This is taken from The Rhythm of the Saints, probably the album that influenced my musical taste most in 2011. It opened my eyes to world music which was quite a revelatory awakening.
I really like the contrast in the song between the hushed, almost dreamlike opening and the dramatic, exhorting finish that the song builds to.
And these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven, to heaven, for the mother’s resless son…
RjK
Dark City Sisters* – Sekusile (NAT)
Na Hawa Doumbia – Korô Dia
I wanted to slip one more world music tune in before the year’s end. This is taken from one of my big finds of the year, the blog Awesome Tapes From Africa.
The lady featured is from Mali and I find her singing style to be incredibly arresting. Her vocal style is almost otherworldly and this gives the song an urgency that I find hard to resist.
RjK
Los Hijos del Sol – Linda Muñequita
One of the biggest surprises of the year for me has been my growing affection for world music. It has literally come from nowhere.
I know virtually nothing about these guys (they may be from Peru) and even less about what they are singing about (feel free to enlighten me if you are able). However, this has been stuck in my head since I heard it on Tom Ravenscroft’s 6music show last week. The jangly guitar is completely infectious.
RjK
Batoma Diallo – Bolo Di Yongo Ma
One of the more interesting thing I have discovered this year, as I meandered through my days of youtune, is an affection for world music that I didn’t know existed. I love the joyous purity of African music.
I was listening to a radio show on WFMU (a NYC radio station which I have previously written about) which plays a very eclectic range of music. On this occasion the DJ was playing some choice West African music which was so fresh, with some music from Mali that was particularly inspired. As it happens I could not find the exact song I wanted on youtube (Jah Youssouf & Bintou Coulibaly – Kahlan) but this one is equally fine.
RjK
The Four Brothers – Rumbidzai
I was listening to a radio show where no less than John Peel (what a hero) suggested these guys were the best live act he had ever seen. Wow! High praise indeed, and who am I to argue? They certainly are very pleasing on the ear.
They hail from Zimbabwe and remind me a little of my boys Nguuni Lovers Lovers (still the BEST video of the year), possessing that classic African sound – a little tinny, a lot joyous.
Irresistible.
RjK
The Black Seeds – Cool me down
These guys are another Reggae Band from New Zealand. I did some research after getting into Fat Freddy’s Drop and getting a tip from a friend, and they are one of a number of bands that are worth checking out.
Also, the eagle-eyed amoungst you may spot Bret McKenzie (from Flight of the concords) in the video. This is his old band. They are probably less funny but more funky and mellow. If you are unfamiliar with FOTC – they are also worth a look.
Was out for dinner tonight in a local Japenese restaurant. The food was excellent and all in all it was a very civilised evening. Well civilised by my normal standards anyway. The only strange thing was the contrast between the serene restaurant and the manic, crazy J-Pop they had on the stereo. It inspired me to post something equally insane. With a video to match.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Frends
Short post today – it’s been a long week. Interesting band name. I know little about them other than this guardian article. New Zealand by way of Portland apparently.
Anyway, I like this laid back number and have been listening to a lot of it this week.
An old friend returned home from a 2 year African odyssey today (welcome home Sammy) so I wanted to post something with a world music vibe in his honour. This is released on Sofrito Records – “home of the tropical discotheque.” A pretty good claim to fame.
Said buddy and I have also been having a transcontinental email conversation about our shared appreciation of Seamus Heaney. Particularly how his poetry reminds us of home, heartening us from places far and not so far from there. See below a favourite from his latest collection that conjures an image of home for me as vividly as anything i have ever read.
The Baler
All day the clunk of a baler
Ongoing, cardiac-dull,
So taken for granted
It was evening before I came to
To what I was hearing
And missing: summer’s richest hours
As they had been to begin with,
Fork-lifted, sweated-through
And nearly rewarded enough
By the giddied-up race of a tractor
At the end of the day
Last-lapping a hayfield.
But what I also remembered
As woodpigeons sued at the edge
Of thirty gleaned acres
And I stood inhaling the cool
In a dusk eldorado
Of mighty cylindrical bales
Was Derek Hill’s saying,
The last time he sat at our table,
He could bear no longer to watch
The sun going down
And asking please to be put
With his back to the window.