I love how fresh and alien this sounds. Slow Machete is a project recorded by Pittsburg native Joe Shaffer with the help of various Haitian musicians.
This track is taken from the recently released Evening Dust Choir.
Slow Machete – Evening Dust Choir:
/RjK
*Artist #694
CjK Guest Post – Summer Cover #4
Two bars and you’re straight into this fabulous 1968 version of Bob Dylan’s’ All along the watchtower. The song initially appeared on Dylan’s 1967 album John Wesley Harding.
It is an mystery what the lyrics are about. The song also ends in an enigmatic hanging way with ‘None of them along the line/Know what any of it is worth’ Jimi certainly did not; dying of a drugs overdose aged 28.
Jimi Hendrix:
/CjK
*Artist #693
I’m not really sure why but this song by The Smiths has been running about my mind in recent weeks.
The Smiths:
/RjK
A nice mellow track from London band Daughter to ease us into the week. It’s certainly what I need after a fun and busy weekend.
It is taken from their recently released debut album If you leave.
Daughter:
/RjK
*Artist #692
I had the unexpected pleasure last night of stumbling across a Rocky marathon at The Grand Social last night. Watching Rocky IV I had forgotten how awesome and ridiculously over the top (gloriously so) this track was.
James Brown was such a hero!! Seeing him perform a few years ago was a dream come true.
James Brown:
/RjK
I have been unable to get this track out of my mind for several weeks. Van Morrison is an utterly masterful live performance. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Rave on John Donne or Make it real one more time it is still spectacular.
Tupelo Honey is taken from the 1971 album of the same name.
Late 70’s Van Morrison:
/RjK
Even though this is rather pop-centric and John Newman’s vocal style feels a little contrived, this track has been stuck in my head all week. It’s a rather feel-good track to hum along to.
John Newman:
/RjK
*Artist #691
Today’s track comes from another Malian musician, Fatoumata Diawara. One of the real revelations of my blogging odyssey is how much of a musical hotbed Africa, and in particular Mali, is.
This is taken from her debut album Fatou which was released in 2011.
Fatoumata Diawara:
/RjK
*Artist #690
CjK Guest Post – Summer Cover #3
Let’s be clear, Glen Campbell nailed the definitive version of “Wichita Lineman” a song written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb when he recorded it in 1968. It was much played, covered and has entered adult easy listening heaven.British music journalist Stuart Maconie called it “the greatest pop song ever composed”.
It is not clear why REM recorded this version but it was probably homage to Jimmy Webb, who was inspired by lost love to write this classic.
R.E.M.:
/CjK
This is another excellent example of African music, this time from Malian musicians Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba.
World music that I fall in love with generally falls into one of two categories. Either it is simple, pure and joyous as with yesterday’s post or like here it is and otherworldly and enthralling.
Another added bonus here is the video, which has some pretty spectacular images of Mali.
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba:
/RjK
*Artist #689