and they know their place.
― maura, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 15:58 (four years ago) link
(i'm being sarcastic. i trust you realize this but i feel like i have to clarify.)
Christopher Kirkley's Sahel Sounds imprint (Mdou Moctar, Les Filles de Illighadad, Ahmedou Ahmed Lowla) jumpstarts 2020 with its catchy new "Music from Saharan WhatsApp" series: "Every month, we'll be releasing an EP from a musical group in the Sahel. Every album will be recorded on a cellphone, and transmitted over WhatsApp, and uploaded to Bandcamp - where it will live for one month only. Available for pay as you want, 100% of the sales will go directly to the artist or group. After one month, the album will be replaced by another one, until the end of the year."
First off is Etran de L'Aïr (which translates to 'Stars of the Aïr', a mountainous region in Northern Niger), a group hailing from Agadez that established itself as a wedding band, playing three guitars simultaneously, "pushing their instruments to the extreme, soloing over one another and creating a dreamy cacophony of sound." Originally the band formed back in 1995...
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 19:55 (four years ago) link
X-post - NY Times editorial by Jennifer Weiner re pearl clutchers vs butt shakers takes on Super Bowl
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/opinion/jlo-superbowl-performance.html
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 22:27 (four years ago) link
Now I'm sorry I skipped that Ballaké Sissoko show. This is totally fucked:
Malian musician & renowned Kora player Ballaké Sissoko says USA Customs have destroyed his custom-made Kora.Statement reads ‘In Mali the jihadists threaten to destroy musical instruments - yet ironically US customs have managed to do this’ pic.twitter.com/4uwvkhoHPa— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) February 5, 2020
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 6 February 2020 01:39 (four years ago) link
Terrible how they pulled it apart
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2020 17:00 (four years ago) link
The destruction of Ballaké Sissoko's kora by TSA agents of 'Homeland Security' is a reminder that cultural barbarism flows from political barbarism. They are not worthy of him, of his instrument, or of the beautiful sound he produces on his kora. https://t.co/vFwD3j1Zhr— Adam Shatz (@adamshatz) February 7, 2020
shatz otm
― calzino, Friday, 7 February 2020 15:04 (four years ago) link
Burna Boy and Koffee at least made ilm top 77 albums, but not Mdou Moctar or others discussed here. :(
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 February 2020 16:14 (four years ago) link
No mention anywhere on ILM of djeuhdjoah & lt nicholson. Liked that album more than African-ish that made the top 77, except Samthing prob.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 7 February 2020 18:21 (four years ago) link
Must admit I never heard of that duo. French Afro-Soul singers it appears. Will check them out.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 February 2020 19:26 (four years ago) link
Mdou Moctar got 7 votes in ILM album poll 2019
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 8 February 2020 12:51 (four years ago) link
love sissoko, very much bullshit from customs
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 9 February 2020 15:43 (four years ago) link
https://homerecordsbe.bandcamp.com/album/sissoko-sissoko
this sissoko & sissoko album with (Baba) features some beautiful playing. I suppose -ruined instrument aside- the upshot is that this ugly incident brought him lots of sympathetic publicity and attention that he thoroughly deserves.
― calzino, Monday, 10 February 2020 11:48 (four years ago) link
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/11/804788290/joseph-shabalala-ladysmith-black-mambazo-founder-dies-at-78
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 February 2020 18:32 (four years ago) link
RIP. Pioneering act. Saw em a few times ( although they used to come to DC every February and I got tired of em and wanted to see other South African old school acts but that rarely ever happened. Wasn’t their fault)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 06:08 (four years ago) link
Fatoumata Diawara only has 2 US east coast gigs on current tour- Philly on February 19 & NYC on the 21st. Then she heads out to Chicago and west. She’s great live
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 15:14 (four years ago) link
Listened to the reissue of an Issam Hajali album today - Lebanese Acid Folk from the 70's with touches of orchestral pop, prog, bossa nova. Killer album, Habibi Funk is such a great label.
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, January 24, 2020 1:11 PM (three weeks ago)
this album is incredible, an absolute gem
― corrs unplugged, Friday, 14 February 2020 10:31 (four years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/news/victor-olaiya-highlife-icon-dead-at-89/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 February 2020 23:50 (four years ago) link
gonna catch diawara this week. she's been great everytime i saw her.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 16 February 2020 04:40 (four years ago) link
mdou moctar doing a neat late night NYC show at an extremely funky brooklyn roomhttps://thesultanroom.com/events/#event=91208474001
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 16 February 2020 04:41 (four years ago) link
whatsapp #2 is out
https://sahelsounds.bandcamp.com/album/music-from-saharan-whatsapp-02
― Mordy, Wednesday, 19 February 2020 16:33 (four years ago) link
This month we present mother and son duo, Oumou Diabate and Kara Show Koumba Frifri (Youssouf Drame), from Bamako, Mali. Playing traditional Mandingue music, these lowkey recordings are a snapshot from a griot family home.
saw Dawda Jobarteh yesterday, feel like there should be a dedicated kora thread, what a wonderful instrument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsXjw37Jwg
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 20 February 2020 07:59 (four years ago) link
Kora does sound great
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 February 2020 20:28 (four years ago) link
This month, Autotune the World goes to Senegal, digging into the past decade of Mbalax & Sabar. Some deep youtube finds and some well known classics.MBALAX
https://www.nts.live/shows/christopher-kirkley/episodes/autotune-the-world-w-christopher-kirkley-13th-february-2020
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 February 2020 20:31 (four years ago) link
Haven’t heard that yet, or latest Afropop worldwide, or recent Sahel Sounds whatsapp related release. Shame on me
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 20:49 (four years ago) link
Finally listening to the Islam Hajali , Lebanese acid-folk pop album mentioned upthread. Nice, pleasant sounds for an early Monday morning
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 March 2020 13:58 (four years ago) link
posted this on another thread but might be interesting to some here. I started a Facebook community to discuss new music from around the world https://www.facebook.com/groups/terrainsound/
― doorstep jetski (dog latin), Monday, 2 March 2020 14:46 (four years ago) link
X-post - ah autocorrect- that’s Issam Hijali
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 March 2020 03:17 (four years ago) link
I listened to an Afropop Worldwide episode about chutney soca. I want to go to a Carnival in the Caribbean some year. I have done Brazil ( Rio and Salvador) which was amazing .
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 March 2020 02:56 (four years ago) link
x-post - listened to some of the Autotune the World Senegal thing and it’s worth hearing but it’s just music, no talking like the Afropop Worldwide podcast. But maybe you knew that.
75 Dollar Bill are opening for Mdou Moctar on Monday March 23 at Ottobar in Baltimore. Not sure if they’re playing together elsewhere. A bit of a drive for me to get up there on a work night but it’s tempting
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 March 2020 17:25 (four years ago) link
https://tuskisbetter.substack.com/p/when-and-where-music-of-guineas-authenticit?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy
Nice video at end of guinea band plus discussion of music history there
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 March 2020 17:44 (four years ago) link
MP3 download too
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 March 2020 17:46 (four years ago) link
Legendary Ethiopian pianist Girma Beyene just canceled US tour due to virus concerns ( especially for those who are older)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2020 16:29 (four years ago) link
http://www.transglobalwmc.com/category/charts/monthly-charts/
Have not heard the Portuguese modern take on fado album that is #1
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 March 2020 19:30 (four years ago) link
that’s the #2! I’m curious about the #1, Kurdish singer Aynur’s new album Hedûr.
― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Saturday, 14 March 2020 20:12 (four years ago) link
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)
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 March 2020 20:56 (four years ago) link
That Lina_Raül Refree album is really good. I interviewed them both for Bandcamp.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 14 March 2020 21:04 (four years ago) link
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela album coming soon. A song or 2 already available
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 15:59 (four years ago) link
Manu Dibango was hospitalized for Covid-19 but is now home and recuperating, I see on Facebook
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 March 2020 18:58 (four years ago) link
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
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 21 March 2020 11:27 (four years ago) link
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
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 March 2020 16:25 (four years ago) link
RIP Manu Dibango. There’s a separate thread all about Mr Soul Makossa
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 March 2020 14:49 (four years ago) link
New Hailu Mergia album is good
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 31 March 2020 04:19 (four years ago) link
agreed! new tony allen hugh masekela great too.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 31 March 2020 04:26 (four years ago) link
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
― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 31 March 2020 09:08 (four years ago) link
just digging into the full hailu album but the singles are one and all excellentNeed to crack the Masekela/Allen album; two gods.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Tuesday, 31 March 2020 16:14 (four years ago) link
I need to hear the Masekela/Allen album. Did like 1 advanced track I heard
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2020 16:30 (four years ago) link
https://www.gofundme.com/f/barbes-needs-you?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Barbes in NYC
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2020 19:36 (four years ago) link
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bossa-bistro-community-support
Bossa Bistro in Dc go fund me and likely many homes for international music everywhere
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2020 19:38 (four years ago) link