I thought I would write about something a bit different yet quite brilliant, im not overly familar with African music let alone Malian music but this is a really interesting and original album, especially compared to a lot of Western music.
Bassekou Kouyate is a musician who specialises in an instrument called the Ngoni which is basicly an African version of a lute and it makes an amazing sound. Kouyate has teamed up Ngoni Bar to create album packed full of raw soul, melody and invention.
You get really drawn into the music through the live produciton which makes the music sound like its being performed around you, a truely great album, natural and spirtual as anything as you will ever hear.
Currently the highest rated album on www.Metacritic.com Here we Go Sublime by The Field Aka Stockholm based Trance producer Alex Willner is clearly one of the Dance albums of the year and probably one of the albums of the year from any genre.
I wouldn't really call myself much of a dance fan but recent releases from The Field, Soft Circle and Pole have really got me interested in dance music, to the extent where making compilations recently for friends I have found it much easier to make dance mixes compared to indie and rock which I would normally consider my personal preference. You might have noticed Everday mixed with Spank Rock on my Easter mix I posted a while back.
The Fields music is relatively simple but really accessible and has left me coming back for several listens. There is plenty of subtle variation in the music to really grab you in and several parts of it are really dreamlike yet keeping you in the mood to boogie.
This is easily an album which please clubbers and museos alike, a truly great dance record and anything that doesn't sound like "Put your hands up for Detroit" is a masterpiece in my book.
The Weather is really coming out now which means I can reach for some real summery treats, my favourite at the moment is the sensational London Is The Place For Me Vol 4 which is a fantastic collection of Caribbean calypso music, its a really refreshing listen to hear such rich tales black culture of a time of oppression and also such fantasic music.
It is also gives me a chance to get more in touch with the city I have recently made home, I felt incredibly Londony walking around Finsbury Park today listening to this album, much more than "LDN" by Lilly Allen could ever do.
Tracks from well known calypso artists such as Lord Kitchener mix perfectly with African Styled Bossa from Dorothy Masuka, also tracks like African dream by Young Tiger story of his love and hate of London.
This album is a summer essential, especially if you are interested in London culture, world music or just music in general.
The album also has one of the best songs about cricket ever (I dont think I have heard one before actually) Young Growlers V for Victory which tells the tale of The England Cricket Team being thrashed by The West Indies captained by Garfield Sobers. Its a real musical treat.
If you are around Islington next Wednesday (25th) come and check out some of the best unsigned acts at The Lark In The Park, Islington. Its my first project with Mtree events and it should be a great night, so come down and say hello.
Wednesday 25/4/07 Lark In The Park 60 Copenhagen Street, Islington LONDON N1 0JW
If you are not aware of Eluvium aka Matt Cooper you make yourself aquainted with his work as soon as possible. His latest album Copia is nothing short of a masterpiece, very rarely do you hear ambient music as beautiful and live enhancing.
The use of classical piano on tracks like radio ballet is nothing short of stunning, there is a huge diversity in the instruments used in the album, each ones works perfectly to build mood or lead the song unlike any album I have heard in years.
If you like being drifted away to another world by music, seek out this album its lovely...
Im going home for my Birthday for five days so there will be no posts for a little while so I thought I would post a short mix I have been working on, I have only recently started doing mixes but im quite pleased with this one. Hopefully there are not too many mistakes on there.
There is a pretty crazy mix of songs on here but see what you think:
Tracklisting:
Metric: Ellen Allien and Apparat Tits and Acid: Simian Mobile Disco Everyday: The Field Far Left: Spank Rock Hey Shelia: Ready For The World Dare (Soulwax Mix) Gorillaz Hot Mama (Bonde De Role Mix): Edu K The Reflex 12" mix : Duran Duran Outcaste Records: Hum Kiesise Theme Human After All: Daft Punk When Smokey Sings 12" mix: ABC Get Lucky Dance Mix: New Young Pony Club Time To Get Away: LCD Soundsystem Dancing In The Dark Remix: Mike Mareen Pump Up The Jam: Technotronic Puppet On A String: Sandy Shaw Somebodys Watching Me: Rockwell Theme For Great Cities: Simple Minds Snake Me: We Are Wolves Al Naafiysh (The Soul): Hashim Trash In Vain: The Clash
I really like Malajube, the Montreal based indie rockers sing all their songs in French which gives their music a real edge over their contemparies. Their latest album Trompe L'Oiel is a really fantastic indie pop album, its really bright and original, there are some elements of other bands big in the Canadian scene which you can here in their music like Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire. This is why I like the music so much, my favourite bands mixed together with a little bit of extra gaelic extravertness, its a wee bit special.
Uk dates are completely London based at the moment with the band at the Spitz on the 8th of May and The Scala on the 5th of June.
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