Hot Tips

[Jonathan E.]

DJ Bongohead

Possibly not his real name.

You may have a point, but then again perhaps his career was preordained.

[Jaybird]

Cumbia Cumbia vol 2 on World Circuit was a particularly good collection of classic cumbia. I don`t think its currently available but I remember Charlie flagging that it was going to be re-released. Shame that World Circuit don`t do compilations like that anymore. Vol 1 is later Cumbia material and not bad-but the earlier sound on Vol 2 where the corners are still intact is a cracker.
The Cartagena album is fab too. Soundway seem to be particularly strong in that region-the releases from Panama and the French Antilles were terrific and Palenque Palenque was my album of the year for 2010. I think Will Holland had a hand in all of them.
I find the story of the Afro connection on the coastal regions of Columbia fascinating, especially the idea of the Palenques set up by runaway slaves that developed into towns.
There can`t have been many places outside of Africa in the 60s and 70s eagerly awaiting new releases from African countries like Ghana, or where the current African music of the time influenced the local popular music to the extent that it did on those coastal areas.

[Jonathan E.]

Cumbia Cumbia Vol. 2 fetches prices as a used CD that stick in my craw — but they appear to be dropping. I've been looking for a copy for ages. This time I just checked Vol. 1 seems to have suddenly become more expensive — but I have that!

Anyway, you lucky UK residents can download both volumes for a mere £7.49 total from Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cumbia/dp/B0026EC8YY/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297301886&sr=301-1.

There are tons and tons and tons of cumbia compilations available of various vintages and, I'm sure, tastefulnesses. Most will not have been blessed by the certified tastemakers of the UK, however.

[taiyo no otosan]

Jamie, Howard.....and people just send you these things through the post unbidden? I hate you! I can only look and drool and count my spare yen.....

Jon E wrote:

There are tons and tons and tons of cumbia compilations available of various vintages and, I'm sure, tastefulnesses. Most will not have been blessed by the certified tastemakers of the UK, however.

Yeah, like this one, which a Colombian friend brought back from Cali for me. Looks crap, but - wow - what a collection!

[Jonathan E.]

I will admit to a slight preference for the cumbia collections with a scantily clad young lady on the cover. I have collected quite a few over the years. It is my considered opinion that these covers clearly demonstrate the superiority of the old fashioned LP over the squinchy CD format in initial appeal, although the longer playing time of the CD can compensate to a degree.

PS Many would not consider that Joe Arroyo is really a cumbia artist. He calls his style joeson. In my humble, he's one of the potential greats destroyed by too ready an access to cocaine.

[taiyo no otosan]

PS Many would not consider that Joe Arroyo is really a cumbia artist.

Oh, yes, I seem to have suggested that, haven't I? In my rush to show off my tacky CD, I didn't think about the finer details.

I feel suitably humbled....

[Jonathan E.]

Ahh, but we all got to see your tacky CD so that's okay then. Pleasure all round, I'd say.

[Jonathan E.]

Has this



Cotonou Club from Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

reached the auditory nerve endings of any of our early eared birds? Any Hot Tips as to how it actually sounds?

I must admit that Orchestre Poly-Rythmo are one of those bands I always want to like a bit more than I actually do. Not that I dislike them, I just find that I have to be in a particular mood to enjoy the music. It's interesting to me that they now enjoy such Western acclaim whereas they made almost no impression outside Africa back when.

Strut info here: http://www.strut-records.com/node/517

and a bit from from Nat Geo Music at http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/article/content.article/orchestre_poly-rythmo/en_US.

[Jonathan E.]

[Jamie Renton]

I've got both of the albums you ask about Jonathan: the Michi Sarmiento comp is a winner on 1st listen, very steamy-funky.

I share your view of OPR. A little goes a long way I find. They sound fine when a track of their's crops up on a compilation, but I find myself wondering how many albums by them I need. That said, I played the opening track from Cotonou Club while DJing last night & it sounded great!

[AndyM]

If the Michi album sounds even half as good as the cover looks, I may have to invest.

[Ted]

DJ Bongohead

Possibly not his real name.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bongohead, a son, Derek James.

[howard male]

J asked -

reached the auditory nerve endings of any of our early eared birds? Any Hot Tips as to how it actually sounds?

Yes, I’ve got the Cotonou Club one too, except my copy has got a horrible feedback-type noise at irritating intervals throughout the whole CD, presumable to prevent bootlegging. But all it’s really succeeded in doing is stopping me from wanting to play it in order to give a measured opinion. What I heard of it on a first (half) listen sounded good though.

I’m also currently enjoying an outfit called Owiny Sigoma Band who are mix of London and Kenyan musicians making a chunky, dynamically rich sound, effortlessly mixing the trad with the mod, or whatever (sorry my brain runs out of steam around this time of day).

[Jonathan E.]

If the Michi album sounds even half as good as the cover looks, I may have to invest.

I'm even tempted by nice big LP instead of little CD!

Thanks for word on its musical steam-funk, Jamie. And the caution, if that's what it was, on Cotonou Club. Sounds like it might better be a download than an artifact — legit of course, wouldn't want to suffer the feedback as Howard has. That would certainly limit club play one would think — you must be favored. But I bet I'll end up buying a CD anyway; I'm hopeless.

I’m also currently enjoying an outfit called Owiny Sigoma Band . . .

Looks like a Gilles Peterson connection. Always challenging. Thanks for the tip.

[Jonathan E.]

DJ Bongohead

Possibly not his real name.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bongohead, a son, Derek James.

One hopes he is of good health and not encephalopathic or anything.