so the Graceland discussion got me thinking about some "african music" i actually do like, and this guy was one of the first to mind. Akwaaba has to be one of the most memorable albums i've ever heard, and definitely my favorite i've heard out of the entire continent to date (especially if we don't count reissues, but records actually released in their own time). in large part because the title track is one of my all-time favorite recordings, though the rest is special and mesmerizing in its own right. Un Petite Ivorien is really nice too, and his early electronic recordings (as collected on African Electronic Music 1975-1982, as i have them) are super prescient.
guy's got a massive discography, though, and for all my love i've yet to really plumb it. hoping we have some experts here!
― soyrev, Saturday, 11 April 2015 02:25 (eight years ago) link
I've only heard the African Electronic Music comp, but I like it a lot, esp. "New Track" and "The Coffee Cola Song."
― jaymc, Saturday, 11 April 2015 04:44 (eight years ago) link
Love the African Electronic Music compilation, I gave it to my brother in law last year and now my 4 and 6 year old nephews are singing his songs :)Will seek out Akwaaba. & hope some real experts will visit this thread :)
Coincidence, probably, and it's only the intro, but I had a minor wtf-moment when I played Hancock's Head Hunters album recently:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjPlBC4h_8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m56H4E5bZLk
― willem, Saturday, 11 April 2015 07:22 (eight years ago) link
The Coffee Cola song is great. heard it on the 'One Track Per Week' thread.
― but then again, who really cares? I don’t. (dog latin), Saturday, 11 April 2015 08:41 (eight years ago) link
The Psychedelic Sanza collection (also on Born Bad) is super good. I think I prefer that side to the stuff on the other comp, although I'm sure that's brilliant as well.
I put this in a mix recently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwM-Gjp3ToU
― Noel Emits, Saturday, 11 April 2015 10:17 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWI3QsrxZA
"my heart, my heart is full of love / i have nothing else"
― Treeship, Sunday, 24 May 2015 07:21 (eight years ago) link
that's beautiful
― drash, Sunday, 24 May 2015 08:05 (eight years ago) link
(re: watermelon man similarity) the hoot/flute hocquetting thing is a repertoire technique in east african music. natural for bebey, hancock & crew likely inspired by ethnographic recordings or something else. anybody's guess, really
― massaman gai, Sunday, 24 May 2015 08:14 (eight years ago) link
just got into this guy recently, that electronic music comp is so great. Anyone read any of his books?
― So You've Been Pubically Shaved (wins), Sunday, 24 May 2015 10:05 (eight years ago) link
wow, yeah. didn't know he made stuff w/ this kinda sound. unbelievable..."akwaaba" leagues for sure. i gotta track down more of his records (but seriously everyone needs to check out the akwaaba lp!!)
didn't even know he was an author. a musicologist and novelist both, apparently. intreresting
― soyrev, Sunday, 24 May 2015 10:24 (eight years ago) link
the hoot/flute hocquetting thing is a repertoire technique in east african music
do you have any more specifics or examples of this?
love bebey ofc
― ogmor, Sunday, 24 May 2015 10:43 (eight years ago) link
can't find exactly what i'm looking for, but this is close:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfbpZgeRSg
― massaman gai, Sunday, 24 May 2015 13:56 (eight years ago) link
"hindewhu" is teh name for the technique, apparently,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaapIq7iTB0
― massaman gai, Sunday, 24 May 2015 14:14 (eight years ago) link
this is great
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7033W-8meI
― global tetrahedron, Thursday, 7 January 2016 05:10 (eight years ago) link
Bumping this thread since Arcade Fire samples him on their latest single. Good reason to dive into him as any, I suppose.
― Frederik B, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:30 (six years ago) link
great to see a thread on him, psychedelic stanza is a favorite
definiitely not very interested in hearing arcade fire's take tho
― global tetrahedron, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:36 (six years ago) link
Psychedelic Sanza and African Electronic Music 1975-82 are on youtube. Will check out. Sadly no Akwaaba.
― Frederik B, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:40 (six years ago) link
http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334947853l/13610295.jpg
bought^^^ at stern's and last read when i was writing a lot abt african pop for nme in the 80s, i need to reread this
― mark s, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:41 (six years ago) link
i liked the electronic music comp, but psychedelic sanza is something else. it's the kind of album you put on again as soon as it's over.
― i remember the corned beef of my childhood (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 21 February 2018 21:23 (six years ago) link
Had never heard Bebey's Psychedelic Stanza till now, wow. Thanks
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:52 (six years ago) link
Yeah I really like that one. Don't really know the electronic stuff, actually.
― brimstead, Thursday, 22 February 2018 19:16 (six years ago) link
I just discovered "African Electronic Music" love it
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 22 February 2018 19:25 (six years ago) link
Francis Bebey is one of my favorite composers and favorite people!
I picked up this bio and will be slowly working my way through, hopefully remembering to report back here with anything interesting
https://www.afrisson.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/arton5226.jpg
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 02:48 (six months ago) link
well, it's really more of a critical essay than a full-on bio, but nevertheless it seems interesting
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 02:50 (six months ago) link
are you reading it in French?
I should dig out Psychedelic Sanzas, it's been a while
― rob, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 12:49 (six months ago) link