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
It has been too long since I posted any world music so I spent the weekend doing some research. Look out for some more choices over the coming days.
Mahlathini and The Mahotella Queens are from Soweto in South Africa and I love their classic, pure and joyous African sound.
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens:
/RjK
*Artist #688
Classic Soul track from Barbara Acklin. It was released on Brunswick Records, home of such other greats as Jackie Wilson and The Chi-Lites.
Barbara Acklin:
/RjK
*Artist #687
Another track from Washington Rapper/Producer Oddisee’s excellent 2011 album Rock Creek Park.
Oddisee:
/RjK
This remix of a 2004 track from American singer Teedra Moses is by Montreal Dj Kaytranda. It is a little cheesy but I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since discovering it earlier in the week on Far From Cyan.
/RjK
*Artist #686
This is a rather fun track from Portland band Glass Candy. This may be somewhat flattering to them but their style and vocalist rather remind me of (my personal jukebox favourites) Blondie.
Glass Candy:
/RjK
*Artist #685
CjK Guest Post – Summer Cover #2
Punk was at its height in 1978 when The Stranglers released the ‘Black and White‘ album. Anarchy was the order of the day. Here the Stranglers were thumbing there noses at Burt Bacharach and Hal David syrupy love songs, and turned it into a guitar driven rant, with an admittedly a long slightly indulgent solo.
Of course they also recorded ‘Golden Brown’ a syrupy love song to heroin. It is not recorded what Burt Bacharach made of this version but I suspect its not going into his desert island discs…
The Stranglers:
/CjK
Periodically I am reminded about how talented Elvis Costello is. I heard this on the radio over the weekend and it still sounds fresh.
Elvis Costello:
/RjK