN8

I paid to rent Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul on Vimeo . Was worth it. There's a bit of a discussion on the Ethiopiques thread

glad you like it! It's a bit neatly wrapped but i felt like i learned a lot!

I also saw a pianist Girma Beyene doc that hasn’t been officially released yet. He wrote some great songs. After his wife died ( whom he had written many songs about) he gave up music for awhile and just worked at a Washington DC gas station. He finally felt comfortable with returning to music a few years ago. I saw him play here in DC once. He has now moved back to Ethiopia and his latest tour got cancelled by Covid-19

Behind on listening to Sahel Sounds What's app stuff.

Been catching up on the late Bohannon, whose 1974 Soul Train appearance doing "South African Man" sounds like Fela meets disco , and anticipates Talking Heads circa 1980 funky period

1. Tamikrest · Tamotaït · Glitterbeat

Haven't heard this latest Tamikrest album either

The Alkibar Jr ep for April 2020 from the Music from Saharan Whatsapp series is pretty good. More than just formula desert sounds. I think it’s only available on Bandcamp through Thursday on the Sahel Sounds page . It’s real cheap $

Actually they posted it in mid-April do it’s available until May 15.

Sahel Sounds says: "We wanted to give you all a heads up that all album downloads at our Bandcamp page will be "Pay What You Want" tomorrow, Friday, May 1st, from midnight to midnight PST. Thank you for your continued support! "

that's good. Not so good is the death of drummer Tony Allen

Oh no

Sad news rip I thought the latest album with Hugh masekela sounded great

Would have almost gone to see him if not for Covid :(

i met him a couple years ago and it was awesome
feel unusually sad about his passing :(

Yes. So Bandcamp is going to do specials every first Friday for a bit to help musicians

I guess that new Oumou Sangare (live I think) album is not available yet. Listened to old stuff from her tonight-- what a voice...

Tidiane Thiam- Siftorde is nice acoustic guitarist album Northern Senegal . Pleasant instrumentals that might appeal to those into fingerpicked American strumming .

On Sahel Sounds

https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2020/05/21/Google-celebrates-Zimbabwes-national-instrument-the-mbira-with-Doodle/5301590056841/

Unnamed Zimbabwe mbira player on today’s Google Doodle

This looks great: this Monday, the 2020 edition of the Africadelic Festival will be livestreamed through the Instagram page of the Paradiso venue in Amsterdam from 12pm-12am CEST (www.instagram.com/paradisoadam).

There’s a whole slew of artists set to perform, including at least several that should appeal to followers of this thread: Blick Bassy, Femi Kuti, Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band – possibly more, because to be honest there’s many names there that I don’t recognize.

There are also talks and interviews, and a film programme (with free viewing on 24, 25 and 26 May).

Check this Facebook link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/248730829661281/
Or here (but not everything here is in English): https://www.paradiso.nl/en/program/africadelic-2020-online-edition/77120/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52774331

RIP Mory Kante at 70 from Guinea who did the great upbeat Afropop dance tune “Yeke Yeke” and was also in the Super Rail Band with musicians from Mali

Youssou N'Dour had nice words for Mory Kante calling him "a baobab of African culture"

RIP Kante, that shit still rocks

unusually concise, otm band bio/non-frothing press release:
Les Amazones d’Afrique is a creative force that embraces international voices; sweet, strong harmonies that summon the rights of women and girls; and a meltdown of heritage and new gen talent. They were formed in Bamako, Mali, in 2014 by three renowned Malian music stars and social change activists, Mamani Keïta, Oumou Sangaré and Mariam Doumbia. Since then, collective has expanded to involve many female artists from across Africa and the diaspora.

While their cause — campaigning for gender equality and eradicating ancestral violence — is worthy enough in itself, their musical creative expression is equally powerful. Richly melodic and far-ranging, it blends pan-African styles and collaborative harmonies with gritty, contemporary pop, and the Congotronix-style production of legendary producer Doctor L (aka Liam Farrell).

Their debut album République Amazone featured guest contributions from the likes of Angélique Kidjo and Nigerian singer-songwriter Nneka, and caught the attention of President Obama, who included one of the songs in his 20 favourite tracks of 2017. In 2020, they release their follow-up album Amazones Power, on which familiar voices like Mamani Keïta and Rokia Koné appear alongside a younger generation of singers who represent the exciting new sound of modern Africa.
Yeah, it's intergenerational, among other dynamics, and though the translated lyrics aren't necessary---the sound immediately and developmentally rules, as on the debut, which I didn't have translations for---they do provide more light, sometimes at startling angles.

Hope this is the right thread (police don't talk about me when I'm gone).

Thanks again, press sheet:

Real World Records RW228
Released: 24 January 2020
CD / 2LP / Digital

01. Heavy (feat. Niariu, Boy Fall & Jon Grace)
02. Love (feat. Mamani Keïta)
03. Smile (feat. Niariu & Ami Yerewolo)
04. Queens (feat. Rokia Koné)
05. Smooth (feat. Mamani Keïta)
06. Dreams (feat. Rokia Koné)
07. Timbuktu (feat. Mamani Keïta)
08. Red (feat. Rokia Koné)
09. Rebels (feat. Nacera Ouali Mesbah)
10. Dogon (feat. Mamani Keïta)
11. Fights (feat. Fafa Ruffino)
12. Sisters# (feat. Kandy Guira)
13. Power

I heard the earlier one, but not this 2020 one.

Trans global June 2020 chart

1. Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn · Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn · Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (6)

2. Džambo Aguševi Orchestra · Brasses for the Masses · Asphalt Tango (1)
3. Damir Imamović · Singer of Tales · Wrasse (5)
4. Tamikrest · Tamotaït · Glitterbeat (2)
5. Santrofi · Alewa · Outhere (17)
6. Trio Tekke · Strovilos · Riverboat / World Music Network (-)
7. Moonlight Benjamin · Simido · Ma Case (9)
8. Matthieu Saglio · El Camino de los Vientos · ACT Music (24)
9. Transglobal Underground · Walls Have Ears · Mule Satellite (-)
10. Frigg · FriXX · Frigg (16)

11. Sam Lee · Old Wow · Cooking Vinyl (4)

wow that Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn is interesting!

Matthieu Saglio sounds beautiful

i love abby washburn and she's most interesting to me when she's doing chinese inspired stuff so yeah, i love that album.