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:
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*Artist #690
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:
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*Artist #688
A colleague was talking about Cuban Collective Buena Vista Social Club and going to see them at the Cork Midsummer Festival in July.
It reminded me of finding them in my Dad’s record collection when I was at school and finding their sound both fascinating and hypnotic. Little has changed listening to them now probably 15 years later.
Buena Vista Social Club:
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*Artist #669
Apologies for the rather esoteric choices this week, I just go where the music takes me.
A friend sent me this last week and I have been really enjoying it since. It is taken from Niger artist Bombino‘s recently released album Nomad.
Given his rather exotic roots and the fact that my friend used Tinariwen (another Tuareg band) as a comparison I was a little taken aback that I both understood the reference and really enjoyed the song! I suppose it goes to show how far writing this blog has expanded my musical horizons.
Bombino:
/RjK
*Artist #666
Healado Negro is one half of Ombre, who I posted a few months ago. This is similarly smooth and mellow.
Helado Negro:
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*Artist #652
Revisiting Pet Sounds last weekend (in various forms) got me thinking about albums. Of late, they have lost all meaning to me. I can’t think the last time I listened to one from start to finish.
But there will always be a few that I can’t escape. One such is The Rhythm of the Saints, from which this is taken. It got me thinking about World Music before I even knew it existed. If you don’t know it I recommend you give yourself a treat and check it out.
The Rhythm of the Saints:
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I am really not sure what I can say about this other than I can’t believe how utterly transfixed I have been by it over the past couple of days. It is otherworldly and hypnotic, perhaps reminiscent in this regard of last year’s favourite by The Congos.
I really don’t know much about it other than it is from Morocco and it you are interested you can find out more at Moroccan Tape Stash. I discovered it via DJ/Rutpture who sadly played his last Mudd Up! radio show last week.
/RjK
*Artist #627
This track, from legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, is startling. Full of passion and urgency it sounds like a call to arms and makes my pulse quicken a little any time I hear it.
It is taken from his compilation The Chisa Years 1965-1975 (Rare And Unreleased) which was released a couple of years ago on BBE (Barely Breaking Even – great name for a record label).
For one reason or another I seem to have been listening to a lot of South African music so for in 2013 and for the most part have been really enjoying it. Look out for a few more tracks in the coming weeks. I still need to get around to posting Dark City Sisters again, who were big favourites from last year.
Hugh Masekela:
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*Artist #607
600 and counting! I gave up trying to represent too much with one song and just picked my favourite song of 2013 that I hadn’t yet posted. It is probably fitting that it is from an African artist as World Music has perhaps been my most exciting discovery of the blog thus far.
Jah Youssouf is an artist from Mali, a region that I have been reading much about recently. Unfortunately most of it has been troubling.
This track is taken from his album Son Son Son and as with all the African music I love this sounds fresh and pure. Every time that I hear it I’m filled with joy.
If you are interested in some further listening check out this duet with his wife Bintou Coulibaly which was featured on the Okayafrica blog but alas I can’t find it on YouTube.
Jah Youssouf – Son Son Son:
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*Artist #600!!!