BLO Chapters And Phases: The Complete Albums 1973-1975 (RPM) cd 17.98
Years ago the Strut label wowed us with a collection of tracks from this band from Lagos, Nigeria. The disc was called Phases 1972-1982, touching upon Blo's output from their early psychedelic rock tracks to their later more disco dance stuff. As we put it in our review, first you'll pick up your bong, then put it down and put on your roller skates. Well, that's out of print, but now RPM has released this disc, compiling the band's first two albums, Chapter One from 1973 and Phase II from 1974. It's on the "bong-ier" side of Blo's discography, definitely, their earlier material being quite laidback, stoned, and super fuzzed out, especially the stuff from their first record. The trio of musicians in this group were previously part of the band Salt, formed by drummer Ginger Baker from Cream during his residency in Lagos in the early '70s. Striking out on their own as Blo, they effortlessly melded Afro-beat funk with trippy Western garage psych choogle. Afro-American influences, the likes of both Jimi and the JB's, are certainly heard here also. Wah wah fuzz guitars, sunny melodies, spaced out vocals, and rhythms from hand percussion, clanking chains and bells, all coexist here in blissful grooviness.
If you dig those Sound Way comps like Nigeria Rock Special (on which Blo appear, in fact) or other recent Afro-rock reissues like Ofege and Chrissy Zebby Tembo, you'll probably be into Blo! And, if you already have that out of print Strut collection of Blo stuff we mentioned, it only includes 7 of the 15 tracks here, so if you liked the earlier half of that comp you then need/want this too.
MPEG Stream: "Preacherman"
MPEG Stream: "Beware"
MPEG Stream: "Whole Lot Of Shit"

BLO Phase II (Strawberry Rain) lp 25.00
Here's a vinyl reissue of this Nigerian band's second album, as you may have guessed from the title, originally released in 1974. As we've said before, the first two albums from this Afro-funk outfit are on the "bong-ier" side of their discography, with more stoned '60s psych fuzz stuff going on - though we also like their later, more discofied direction too, as displayed on the also recently reissued & reviewed Step Three lp from just a year later. Phase II is maybe just beginning to cross over into that dance-boogie roller-rink worthy territory, but their idea of a groovy love song here is called "Whole Lot Of Shit"!
Afro-beat funk is melded with with trippy Western garage psych choogle. Wah wah fuzz guitars, sunny melodies, spaced out vocals, and rhythms from hand percussion all coexist here in blissful grooviness.
MPEG Stream: "Whole Lot Of Shit"

BLO Phases 1972-1982 (Afro Strut) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Funky afro-rock from this '70s Nigerian band. This compiles tracks from their four albums, and ranges from the mellow psychedelic rock (in a West Coast mode) of their early stuff to a much more dance-oriented, disco-inflected groove later on, that you could confuse with Kool & The Gang or a New Orleans combo. So, as you listen to this, you'll first pick up the bong, then put it down and strap on your roller skates...Byram prefers the earlier stuff but Allan thinks the whole thing is pretty fab and full of sunshine. Another prize-winning obscurity rescued from the vaults, courtesy of reissue/compilation label Strut!
RealAudio clip: "Miss Sagit"
RealAudio clip: "Chant To Mother Earth"
RealAudio clip: "Scandi Boogie"
RealAudio clip: "Number One"
RealAudio clip: "Get That Groove In"

BLO Step Three (Hot Casa) cd 17.98
Nigeria's Blo were one of the very first '70s Afro-funk-rock bands we ever encountered, some years ago when their now out of print Phases 1972-1982 compilation came out. And they're one of the best. Their early stuff, from their first two albums Chapter One (1973) and Phase II (1974), is generally more mellow psychedelic rock, sounding super stoned and fuzzed out. But then gradually the funk took over, their grooves got a lot more uptempo and energetic, and on their next couple records later in the '70s, Blo went disco! Which is really cool too. Step Three was of course their third album, from '75, and the tracks on it are definitely meant for getting sweaty, and up close and personal with the opposite sex, on the dancefloor (er, not to imply that same-sex couples wouldn't enjoy this too!). The little cartoon drawings found on this album's artwork, of a guy and a gal with big Afros and bellbottoms, doing a sexy dance, is basically the pictographic owner's instructions for what you're supposed to do with the music on this record. Also both cute and sexy is how the singer talks to a girl about the first time they made out, in the intro to the second song, "Rhythm Of Love".
And although this is infectiously disco-fied, it also rocks, the chicka-chicka funk guitars with a fuzz edge, and plenty of sizzling fat synth all over the place. The JB's had to be a big influence on 'em. Also, despite what we had assumed, NONE of these tracks appeared on that Phases 1972-1982 comp, which for some crazy reason skipped over this album entirely. So it's great to hear 'em now. It makes for quite the party platter to spin, recommended to fans of other recent Afro-funk-disco reissues by The Funkees, Marijata, Edzayawa, the Lijadu Sisters, Afro Funk, etc...
MPEG Stream: "Mind Walk"
MPEG Stream: "Hypocrisy"
MPEG Stream: "Gotta Get Me A Better Head"

BLO Step Three (Hot Casa) lp 26.00
Nigeria's Blo were one of the very first '70s Afro-funk-rock bands we ever encountered, some years ago when their now out of print Phases 1972-1982 compilation came out. And they're one of the best. Their early stuff, from their first two albums Chapter One (1973) and Phase II (1974), is generally more mellow psychedelic rock, sounding super stoned and fuzzed out. But then gradually the funk took over, their grooves got a lot more uptempo and energetic, and on their next couple records later in the '70s, Blo went disco! Which is really cool too. Step Three was of course their third album, from '75, and the tracks on it are definitely meant for getting sweaty, and up close and personal with the opposite sex, on the dancefloor (er, not to imply that same-sex couples wouldn't enjoy this too!). The little cartoon drawings found on this album's artwork, of a guy and a gal with big Afros and bellbottoms, doing a sexy dance, is basically the pictographic owner's instructions for what you're supposed to do with the music on this record. Also both cute and sexy is how the singer talks to a girl about the first time they made out, in the intro to the second song, "Rhythm Of Love".
And although this is infectiously disco-fied, it also rocks, the chicka-chicka funk guitars with a fuzz edge, and plenty of sizzling fat synth all over the place. The JB's had to be a big influence on 'em. Also, despite what we had assumed, NONE of these tracks appeared on that Phases 1972-1982 comp, which for some crazy reason skipped over this album entirely. So it's great to hear 'em now. It makes for quite the party platter to spin, recommended to fans of other recent Afro-funk-disco reissues by The Funkees, Marijata, Edzayawa, the Lijadu Sisters, Afro Funk, etc...
MPEG Stream: "Mind Walk"
MPEG Stream: "Hypocrisy"
MPEG Stream: "Gotta Get Me A Better Head"

BOADI, DAN Money Is The Root Of Evil (Hefty) cd 10.98
Aestuarium, who put out the amazing Philip Cohran disc, now bring us some ultra-serious Fela-style jams. Dan Boadi had some huge hits in his native Ghana in the seventies, and came to New York in 1978 to record these two epic cuts of heavy, heavy afro-funk fused with disco danceability. Apparently, his music didn't resonate with Americans in the same way it did with Ghanaians, and though Boadi has continued to record in Ghana and Chicago, these mighty tracks faded into obscurity. Luckily, Aestuarium has resurrected them for us. Recommended for those with a tooth for raw, dirty disco and/or seventies afrobeat.
RealAudio clip: "Money Is The Root Of All Evil"
RealAudio clip: "Play That Funky Music"

BOMBINO Agadez (Cumbancha) cd 14.98
Sublime Frequencies followers will remember the great Group Bombino record from a few years back in their Guitars From Agadez series. Since then it seems that Oumara Almoctar, aka Bombino, has ditched his 'group', yet thankfully his tranced out Agadez desert sound, is still as hypnotizing and entrancing as ever.
Following in the footsteps of Ali Farka Toure, Bombino has that special ability to create songs that transcend language and place. Much like Tinariwen, Bombino's song have such a fluidity, and even a tranquil strength that makes listening to this record such a cleansing and empowering experience. The incredible hypnotic, guitar playing creates an awesome feeling of a locked groove that you never want to end. We can definitely imagine lots of modern psych groups like Carlton Melton, Brightblack Morning Light, and The Drift being so into this sound, and in fact incorporating it into their own. So great!
MPEG Stream: "Ahoulaguine Akaline (I Greet My Country)"
MPEG Stream: "Tar Hani (My Love)"
MPEG Stream: "Adounia (Life)"

BOMBINO Agadez (Cumbancha) 2lp 30.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sublime Frequencies followers will remember the great Group Bombino record from a few years back in their Guitars From Agadez series. Since then it seems that Oumara Almoctar, aka Bombino, has ditched his 'group', yet thankfully his tranced out Agadez desert sound, is still as hypnotizing and entrancing as ever.
Following in the footsteps of Ali Farka Toure, Bombino has that special ability to create songs that transcend language and place. Much like Tinariwen, Bombino's song have such a fluidity, and even a tranquil strength that makes listening to this record such a cleansing and empowering experience. The incredible hypnotic, guitar playing creates an awesome feeling of a locked groove that you never want to end. We can definitely imagine lots of modern psych groups like Carlton Melton, Brightblack Morning Light, and The Drift being so into this sound, and in fact incorporating it into their own. So great!
MPEG Stream: "Ahoulaguine Akaline (I Greet My Country)"
MPEG Stream: "Tar Hani (My Love)"
MPEG Stream: "Adounia (Life)"

BOUGOUNI YAALALI s/t (Yaala Yaala) cd 14.98
You might remember a couple months ago we freaked out over a gritty and gorgeous release out of Mali from Pekos and Yoro Diallo. It was the first release on the new Drag City imprint Yaala Yaala, a label specializing in raw music and field recordings from West Africa. After reveling in their first release for a while we thought it was time to move on to their second outing which we're happy to report is just as mystifying, compelling and pleasing as the first. Bougouni is a small city in Mali and it's there and in nearby Bamako where these sounds were recorded, during hot days and balmy nights. The music was recorded everywhere from house parties, at checker games, under the shade of mango trees, etc. Like the best of the Nonesuch Explorer series and the eccentric tendencies of the beloved Sublime Frequencies label, Yaalaa Yaala has managed to capture the sounds of other cultures in a way much more agreeable to our sensibilities and respectful to the music and musicians themselves then the often manipulated, polished and Western-washed versions that ends up at cafes, on slick compilations and in "world music" sections of most record stores. Often when we've traveled to faraway places we wish that instead of a camera we had a really good tape recorder with us as it's often the raw and unadorned sounds of a place and people that truly captures the spirit of that location more then any photograph ever could.
Thankfully, the sounds on Bougouni Yaalali resulted from just that sort of foresight, someone who did think ahead and managed to record all of these amazing sounds during various travels through Mali, allowing us to really get close to understanding the spirit of a place that most of us have never been to (though would kill to visit!!). With simple yet compelling percussion (some of it wonderfully distorted!) and a slew of various instruments, the extremely minimal liner notes allow us to play the guessing game of trying to identify the sources of particular sounds (is that a thumb piano we hear on lots of these tracks?). And even though we can't understand the lyrics the hypnotic and powerful delivery ring true with a passion and emotional conviction that transcends language. Yaala Yaala is two for two so far, we can't wait to hear more!
MPEG Stream: "Untitled 8"
MPEG Stream: "Untitled 1"
MPEG Stream: "Untitled 4"

BRIDGEWATER, DEE DEE Red earth: A Malian Journey (DDB Records) cd 16.98

BUDOS BAND, THE III (Daptone) lp 17.98
NOW ON VINYL!
There's never a question as to if a Budos Band release will sound good or not, they are one of THEE tightest and most masterful players of Afro-soul-funk around. And while their first two outings were totally great records, they have stepped up their game big time for number three. It's one thing to be talented musicians, it's another to create songs that have a really strong mood and presence, and that's exactly what Budos Band have done on III. It's a bit darker, wider in scope and just straight up ON FIRE! They've figured out how to take their inspiration from the music of Fela Kuti, James Brown, Sun Ra, Funkadelic, as well as hints of psychedelia from Turkey, Latin America and Africa, and bring it all together in such an infectious and surprisingly original sound. If you ever get a chance to see them live, go for it, cuz they always kill, and this new album is our favorite from them yet!
MPEG Stream: "Rites of The Ancients"
MPEG Stream: "River Serpentine"
MPEG Stream: "Nature's Wrath"

CUT CHEMIST Sound Of The Police (Stable Sound) cd 17.98
Cut Chemist really needs no introduction, he is a pioneer in the worlds of hip-hop and turntablism, being a part of one of the most refreshing and innovative hip-hop acts ever, Jurassic Five, as well as playing in Ozomatli, collaborating with folks like Madlib and DJ Shadow, and releasing his own solo albums that showcase his awe inspiring turntable skills. With Sound Of The Police, you can tell that he and Madlib are in a similar state of mind as far as really appreciating psychedelic sounds from the past and from all around the globe. Here CC takes amazing sounds from obscure records from South America and Africa as well as some modern tracks influenced by those musical movements, to make a seamless hip-hop spirited mix that is as infectious as it is flawless. What's totally mind blowing about this record is that it was recorded live with Cut Chemist creating the mix using only one turntable, one mixer and a delay pedal. No laptops involved in this creation and it really shows, as you hear the warmth and the crackling vinyl of these groove filled sounds that he pieces together into a distinctly hip-hop mix but while still being totally respectful and so appreciative of the sounds being sampled. Definitely turning into one of our favorite end of summer jams!
MPEG Stream: "I"
MPEG Stream: "II"

CUT CHEMIST Sound Of The Police (Stable Sound) lp 21.00
Cut Chemist really needs no introduction, he is a pioneer in the worlds of hip-hop and turntablism, being a part of one of the most refreshing and innovative hip-hop acts ever, Jurassic Five, as well as playing in Ozomatli, collaborating with folks like Madlib and DJ Shadow, and releasing his own solo albums that showcase his awe inspiring turntable skills. With Sound Of The Police, you can tell that he and Madlib are in a similar state of mind as far as really appreciating psychedelic sounds from the past and from all around the globe. Here CC takes amazing sounds from obscure records from South America and Africa as well as some modern tracks influenced by those musical movements, to make a seamless hip-hop spirited mix that is as infectious as it is flawless. What's totally mind blowing about this record is that it was recorded live with Cut Chemist creating the mix using only one turntable, one mixer and a delay pedal. No laptops involved in this creation and it really shows, as you hear the warmth and the crackling vinyl of these groove filled sounds that he pieces together into a distinctly hip-hop mix but while still being totally respectful and so appreciative of the sounds being sampled. Definitely turning into one of our favorite end of summer jams!
MPEG Stream: "I"
MPEG Stream: "II"

DAKTARIS Soul Explosion (Daptone) cd 14.98
Fela Kuti lovers take note! This is one of the best post-Fela Kuti inspired Afro beat records of the last decade for sure. Originally released in '98 just a year after Fela passed away, this was sadly the one and only album released by The Daktaris. Melding Afro beat, soul and funk with total perfection these are songs that make you walk with better posture and with total purpose. They pay homage to their heroes with amazing renditions of James Brown's "Give It Up Turnit Loose" as well as the aforementioned Fela Kuti's "Upside Down." Like Antibalas this was a group carrying the flame that Fela lit with total devotion and a commitment to his spirit. Polyrhythms that will make your body shake, your heart race, and you'll be smiling all over. Good stuff!
MPEG Stream: "Musicawa Silt"
MPEG Stream: "Upside Down"

DEMBELE, DAOUDA s/t (Yaala Yaala) cd 14.98
This upstart, outsider world music label (a sub-label of Drag City) is giving the Sun City Girls' Sublime Frequencies label a serious run for their money. It's only release number three, and we're already thinking crazy thoughts like "new favorite label!". Hard not to after getting an earful of this stuff. All smoldering and dark, moody and emotional, raw and intense, funky and bluesy and just totally gorgeous.
The first release was a recording of vocalist Yoro Diallo teamed up with a musician called Pekos, who plays a lute like instrument but wields it like a fuzzed out psychguitar, all blown out and distorted, the perfect accompaniment for Diallo's super intense toast-like vocalizing. Release number two was a disc of field recordings of a sort called Bougouni Yaalali, sounds and songs captured in Bougouni, a small city in Mali, late night jams, backyard parties, wherever folks were gathering to hang out, talk, and most importantly, play some of the most amazing and inspired music we had ever heard.
Which brings us to the third, and most recent in the series, from a griot named Daouda Dembele. Griots are the oral repositories of an area's history, entrusted with the tales of a people, and blessed with a gift for spreading those tales in song. Dembele plays a bamboo necked, three stringed instrument, and is accompanied by someone playing an overturned gourd, and delivers a gorgeous narrative, a tale of people and peoples, going back perhaps thousands of years. It's of course impossible for us to tell what he is speaking of, but it almost doesn't matter. His voice is so fluid and passionate, his delivery a sung/spoken near-croon. Dynamic and passionate, going from hypnotic and repetitive to animated and exclamatory and back again, always mirrored by the looped cyclical riff beneath, mesmerizing and simple, totally trancelike, with little flurries of extra notes here and there, but for the most part, a gorgeous and seemingly endless cycle. A completely entrancing droney, bluesy buzz that when combined with Dembele's subtly musical storytelling, totally transports us to another place and time like all great music should.
The recording only adds to the appeal, lo-fi, but super hot and live sounding, with the vocals and instruments occasionally getting too loud and peaking, or distorting, pegging the needle into the red, like you're right there sitting in the shade, back on the cool grass, ear up against some old beat up PA, hearing it live, buzzing and immediate... there are even some strange tape drop outs and curious ambient inconsistencies, and for those of us who dig that sort of stuff, it only makes this disc that much more amazing, for those who maybe don't, it's more than made up for by the power and the passion of the songs, the sounds, the lyrics and the music.
MPEG Stream: "One"

DEMDIKE STARE / HYPE WILLIAMS ...Meet Shangaan Electro (Honest Jon's) 12" 12.98

DIABATE, DJIBRIL Hawa (Terp) cd 17.98
Another gorgeous release from the Ex's Terp label, that brought us the amazing Konono No.1 live record and the Beraki double cd reviewed elsewhere on this list. Djibril Diabate is from Mali and is a master on the kora (a 21 string harp-lute) and the music he makes is unbelievably dreamy and otherworldy. Dense tangles of melodies, compex but smooth and soothing, minor key and super melodic. These are modern re-interpretations of traditional pieces, all instrumental, but based thematically on tales and stories that are centuries old. And sonically this could have been recorded 100 years ago (except for the crystal clear rcording of course). Hard to describe exactly what this sounds like, but it has a similar vibe to the recently reviewed Richard Crandell thumb piano cd. Swoonsome and twilighty, delicate but rich with harmonic overtones. It reminded some of us of a little of Christmas carols, but only if you can imagine a Christmas carol stripped to its essence, a crystalline framework of melody amd delicate filligree. So so lovely. Another cd vying for the coveted position of perfect late night / going-to-sleep record!
MPEG Stream: "Masani Cisse"
MPEG Stream: "Enkonen Sava"

DIABATE, TOUMANI Kaira (Hannibal / Rykodisc) cd 12.98

DIABATE, TOUMANI The Mande Variations (Nonesuch) cd 17.98
Simply stunning sparse and majestic sounds from one of the most talented kora players of all time! Known for his collaborations with everyone from Ali Farka Toure, to Taj Mahal and Bjork. This is Toumani by himself and his kora which he employs to make such magical and enchanting music. Toumani has that same kind of elegance and sheer transcendence that folks like John Fahey and Ravi Shankar had/have with the instruments they mastered. The Mande Variations demonstrates how Diabate has been influenced by Indian classical music, flamenco and blues as well as the Griot music of his native home of Mali. This is the kind of record that allows you to just let go of everything as the hypnotic trance of Diabate's playing takes you away to a higher dimension. The Mande Variations is reminding us of some of our favorite beautiful sound of the last few years from the likes of James Blackshaw, Debashish Bhattacharya and Lanaya. Undeniably stunning and filled with trance inducing soul!
MPEG Stream: "Si naani"
MPEG Stream: "El Nabiyouna"
MPEG Stream: "Ismael Drame"

DIEUF-DIEUL DE THIES Aw Sa Yone Vol. 1 (Teranga Beat) cd 21.00
Another archival treasure from the so far flawless Teranga Beat label, this one from Senegalese big band Dieuf-Dieul De Thies, featuring orchestra chief (i.e. chef d'orchestre) and guitarist Pape Seck, who also played in Guelewar, another reissue we raved about here a while back. And like Guelewar, Dieuf-Dieul De Thies deliver a stirring and emotional Afro-psych that's lush and passionate, groovy and jazzy, dark and sultry, three vocalists creating incredible harmonies, wild percussion, amazing horns, and cool FX drenched psych guitar explorations. Heady heavenly stuff for sure. Long sprawling tracks that give the musicians plenty of space to stretch out, the songs marked by epic instrumental passages, with plenty of amazing soloing. The vibe here is very reminiscent of the Ethiopiques series, in that the sound is super hypnotic and sultry, the horns lyrical and almost lysergic in places. The multiple percussionists weaving a dense rhythmic core for the soloists to ride, the vocalists too. One of those rare recordings where every player, and every part of the sonic puzzles is practically impeccable.
As much as we love all the Teranga Beat releases, this one is fast becoming our favorite. It's the most jammy and psychedelic. And while there are a few tracks that are more upbeat, and more poppy, the bulk of the record is gorgeously melancholy and minor key, the lengthy jams sinewy and so utterly hypnotic and entrancing. The sound too is warm and rich, there are occasional drop outs and some obvious damage from the original tapes, but it only enhances the raw immediacy of the sound.
The group has a crazy history too, one that resulted in these recordings (as well as more to be released on a future second volume) to never be released until now. Which is all detailed in the booklet, which also includes liner notes from two of the members of Dieuf-Dieul De Thies. So So So recommended. One of our favorite reissues in recent memory, and a record that's been getting nonstop play around here. Anyone who digs Sublime Frequencies, Yaala Yaala and other world music reissues labels, who for some reason ISN'T following Teranga Beat, you're missing out big time, and have some serious catching up to do. No better place to start than right HERE.
MPEG Stream: "Na Binta"
MPEG Stream: "Aling Na Djimbe"
MPEG Stream: "Ndiguele"

DIEUF-DIEUL DE THIES Aw Sa Yone Vol. 1 (Teranga Beat) 2lp 31.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Another archival treasure from the so far flawless Teranga Beat label, this one from Senegalese big band Dieuf-Dieul De Thies, featuring orchestra chief (i.e. chef d'orchestre) and guitarist Pape Seck, who also played in Guelewar, another reissue we raved about here a while back. And like Guelewar, Dieuf-Dieul De Thies deliver a stirring and emotional Afro-psych that's lush and passionate, groovy and jazzy, dark and sultry, three vocalists creating incredible harmonies, wild percussion, amazing horns, and cool FX drenched psych guitar explorations. Heady heavenly stuff for sure. Long sprawling tracks that give the musicians plenty of space to stretch out, the songs marked by epic instrumental passages, with plenty of amazing soloing. The vibe here is very reminiscent of the Ethiopiques series, in that the sound is super hypnotic and sultry, the horns lyrical and almost lysergic in places. The multiple percussionists weaving a dense rhythmic core for the soloists to ride, the vocalists too. One of those rare recordings where every player, and every part of the sonic puzzles is practically impeccable.
As much as we love all the Teranga Beat releases, this one is fast becoming our favorite. It's the most jammy and psychedelic. And while there are a few tracks that are more upbeat, and more poppy, the bulk of the record is gorgeously melancholy and minor key, the lengthy jams sinewy and so utterly hypnotic and entrancing. The sound too is warm and rich, there are occasional drop outs and some obvious damage from the original tapes, but it only enhances the raw immediacy of the sound.
The group has a crazy history too, one that resulted in these recordings (as well as more to be released on a future second volume) to never be released until now. Which is all detailed in the booklet, which also includes liner notes from two of the members of Dieuf-Dieul De Thies. So So So recommended. One of our favorite reissues in recent memory, and a record that's been getting nonstop play around here. Anyone who digs Sublime Frequencies, Yaala Yaala and other world music reissues labels, who for some reason ISN'T following Teranga Beat, you're missing out big time, and have some serious catching up to do. No better place to start than right HERE.
MPEG Stream: "Na Binta"
MPEG Stream: "Aling Na Djimbe"
MPEG Stream: "Ndiguele"

DRUMS OF DEATH (Avant) cd 19.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Part of the "world music" series on John Zorn's Japanese Avant label, this one being field recordings from Ghanaian drumming. Milford Graves loves it!

EDZAYAWA Projection One (Soundway) cd 16.98
As promised last list, when we reviewed Rob's Make It Fast, Make It Slow, here's the other killer African '70s reissue that the folks at the Soundway label just blessed us with, the 1973 Projection One album from Ghana's Edzayawa band, their sole release. Once again, this proves that the international groove scene of yesteryear just won't quit. Deep digging labels like Soundway are getting nowhere near to the bottom of the barrel, if albums like this are any indication. Edzayawa is top flight stuff, funky and kinda freaky, with tight percussive grooves in complex patterns arranged into what amount to mostly-instrumental, dark & intense "Afro-prog" workouts. There's often someone jamming away on the organ, also outbursts of some slightly surfy guitar twang, occasional emphatic vocals (usually in an African dialect), and even an interlude or two of crazy whistling flute (?). But it's the staggering rhythms, ticking away steadily, speeding up, slowing down, sometimes with echoing, almost dubbed out production, that will keep you in thrall. Hot stuff. Finding just one awesome obscure album like this would be an accomplishment for most reissue labels, for Soundway it apparently ain't no thing.
MPEG Stream: "Darkness"
MPEG Stream: "Gondzin"
MPEG Stream: "Amanehun"

EDZAYAWA Projection One (Soundway) lp 16.98
And now on vinyl too!! As mentioned when we reviewed Rob's Make It Fast, Make It Slow, here's the other killer African '70s reissue that the folks at the Soundway label just blessed us with, the 1973 Projection One album from Ghana's Edzayawa band, their sole release. Once again, this proves that the international groove scene of yesteryear just won't quit. Deep digging labels like Soundway are getting nowhere near to the bottom of the barrel, if albums like this are any indication. Edzayawa is top flight stuff, funky and kinda freaky, with tight percussive grooves in complex patterns arranged into what amount to mostly-instrumental, dark & intense "Afro-prog" workouts. There's often someone jamming away on the organ, also outbursts of some slightly surfy guitar twang, occasional emphatic vocals (usually in an African dialect), and even an interlude or two of crazy whistling flute (?). But it's the staggering rhythms, ticking away steadily, speeding up, slowing down, sometimes with echoing, almost dubbed out production, that will keep you in thrall. Hot stuff. Finding just one awesome obscure album like this would be an accomplishment for most reissue labels, for Soundway it apparently ain't no thing.
MPEG Stream: "Darkness"
MPEG Stream: "Gondzin"
MPEG Stream: "Amanehun"

EL DIN, HAMZA Al Oud (Vanguard) cd 13.98
We couldn't be more stoked that Egyptian legend Hamza El Din's first two records have finally been made available to us on cd. His music has had such a lasting impact on such a wide range of artists. You can hear hints of his exquisite playing in the work of everyone from Sandy Bull (who he lived with for a bit while in the states) and John Fahey, to The Grateful Dead (who toured Egypt thanks to his help), to Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen, James Blackshaw, Debashish Bhattacharya, etc. The way he used his oud to make such resonating and soulful sounds transcends language, culture or geography. Even with his soulful vocals, it doesn't matter if you don't understand the words because it's the rich emotional tone of his voice that taps into something greater then letters, words or language.
Al Oud was his second album, released in 1965, billed as a record of instrumental and vocal music from Nubia. What haunting yet majestic and soul piercing sounds. No doubt about it, El Din belongs in that special class of transcendent musicians like Alice Coltrane, Ali Farka Toure, Ravi Shankar, and Ali Akbar Khan. Totally essential!
MPEG Stream: "Childhood"
MPEG Stream: "Grandfathers' Stories"
MPEG Stream: "The Fortune Teller"

EL DIN, HAMZA Escalay (The Water Wheel): Oud Music (Nonesuch) cd 12.98
A popular lute throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East, the oud has 6 six strings, all of which but for the lowest in pitch are paired up (like in a twelve string guitar). Hamza El Din hails originally from Nubia (which is absorbed within Egypt near the Sudan) and on this album he claims to fuse elements of both Sudan and Egypt into his distinct Nubian style. A couple of interesting facts I never knew about El Din: he not only played with the Grateful Dead live occasionally, he organized their tour of Egypt (Yikes! But don't let that dissuade you non-deadheads out there.) He also roomed at guitarist Sandy Bull's place for a spell (hence the source of the influence on Bull's piece "Blend".) Escalay was originally released by Nonesuch in 1971, but unlike many other artists featured in the Explorer series, it wasn't Hamza El Din's first commercial release (In fact, it was his third release and was apparently recorded after he had emigrated to the United States.) But this was the album that everyone, including Mickey Hart, initially went nuts over and the album that everyone still hails as his greatest -- Kronos Quartet commissioned El Din to arrange the title track for their 1992 release Pieces Of Africa. The first two tracks are mesmerizing -- 21 and 12 minute respectively -- pieces for oud and voice (both El Din's) and the third is a 5 minute piece for tar (frame drum) and voice. Hamza El Din's oud playing is so damn seductive, it seems to warp one's perception of time. The first time I put this disc on to listen to and write, I found myself just sitting paralized through the first two tracks before the crisp snapping of the tar awoke me from my reverie. His playing is so effortless as to understate his virtuosity, it's no wonder that it's so easy to become completely absorbed in his compositions. Listening closely, you can hear El Din manipulating the timbre of his instrument on a macro level: coaxing out texture from the warm buzz of the strings. Buying this CD, your only disappointment will be in its brevity of just under 40 minutes.
RealAudio clip: "Escalay (the Water Wheel)"
RealAudio clip: "Song With Tar"

EL DIN, HAMZA Music Of Nubia (Vanguard) cd 13.98
We couldn't be more stoked that Egyptian legend Hamza El Din's first two records have finally been made available to us on cd. His music has had such a lasting impact on such a wide range of artists. You can hear hints of his exquisite playing in the work of everyone from Sandy Bull (who he lived with for a bit while in the states) and John Fahey, to The Grateful Dead (who toured Egypt thanks to his help), to Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen, James Blackshaw, Debashish Bhattacharya, etc. The way he used his oud to make such resonating and soulful sounds transcends language, culture or geography. Even with his soulful vocals, it doesn't matter if you don't understand the words because it's the rich emotional tone of his voice that taps into something greater then letters, words or language.
Music Of Nubia was El Din's debut album, released in 1964, this really was one of the first records from Africa to breakthrough and find a wider audience in the western world, and for great reason! What haunting yet majestic and soul piercing sounds! No doubt about it, El Din belongs in that special class of transcendent musicians like Alice Coltrane, Ali Farka Toure, Ravi Shankar, and Ali Akbar Khan. Totally essential!
MPEG Stream: "Fegir Nedan (Call To Worship)"
MPEG Stream: "Aiga Denos Ailanga (Give Back My Heart)"
MPEG Stream: "Shahadag Og (Believe)"

EL REGO s/t (Daptone) cd 16.98
Big ups to Daptone for pulling together this smoking collection of tracks from 45's by one of the most underrated masters of souk/funk out of Benin in the 1960s and '70s. We first heard El Rego (Theophile Do Rego) on the awesome Analog Africa compilation, Legends Of Benin, in one of his many incarnations as El Rego Et Ses Commandos, and we totally dug that track so much, that we were stoked to realize he had a golden vault of tracks hidden away, all from this magical era.
El Rego has a similar sound, energy and spirit to folks like Fela Kuti, James Brown, and Archie Bell, while also having the ability to slow things down and allow the rich grooves to drive the meditative focused vocals into a blues like trance. It makes sense that Rego was not only a performer, producer, and engineer, but also owned nightclubs, as his sense of timing and the importance of creating a mood and making bodies move is undeniable in these stellar tracks.
The vinyl edition comes with a bonus 7" of one of his most sought after funk tracks, while the cd comes in deluxe packaging including a booklet filled with photos, artwork from the original 45's and El Rego's story of his life and music.
MPEG Stream: "Zon Dede"
MPEG Stream: "Hessa"
MPEG Stream: "Kpon Fi La"

EL REGO s/t (Daptone) lp + 7" 17.98
Big ups to Daptone for pulling together this smoking collection of tracks from 45's by one of the most underrated masters of souk/funk out of Benin in the 1960s and '70s. We first heard El Rego (Theophile Do Rego) on the awesome Analog Africa compilation, Legends Of Benin, in one of his many incarnations as El Rego Et Ses Commandos, and we totally dug that track so much, that we were stoked to realize he had a golden vault of tracks hidden away, all from this magical era.
El Rego has a similar sound, energy and spirit to folks like Fela Kuti, James Brown, and Archie Bell, while also having the ability to slow things down and allow the rich grooves to drive the meditative focused vocals into a blues like trance. It makes sense that Rego was not only a performer, producer, and engineer, but also owned nightclubs, as his sense of timing and the importance of creating a mood and making bodies move is undeniable in these stellar tracks.
The vinyl edition comes with a bonus 7" of one of his most sought after funk tracks, while the cd comes in deluxe packaging including a booklet filled with photos, artwork from the original 45's and El Rego's story of his life and music.
MPEG Stream: "Zon Dede"
MPEG Stream: "Hessa"
MPEG Stream: "Kpon Fi La"

ERNESTUS, MARK / KONONO NO.1 Masikulu Dub (CNG) 12" 13.98

ESHETE, ALEMAYEHU Ethiopian Urban Modern Music Vol. 2 (L'arome Productions) lp 16.98
Awesome to get the music of this Ethiopian musical legend on vinyl.

ESHETE, ALEMAYEHU Ethiopiques Vol. 9 (Buda Musique) cd 15.98
Yay! A new volume in the always-popular, ever-wonderful "Ethiopiques" series of Ethiopian popular music, which most AQ-patrons will be aware of. Focusing mainly on the funky early seventies (when a dictator-free six years resulted in an unprecedented cultural flowering), the "Ethiopiques" discs are unanimous AQ staff faves and steady sellers. So what's volume nine all about? It focuses on Alemayehu Eshete who, along with fellow singers Mahmoud Ahmed and Tlahoun Gessesse, is one of the biggest stars from the golden age of Ethiopian music. He has often been compared both to Elvis Presley and James Brown in stature and style. Though a popular figure in a musical movement derided as anti-traditionalist and rebellious by many, Eshete's lyrics often preached of being a dutiful child and obeying one's parents. As a singer, Eshete is amazingly talented, crooning with a sillky voice in one song, then growling and yelping in the next. Like most volumes in the series, highly highly recommended!!
RealAudio clip: "Qotchegn Messassate"
RealAudio clip: "Tedesteshal Wey?"
RealAudio clip: "Heywete Abatey New"
RealAudio clip: "Mekeyershin Salawq"

ESHETE, ALEMAYEHU s/t (Mississippi / Change) lp 14.98
One of three new Mississippi titles reviewed on our list this week, this one another vinyl full length extracted from the Ethiopiques cd series (Ethiopiques 22, to be exact), following Mississippi's Tsegue-Maryamthis Guebrou and two Mahmoud Ahmed records. For this one, Mississippi take a big dip into the vaults of Alemayehu Eshete, one of the biggest stars from the golden age of Ethiopian music in the '70s, who alongside Mahmoud Ahmed, Tlahoun Gessesse and Mulatu Astatke helped define that sound. In fact, Eshete was the star of both the 9th and 22nd volumes of the Ethiopiques series, and judging from those releases, the man left a very sizable legacy. This lp features songs he worked out with three different bands: The All Star Band, The Alem Girma Band and Shebele's Band, and is filled with absolute treasures without a throwaway track in sight.
With instrumentation that's so tight, and breaks that would make any psych/kraut/rare groove lover's jaw drop, this is a collection that we've already been spinning over and over ever since it showed up at aQ. Eshete's voice and presence feels so sure and confident, with a unique vocal style that's been compared to an Ethiopian James Brown crossed with Elvis Presley. There are moments in these songs that catch such deep grooves and moments that sound like they could be pulled straight from a Can song. You just can't beat the warmth of these stripped down analog recordings. You want to be in a room filled with smoke and candles when you listen to this. Eshete made such amazing songs that just drip with sweat, while oozing elegance too. Highly recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Tenageri"

ETRAN FINATAWA Desert Crossroads (Riverboat) cd 16.98
True desert blues! Originating from the never-ending dunes of the Sahara Desert, Etran Finatawa have been casting quite the entrancing spell on our ears with their second full length. While they do share many similarities with folks from their region like Tinariwen and Toumast they also have their own identity and places of departure. It's mostly their guitar sound and sense of melody that will have many comparing them to Tinariwen (which is an awesome thing in our book!). But we love how there are also moments on the record where their use of stripped down percussion, chanting call and response vocals and odilirou flute are used to perfection to help carve out a sound that is more of their own. And we have to mention how mesmerizing the soulful vocals that fill the record are, something that you almost take for granted as you listen, as it it so perfectly melds with the music. Another gem from the Sahara that will be in our ears and hearts for a long time to come!
MPEG Stream: "Kel Tamasheck"
MPEG Stream: "Naanaaye"

ETRAN FINATAWA Tarkat Tajje / Let's Go (Riverboat / World Music Network) cd 16.98
We've loved everything we've heard from this great Saharan outfit, but with this latest outing they have definitely made their best record yet. With ex-members of all time aQ faves Tinariwen they exist in a similar sonic realm that sweeps us up in a desert trance, every single song on Tarkat Tajje is a stunner. One of those records that when you blast it loud there is no way not to get drawn in by the repetitive and hypnotizing guitars, polyphonic singing, call and response refrains, hand claps, heady percussion that drives all the songs with such a warm groove and steady pace, a sound that resonates with such beauty. For sure influenced strongly by Ali Farka Toure, EF continue to grow so much as a band and really deserve so much more attention and praise then they receive. This is an album that is as great as anything Tinariwen has released, in fact we think we might even be more in love with it then the last Tinariwen album which was pretty smoking in its own right. One of those records that doesn't need so much to be described, all you have to do is listen to the sound clips and the music speaks loud and clear for itself. So damn great!
MPEG Stream: "Aitimani"
MPEG Stream: "Ndiiren"
MPEG Stream: "Daim Walla"

EVORA, CESARIA Rogamar (Bluebird) cd 17.98
Another stunning album from this formidable Cape Verdean vocalist! On her tenth album Cesaria Evora's voice, so timeless and effortless, will send wonderful shivers down your spine... at least it did ours! She's backed up by a stellar ensemble lead by Fernando Andrade who not only played piano and sang backup vocals, but also masterfully handled the orchestral direction and arrangements. Rogamar is the aural equivalent of the most passionate embrace. So welcoming and irresistible.
MPEG Stream: "Sombras Di Distino"
MPEG Stream: "Modje Trofel"

EVORA, CESARIA Sao Vicente (Windham Hill) cd 16.98

FOLK MUSIC OF THE SAHARA Among the Taureg of Libya (Sublime Frequencies) dvd 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This newest DVD release from Sublime Frequencies, shot by Hisham Mayet (the man behind the Morocco DVD on SF), focuses its lense on the Taureg people. Filmed in the oasis town of Ghadames in Western Libya (bordering both Tunesia and Algeria), Mayet's camera follows the performances of men, women and children alike in what appears be a local music festival of sorts. Like the previous DVD releases from Sublime Frequencies, this one has no narration or commentary; you, the viewer, guided by the excellent single camera shooting, are left to figure it out for yourself. In the accompanying booklet Mayet points out that the Taureg are unique amongst their neighbors in that not only are they nominally Muslim -- still incorporating their unique and ancient practices that predate the religion -- but are also a matriarchical society (indeed, many of the men appear to be wearing full veils). Running 60 minutes, this DVD is region free NTSC format.

FRANCO & LE T.P. O.K. JAZZ 1972 / 1973 / 1974 (Sonodisc) cd 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

FRIMPONG, K. & HIS CUBANO FIESTAS s/t (Continental Records) lp 17.98

FULA FLUTE s/t (Blue Monster) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

FUNKEES, THE Dancing Time: The Best Of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77 (Soundway) cd 16.98
Once again, hot on the heels of reissues by Edzayawa and Rob, international groove digging label Soundway come up with a winner! And since this Nigerian band is named The Funkees, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect already, right? Of course, if a band from around here, now, called themselves The Funkees, they would probably be terrible if they played funk - and probably still terrible if the name were ironic and they played, like, acoustic indie rock or floorcore dronemusic. But a band from Africa, back in the '70s, called The Funkees, reissued by Soundway? Yep, they're good. Good and funky. Good enough to become East Nigeria's number one band, and their region's closest competitors to Lagos-based big city contemporaries like BLO. And good enough to move to London, and score a record deal.
This "best of" anthology includes the tracks from all of The Funkees' early Nigerian singles, plus crucial selections from the two albums that they recorded in while England. 18 tracks total, packed with irresistibly groovy rhythms, energetic arrangements, jamming organ, and fuzz guitar excess. Heck there's actually even a song here titled "Acid Rock"! They also do an Afrofunk cover version of "Slipping Into Darkness" by War. Hell yeah, it's "Dancing Time" all right...
Packaged with full liner notes that include an interview with original member Sonny Akpan.
MPEG Stream: "Abraka"
MPEG Stream: "Point Of No Return"
MPEG Stream: "Dancing In The Nude"

FUNKEES, THE Dancing Time: The Best Of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77 (Soundway) lp 26.00
Now on vinyl!
Once again, hot on the heels of reissues by Edzayawa and Rob, international groove digging label Soundway come up with a winner! And since this Nigerian band is named The Funkees, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect already, right? Of course, if a band from around here, now, called themselves The Funkees, they would probably be terrible if they played funk - and probably still terrible if the name were ironic and they played, like, acoustic indie rock or floorcore dronemusic. But a band from Africa, back in the '70s, called The Funkees, reissued by Soundway? Yep, they're good. Good and funky. Good enough to become East Nigeria's number one band, and their region's closest competitors to Lagos-based big city contemporaries like BLO. And good enough to move to London, and score a record deal.
This "best of" anthology includes the tracks from all of The Funkees' early Nigerian singles, plus crucial selections from the two albums that they recorded in while England. 18 tracks total, packed with irresistibly groovy rhythms, energetic arrangements, jamming organ, and fuzz guitar excess. Heck there's actually even a song here titled "Acid Rock"! They also do an Afrofunk cover version of "Slipping Into Darkness" by War. Hell yeah, it's "Dancing Time" all right...
MPEG Stream: "Abraka"
MPEG Stream: "Point Of No Return"
MPEG Stream: "Dancing In The Nude"

GEBRU, TSEGE MARIAM (GUEBROU, TSEGUE-MARYAM) Spielt Eigene Kompositionen (Mississippi / Change) lp 15.98
**MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT****MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT****MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT**
As regular readers of the aQuarius list already know, we're HUGE fans of the golden era of Ethiopian Jazz as archived in the amazing Ethiopiques series. And besides the more well known players such as Mulatu Astatke (Ethiopiques #4) and Mahmoud Ahmed (Ethiopiques #6), #21 in that series also has a special place in our hearts as it's the incredible solo piano compositions of an Ethiopian nun named Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou. Her playing is devastatingly lovely and haunting. A curious hybrid of old time jazz and classical, but still truly Ethiopian. Dark and contemplative, moody but subtly playful as well, like exotic impressionistic lamentations that have an expressive lyrical sadness.
Now the fine folks at Mississippi / Change Records have gifted us with this beautiful reissue of Guebrou's debut album from 1963. Comprising the first five tracks of the Ethiopiques compilation, these songs were the first signs that we were hearing a uniquely distinct musical voice for the first time, and boy were we hooked!
Culled mainly from compositions written in the late '40s and early '50s, a period during which Guebrou had recently left the convent due to illness, and then continued to compose and perform as a way of raising money for charity. And THAT's on the heels of having moved to Egypt and then returned to Ethiopia a figure of high society, her dream of playing piano dashed by the Emperor, which led her to sickness and then near death, she even received the last rites, survived and then joined the Imperial Guard, went back to school to study business finally fleeing to join a convent and become a nun. All the while continuing to play music - in fact, last we heard, she continues to perform to this day, in Ethiopia where she still lives.
And like her fantastic and adventurous life, her music is equally as remarkable, the sound and feel is so dense with memory and imagery, musical but somehow quite visual, warm and woozy, a fuzzy, sepia toned old timey feel, due in no small part to the recording, which is quite reminiscent of old 78's, the soundtrack to movie Crumb, that sort of thing, dark rumbling low notes underpin sweet swirls and delicate flurries of minor key melody, sweet and lowdown for sure, warm evenings, back porches, big beautifully appointed parlors, huge empty fields, grass waving in the breeze, long late night wanders, moonlight strolls, so completely dreamy and lovely. Highest Recommendation!
MPEG Stream: "The Homeless Wanderer"
MPEG Stream: "The Last Tears Of A Deceased"

GESSESSE, TLAHOUN Ethiopiques Vol. 17 (Buda Musique) cd 15.98
Okay, I know that the general consensus from people seems to be that the Mulatu Astatke disc (Ethiopiques #4) is the best in the Ethiopiques series. And yeah, it's a great disc. But to really experience the zenith of Ethiopian popular music from the golden era you really gotta have the vocals. The workouts these singers put their vocal chords through are as unbelievable as they are beautiful. Case in point is Tlahoun Gessesse. And we are thankfully blessed with a full CD of his passionately yodelled Ethiopian funk groove. Gesesse was the most popular Ethiopian singer of the times -- bigger than Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete or any other singers. So great was his vocal stature that he was dubbed "The Voice". Pretty much says it all. And well applied the title is; his vocal control is insane, wavering vibrato all over the place and melisma stacked upon melisma. To boot he's backed by the best in the business: the Body Guard Band, All Star Band, Exhibition Band and Army Band. The usual arrangements of guitar, bass, drums, percussion, horns, piano and incredibly strange organs play the most haunting accompaniment to Gessesse's impassioned vocals. And for what its worth, several of the tracks here were even arranged by Mulatu Astatke. Though Gessesse's career dates back to the fifties, the recordings included here are all from the early seventies. Included is a 30 page booklet with biographical notes, photos (including a two page spread of 45 jackets) and lyrics. This one comes highly recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Aykedashem Lebe"
MPEG Stream: "Sethed Seketelet"

GNAWA BAMBARA Mallem Abdenbi El Gadari (Dunya) cd 24.00

GOOD ONES, THE Kigali Y' Izahabu (Dead Oceans) cd 14.98

GREEN ARROWS, THE 4 Track Recording Session (Open House / Analog Africa) 2lp 22.00

GROUP BOMBINO Guitars From Agadez Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hope you didn't panic when the super limited vinyl version of this amazing record sold out. We're never sure if the SF lps will come out on cd, so far they all have, but maybe those Sublime Frequencies guys just like to keep us guessing. Anyway, for those of you who did somehow miss out on this, or did get the lp and want the cd too, it's now finally available as a cd! And is still, and again, absolutely essential...
Yet another new sonic document from the mighty Sublime Frequencies, this one a continuation of sorts, again exploring the world of Tuareg guitar music from Agadez in Niger, first explored on the amazing Group Inerane release a while back. And strangely enough, both band share members, so folks who loved the Group Inerane will likely love this too.
The music scene in Agadez is unique in many ways, but perhaps the strangest element is the fact that none of the bands can afford to own their own instruments, there is one PA and one set of amps that get passed from show to show, and guitars are borrowed and lent out, as are band members, with musicians joining different groups as they are available. Remarkably, while the sounds are indeed similar, they are also quite unique.
Group Bombino is headed up by 28 year old Oumara Almoctar, aka Bombino, who was inspired by more well known Tuareg musicians like Tinariwen and Ali Farka Toure to create his own music and to continue to spread the sounds and spirit of Tuareg and Agadez.
So here we have the first proper worldwide release by Bombino and his group, and it's gorgeous. Two distinct sides, the A side features Bombino's "dry" guitar sound, sort of acoustic, the guitars, spidery and slinky, the percussion simple and spare, hand claps, hand drums, the vocals lilting and emotional, all very repetitive and hypnotic, the vocals chantlike over the propulsive rhythms and the almost looped sounding guitar parts.
The flip side features Group Bombino plugging in and letting loose, the root sound is quite similar, but the guitars buzz and wail, chugging out those hypnotic riffs, but also spiralling out into wild leads, tangled melodies, the drums a bit hard, the vocals sitting further back in the mix, ebullient and joyous, but not without tension and emotion and some subtle sorrow and anger, this is after all the sounds or rebellion and revolution, an outlet for the frustration at the unrest and upheaval in Niger and Agadez. So fantastic.
As with pretty much everything Sublime Frequencies, ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED, and for sure, anyone who dug the Group Inerane (a past Record Of The Week), will go crazy for Group Bombino as well!
MPEG Stream: "Tenere"
MPEG Stream: "Imuhar"
MPEG Stream: "Boghassa"
MPEG Stream: "Imouhare"

GROUP BOMBINO Guitars From Agadez Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies) lp 25.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Yet another awesome vinyl-only document from the mighty Sublime Frequencies, this one a continuation of sorts, again exploring the world of Tuareg guitar music from Agadez in Niger, first explored on the amazing Group Inerane release a while back. And strangely enough, both band share members, so folks who loved the Group Inerane will likely love this too.
The music scene in Agadez is unique in many ways, but perhaps the strangest element is the fact that none of the bands can afford to own their own instruments, there is one PA and one set of amps that get passed from show to show, and guitars are borrowed and lent out, as are band members, with musicians joining different groups as they are available. Remarkably, while the sounds are indeed similar, they are also quite unique.
Group Bombino is headed up by 28 year old Oumara Almoctar, aka Bombino, who was inspired by more well known Tuareg musicians like Tinariwen and Ali Farka Toure to create his own music and to continue to spread the sounds and spirit of Tuareg and Agadez.
So here we have the first proper worldwide release by Bombino and his group, and it's gorgeous. Two distinct sides, the A side features Bombino's "dry" guitar sound, sort of acoustic, the guitars, spidery and slinky, the percussion simple and spare, hand claps, hand drums, the vocals lilting and emotional, all very repetitive and hypnotic, the vocals chantlike over the propulsive rhythms and the almost looped sounding guitar parts.
The flip side features Group Bombino plugging in and letting loose, the root sound is quite similar, but the guitars buzz and wail, chugging out those hypnotic riffs, but also spiralling out into wild leads, tangled melodies, the drums a bit hard, the vocals sitting further back in the mix, ebullient and joyous, but not without tension and emotion and some subtle sorrow and anger, this is after all the sounds or rebellion and revolution, an outlet for the frustration at the unrest and upheaval in Niger and Agadez. So fantastic.
As with pretty much everything Sublime Frequencies, ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED, and for sure, anyone who dug the Group Inerane (a past Record Of The Week), will go crazy for Group Bombino as well!