Not sure where to put this, but I'm currently obsessed by this site where you can see what's the most streamed track on youtube in cities around the world, and listen to said tracks on the site
https://pudding.cool/2018/01/music-map/
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 1 February 2018 17:27 (six years ago) link
#1 Song in Your City - Interactive, updated map for discoveryi will be curious to see if they update with January; that would make it a regular visit
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Thursday, 1 February 2018 19:05 (six years ago) link
The mighty Mahotella Queens rehearsing with their new band of @gruffingtonpost @nickzinner @Damonalbarn @Georgiadrumming for tonight’s show #africaexpress pic.twitter.com/fPrWsqLjEa— Africa Express (@africaexpress) February 2, 2018
They're playing a show tonight.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 2 February 2018 14:33 (six years ago) link
#legends
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Friday, 2 February 2018 16:14 (six years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/on-hearing-my-fathers-legacy-in-vampire-weekend/
Fanta Sylla, daughter of legendary late producer Ibrahima Sylla , on her initial enjoyment of Vampire Weekend ‘s 1st album and then goes from there to discuss Congolese music and colonialism and more.
She also links to another interesting piece https://www.cairn.info/revue-politique-africaine-2005-4-page-69.html
― curmudgeon, Friday, 2 February 2018 16:49 (six years ago) link
that Sylla piece is excellent, thanks for posting that. It should probably go on that recent tuneyards thread, but maybe that thing is best forgotten
― rob, Friday, 2 February 2018 18:37 (six years ago) link
Ha. I need to listen to that Congolese/Canadian guy Pierre Kwenders you mentioned on another thread
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 February 2018 15:55 (six years ago) link
x-post I wonder if any members of the Makgona Tsohle Band who used to back the Mahotella Queens are still alive and able to perform?
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 February 2018 22:08 (six years ago) link
Fanta Sylla in Pitchfork Pitch piece linked above:
Growing up, I was ambivalent about what I perceived to be a general indifference towards African music. There was a rich history, a diversity of styles, and countless brilliant artists people didn’t seem to want to explore. It felt like people could only handle African music if it was mixed or filtered with something they recognized. But rather than calling out white artists who appropriate African music, I’ve always been more concerned that the African genres and artists that inspired them were given proper credit and financial support. I’m interested in the inclusion of African music in non-African publications, and in a passionate critical approach by African writers on the sounds that color their lives (look to Cameroonian writer Achille Mbembe’s beautiful piece on Congolese music for a great example).
It's nice that Pitchfork Pitch posted this, but alas I didn't see a single artist based on the African continent in the Pitchfork best of tracks or albums list for 2017. Periodically over the years they've posted stuff by Deej and others, but nothing consistently.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 February 2018 22:46 (six years ago) link
ANEWAL is the new trio of Alhousseini Anivolla, lead guitarist and singer of internationally renowned desert blues band Etran Finatawa. Formed in 2012
Listened to their 2017 album. They have that sound down.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 February 2018 15:33 (six years ago) link
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/petite-noir-accuses-damon-albarn-project-africa-express-of-musician-exploitation/
Seems Africa Express isn't being too well received by some of the involved musicians.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 5 February 2018 19:18 (six years ago) link
Ouch. Terrible contract. No comments yet from Albarn or Zimmer or others associated with Africa Express
― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 February 2018 22:19 (six years ago) link
Zinner I mean
Here's the response:
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/damon-albarns-africa-express-responds-to-claims-of-musician-exploitation/
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 5 February 2018 22:21 (six years ago) link
"As we pay all the travel, accommodation and other costs for Western artists joining us on trips, we ask them to volunteer their time."
So Mr. Blur & Gorillaz's @africaexpress costs get paid for, but he can't afford to pay Africans for anything, or even promise them a specific percentage of any possible profits. Hmm.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 February 2018 03:46 (six years ago) link
http://www.nme.com/news/music/damon-albarn-accused-unfair-treatment-musicians-africa-express-project-2236879
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 February 2018 15:21 (six years ago) link
Seeing complicating and contradictory comments about this Africa Express thing on Facebook . Some insisting this just relates to standard rules when recording a charity benefit album as they were apparently doing in South Africa in addition to the gigs. But the language in the contract seems problematic
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 February 2018 15:35 (six years ago) link
well when africa express rolled thru addis 6 or so years ago, the ethiop musicians here were not happy with the way they were treated, felt disrespected in their own clubs by ppl like flea and others general dissatisfaction has been the sense i've gotten over the years, was surprised still going on
― H in Addis, Tuesday, 6 February 2018 17:32 (six years ago) link
Oh. That's not good. I had seen various references to gig appearances in the UK and Africa, but until now did not know of any recordings as they just did in South Africa. Seems like Albarn and Africa Express brought a number of fellow (white) musicians like like Blue May, and Mr. Jukes in addition to YYY's Zinner to South Africa to work with young South African gqom dance folks as well as Mahotella Queens. Blue May's defense of the project on FB makes a few good points and provides a bit more info but overall it isn't that understanding or impressive.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 7 February 2018 19:15 (six years ago) link
just bought the Jupiter & Okwess album. nearly put off by the sticker on the front that mentions Damon Albarn.
― Badgers (dog latin), Friday, 9 February 2018 09:08 (six years ago) link
Ignore that sticker.
----------------------------------
Maybe not for this thread but I just read the below 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 05:55 (six years ago) link
I did watch the video of Ethiopian Jewish musician living in Israel Gili Yalo. Nice blend of funk, pop and Ethiopian grooves
http://www.clashmusic.com/news/premiere-gili-yalo-selam
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 February 2018 06:05 (six years ago) link
loving the heck out of that yalo ethiojazz
― Mordy, Sunday, 11 February 2018 17:16 (six years ago) link
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/.premium-how-racism-changed-ethiopian-israeli-singer-1.5423209
Interesting interview with Yalo from 2016
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:53 (six years ago) link
There's a Nyege Nyege Tapes night happening round the corner from me in April. I knew I moved to a city for a reason :-)
― Badgers (dog latin), Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:56 (six years ago) link
Crash Fest in Boston, Mass Feb 24th includes VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ - Malian guitarist dubbed “The Hendrix of the Sahara”MOKOOMBA - Afro-fusion from Zimbabwe ZESHAN B – Chicago soul singer with Indo-Pakistani rootsFLOR DE TOLOACHE - Explosive all-female mariachi bandTAL NATIONAL - High energy rock ‘n’ roll from NigerINNOV GNAWA - Trance music from MoroccoNEWPOLI - A modern take on music from the MediterraneanSÓ SOL - Música Brasileira with an Americana twistKOTOKO BRASS
If I was up there I would definitely see Vieux Farka Toure, Mokoomba, and Tal National again. Innov Gnawa are pretty good live too. Don't know the others really
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 18:05 (six years ago) link
oh is tal national gonna tour at all while they're here? i would def go see them again.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 18:35 (six years ago) link
i would totally go see them again too
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 20 February 2018 18:40 (six years ago) link
They are touring now through March (without a percussionist who I think played on previous tours). In Brooklyn Friday night the 23rd, Boston on 24th, Portland Maine on 25th, New Haven on the 27th, and later in March in Pittsburgh on the 16th, Baltimore on the 17th, West Virginia on the 18th.
Not seeing any DC or Philadelphia or Chicago gigs although they have nothing listed for March 19th & 20th, before they head south to Big Ears fest and elsewhere. I am trying to get their agent to add a DC date on one of those days, but not having luck.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 18:49 (six years ago) link
Mokoomba's US tour is short too
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 22:29 (six years ago) link
Christopher Kirkley of Sahel Sounds (who was involved in that North African Purple rain movie adaptation)is presenting another film "Zerzura" on saturday night Feb. 24th at 7 pm at the Freer Gallery in DC. This movie he says " is a feature length magical realist folktale about a young nomad who sets off to find his brother in a lost Saharan city. It’s a collaborative film we wrote and shot on location in Agadez, Niger over the course of a month. Filmed entirely in Tamashek, it also features original improvisational guitar score from protagonist Ahmoudou Madassane (Mdou Moctar, Les Filles de Illighadad)."
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 06:14 (six years ago) link
Hailu Mergia's going to put out an album of new material and there's an interview with him in the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/arts/music/hailu-mergia-lala-belu.html
― ogmor, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 15:59 (six years ago) link
Nice. I saw something on Bandcamp the other day. I thought that since Mergia is doing so many European tours he had given up his other job, but not completely I see:
He still drives the cab for extra cash. In idle moments, he hauls out the keyboard and sits alone in the back seat, his eyes closed, improvising.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 16:20 (six years ago) link
this is cool https://sahelsounds.bandcamp.com/album/field-recordings-from-the-sahel
― Mordy, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 16:23 (six years ago) link
That looks cool.
Now in sad news, I see on the Stern’s music store & label blog that singer Medoune Diallo has died. He was in the great groups Orchestra Baobab and Africando.
http://sternsmusic.blogspot.com/2018/02/medoune-diallo-11021949-10022017-rip.html?m=1
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 February 2018 19:30 (six years ago) link
The new Mergia album is mostly impressive. He’s on accordion on some tracks and various types of keyboards on others.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 February 2018 19:33 (six years ago) link
received the Pantsula comp in the post today. it's great huh?
― Badgers (dog latin), Friday, 23 February 2018 19:40 (six years ago) link
Too much to keep up on. Have not heard that comp of 88 to 90 South African electronic dance (yet)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 February 2018 19:55 (six years ago) link
loving the new tal national btw
― Mordy, Friday, 23 February 2018 20:01 (six years ago) link
The Tal National album rocks. Feel like I should also post about it on some ilm rock thread
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 24 February 2018 15:38 (six years ago) link
also new femi kuti & imarhan
― Mordy, Saturday, 24 February 2018 17:23 (six years ago) link
Vieux Farka Toure is gonna be back in DC Tuesday night and he's a charismatic performer live, but I'm spoiled-- have seen him 3 times locally so might skip this one.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 February 2018 20:30 (six years ago) link
NY Times’ Jon Pareles tweeting about how much he loved recent gigs by Tal National and Mokoomba. He says both groups “transcend tribalism “ by bringing together multiple cultures/ minorities.
Onetime ilxor K*ith H*rris penned a favorable review of the new Tal National album in a Minnesota publication/site
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 28 February 2018 15:06 (six years ago) link
some side eye at "transcend tribalism" like wtf is that supposed to mean but the new tal national is really good
― Mordy, Wednesday, 28 February 2018 15:18 (six years ago) link
Yeah, good point.
Meanwhile in Egypt, pop singer Sherine Abdel-Wahab has been sentenced to 6 months in jail for saying the Nile River is too dirty to drink from
http://m.dw.com/en/egyptian-singer-jailed-for-insulting-the-nile/a-42759474?xtref=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 28 February 2018 18:22 (six years ago) link
I missed the Tal National and Mokoomba gigs. Vieux too, though I've seen him more than once. Hoping/half-anticipating that they were showcase gigs for larger presenters who will bring them back this summer.
― Moo Vaughn, Wednesday, 28 February 2018 19:40 (six years ago) link
Tal National playing in my town this Sunday. Looking forward to it. nice that they made it to the wilds of western mass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGLy6Vb0jwQ
― scott seward, Friday, 2 March 2018 18:50 (six years ago) link
they were so amazing. go see them if you have never seen them! so great to see them in my fave tiny bar in town. capacity only 100 and it was packed full.
― scott seward, Monday, 5 March 2018 12:30 (six years ago) link
https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/d3wdq7/robert-christgau-youssou-ndour-tal-national-review
Christgau likes Tal National too
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 March 2018 18:44 (six years ago) link
could have listened to that drummer all night. between this and the xylouris white show i am really getting my drum on this year. best drum shows ever.
― scott seward, Tuesday, 6 March 2018 19:17 (six years ago) link
yeah! i was just listening to that ep. those are always great, lots of exposure to different stuff.
― Mordy, Sunday, 9 December 2018 00:20 (five years ago) link
A Rosalia song seems to be the token non-English language track on Pitchfork’s top 100 tracks.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2018 15:27 (five years ago) link
33-year-old singer Jackson Aluta Kazimoto, known as Dogo Jackie or Jackie Simela, of great Tanzanian band Jagwa Music died in a car accident
https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/tanzania-jagwa-music-frontman-dies
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2018 20:36 (five years ago) link
I listened to Irene Mawela, Ari Pembele - Let's Rejoice (South African old-school mbaqanga singer)Thabang Tabane, Matjale (South African Venda roots-jazz)
from the afropop stocking stuffers list above-- eh they're ok. Still loving Ebo Taylor from Ghana. Need to hear more from that afropop list
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:33 (five years ago) link
https://www.catrinfinchandseckoukeita.com
Folk Roots critics poll album of the year is a collaboration between a Welsh harp player, Catrin Finch and a Senegalese kora player, Seckou Keita
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 December 2018 19:01 (five years ago) link
http://www.transglobalwmc.com/category/charts/annual-charts/
Monsieur Doumani is their top North African/ Middle East winner
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 December 2018 19:06 (five years ago) link
I still haven't listened to Doumani. Heard a little of the Finch and Keita record -- beautiful at times, too easy listening at other times
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 December 2018 13:53 (five years ago) link
The Afro-folk of Madagascar group Teko Telo is pleasant enough
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 15 December 2018 03:42 (five years ago) link
Transglobal WM Chart Best of 2018!BEST ALBUM OF 2018: Monsieur Doumani2-Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita3-Fatoumata Diawara4-El Naán5-Ammar 8086-Gabacho Maroc7-The Turbans8-SANS9-Vigüela10-Samba Touré
― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 December 2018 03:26 (five years ago) link
20 = Ammar 808 Maghreb United (Glitterbeat)
This on Folk Roots poll. I like it
― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 December 2018 16:23 (five years ago) link
Monsieur Doumani did not wow me. It turns out that they are a three-piece Cypriot band
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 December 2018 14:53 (five years ago) link
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx4cRw6TIIg
Guitarist Ronnie Moipolai from Botswana has over a million views
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 19 December 2018 13:52 (five years ago) link
Check out the flashy fingerwork, people!
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 December 2018 15:40 (five years ago) link
That Jupiter & Okwess album from Congo is a keeper. Great guitar sound, unusual arrangements, head nodding but not typical rhythms
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 December 2018 15:42 (five years ago) link
Some albums on the Quietus list of 100 that I need to check out. Heard a little of this one and liked it:
The sheer range of what Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca and Tamer Abu Ghazaleh are trying to combine on Lekhfa - trad chaabi, mahraganat, Nile Delta psych, classic Egyptian pop, Middle Eastern jazz, smoky... ...That's a choice by the Q editor who has posted here on ocassion
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 December 2018 16:07 (five years ago) link
Listening to Qhizzo- Gqomm Plug now. More interesting than European techno, but still the club beats can get a bit tiresome. This is from South Africa and the vocals are melodic and interesting in how the interact
― curmudgeon, Monday, 24 December 2018 03:21 (five years ago) link
Ammar 808 Maghreb United (Glitterbeat) has made a few polls
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 December 2018 16:52 (five years ago) link
looking for Mdou Moctar bookings in florida, charleston sc, savannah, open to house shows - get at us at booking (at) sahelsounds (dot) com
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 December 2018 20:29 (five years ago) link
didn't know you were repping Moctar curmudgeon! Hoping to see him briefly at Drom early next month.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 26 December 2018 21:40 (five years ago) link
That was from a Sahelsounds tweet. I am just trying to help Moctar and Sahelsounds out. Have seen Moctar live 3 times and he and his band are wonderful. They deserve well-paying gigs in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 December 2018 16:41 (five years ago) link
Jason King in his year-end piece as part of the Slate discussion among critics:
Though Africa has largely fallen off the American news radar, the music rocketing out of the continent remains straight fire. Projects by GuiltyBeatz, Aka, Fatoumata Diawara, Seun Kuti, Femi Kuti, Emmanuel Jal, Burna Boy, Muzi, Tal National, and Ammar 808 are all worth streaming. My favorite contemporary record this year, however, was I’m a Dream, the sophomore set from Gambian-Swedish chanteuse Seinabo Sey.
https://slate.com/culture/2018/12/2018-music-both-directions-at-once-coltrane.html
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 December 2018 16:58 (five years ago) link
xp ah, okay.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 27 December 2018 20:12 (five years ago) link
https://www.stereogum.com/2027032/barack-obama-best-songs-2018/news/
Jupiter & Okwess are on it; Fatoumata Diawara too
― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 December 2018 18:33 (five years ago) link
Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2019 Thread Once Known as World Music
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 January 2019 16:50 (five years ago) link