Almost the same title as last year, but new year. You know the drill-
this is the thread for polyrhythmic, funky, bluesy, new + reissued music from lots of different places that may include Mauritania, Ghana, Congo, Kenya, Niger, Mali, South Africa, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and other places that make cool music that doesn't always get enough press in the west. This music may be less "clubby" than on other threads, but its ok to lean in that direction too.
Plus I like to hear about live music.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 January 2017 17:21 (seven years ago) link
Last year's thread: Rolling Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2016 Thread Once Known as World Music
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 January 2017 17:23 (seven years ago) link
Leaning towards seeing Ethiopian pianist Girma Beyene (again) tonight with the DC based Feedel Band at Bossa in DC.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 January 2017 17:24 (seven years ago) link
My wife and I did go. Feedel did most of the first set themselves, except for one song with an un-named female singer (who wasn't bad). Feedel, per an interview I did with them (plus based on my hearing of them), are trying to modernize Ethio-jazz, but it ends up sounding like generic American jazz. The problem is not that they are doing more current modern jazz, its that they are not adding anything unique to it. When Girma came out they switched into backing him on his catalogue of old-school Ethio-jazz that was more rhythmically interesting than the jazz that Feedel was doing without him. Plus Girma sang on some tunes and his old-fashioned jazzy and r'n'b and Ethio melodies helped keep things lively.
We also talked to him again. A sweet, humble interesting guy. He will have an album out backed by a French band later this month.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 January 2017 20:44 (seven years ago) link
Kofi Agawu, PhD, Professor of Music, Princeton University Professor Agawu will speak about his new book, The African Imagination in Music, with a special focus on chapter 4, “The Rhyhmic Imagination in African Music.”
On Thursday night January 26th this guy will be speaking for free at the Library of Congress. Has anyone heard of him or his new book? I haven't
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 January 2017 18:34 (seven years ago) link
Lots of folks are in NYC now for a music conference and showcase for concert presenters. Been seeing some nice video clips on Facebook. There 's a multi-act bill at SOBs tonight
http://sobs.com/2016/9036/mondo-music-presents-world-music-fire
Guadeloupe dancehall singer Admiral T plus Cuban dance band SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO and Christiane Obydol (zouk musician) and Garifuna Band and more
― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 January 2017 20:49 (seven years ago) link
This took place already--
http://globalfest.org/gf_artists
― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 January 2017 21:09 (seven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/05/508028704/playlist-top-global-songs-of-2016-mix-traditional-styles-with-pop
a list of hits by region and country, pulled from music streaming app Spotify's most popular domestic songs of 2016 and culture blogs like OkayAfrica, BollywoodLife and EgyptianStreets.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 January 2017 21:30 (seven years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/arts/music/globalfest-review.html?_r=0
Pareles of the Times liked Betsayda Machado y la Parranda el Clavo from Venezuela plus many more
Ssing Ssing, from Korea, drew its songs and vocal style from Korean folk tradition, but transmogrified them by way of glam-rock, disco and psychedelia: an irreverent but intriguing hybrid
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 January 2017 15:51 (seven years ago) link
I missed Ghana's Jojo Abot for free at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage last night
http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/index/M7048
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 January 2017 15:50 (seven years ago) link
video of her gig is there and on Youtube
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 January 2017 16:08 (seven years ago) link
I need to check out the Batida gig from there .
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 January 2017 20:56 (seven years ago) link
http://www.asia.si.edu/events/performances.asp?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D121613644%26key%3Df4af751cad6dce02d62e5a712c6e818d
Longtime Afghan singer Ustad Farida Mahwash, the first female singer there to get the title "Ustad", has been living in California since the 90s after getting asylum after she was threatened with assassination. She is going to be in DC Friday through Sunday doing a bunch of free duet gigs with Khalil Ragheb on vocals and harmonium.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 January 2017 20:59 (seven years ago) link
She was impressive live.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 January 2017 05:33 (seven years ago) link
I watched some of the above referenced appearance by NY based Ghanaian's Jojo Abot. Eh, she 's ok. Kinda wants to be Erykah Badu
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 January 2017 18:00 (seven years ago) link
Batida is always great, Betsayda Machado y la Parranda el Clavo were one of globalfest's high points.And so were Ssing Ssing! Fierce!
― A big shout out goes to the lamb chops, thos lamb chops (ulysses), Thursday, 19 January 2017 18:42 (seven years ago) link
Just watched some video of afro-Venezuelan singing and percussion ensemble Betsayda Machado y la Parranda el Clavo at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Good stuff
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 January 2017 17:54 (seven years ago) link
Nguyên Lê & Ngô Hồng Quang - Về Đồi Nonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mrcrVTMbMs
― this device is capable of killing you without warning (Sanpaku), Saturday, 21 January 2017 18:51 (seven years ago) link
Orchestra Baobab are back. 3 gigs in the UK from the end of this month through February and then an album in March
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 January 2017 16:15 (seven years ago) link
cool! let me know if you see them doing an nyc play?
― A big shout out goes to the lamb chops, thos lamb chops (ulysses), Wednesday, 25 January 2017 00:52 (seven years ago) link
First single from the new Orchestra Baobab album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgAZv4KTF_s
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 January 2017 04:58 (seven years ago) link
4 folks voted for Noura Mint Seymali's album Arbina in the Voice critics poll
1 vote for this Brazilian effort:
Cesar Lacerda & Romulo Froes, O Meu Nome E Qualquer Um (ybmusic)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 January 2017 21:10 (seven years ago) link
How many of them from this thread :p
― Mordy, Wednesday, 25 January 2017 21:19 (seven years ago) link
At least 2, don't know 2
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 January 2017 21:29 (seven years ago) link
Fatou Seidi Ghali & Alamnou Akrouni, Les Filles de Illighadad Sahel Sounds
This North African effort got 5 album votes-- 1 person who used to be here a bit, and don't know about the other 4
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 January 2017 01:11 (seven years ago) link
Gqom Oh! the Sound of Durban got a vote from Whiney. It's a bit more clubby than most stuff on this thread
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 January 2017 01:33 (seven years ago) link
the ghali/akrouni just missed my top 10 but i voted for it in the ilx poll
― Mordy, Thursday, 26 January 2017 02:04 (seven years ago) link
i forgot to vote in the ilx poll
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 January 2017 05:54 (seven years ago) link
I like the Seymali album more than the Fatou Seidi Ghali & Alamnou Akrouni, one. More energetic
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 January 2017 06:21 (seven years ago) link
Artsy avante samba singer Elza Soares got 8 votes in the Voice critics poll.
Balafon player Aly Keita whom I had not heard of, got a vote for his collaboration with jazz musicians and others
https://intaktrec.bandcamp.com/album/kalo-yele
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 January 2017 16:36 (seven years ago) link
A-WA got 3 votes including a chuck eddy vote
― Mordy, Saturday, 28 January 2017 16:58 (seven years ago) link
Saudi Arabian pop
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/01/512895766/saudi-women-stunt-hard-and-dis-men-in-a-music-video-gone-viral
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 February 2017 17:55 (seven years ago) link
That Elza Soares album is great. There's decades of non-artsy samba material by her to check up on, too.
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 3 February 2017 11:07 (seven years ago) link
Will check out her older stuff. Thanks.
It looks like nobody voted for any Brazilian albums in the ILX album poll. I was gonna submit my Voice poll albums and add more, but, doh, I forgot the deadline and did not vote at all.
Noura Mint Seymali got 1 album voter, it appears. Most of the album votes were for Yanks and Brits.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 February 2017 17:44 (seven years ago) link
Nigerian afropopper Kiss Daniel of "Mama" fame got one album vote. I like that album too. It has some musical aspects that fans of more trad Nigerian sounds should like
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 February 2017 17:52 (seven years ago) link
The attention Noura Mint Seymali has been getting here inspired me to dust off this well-produced 2000 CD (Praise Songs) by Ooleya Mint Amartichitt:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0p6ydNWSuiwIMvE90mw8to
It's more strictly traditional though. (At least I think. Not as if I kow the history of Mauritanian music.)
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 3 February 2017 17:59 (seven years ago) link
x-post-- It looks like Brazilian Elza Soares got at least one album vote in ilx poll, but not enough to place in top 77 albums
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 February 2017 19:08 (seven years ago) link
??
― Mordy, Friday, 3 February 2017 20:02 (seven years ago) link
I read the ILX poll-related comments on what countries the top 77 artists are from. Noura is the only artist from Mauritania, and one of the few from the whole African continent to place in the top 77.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 February 2017 21:49 (seven years ago) link
I finally saw Brooklyn-based Alsarah and the Nubatones. She's from Sudan. Mostly good Sudanese Nubian dance-pop, although some songs could use stronger melodies and have more interesting rhythmic and harmonic touches. The openers Huda and Kamyar kinda stole the show. They are a DC-based duo with Palestinian electric oud player & singer Huda on vocals and Iranian Kamyar on daf (a large trashcan lid size but bigger percussion instrument). I think they have some music on soundcloud
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 February 2017 14:53 (seven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/02/06/513255643/even-with-travel-ban-blocked-artists-are-still-left-hanging?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=anastasiatsioulcas
Omar Souleyman US tour may not happen
Now that the order is in limbo, Tosti is not sure what to do. Neither is immigration lawyer Matthew Covey, who heads a U.S. nonprofit called Tamizdat that advocates for foreign artists and helps facilitate their visa applications.
"For the arts, it's really not a resolution at all," Covey asserts. "Because at least for performing arts programmers, the temporary restraining order is just that. We don't know when or if it will disappear, and we'll go back to the ban. So if you're running a performing arts organization here in the U.S., and you're trying to figure out who to book for June, July, even for March — there are very few presenters who are going to risk contracting with an artist from one of the seven countries now for any point in the foreseeable future."
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 February 2017 13:37 (seven years ago) link
http://www.thestranger.com/events/24814447/cancelled-oliver-mtukudzi-anzanga-marimba-ensemble-naomi-wachira
[THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Oliver and his band weren't allowed into Seattle; the band's working visas were denied by new embassy staff. Apparently, the embassy is not honoring applications accepted under the previous presidential administration. Columbia City Theater will soon be announcing further explanations and issuing refunds.]
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 February 2017 16:03 (seven years ago) link
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trumps-travel-ban-causing-chaos-for-international-musicians-w465236
During the first chaotic weekend after Trump's decree, the wildly popular Iranian singing star Googoosh was among those afraid she wouldn't be allowed back into the U.S. – where she has lived for more than a decade – from London, where she'd been recording. "She was distraught and distressed," says her lawyer Sourash Shahram. "She felt history was repeating itself, almost like a déjà vu." In 1980, while en route to Tehran from London, Googoosh got a phone call telling her not to go back to Iran, where the Ayatollah Khomeini had banned all non-religious women from singing.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 February 2017 16:07 (seven years ago) link
yeah, i know a number of bookers that are furious
― A big shout out goes to the lamb chops, thos lamb chops (ulysses), Wednesday, 8 February 2017 20:08 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUC5cVyQUH8
New Yasmine Hamdan! Album 'Al Jamilat; out March 17th. <3
― Le Bateau Ivre, Thursday, 9 February 2017 11:29 (seven years ago) link
Oh yeah, I remember her.
Tinariwen's new album comes out tomorrow.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 February 2017 17:15 (seven years ago) link
Vusi Mahlasela is playing World Cafe Live here soon - have any of you seen him live? Should I try to go?
― Mordy, Friday, 10 February 2017 19:21 (seven years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/glitterbeat/bargou-08-mamchout
It’s the forgotten place. Lying between the mountains of northwest Tunisia and the Algerian border, the Bargou valley and the village named after it lie isolated, away from the world. It’s poor, barren country, but standing apart, Bargou has developed its own culture that had never been documented until Nidhal Yahyaoui began the task. Born in the valley, he grew up hearing his parents and family sing the songs that belong to the region, and he was determined that the music and traditions shouldn’t slip away into obscurity. With Targ, the album he’s made with his band Bargou 08, Yahyaoui has perfectly fused the past and the present to place Bargou on the map.“Nidhal began collecting songs from all over the valley more than ten years ago,” explains producer and keyboard player Sofyann Ben Youssef, who’s known Yahyaoui since they were both ten years old. “No one had ever done that before. He listened to the women, to the village elders, and he learned all the variations on the songs. This is his passion, and he asked me to join him.”
“Nidhal began collecting songs from all over the valley more than ten years ago,” explains producer and keyboard player Sofyann Ben Youssef, who’s known Yahyaoui since they were both ten years old. “No one had ever done that before. He listened to the women, to the village elders, and he learned all the variations on the songs. This is his passion, and he asked me to join him.”
this is awesome btw
― Mordy, Sunday, 12 February 2017 03:54 (seven years ago) link
wow ... yeah it is. thx for posting, Mordy.
― alpine static, Sunday, 12 February 2017 08:49 (seven years ago) link
It is, Targ is definitely one of my favorites this year so far. Glitterbeat on a roll again.
― maarten, Sunday, 12 February 2017 12:37 (seven years ago) link
Saved that one. Also found this video of the same piece. Is that a kind of ney?
― My Body's Made of Crushed Little Evening Stars (Sund4r), Sunday, 12 February 2017 13:59 (seven years ago) link
I think the singer is playing a gunbri?
― My Body's Made of Crushed Little Evening Stars (Sund4r), Sunday, 12 February 2017 14:12 (seven years ago) link
that track is fly as fuck
― removed from the rain drops and drop tops of experience (ulysses), Monday, 13 February 2017 18:58 (seven years ago) link
That Bargou 8 track is good.
― Mordy, Friday, February 10, 2017 7:21
He's a little too folky for me, but he's got a powerful voice.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 15 February 2017 04:46 (seven years ago) link
Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko and French cellist Vincent Segal are touring the US shortly; as is Ivory Coast singer Dobet Gnahore; Noura Mint Seymali; and afropop/afrobeats vocalist Tekno
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 February 2017 13:45 (seven years ago) link
I'd love to see Seymali. Wonder if she'll swing by Philly.
― Mordy, Thursday, 16 February 2017 20:54 (seven years ago) link
Johnny Brenda's
Friday, February 5, 20168:00pm 10:00pm
nooooooooooooooooooo
― Mordy, Thursday, 16 February 2017 20:55 (seven years ago) link
this says she'll be in Philly Feb. 26:http://www.nouramintseymali.com/tour/2017/2/27/calvary-center-crossroads-concerts
― alpine static, Friday, 17 February 2017 08:12 (seven years ago) link
She and her band are great live. I think she's in NYC on the 24th, Virginia near DC for free on the 25th, and the 26th in Philly
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2017 12:04 (seven years ago) link
the afropop.org folks are visiting Nigeria
http://www.afropop.org/34472/dispatch-from-nigeria-4-kanos-nanaye-and-hausa-hip-hop/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2017 13:49 (seven years ago) link
Traditional Hausa music is not heard much in Kano and is reportedly in decline throughout the region as few kids are opting to pick up the torch. We drove out of town to the village of Jogana, passing herds of longhorn cattle and floppy-eared sheep to arrive at the compound of Nasiru Garba Super, master of the one-stringed kokuma fiddle (very similar to the njarka played by Ali Farka Toure and others). Nasiru, his two elderly drummers, and a backup singer delivered a rousing set of songs, several composed by his late, revered father. Soon 50 people from the neighborhood appeared to watch the show and dance in the dusty street.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
xxp omg idk what I saw last night but that's awesome news!!!
― Mordy, Friday, 17 February 2017 14:00 (seven years ago) link
I need to check this stuff out--
http://www.afropop.org/34229/dispatch-from-nigeria-3/
the most exciting aspect of the trip has been delving into the fuji scene, fantastically vibrant and fully of larger-than-life characters. We’ve sat and interviewed Salawa Abeni (The Queen of Fuji), Saheed Osupa (The King of Fuji—crowned by Barrister himself), K1 da Ultimate (The “Undisputed” King of Fuji—widely agreed upon), and Obesere (The Paramount King of Music, and champion of the clever, humorous form of “lewd songs” known as asakasa), all in their homes. These are not artists who typically make themselves available to journalists. It took a very well-connected fixer to arrange these interviews, and they did not disappoint.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2017 16:03 (seven years ago) link
ALRIGHT I got my SEYMALI tickets!!
― Mordy, Friday, 17 February 2017 17:30 (seven years ago) link
if i could "like" this ^ i would
she has one show scheduled on the west coast which seems weird. hoping for more announcements 3/10 is not that far out. they'd have been announced by now, i think.
― alpine static, Friday, 17 February 2017 17:53 (seven years ago) link
Damn, doesn't look like she's coming anywhere near me.:( I did get to see Bombino last summer, which was fantastic.
― My Body's Made of Crushed Little Evening Stars (Sund4r), Friday, 17 February 2017 18:45 (seven years ago) link
the entire bargou 08 album is out today!
― Mordy, Friday, 17 February 2017 20:29 (seven years ago) link
I still need to listen to that. Plus check out the new Tinariwen video (and album if its available)
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 19:38 (seven years ago) link
Some of that Bargou 8 album is a bit one-dimensional, but exciting in a kind of hardcore punk way...
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 02:29 (seven years ago) link
Just got an email that the suburban Washington DC Noura Mint Seymali gig on Saturday February 25 has been postponed until Tuesday March 7th. No explanation was provided.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 February 2017 15:05 (seven years ago) link
huh - i haven't gotten any message about the sunday show being postponed
― Mordy, Thursday, 23 February 2017 15:15 (seven years ago) link
So far, just that one gig it seems.
Unrelated:
The Voice of America's Music Time in Africa program has a Facebook page with some video posts worth checking out.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 February 2017 18:55 (seven years ago) link
Just saw on Instagram that "due to travel " issues the Ny Seymali gig is delayed till March 2
― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 February 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
The energetic great Congolese band Mbongwana Star are coming to the US in March-- dates in NY, Cambridge, Chicago and Minneapolis but alas, I don't see any in Washington DC or Philly listed online
― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 February 2017 20:24 (seven years ago) link
they are fucking killer live btw
― removed from the rain drops and drop tops of experience (ulysses), Friday, 24 February 2017 20:25 (seven years ago) link
yeah i'd love to see them. maybe they'll add dates.
― Mordy, Friday, 24 February 2017 20:41 (seven years ago) link
So looks like Noura Mint Seymali tour now starts tonight in Philly
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 26 February 2017 18:08 (seven years ago) link
Tiny church venue almost no one here. Everyone I was supposed to bring flaked on me so I'm solo tnite
― Mordy, Monday, 27 February 2017 00:07 (seven years ago) link
Did you enjoy the show?
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 February 2017 20:52 (seven years ago) link
oh yes! i meant to update the thread but got busy with work today. first of all - noura and mr. mint seymali are the heart of the band and just fantastic. his guitar playing is funky, playful, they have amazing chemistry on stage, and her voice is just a total force of nature. the audience was about 50-60 ppl but she performed as if to an audience of 500 or an audience (which is really what they deserve). the venue was a church (one of those super lefty churches that has a kol tzedak group meeting in the basement) and it was a good place for them despite limiting (and a limited) audience. they did a bunch of songs from the new album as well as some other stuff - even tho i agree w/ ppl who say that the new album has really developed the sound maybe bc they've gone back and reworked some of the older stuff it all works together. the audience was good - responsive, despite not being an obviously enthusiastic group. noura kept calling for ppl to stand up and by the end of the set ppl were dancing. lots of older ppl at the show. her english is super limited but she's v effusive thanking the crowd (the drummer is from philadelphia and he did most of the crowd work). after the show i bumped into mr and mrs mint seymali downstairs and they are incredibly warm ppl i thanked them for the show and they thanked me and idk i just felt v moved by how genuine they are. a really tremendous show and i highly recommend ppl try to catch them if they're able.
― Mordy, Monday, 27 February 2017 20:56 (seven years ago) link
of 500 or 1000*
― Mordy, Monday, 27 February 2017 20:57 (seven years ago) link
Great. I have enjoyed all their appearances near me, and I agree with your take on them.
So a booking agent told me that no one in the Washington DC area would pay Mbongwana Star what their manager wants for this tour, so no gig here. They had played Washington DC last summer, and we get lots of traveling African acts most of the time(plus some of those acts record NPR Tiny Desk shows here and appear on Voice of America's Music Time in Africa program that is also based in DC) . So it looks like they are just coming over for a week and doing 4 gigs-- NY, Cambridge, Chicago and Minneapolis
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 February 2017 20:59 (seven years ago) link
Its a tough time now to tour in US too. Getting visas approved, promoters and halls with money issues, trying to get media attention...
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 February 2017 16:45 (seven years ago) link
https://www.apollotheater.org/event/africa-now-2017/
― removed from the rain drops and drop tops of experience (ulysses), Tuesday, 28 February 2017 19:02 (seven years ago) link
That looks like a nice gig.
So I saw Ballake Sissoko, Malian kora player, with Vincent Segal, French cello player, last night. They've been doing duet shows on and off for years and have 2 albums together. Mostly pretty, beautiful sounds led by the harp-like kora. Sometimes Segal used his fingers instead of the bow on the cello and it got noisier or jazzier. Pleasant and contemplative for the most part.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 March 2017 16:53 (seven years ago) link
Saw Cote D'Ivoire's Dobet Gnahore and band Saturday night. Fun if uneven gig and not as good as a gig of hers I saw a few years back. She sounded best when stretching out her vocals powerfully over West African grooves (& sometimes adding percussion herself), and on some ballads; but occasionally her band instead played clunky pop-rock instrumentation with arena-like formulaic drum set action and generic guitar solos (from her husband a France born guitarist who has studied West African guitar methods in Africa).
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 March 2017 17:33 (seven years ago) link
She is a great dancer though, and is charismatic and did her best to communicate with the crowd in between songs in English, French and more. For an encore, a number of women joined her onstage to dance, soon followed by a mix of women and men.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 March 2017 17:35 (seven years ago) link
GUYS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px37UsrDpA8
― Mordy, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 20:06 (seven years ago) link
Israeli metal!
So I saw Noura Mint Seymali and band tonight for free near DC. 4th time I think I have seen them. I can see how her voice is an acquired taste for some (despite its range and power) but am not sure how anyone can resist her husband/guitarist cool sounds from his specially tuned axe. What a great band.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 March 2017 04:48 (seven years ago) link
one thing i wondered is the kind of stress that her singing puts on her voice. she was coughing throughout the show (away from the mic during non-vocal parts - like it didn't interrupt her singing) and i was wondering if she had a cold (which would've made her vocal performance all the more impressive tbh) or whether that kind of singing takes a toll on your chords.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 8 March 2017 04:51 (seven years ago) link
Not much coughing last night. Her voice sounded rough on the first song, she drank some water and then no problems the rest of the night. But yes she really works that voice.
A nice size crowd last night but still plenty of empty seats. After years of seeing African shows in the DC area, I know that promoters should contact local D.C. based African embassies and do street team drop-offs of flyers at international markets, in addition to trying to get crossover online coverage etc, but alas, they don't always do all of that or have the time, money and people. Although there are less folks from Mauritania here then from other locales...
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 March 2017 19:12 (seven years ago) link
I just listened to last year's album by the Sahra Halgan Trio. I really like it: a take on desert guitar blues by a group from Somaliland. Pleasant voice, memorable hooks, nice guitar licks.
― My Body's Made of Crushed Little Evening Stars (Sund4r), Friday, 10 March 2017 16:44 (seven years ago) link
I still need to check that out plus this one :
https://awapoulo.bandcamp.com/album/poulo-warali
― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:46 (seven years ago) link
Sahra Halgan Trio is currently the only artist from Somaliland in the field of world music
http://worldmusiccentral.org/2016/02/01/somaliland-act-sahra-halgan-trio-to-presents-new-album-faransiskiyo-somaliland-at-studio-de-lermitage/
The only one! Oy veh. To everyone else there, world music is Drake or Ed Sheeran I think
― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:51 (seven years ago) link
http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/italian_band_soviet_soviet_deported_from_us
Locked up and later deported because they said they were going to do gigs just as promo and not get paid, but venues had a ticket price. Oh no.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:01 (seven years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/13/519987685/why-was-that-band-deported
More details
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 04:53 (seven years ago) link
Awa Poulo mentioned upthread did not wow me. I liked some of the female vocals, but this traditional sounding outfit's rhythms did not always work for me.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 March 2017 13:44 (seven years ago) link
http://local.washingtoncitypaper.com/event/fire-station-1/bolia-matundu-cl
Congo's Bolia BM Matunda on first US tour. He's kinda more afropop club music for the other thread, but he has some old-school Congolese flavoring. A colleague previewed his US/DC debut that is on Saturday (likely starting way past midnight no matter what link says)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 March 2017 15:24 (seven years ago) link
Hamid El Kasri and band (a maalem, a master musician in the gnawa Afro-Islamic spiritual tradition from Morocco) for free from 6 to 7 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage on Saturday in W. DC (and streamed live from the K. Ctr website and on FB, plus video archived.
Kasri and company were in NY Thursday/last night and are at the New School there tonight Friday, and in Brooklyn on Sunday.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 March 2017 20:54 (seven years ago) link
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_70ded35e-099b-11e7-a687-4b0bf4a6a516.html
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 March 2017 19:53 (seven years ago) link
That link is about a Moroccan group that was denied entry to the US.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 March 2017 19:54 (seven years ago) link
sounding great right now
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 March 2017 22:29 (seven years ago) link
They brought out some other musicians near the end to join them...good stuff
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 March 2017 23:42 (seven years ago) link
Saw the 2016 Lutz Gregor directed movie "Mali Blues" at the DC African Film Festival. It is now showing at various North American movie fests over the next few months (and I do not believe is streaming online anywhere yet). The movie ambitiously tries to cover 4 different Malian musicians, plus addressing the political climate there with the dangers in the north when extremists banned music, as well as serving a visual travelogue of the various economic conditions in different parts of the country. The main focus is on charismatic singer/guitarist Fatoumata Diawara who has just moved back to Mali. We see her collaborate with Tuareg band leader Ahmed Ag Kaedi, and we also see him perform solo and express his desire to move back north from Bamako even though he was threatened by extremists who destroyed whatever equipment of his that he had not hidden well enough. The movie also shows wonderful Ngoni player and traditional Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, and street rapper Master Soumy. After the fact I read a review suggesting that the movie in trying to do it all, did not do anything very well. I think that's a little too harsh, and while the film did leave out some issues that should have been fleshed out, I enjoyed its attempt to do so much.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 20 March 2017 15:42 (seven years ago) link
Awesome Zimbabwe band Mokoomba have a new album out and are coming back to North America this summer.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 March 2017 20:07 (seven years ago) link
Got to look for that Mokoomba album. Great live band (charismatic, strong singing and dancing) and pretty strong in the studio too
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 March 2017 13:54 (seven years ago) link
New Vieux Farka Toure album and North American tour happening in April
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 March 2017 17:14 (seven years ago) link
playing bk on the 6thhttp://www.bricartsmedia.org/events-performances/vieux-farka-tour%C3%A9-innov-gnawa
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Monday, 27 March 2017 17:47 (seven years ago) link
Never heard of this guy, who is, in addition to the below, an NYU professor. Looked up his name because I saw he is going to be speaking at the Library of Congress on May 4th
Martin Scherzinger, composer
Martin Scherzinger is a South African-born composer and media theorist, who works on and engages with the music of Africa. African Math is a recording of piano trio music that "africanizes" these western instruments (flipping the typical appropriation of indigenous instruments on its head). Piano, violin, and cello are used as conduits for material originally intended for mbira, or kalahari, or Ugandan xylophone.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 March 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
Martin Scherzinger explores some elements of African dance music through the lens of Zimbabwean matepe and mbira music, bringing cultural and mathematical insights to bear in an engagement with this vital music.
Speaking of Zimbabwe, listened to some Mokoomba and they are great.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 March 2017 14:30 (six years ago) link
You folks who like 70s reissues should check out Mokoomba. They're not retro but their live band feel is analogous to the great stuff from those times
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 March 2017 14:37 (six years ago) link
Their first release had more energy. The latest one has more acoustic but still rockin instrumentation and some old-school South African like harmonies.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 March 2017 00:55 (six years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/2017/03/23/521001534/first-listen-orchestra-baobab-tribute-to-ndiouga-dieng
Almost a decade after the group's last album and nearly 50 years since its founding, Senegal's Orchestra Baobab is swaggering back onto international dance floors with its silk, sultry songs, layering Afro-Cuban sounds with local traditions and pop styles from across Senegal and elsewhere in West Africa.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 March 2017 14:17 (six years ago) link
I think Nguea La Route is from Cameroon. This is a wacky video. She's doing some US shows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-i_6etL50Q
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 1 April 2017 00:13 (six years ago) link
Not seeing a lot about her online
― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 April 2017 15:00 (six years ago) link
new albums I haven't heard yet:
Les Amazones d'Afrique is a contemporary world music supergroup formed in Mali in 2015 featuring Kandia Kouyaté, Angélique Kidjo, Mamani Keita, Rokia Koné, Mariam Doumbia (of Amadou & Mariam), Nneka, Mariam Koné, Massan Coulibaly, Madina N'Diaye, Madiaré Dramé, Mouneissa Tandina and Pamela Badjogo.
Mamadou Kelly
Tamakrest
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 April 2017 16:42 (six years ago) link
Listened to new Tinariwen one this morning. At least one cut has a guest singing in English
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 April 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
new tamikrest is really good
― Mordy, Thursday, 6 April 2017 16:46 (six years ago) link
It is nice. With less members in the group than Tinariwen, and a bit of a different vocal style, it has a slightly different feel than the latter. Been listening to both. Was also reading Tinariwen's translated into English lyrics on their label's website. They have both poetic and straightforward lyrics about the sad condition of Northern Mali, as well as a few love songs.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 April 2017 14:38 (six years ago) link
Saw Mali's Salif Keita and band tonight. A good show. Although he did occasionally coast and let his strong-voiced female backing singers take the leads, most of the time he showed why he is called the "The Golden voice of Africa." Slight resemblance in technique and note-hitting to Senegal's Youssou N'dour. Band had a keyboardist whose job was to also play the bass parts; the group also had a great percussionist; guitarist; & trap drummer
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 April 2017 03:51 (six years ago) link
https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/the-western-sahara-isnt-big-enough-expert-witness-with-robert-christgau
The Dean gives an A- to Mariem Hassan: La Voz Indómita (Nubenegra) and the new Orchestra Baobab, a B+ to another Hassan, and honorable mentions to Tamikrest and Tinariwen
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 April 2017 14:17 (six years ago) link
I need to listen to the new Janka Nabay album more. I liked the synthesized bubu dance rhythms on it, on first listen.
Have not dug into those Hassan efforts mentioned above. The Baobab is good
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2017 15:25 (six years ago) link
ILM's 2017 Rolling Outernational Thread Spotify Playlist
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Tuesday, 11 April 2017 15:43 (six years ago) link
Liking Janka's album...His squeaky folky melodies over modern beats
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 April 2017 14:32 (six years ago) link
This is from last year but I don't see any mention of it on ILM, and it's not something I noticed last year. Sounds promising so far:
http://www.popmatters.com/post/zmei3-rough-romanian-soul-album-stream-premiere/
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 03:30 (six years ago) link
Pretty impressive. Near zero critical attention. The title probably didn't help. Shades of Putumayo CD covers.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 03:55 (six years ago) link
Wow , that review is pretty enthusiastic about the singer.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2017 04:21 (six years ago) link
Haha, yeah. A little over the top. I naturally found it while googling "Umm Kulthum" news from the last year, largely out of boredom while at work.
This is something you might like from last year. Worth hearing anyway. Has only been mentioned in connection with the remix by ILM cult figure DJ Q, Swindle Ft. Ricardo China - Connecta:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA9vpVdu7ngDJ Q Remix
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 04:30 (six years ago) link
Not convinced the singer from Zmei3 is as great as billed in that review (!), but the music is still good for what is, from what I've heard so far.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 04:31 (six years ago) link
I like the vibraphones and electric guitar on this album, in particular. The instrumentation is not consistent from track to track though.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 05:02 (six years ago) link
Anyway, it's a quote from the producer that makes the more extreme claims.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 05:10 (six years ago) link
Incidentally, and yes going off topic a little, I think I first heard that DJ Q remix as part of this Q set (to hear how it would be put into context):
https://soundcloud.com/rinsefm/djq210117
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 05:26 (six years ago) link
(Secretly trying to get curmudgeon into DJ Q.)
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 14 April 2017 05:40 (six years ago) link
It might work....
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2017 14:04 (six years ago) link
Discovered late last night that Rhizome DC, a small co-op type place that usually just has experimental music (and doesn't have a budget to publicize their calendar that is at least now on a website) is having Ian Nagoski talk tonight about Arabic, Armenian, Turk, and Kurd records released in the US from 1893 to 1950, as a benefit for the International Rescue Committee. Alas, already have other plans
http://www.rhizomedc.org/new-events/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2017 14:09 (six years ago) link
http://thequietus.com/articles/22217-new-amadou-mariam
First new music in years (is on the link). Tour dates for UK, Europe and US
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2017 17:05 (six years ago) link
http://thequietus.com/articles/22127-king-ayisoba-1000-can-die-album-review
From Ghana
most significant European patron – Arnold de Boer, who you may know under his musical title Zea or as latterday frontman of The Ex. De Boer has released two previous King Ayisoba albums, Modern Ghanaians and Wicked Leaders, on his Makkum imprint, as well as a multi-artist compilation, 2016’s outstanding This Is Kologo Power!.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2017 17:22 (six years ago) link
So guitarist Bruce Langhorne who recently died is well-known for playing with Bob Dylan, but I see he also played on Hugh Masekela albums like "The Promise of a Future," and "Reconstruction," and on Olatunjii albums
― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 April 2017 18:53 (six years ago) link
Lots of stuff to listen to and to catch up on (for me)
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 April 2017 04:57 (six years ago) link
More on ZMEI3, from their website:
When the world-leading vibe player Gary Burton came to Germany to give a workshop, he asked Oli (Bott): “Tell me, do you want to be a postman?” “No. I want to be a musician.” “OK, then you come with me now to the US.” Gary Burton gave Oli a scholarship at Berklee, and his trust was soon rewarded: Oli finished in just two years, summa cum laude.
http://www.zmeitrei.com/artists.html
This is definitely one of my favorite albums of last year and I still haven't listened to it that much. I would say it gets maybe too rough for me toward the end. But overall, it's fantastic.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 18 April 2017 05:01 (six years ago) link
Tonight I am seeing Tinariwen and Dengue Fever. It's a little outside of my comfort zone as some of you might surmise. However I saw Tinariwen on the Colbert Report a few years back and one of my best friends played me Dengue Fever when I last saw her and I am looking forward to seeing them live!
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Tuesday, 18 April 2017 19:50 (six years ago) link
Oh, and I already picked up Elwan earlier this year. It's quite good.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Tuesday, 18 April 2017 19:51 (six years ago) link
great double feature there; you should have a wonderful time.
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Tuesday, 18 April 2017 20:01 (six years ago) link
Yes that should be great. Seeing just Tinariwen Wednesday night with no opener at a sold out gig near Washington D.C.
Listened to a bit of that ZMEI3 group that Rudiph mentioned above. Eh, some of the vocals are too dramatic feeling for me. Plus I am not that crazy about East European music. Sorry.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 03:17 (six years ago) link
Actually did like a few songs on it.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 03:18 (six years ago) link
I have to admit the vocals are a little too dramatic for me at times (then again, I like Oum Kalthoum, so maybe it's about the particular variety of drama). I'm not big on East European music either, generally speaking.
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 04:06 (six years ago) link
At least you tried. "All that we ask is that you try," as my dickheaded high school gym teacher used to say.
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 04:16 (six years ago) link
I still think it's very good, but I need to listen to more. There is maybe a quarter of it that I'm not so fond of. I think I am just bored right now and need something to be enthusiastic about, so I'm having trouble letting it come into focus and arriving at a real opinion. I like the vibraphonist best, to be honest.
― _Rudipherous_, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 04:26 (six years ago) link
Enjoyed Tinariwen live last night. Have seen 'em a number of times now. Despite the similarity of the arrangements of some of their songs, there were enough subtle differences (plus different lead vocalists on different cuts) to keep it interesting.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 April 2017 17:39 (six years ago) link
Jonathan Bogart has been writing for Medium and elsewhere a bit about Angolan pop. Here's his latest talk at the Pop Conference
https://medium.com/@jonathanbogart/look-at-the-boy-doll-look-at-the-girl-doll-the-radical-wit-transgressive-populism-of-dce66fb6461d
I think I posted his Pop Angola 2016 last year
― curmudgeon, Monday, 24 April 2017 17:22 (six years ago) link
My review of the Tinariwen and Dengue Fever show in Philly last week.
http://agitreader.com/wp2/tinariwen-and-dengue-feverunion-transfer-philadelphia-april-18
This kind of music is outside of what I usually listen to so I hope I did the band's justice.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Monday, 24 April 2017 22:57 (six years ago) link
really enjoying this todayhttps://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/album/gulu-city-anthems
"Nyege Nyege Tapes proudly announces the first international release of electro acholi pioneer Otim Alpha's incredible body of work recorded over a period of 11 years. Otim Alpha together with his early producer Leo Palayeng began in 2001 taking traditional Acholi 'Larakaraka' wedding songs and reinterpreting them with music software on computers. The results are a fast paced poly-rhythmic music ready for dance floor madness."
― nxd, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 09:11 (six years ago) link
A bunch of things on bandcamp I need to catch up with, including that
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 April 2017 12:26 (six years ago) link
http://www.afropop.org/34186/fresh-cuts-vol-three/
a selection of newly released tracks and videos from across Africa and the diaspora, featuring established and up-and-coming artists and everything in between. Today we’ve got, among other things, rhymes and beats from London, Ghana, Dominican Republic and Cameroon, some entrancing electrified Ugandan folk music and slick electro-pop from Namibia
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 April 2017 15:13 (six years ago) link
http://www.wnyc.org/story/angelique-kidjo-reimagines-remain-light-in-studio/
― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2017 18:32 (six years ago) link
I missed the live airing of Kidjo doing Talking Heads Remain in Light. Still want to hear it.
Been listening to Cameroonian Petit Pays, who sounds a bit a old-school Congolese rumba/soukous. Also checking out some Sam Fan Thomas top tracks. Still need to get to that stuff highlighted on bandcamp above.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 2 May 2017 12:55 (six years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/01/arts/music/new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival-best-performances.html?_r=0
Jon Pareles faves at the first weekend of Jazzfest in New Orleans include group I like a lot, Makoomba from Zimbabwe--
MOKOOMBA This band from Zimbabwe sings in the language its members grew up with, Tonga. But its guitar grooves are a Pan-African blend, drawing on the thumb-pianolike guitar picking of older Zimbabwean pop, on the lilting rumba of Congolese soukous and on hints of rock. It was topped with the chameleonic vocals of Mathias Muzaza, who moved from a smooth croon to rasping, riveting incantations.
He also liked, among others --TELMARY Y HABANA SANA The Cuban poet, rapper and songwriter Telmary Diaz didn’t rely on her words alone to get across her socially conscious messages. She had a full Latin band, playing the sinuous rhythms of son and speedy, percussive rumba, surrounding her with melodic refrains.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 4 May 2017 15:50 (six years ago) link
Saw Mokoomba on their first tour and am looking forward to seeing them again this weekend. The new album is a little less potent then they are live, but still worth checking out (streaming, download , however)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 5 May 2017 14:40 (six years ago) link
Mokoomba were so good live last night. Choreographed dancing, singer with wide vocal range, harmonies from the band, tight rhythm section, great guitar...
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 7 May 2017 17:34 (six years ago) link
Mokoomba singer was sweating heavily under the lights and working hard. Not sure if the ballad he sang about his deceased parents, accompanied by just the keyboard player is on either of their albums.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 8 May 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
All Mokoomba, all of the time--
They just added more summer North America dates. Philly folks, the closest gigs to you will be in NYC and an Erie PA festival. Also a free show at the Kennedy Center in DC that will also be live-streamed August 1 (just a special hour only gig)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 12 May 2017 12:34 (six years ago) link
Finally listened to Otim Alpha from Uganda's Gulu City Anthems on Nyege Nyege Tapes via Bandcamp. I like some of it, but I think I like Janka Nabay's brand of afro-folk vocals over Afro-electro beats better.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 03:55 (six years ago) link
I want to hear the new Vieux Farka Toure. Plus Angelique Kidjo's live take on Talking Heads Remain in Light. Need to get those. I'd like to see great Cameroonian vocalist Petit Pays Friday night near Washington DC, in Maryland, but I'm heading out of town for a family thing.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 15:25 (six years ago) link
Listened to some of the new Vieux Farka Toure album "Samba" yesterday. Good if you like him, and I do. Solid aggressive Malian electric guitar lead and rhythm with a small band
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:53 (six years ago) link
Cameroon's Petit Pays brings his makossa sound to Maryland on the 19th and Massachusetts on the 20th. Old-schooler Sam Fan Thomas is coming in June. On the 10th in Maryland, other dates tba.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 May 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
http://www.frootsmag.com/content/issue/charts/
Transglobal Top 15 April 2017 chart
1.ORCHESTRA BAOBAB Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng (World Circuit)2.BARGOU 08 Targ (Glitterbeat)3.OMAR SOSA & SECKOU KEITA Transparent Water (Otá)4.MOKOOMBA Luyando (OutHere)5.TAMIKREST Kidal (Glitterbeat)6.DAYMÉ AROCENA Cubafonía (Brownswood Recordings)7.MARA ARANDA Sefarad En El Corazón De Marruecos (Mara Aranda)8.AMINE & HAMZA Fertile Paradoxes (ARC Music)9.LES AMAZONES D’AFRIQUE République Amazone (Real World)10.YASMINE HAMDAN Al Jamilat (Crammed)11.DANYÈL WARO Monmon (Cobalt/Buda)12.TINARIWEN Elwan (Wedge)13.DHAFER YOUSSEF Diwan Of Beauty And Odd (Okeh)14.ELIDA ALMEIDA Djunta Kudjer (Lusafrica)15.SERENDOU Zinder (Hirustica)
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 May 2017 20:46 (six years ago) link
love this elida almeida album. she was featured on the most recent afropop worldwide ep "THE ATLANTIC SOUND OF CAPE VERDE"
― Mordy, Friday, 19 May 2017 13:12 (six years ago) link
Still need to check that Almeida album out. I've been listening to the raw, chanted vocals and funky, galloping rhythms of Ghana's Ayisoba
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 May 2017 14:02 (six years ago) link
King Ayisoba that is
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 May 2017 14:03 (six years ago) link
Malian Oumou Sangare's first album in awhile sounded good on first listen. The backing to her fine singing is a mix of French producers using tech and some traditional Malian instrument players
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 May 2017 13:43 (six years ago) link
http://www.resident-music.com/image/cache/data/proper/ifr-500x500.jpg
This new Ifriqiyya Electrique blows shit up. Ritualistic post-punk Tunisian trance music?
― del esdichado (NickB), Friday, 26 May 2017 21:49 (six years ago) link
Still listening to new Oumou Sangare & have to get to other non-Malian ones
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 May 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/05/23/at-long-last-the-african-music-from-ali-and-foremans-rumble-in-the-jungle-sees-release
The performances were filmed and recorded on a state-of-the-art mobile studio, but most of the tapes sat in storage for decades thanks to a dispute with the fight's notorious promoter, Don King. Now, the organizers of the music festival—South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine—have finally gained control of the music, and on Friday a stunning new double CD called Zaire 74: the African Performers (Wrasse) will at long last let us hear it all. The set features beautifully recorded, highly charged, and sublimely elegant performances by Franco & O.K. Jazz, Orchestre Stukas, Abeti Masikini, and Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa, as well as a set from South African great Miriam Makeba. It's mind-boggling that this material has been buried all these years. The discs are packaged in a lovely hardbound book with liner-note essays by Masekela, Levine, and British music journalist Robin Denselow. I wish there were more still images from the film footage—Makeba is the only artist
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 1 June 2017 15:27 (six years ago) link
Chicago Reader's Margasak also likes this East African comp of 70s to 80s music (he likes it more than Christgau does, as explained)
https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/05/02/urgent-jumping-collects-east-african-dance-classics-including-the-frantic-benga-of-the-golden-kings-band
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 1 June 2017 15:37 (six years ago) link
Zaire 74 is a bit uneven but has some great Tabu ley cuts and Franco ones
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 June 2017 00:20 (six years ago) link
I need to listen to the Makeba cuts again on that long Zaire 74 cd. The Abeti Masikini tracks didn't wow me-- her voice is too ragged, folkloric at times.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 June 2017 14:23 (six years ago) link
Still need to check out Mordy fave Elida Almeida. My Zimbabwe fave Mokoomba are gonna be in London Sunday (for anyone over there)
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:45 (six years ago) link
fwiw i've kinda cooled on that album. mostly listening to the zaire 74 atm.
― Mordy, Thursday, 8 June 2017 16:32 (six years ago) link
NPR ATC had an interview with Hugh Masekela and the other guy who he worked with on putting together the Zaire 74 album. Kinda interesting. All of the African stars from that show are now deceased-- Tabu ley; Franco; Makeba etc.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 June 2017 03:48 (six years ago) link
The documentary about that concert, <i>Soul Power</i>, has some short excerpts of African artists performing, plus James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, etc. Also features a truly detestable British a&r man.
― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 15 June 2017 09:28 (six years ago) link
Has anyone seen Les Filles de Illighadad in concert? They're visiting Montreal next week, exciting.
― sean gramophone, Thursday, 15 June 2017 13:38 (six years ago) link
Nope, but would like to.
x-post-- in addition to that Soul Power doc about the Zaire 74 concert, there is now a movie doc about the Latino acts-- “Fania All-Stars: Live in Africa"
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 June 2017 16:04 (six years ago) link
new songhoy blues album out today
― Mordy, Friday, 16 June 2017 20:46 (six years ago) link
Friend just linked me to this. Beautiful Electro Pop:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0RWibDzGRDMx7PhC8koIHh?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open&play=true
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 19 June 2017 10:34 (six years ago) link
Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba OK All Stars
Was reading about this former guitarist for Franco and other Congolese rumba and soukous artists, who is based in Belgium now and just appeared over the weekend at a festival in Liverpool, England
― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 June 2017 16:24 (six years ago) link
Mdou Moctar, the guitarist from that Malian Prple Rain movie is doing some US tour dates, and the booker (whom I know) says he needs more Midwest dates between festivals
None of the dates booked so far are listed here, but I think the contact info is
http://multifloraproductions.com/booking/mdou-moctar-north-america-2017/#.WUvXD9IUmpo
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 June 2017 14:46 (six years ago) link
any chance he's coming to philly? if not he should book world cafe live or crossroads (http://www.crossroadsconcerts.org) both of which have smaller venues and host a bunch of international acts.
― Mordy, Thursday, 22 June 2017 14:48 (six years ago) link
I will check
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 June 2017 14:57 (six years ago) link
Crossroads can't do it he says (brief text without explanation -- maybe the only date that will work is booked). No response back from the booking agent in the text re World Café Live. He is still hoping to do a Philly show he says.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 June 2017 20:02 (six years ago) link
this is another possibility and a really nice venue:http://www.ardmoremusic.com
― Mordy, Thursday, 22 June 2017 20:34 (six years ago) link
I let him know.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 June 2017 13:18 (six years ago) link
Was just reading about a Moroccan men's choir that could not get their visas approved to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 27 June 2017 13:00 (six years ago) link
I dunno I love this Awa Poulo album, the crazy flute is what makes it for me
― sleeve, Sunday, 2 July 2017 01:37 (six years ago) link
Trying to remember what about that Malian Awa Poulo instrumentation I wasn't crazy about back in March. I forgot, which means maybe I should give it another listen.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 July 2017 15:00 (six years ago) link
Been listening to Colombia's Tribu Baharu, whose champeta sound draws heavily from Congolese soukous and rumba high-pitched guitar.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 July 2017 14:08 (six years ago) link
Also been listening to old-school Cameroon singer Coco Argentee, who is going to be at Lee's Lounge in MD outside Washington DC late Friday night (early Saturday morning). I'd like to see her, but think it's gonna be a 1 am or so starting time and I'm not sure if she'll have a band or be singing over tracks.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:40 (six years ago) link
I didn't go. She's still on her US tour. Did see a DC-based Palestinian oud player/singer last night who is very good.
Need to catch up on Afropop Worldwide podcasts plus various albums....
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 July 2017 20:02 (six years ago) link
The flute, ngoni & calabash gourd don't always seem together on Awa Poulo's track "Djulau," but when they do it works nice with her voice.
That Ifriqiyya Electrique mentioned above is pretty wild--North African rock, postpunk industrial
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 July 2017 03:35 (six years ago) link
So many afropop worldwide podcasts I need to hear
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 19:00 (six years ago) link
otm
― Mordy, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 19:44 (six years ago) link
Bakwamagazine.com has a history of Nigerian juju music piece I need to read.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 July 2017 04:06 (six years ago) link
New Amadou & Mariam full album won't be out till September, but they're touring North America now
some of their upcoming dates
July 20—Washington, DC—9:30 Club
July 21— Brooklyn, NY— Celebrate Brooklyn July 22—Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live July 24—Chicago, IL—Millennium Park July 27—Minneapolis, MN—Cedar Cultural Center
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 July 2017 15:54 (six years ago) link
bah sat night show not gonna happen too bad :(
― Mordy, Thursday, 20 July 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link
(i mean not gonna happen for me - i'm sure it'll go on as planned)
speaking of afropop worldwide new ep looks super promising:
Proving the Bubu Myth: Janka Nabay, War, and Witchcraft in Sierra Leone
― Mordy, Thursday, 20 July 2017 20:03 (six years ago) link
Saw Amadou & Mariam in DC last night. The arena rock flashes from the keyboardist & Trap drummer annoyed me at times. I'm not a purist but the hybrid has to work in a satisfying way. Plus Amadou 's guitar was sometimes too low in the mix. Some songs worked great though. The backup singer/dancer from Mali was impressive & Mariam's voice also.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 21 July 2017 16:30 (six years ago) link
Still haven't caught up on those podcasts.
I have been listening to Yemi Alade who is touring the US in a week or so. She's afropop/afrobeats and has probably been mentioned on that other thread. I like the songs "Koffi Anan" (it's a dance one can do) and "Johnny," a lot. Not a great voice but good enough (with clever enunciation) over those catchy, programmed Nigerian rhythms
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 July 2017 17:28 (six years ago) link
On a few songs on her Mama Africa album, Yemi Alade goes beyond the afrobeats rhythm template a bit.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 July 2017 12:21 (six years ago) link
Her "Johnny" video has been viewed 72 million times. Alade is a superstar in Africa. She has recorded songs in French and Swahili to reach out to audiences too.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 July 2017 12:23 (six years ago) link
sorry to sort of hijack, but what's the best place to write about "world music" these days? print would be cool, but web only is fine, too.
Songlines? Are there better options than that?
― alpine static, Thursday, 27 July 2017 17:47 (six years ago) link
Not much out there....Bandcamp; Pitchfork seems to have dropped coverage of this stuff;Folk Roots aka FRoots; the Afropop Worldwide website ; if its got programmed beats - Fader;
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 July 2017 18:45 (six years ago) link
ouch
― alpine static, Friday, 28 July 2017 20:39 (six years ago) link
otoh i find music listening much more pleasant when i'm not expected to write about it
― Mordy, Friday, 28 July 2017 20:42 (six years ago) link
I think that bland site Paste sometime has African music coverage
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 29 July 2017 01:52 (six years ago) link
http://kronosquartet.org/news/article/out-this-fall-collaborative-album-with-malian-super-group-trio-da-kali
Back in 2014 I think, I saw Malian group Trio Da Kali do a live collaboration gig with the Kronos Quartet. An album is now due in September, and the link has an advance stream of one song
― curmudgeon, Monday, 31 July 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
Great Zimbabwe band Mokoomba who were in the UK recently, are now touring the US again. Their one hour free gig on Tuesday August 1st from 6 to 7pm at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in Washington DC will be videostreamed on the Millennium Stage website and on Facebook. It will also be video-archived.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 31 July 2017 20:09 (six years ago) link
Mokoomba did a few too many instrumental solos at that gig, but it was still enjoyable.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 22:17 (six years ago) link
http://sahelsounds.com/2017/08/mdou-moctar-usa-tour-2017/
Includes NY, DC, and Philly shows plus more (no Ohio tho )
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 August 2017 05:22 (six years ago) link
Latin Arabia! Check out excerpt and or full article below
https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/from-south-america-to-a-dance-floor-near-you-looking-at-the-rise-of-reggaeton-1.614324
Marshall says all this points to the fact that popular music is drawing more of its inspiration from Africa and across the Caribbean.
“It’s that same Afro-Caribbean rhythm that underpins reggaeton,” he says, mentioning the recent success of Drizzy and RiRi.
“The rise of these Afro-Diasporic polyrhythms over the last 10 to 15 years across the global pop and dance landscape is the bigger story here. Reggaeton is playing the role of one crucial vector for that spread.”
Also paying close attention to the trend is Taymoor Marmarchi. As head of one of the Arab world’s most powerful music labels, Dubai-based Platinum Records, Marmarchi has this week launched a sub-branch of the label, called Latin Arabia.
With the aim of fusing Latin sounds with Arabic pop, the initiative was launched with a pair of tracks featuring Arab stars who have collaborated with one of the world’s leading reggaeton acts, Cuban duo Gente De Zona.
While young Moroccan stars Grini and Jamila’s La Gozadera is an Arabic remix of last year’s hit by De Zona, it is the original composed collaboration featuring Palestinian star Mohammed Assaf that hints at Latin Arabia’s promise.
Released last week as part of Assaf’s second album Ma Wahashnak, Baddek Enayah is a monster hit in the making with its seamless blend of Arabic folk and reggaeton beat with bright splashes of horns and flamenco guitars.
An accompanying music video featuring both artists is in the works, and Assaf says he is particularly proud of the song because it proves that Arab artists can keep up with the latest trends and can release work relevant to their fan base at any particular time.
“I think it has that nice modern touch that my Arabic fans want now from their music,” he told The National in an exclusive interview last week.
“They hear these western styles every day – I mean, just look at how big Despacito is around the world, I want to tap into that and prove that I, as an Arab artist, can do that, too.”
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 August 2017 15:52 (six years ago) link
On a Diplo thread and elsewhere his interest in Afrobeats/afropop is discussed re a recent GQ story on him. Jordan linked to another story there, that works for this thread too
http://africasacountry.com/2017/07/sunday-read-cultural-appropriation-revisited/
As I write this, I’m sitting in a bit of limbo in London in one of my music partner’s dad’s flat (nice digs, but not a fancy Ace Hotel corner room by any means). I’m here because I’m on a promotional tour for the Kondi Band. Our label is based in London, and I know that Europe is a better place for us to tour this kind of music. They have tons of festivals, often funded by their national governments, that allow up and coming, experimental, underground, classic and lesser known acts to get their foot in the door or sustain a career. There’s one big problem: Sorie Kondi is not here since his travel has been put in limbo by the UK’s immigration agency. We have had several shows cancelled, even though we’ve offered an alternative set up that resembles more of a Jamaican Soundsystem-style show. So, we are losing money, and I’m stuck here waiting for my scheduled flight home (we don’t have enough money to change the flight.) I don’t know the future of the project because Sorie’s passport is also in limbo somewhere called Sheffield, and we don’t know if future tours will be put in jeopardy because of this situation. Add this to the fact that we are currently on a race against time to get enough attention to be able to justify the financing of the recording of a second album to our label and distributor. An international project like this needs infrastructure and capital to survive. The project as a whole is currently in several thousands of Euros debt, and after five years of hard work, it is in danger of falling apart.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 August 2017 19:17 (six years ago) link
That's Bomia Tucker writing
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 August 2017 19:18 (six years ago) link
god dammit khun narin cancelled pdx tonight due to flight difficulties. :( honestly though i'm surprised anybody from outside america can get here. or that anybody from outside america would _want_ to get here.
mdou moctar supposed to be here next month. we'll see. we'll see.
― The Saga of Rodney Stooksbury (rushomancy), Friday, 11 August 2017 01:35 (six years ago) link
they cancelled at Pickathon, too. but the bar gig was supposed to still happen, as of yesterday. bummer.
― alpine static, Friday, 11 August 2017 07:10 (six years ago) link
Youssou N'Dour's short US tour in August included a free show the other night in Chicago and an upcoming free one Saturday/tomorrow night in Brooklyn. He's in DC tonight and Columbus, Oh Sunday and then done. He did a few west coast dates to start. I'm just now catching up to his 2 most recent albums. I'm a big fan of his live gigs over the years (that are all mostly Senegalese mbalax with little of his cross attempts from decades ago, not that those are that terrible). The albums are solid enough (in my quick listens so far).
― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 August 2017 23:20 (six years ago) link
I like the 2017 N'Dour album Seeni Valeurs that I think was self-released better than the 2016 one Africa Rekk, that was on a major label (but I missed it till now). The 2016 one does have him dueting I think with someone else doing an autotuned vocal on one song (I think it's someone else and not his vocals dubbed in to duet with himself).
― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 August 2017 04:19 (six years ago) link
afropop worldwide is knockout ep after knockout ep right now. the malawi ep that just came out, and the bayaka pygmies ep they just reposted are both brilliant. the janka nabay ep was great. and now i see they just put out a new ep about afro-dominicana and "afro-syncretic religious parties."
― Mordy, Monday, 14 August 2017 22:12 (six years ago) link
I have donated $ to them in the past and should do so again
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 August 2017 12:37 (six years ago) link
heads up that the playlist is up to date these days
ILM's Rolling Global Thread 2017 Spotify Playlist
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 15 August 2017 21:36 (six years ago) link
This is exquisite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxDsn-8eymk
Full-length version (Spotify) stretches it out a bit more
― Choco Blavatsky (seandalai), Tuesday, 29 August 2017 01:09 (six years ago) link
heads up for 2018 for NYC folks, Brooklyn Bowl is doing an April Festival of Mali:
April 13 – Toumani Diabate and Sidiki Diabatehttp://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1527525-toumani-diabate-sidiki-brooklyn/
April 14 – Sidi Touréhttp://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528493-sidi-toure-brooklyn/
April 15 – Trio da Kali and Derek Gripperhttp://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528524-trio-da-kali-derek-gripper-brooklyn/
April 16 – Fatoumata Diawarahttp://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528532-fatoumata-diawara-brooklyn/
April 28 – Ibibio Sound Machinehttp://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528534-ibibio-sound-machine-brooklyn/
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Sunday, 3 September 2017 19:57 (six years ago) link
Trio da Kali & Kronos were awesome playing together live several years ago, and I liked the advance I heard of their album
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 04:53 (six years ago) link
Mdou Moctar US tour underway. Los Angeles folks, free show Thursday September 7th at 6 pm at Amoeba in Hollywood.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 16:13 (six years ago) link
and free nyc show on the 28http://www.lincolncenter.org/show/mdou-moctar
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 16:21 (six years ago) link
is Moctar actually *in* the U.S.? is this confirmed?
he had to cancel UK/EU which made me nervous
― alpine static, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 17:00 (six years ago) link
he's got a few ny dates so there's some trust he's on the way
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 17:55 (six years ago) link
Do you think NY dates indicate more trust that he's on the way than Oakland or Cedar Rapids or Louisville?
I know how tours work ... he also just canceled a bunch of announced dates in Europe because of visa issues.
― alpine static, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:02 (six years ago) link
not trying to be coy or naive here, but i think multiple NY dates (as opposed to Louisville) means that more than one east coast promoter are working to make sure he gets into the country which a) helps his case with the visa office and b)suggests that people with money think he can jump through the necessary hoops else they wouldn't be actively promoting
that said i did not know he just canceled EU dates... I will reach out to a venue friend and ask
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:09 (six years ago) link
in portland he's playing at the same venue which booked khun narin. frankly i'm amazed that anybody can get in the country these days, things being how they are.
― bob lefse (rushomancy), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:14 (six years ago) link
sorry, i didn't mean to be snarky w/ my last post. came out wrong.
i guess i just don't have the view that multiple east coast promoters who've booked shows w/ him have that much more pull w/ the visa office than dozens across the country. i know east coasters think east coast shows are a big deal (no shots, just saying) but i can't imagine the visa office cares more about a promoter in NYC than Louisville or L.A. but maybe i'm wrong.
he had EU dates announced for 8/19-9/2 but they announced cancellations on 8/31 ... not sure if the shows before that were canceled or not?
and this is why - as is the case with a lot of overseas acts these days - i will feel better when i see Moctar on U.S. soil.
he is supposed to play L.A. tomorrow night:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DG0NSzIV0AAqcy-.jpg
― alpine static, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:20 (six years ago) link
Eruv Sukkot in philly sadly or I'd go
― Mordy, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:22 (six years ago) link
i'm certainly no expert but having spoken with a lawyer who specializes in artist visa issues more or less exclusively, i think having the backing of folks with money, power and specific dates/programs to bring you into the country (and maybe moreso in a venue immediately adjacent to the airport where an artist touches down) makes for a stronger case. it's less about NYC I'M WALKIN' OVAH HEAH culture politics and more about being in a port city with heavy trade in artist transportation and people in power on the side of the angels (like lincoln center as a for instance) who have systems in place to better help mitigate than, say, Macon GA. that said, with the current administration in power, who knows anything about anything? i hope he don't run into any bullshit as i'd like to see him play.
let me know if that LA show does/doesn't come off please?
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link
ooh, ok, that all makes me feel better. thanks for the insight. that's what i get for worrying out loud about something i don't know much about. :)
will do, re: LA
― alpine static, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:46 (six years ago) link
just called the hollywood amoeba (yay living in the future), they said it's a go
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:47 (six years ago) link
My source says he's due to arrive in US today and do the Amoeba gig tomorrow. So hopefully things run smoothly today!
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 19:13 (six years ago) link
Successful Moctar entry into US, first gig tonight at Amoeba in Los Angeles area
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 September 2017 14:42 (six years ago) link
woohoo!
― alpine static, Thursday, 7 September 2017 17:23 (six years ago) link
as long as we're in Moctar mode, he's playing live (and Sahel Sounds dude is DJing) from Noon to 2 Pacific today here: http://dublab.com/events/27840/live-broadcast-slayron-analogue-players-club/
― alpine static, Friday, 8 September 2017 17:04 (six years ago) link
https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/yehunie-belay
Had never heard of this guy, but he's doing an Ethiopian New Year's gig near me this weekend. I like his voice on the first few cuts I have heard.
Ethiopian New Year is on the 11th this year.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 September 2017 18:52 (six years ago) link
Just got back from a screening of Akounak... followed by a Moctar concert and can confirm that he's in the states, has a warm smile and absolutely slays live.
― Fetchboy, Sunday, 10 September 2017 07:29 (six years ago) link
Yes! Have seen some clips on Instagram of Moctar and band out west.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 September 2017 13:21 (six years ago) link
Oh, saw Senegalese group Bideew Bou Bess for free at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage last night. 3 vocalists, including one who played some guitar, plus 2 more folks- a drummer and a percussionist. A but uneven but impressive at times. They sing N'Dour style mbalax but also rap and add some r'n'b bits. Rapping was impressive in an oldschool golden era meets backpacker way-- verbose and polished inflection-wise(I don't speak Wolof) . They were in NYC the night before. Not sure where they play next.
The gig should be available soon on the K. Ctr M. Stage site's video archive.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 September 2017 13:28 (six years ago) link
Returned to K. Center last night and saw Cambodian Space Project do their psych/garage rock/Khmer pop thing. I liked it. They're doing a free NYC gig Friday night at the Cutting Room
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 September 2017 14:26 (six years ago) link
https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/09/20/africa-seven-feature/
Sonodisc African reissues
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 20 September 2017 17:44 (six years ago) link
2nd Songhoy Blues album is a tad uneven but not bad
― curmudgeon, Friday, 22 September 2017 23:03 (six years ago) link
Songhoy Blues are touring the US right now. IN DC Thursday the 28th
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 27 September 2017 15:02 (six years ago) link
TRANSGLOBAL WORLD MUSIC CHART TOP 15August’s favourite albums compiled from a worldwide panel of broadcasters and writers.
1.TRIO DA KALI & KRONOS QUARTET Ladilikan (World Circuit)2.TOKO TELO Toy Raha Toy (Anio)3.BOKANTÉ Strange Circles (Groundup)4.OUMOU SANGARE Mogoya (No Format!)5.MAGÍN DIAZ El Orisha De La Rosa (Noname)6.SABÎL Zabad (Harmonia Mundi)7.TRIO TEKKE & DAVE DE ROSE Zivo (Trio Tekke)8.RAHIM ALHAJ Letters From Iraq (Smithsonian Folkways)9.FRIGG Frost On Fiddles (Frigg)10.DIMITRIS MYSTAKIDIS Amerika (Fishbowl)11.LILA DOWNS Salón, Lágrimas y Deseo (Sony)12.MEÏKHÂNEH La Silenceuse (Buda)13.SONGHOY BLUES Résistance (Transgressive)14.DANYÈL WARO Monmon (Cobalt/Buda)15.RANK LONDON Glass House Orchestra (Piranha)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 27 September 2017 15:03 (six years ago) link
The Oumou Sangare record is nice. What a great voice. Wish she would tour the US. Last time I think she came to my neck of the woods was at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest in like 2004 or 2005 (and I missed the show as I was busy coaching my son's baseball team or something...).
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:04 (six years ago) link
Songhoy Blues did a a 1 1/2 hour set in DC last night. Fun and lively, though their songwriting is a bit uneven and sometimes the guitarist goes from that cool North African sound to less interesting to me blues-rock power chords.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 29 September 2017 15:00 (six years ago) link
Also saw more Mdou Moctar footage on Youtube of him live on this US tour. Looking forward to seeing him for free Sunday night at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. That 6 to 7 pm est gig will be streamed live on FB & at the K Ctr M. St. website too I think.
Then seeing Sun Ra Arkestra open for Solange there (paid ticket) at 8 that night in another Kennedy Center theatre.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 29 September 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link
Moctar was great last night; they had a lot of technical issues though. Line to the free show around the block!
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Friday, 29 September 2017 15:35 (six years ago) link
Moctar's show in DC was fairly mellow for the first 40 minutes, then the tempo picked up and he got flashier on guitar and the last 20 minutes were great. First 40 weren't bad, just not as dazzling. Maybe because of the way the free show was marketed, or because of the movie Moctar was in, but I saw folks there who I don't often see at North African music gigs-- rockers Ian S (of Makeup & Chain & the Gang), all of Priests, drummer and bass player from Fugazi (now in Messthetics together, they'll be doing a gig opening for Moctar in DC on the 12th)
Kennedy Center video of that show-- http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/index/M64066
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 October 2017 16:40 (six years ago) link
Alas I missed the late-night Nigerian Independence celebration gig in DC Sunday night with 4 afrobeats/afropop acts. There were also dj events for Nigeria independence day on Friday and Saturday
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 October 2017 17:21 (six years ago) link
I interviewed Mdou Moctar when he was in Brussels a few weeks ago, and was able to aired it last Friday: https://www.mixcloud.com/Sterrenplaten/sterrenplaten-29-september-2017-mdou-moctar-the-dwarfs-of-east-agouza/
On how Christopher from Sahel Sounds traced him, on the bond with his parents and his religion, on nature and the desert. In French though.
The show also contains a sprawling improv set excerpt (15 min) by The Dwarfs Of East Agouza and a short talk with Maurice Louca, Sam Shalabi and Alan Bishop on a Brussels' rooftop.
― maarten, Monday, 2 October 2017 17:54 (six years ago) link
Merci.
Group Doueh (Western Sahara band) coming next to DC on the 6th
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 October 2017 12:25 (six years ago) link
Missed Group Doueh last night but saw an impressive video clip with Doueh playing guitar behind his head. Wfmu is I think associated with their gig with 75 Dollar Bill tonight
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 7 October 2017 21:22 (six years ago) link
bit of a long shot but does anyone have any recommended reading or anything on the history of the guitar in west africa or africa more generally? particularly interested in anything pre-C20th
― ogmor, Sunday, 8 October 2017 15:11 (six years ago) link
issue of The World of Music from 1994 on the topic looks interesting:https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40141633
some talk about the slide guitar + west africa here:http://www.afropop.org/8638/africa-and-the-blues-an-interview-with-gerhard-kubik/
― Mordy, Sunday, 8 October 2017 15:37 (six years ago) link
I keep falling in love w/ these field recordings on Afropop Worldwide for artists that I cannot otherwise find any recordings of online. First it was Timmy Wonder and the Creative Crew on the Fuji-Juju episode and now it's Ambassador Joker on the new Fela Kuti ep.
― Mordy, Monday, 16 October 2017 15:08 (six years ago) link
Still behind on catching up on Afropop episodes. Speaking of Fela, watched a bit of Anthony Bourdain's show on CNN --the episode with him in Lagos. He goes to the Shrine, and talks with Seun, Femi and Yeni Kuti.
http://www.foodandwine.com/news/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown-lagos-preview
Wife and I drove down to the Richmond, VA Folk Fest on Saturday(its a Friday through Sunday event). Saw soul and blues acts; black frat and sorority step dancers; plus Peru's Los Wemblers (chicha/psych cumbia ) and Betsayda Machado Y La Parranda El Clavo (The Voice of Venezuela and her afro-percussive band). Good stuff.
Also saw Mdou Moctar again in DC. A more rocking set than the one I saw earlier at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 October 2017 16:52 (six years ago) link
x-post to bit of a long shot but does anyone have any recommended reading or anything on the history of the guitar in west africa or africa more generally? particularly interested in anything pre-C20th
― ogmor, Sunday, October 8, 2017
I vaguely recall that Ned Sublette's book "Cuba and its Music" traces that island's music back to its roots including Africa.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 October 2017 16:56 (six years ago) link
not much on guitar but lots on pre-20th century african musichttps://www.amazon.com/Music-Africa-J-Kwabeha-Nketia/dp/0393092496
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Monday, 16 October 2017 17:07 (six years ago) link
this boxset also relevant:https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-African-Guitar-Box/release/3716875
― Mordy, Monday, 16 October 2017 17:14 (six years ago) link
thanks for all these recommendations, I'll start to dip in. you sometimes hear that a certain bit of early modern guitar music or flamenco or w/e is african, or based on an african tune, or a rhythm or whatever, and that sort of thing is v curious to me
― ogmor, Monday, 16 October 2017 22:14 (six years ago) link
http://www.forcedexposure.com/Artists/BLO.html
Just learning about 70s psych rock band from Nigeria Blo who later apparently got more danceable as Disco arrived
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 October 2017 15:15 (six years ago) link
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/konono-no-1-bandleader-augustin-mawangu-mingiedi-dead-at-56-w509710
Oh no. Saw this on ILE obit thread
The band will continue with a 3rd generation
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 October 2017 18:58 (six years ago) link
digging this https://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/album/afromutations
whole label is cool
― Mordy, Monday, 23 October 2017 01:02
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 October 2017 15:02 (six years ago) link
oops posted it to the wrong thread
― Mordy, Monday, 23 October 2017 15:18 (six years ago) link
I saw Innov Gnawa, a Moroccan group that is based in the NYC area(and has a number of Sufi members and one Moroccan Jew) do a special program of the type of songs that would be supposed be played for Moroccan Jewish audiences long ago. This show too place at a historic Baltimore synagogue. Call and response chanting vocals (in Berber, Arabic & Hebrew???), lots of castanet percussion, a lead vocalist also playing the sintir (a lute like instrument) on most songs and a big drum on the encore.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 October 2017 16:19 (six years ago) link
http://remezcla.com/releases/music/kafundo-records-afro-brazilian-roots-compilation-album/
Looks interesting
― curmudgeon, Friday, 27 October 2017 15:29 (six years ago) link
Nothing here to surprise but this is a really fun comp:https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/album/sweet-as-broken-dates-lost-somali-tapes-from-the-horn-of-africa
― Choco Blavatsky (seandalai), Saturday, 28 October 2017 01:37 (six years ago) link
Still way behind in catching up on Afropop.org podcasts and other stuff mentioned on this thread like that Somali Sweet as Broken Dates tapes thing on Bandcamp. It has gotten some European radio play I see:
WORLD MUSIC EUROPEAN AIRPLAY TOP 15September’s most played world music albums, compiled from returns from radio DJs all over Europe World Music Charts Europe© giftmusic 20171.TRIO DA KALI & KRONOS QUARTET Ladilikan (World Circuit)2.VARIOUS ARTISTS Sweet As Broken Dates (Ostinato)3.JUPITER & OKWESS INTERNATIONAL Kin Sonic (Glitterbeat)4.FRIGG Frost On Fiddles (Frigg)5.VARIOUS ARTISTS Abatwa: Why Did We Stop Growing Tall (Glitterbeat)6.MARIA DEL MAR BONET Ultramar (Picap)7.GWYNETH GLYN Tro (Bendigedig)8.MODAL4 Modal4 (Fishbowl)9.OMIRI Baile Electronico (Bigorna)10.TOKO TELO Toy Raha Toy (Anio)11.RAHIM ALHAJ Letters From Iraq (Smithsonian Folkways)12.MEKLIT When The People Move… (Six Degrees)13.FRANK LONDON Glass House Orchestra (Piranha)14.DJ TUDO & SUA GENTE DE TUDO LUGAR Gaia Musica Vol 2 (Mundo Melhor)15.DONA ONETE Banzeiro (Mais Um Discos)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 November 2017 18:12 (six years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/music/maher-zain-tour.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-1&action=click&contentCollection=Music®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article
Maher Zain, Islamic pop star particularly from Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. His song “For the Rest of My Life” is an Islamic wedding fixture. (In Birmingham, one concertgoer said she’d heard it at a non-Muslim wedding, despite its opening line, “I praise Allah for sending me you, my love”). He even has friends in high places: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey “loves me as an artist,” Mr. Zain said. They have met many times.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 November 2017 19:23 (six years ago) link
that Somali Sweet as Broken Dates thing at times sounds like Cambodian music
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 11 November 2017 05:53 (six years ago) link
That Oumou Sangare album from earlier this year still sounds great.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 November 2017 15:32 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PddVGz6oXNgRuba Shamshoum is a Dublin based Palestinian singer, her Shamat album is absolute top stuff.
― calzino, Friday, 17 November 2017 11:03 (six years ago) link
Will check it out. I was up in a NYC over the weekend and a street vendor was blasting North African/Moroccan rai like music, but I foolishly didn't stop to ask him specifically what it was.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 20 November 2017 05:36 (six years ago) link
Rahim Alhaj “Letters from Iraq” sounds good in a traditional oud way
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 November 2017 03:45 (six years ago) link
The Alhaj album is pretty melancholy
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 November 2017 16:59 (six years ago) link
31. Songhoy Blues - Résistance
Rolling Stone's #31 album of the year. I liked some of it, but the more I listened the more I found it uneven
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 November 2017 17:44 (six years ago) link
That Ruba Shamshoum album has some French cabaret sounding aspects plus traces of current pop
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 November 2017 03:26 (six years ago) link
Bodega Pop has reactivated: http://bodegapop.blogspot.com
― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 30 November 2017 07:32 (six years ago) link
Yes, that's good news. That blog finds cool cassettes in bodegas in Astoria, Queens and parts of Brooklyn, NY.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 November 2017 17:44 (six years ago) link
http://tedgioia.com/bestalbumsof2017.html
Was underwhelmed by Ifriqiyya Electrique album Ruwahine (Sufi music from Tunisia gone post-punk) on this jazz and more list, but am curious about the Teddy Afro album and others
― curmudgeon, Friday, 1 December 2017 03:09 (six years ago) link
The post-punk parts of Ifriqiyya are what disappoint me. Kind of rote.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 2 December 2017 17:34 (six years ago) link
But Quietus loves it, and put it at 20 on their 2017 year in review list
20: Rûwâhîne - Ifriqiyya Electrique
― curmudgeon, Monday, 4 December 2017 16:23 (six years ago) link
Wire magazine 2017 list:
Mahmoud Gania - Colours of the Night
Posthumous release from Moroccan sinter/lute player who has been on a Pharoah Sanders album and a James Holden one
https://thevinylfactory.com/news/maalem-mahmoud-gania-colours-of-the-night-vinyl-release/
― curmudgeon, Monday, 4 December 2017 21:57 (six years ago) link
Saw a Davido song on the Fader top 100 song list.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 5 December 2017 15:12 (six years ago) link
http://www.songlines.co.uk/world-music-news/2017/11/songlines-best-albums-of-2017/
Includes Oumou Sangaré, Orchesta Baobab, & the Trio da Kali w/ Kronos Quartet album
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 5 December 2017 17:20 (six years ago) link
F Roots list-
Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band- Big MachineRhiannon Giddens-Freedom HighwayLisa Knapp-Til April Is DeadLankum-Between The Earth And SkyLeveret-InventionsOffa Rex-Queen of HeartsOrchestra Baobab-Tribute To Ndiouga DiengOumou Sangare-MogoyaSaz’iso-At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At MeTrio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet-Ladilikan
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 December 2017 16:58 (six years ago) link
http://afropop.org/articles/stocking-stuffers-2017-feature
Davido, Mokoomba, Trio Da Kali and more
― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 December 2017 18:36 (six years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-habibi-funk-an-eclectic-selection-of-music-from-the-arab-world/
Andy Beta for Pitchfork on A new compilation from Habibi Funk highlights the old and interweaving sounds of Algerian coladera, Lebanese AOR, Egyptian disco, Moroccan funk and more.
I haven't heard it yet
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 December 2017 15:31 (six years ago) link
Zimbabwe's Jah Prayzah
Everyone, from the elderly to kindergartners, can be heard in the streets singing songs from Kutonga Kwaro, the album Prayzah released Oct. 13 — almost exactly one month prior to Mugabe's ouster.
https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/12/08/569424251/perceived-as-prophetic-of-a-bloodless-coup-zimbabwean-artists-profile-rises
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 December 2017 16:48 (six years ago) link
Quirky rough-edged Brit folkie Richard Dawson seems more popular with critics in year-end polls than any other non-American genre representatives. Neither old-school or new-school African sounds or Latino ones or Caribbean ones, or even Afro-Brit grime ones have gotten anywhere near the support that Dawson has (which of course still pales in comparison to US based indie and rap)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 December 2017 19:57 (six years ago) link
Dawson seems more popular than metal or jazz acts from anywhere too
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 December 2017 19:58 (six years ago) link
I am referring to the year end lists thread:
Richard Dawson is 1st on Quietus list, 2nd on Wire's and now another top ten position on Cracked's, damn, who would have thunk.
― damosuzuki, Tuesday, December 5, 2017 1:45 PM (six
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 December 2017 20:00 (six years ago) link
For those compiling your year-end lists, this playlist includes all the available tracks on this thread, organized roughly chronologically in order of mention:
ILM's 2017 Rolling Global Sounds Thread Spotify Playlist
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 12 December 2017 01:54 (six years ago) link
I tried some of that Dawson album and it was unlistenable. I think it might make me physically ill to listen to the whole thing. I don't know why. curmudgeon, speaking of American indie, you should try that Melkbelly album. Granted, I don't have enough of a grasp of your taste in rock to know what you will think.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 02:28 (six years ago) link
I keep meaning to check it out. I will.
The Said The Gramaphone blog top 100 songs includes an Oumou Sangaré one, and a South African one that I have just forgotten. It’s a Ulysses fave he mentioned on the year-end list.
Both cuts I like better than Richard Dawson ‘s avant Brit Folk.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 04:54 (six years ago) link
that would be South African Sun-El Musician and Samthing Soweto's "Akanamali"I'm pushing it hard for year-end considerationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxFS8L6AlQhttp://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=24322
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 12 December 2017 07:03 (six years ago) link
wow that is really lovely
― rob, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 15:40 (six years ago) link
That is a nice track. I'd have to listen some more before knowing if it's a favorite or not.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 16:45 (six years ago) link
I don't care for Rahim AlHaj's approach to fusing Arab and western classical music. I only listened to part of the new one, then bailed out.
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 16:53 (six years ago) link
I liked it on my 1 and a half listens (and I know little about Arab and western classical music)
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 17:39 (six years ago) link
NPR year-end list includes Rûwâhîne - by Ifriqiyya Electrique, mentioned above. I wasn't dazzled by the post-punk aspects. Maybe I will give it another shot
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 December 2017 17:52 (six years ago) link
Didn't listen to that last night, but did listen again to Ata Kak from Ghana on Awesome Tapes from Africa (although I think that re-release is from a prior year)
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 14 December 2017 15:19 (six years ago) link
Might nominate this as a track in our poll. It's mostly about the keyboard that kicks in at 1:48. Incidentally, these are Brazilian producers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=risQFjhOVr8
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 15 December 2017 05:51 (six years ago) link
Er, 1:04. I think it's later on the Spotify version. 1:00something. You will know what I mean when you hear it.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 15 December 2017 05:52 (six years ago) link
Speaking of Brazilian producers, I was out of touch with Brazilian music this year. Anyone have any faves?
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 17 December 2017 06:22 (six years ago) link
Artsy-post Tropicalia pop type sounds I mean; or any other kinds...?
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 17 December 2017 06:23 (six years ago) link
Yes that keyboard livens that up
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 17 December 2017 06:26 (six years ago) link
Still going through this list. Madagascar’s Toko Telo are afropop-folky . They are doing some UK gigs
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 December 2017 16:11 (six years ago) link
yeah that was a great episode
heard another amazing afropop worldwide ep this week about the Biafra movement which i really knew nothing about
it's prob the best podcast going atm
― Mordy, Tuesday, 19 December 2017 16:28 (six years ago) link
I haven’t even checked out recent episodes (but I should). I just read the text listing their fave 2017 albums.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 December 2017 22:42 (six years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/arts/design/malick-sidibes-work-reveals-a-hidden-africa-it-loves-to-party.html?_r=0
There's an exhibit in Paris running to February 25 of the recently(2016) deceased photographer Malik Sidibe's photos of 1960s and 1970s Bamako, Mali called "Mali Twist." Great photos. Sidibe was a music fan and took lots of photos of music fans there dressed up,going out and dancing.
Some 250 black-and-white photographs crowd every inch of wall. In one, a pair of teenage boys in wildly patterned bell bottoms pose moodily with a guitar.
I haven't seen the exhibit, but my wife splurged for the book for me for Chanukah (awww) and its impressive and fun.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/16/arts/malick-sidibe-photographer-known-for-social-reportage-in-mali-dies-at-80.html
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 20 December 2017 22:39 (six years ago) link
Yes, posting about it on another thread, but a pick from lex's list might be of interest here:
Ariwo - Ariwo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWeIqmz6Xx0
Jazz, electronic, but some borrowing from the sort of music that normally appears on this thread too. Definitely a Latin feel to some of the jazz. Very difficult to describe. One of them new-fangled fusions. Caldera in particularly is pretty Latin jazzy, but still electronic.
While I'm on this, Auntie Flow was also on lex's list, and might appeal to Rolling Global Outernational listeners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pMBYN7JF4E
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 26 December 2017 16:29 (six years ago) link
As I've mentioned on the generic Arabic music thread, there has been quite a bit of good underground/indie Arab music coming to my attention this year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NxyE6yUElchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5aM_LxnWghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-6SQjdgdg4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nwCbZfPxcY
― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 26 December 2017 16:35 (six years ago) link
Been catching up on lots of music the last 2 days. Just listened to the Afropop stocking stuffers podcast and now hearing some albums mentioned on it. Listening now to Soweto Soul, an album put together by Dutch producer/guitarist Joep Pelt who loves old-school South African Pennywhistle Jive, Hip-Hop, Mbaqanga and Kwaito. He got lots of old-school folks to participate. Alas, some of it sounds forced. He wants to make it modern. But some cuts work.
I havent listened to that Lex pick Ariwo yet, but I have heard some of the afropop/afrobeats he likes--Mr. Eazi and Serge Beynaud.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 29 December 2017 22:29 (six years ago) link
Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2018 Thread Once Known as World Music
― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 January 2018 19:43 (six years ago) link
Today I will mostly be listening to the Nyege Nyege Tapes label from Uganda. Namely: Nihiloxica, The Sounds of Sisso compilation and the album by Riddlore
― Badgers (dog latin), Tuesday, 6 February 2018 09:20 (six years ago) link
Maybe not for this thread but I just saw the articles and haven't listened to these acts yet
http://www.okayafrica.com/congolese-music-artists-new-killing-it/
I don't know any of these Congolese rappers and r'n'b acts-- Maître Gims and others
http://www.okayafrica.com/black-panther-album-south-african-artists/
Sjava and 3 others.
I don't know these folks either
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 February 2018 05:52 (six years ago) link
Oops ..2017 thread
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 February 2018 05:53 (six years ago) link