that's a lot of music.....

[Philellinas]

There's a rogue apostrophe on the cover of the collection. That should by rights reduce the price.

I would say there is an aberrant, superfluous "s" as well. Can I claim extra discount? Evidently the proof-readers didn't benefit from any grammar schooling (unlike some esteemed forumistas).

[Neil Foxlee]

Yes, that <18CD's> is horrible. As for the redundant <s>, Phil, I presume you're referring to <50 ans d'independances>. I took this to be intentional: after all, the various countries of Africa did not all become independent in 1960, so there were in fact a number of 'independences'.

The radio station RFI (Radio France Internationale) was the main partner with Discograph on the project (Syllart, France 24 and even Le Monde were also involved, along with Stern's). RFI have some associated web pages, helpfully translated into English and including music samples: http://www.rfimusique.com/musiqueen/pages/001/page_7397.asp.

[Neil Foxlee]

So far, I've only managed to listen to the three CDs of North African material, which hasn't proved the most rewarding entry point for me (from what I've heard, I prefer Central, West and Southern African music).

The first two CDs were mainly older stuff, from the 1940s (so much for the supposed 1960 starting-point) to the 1980s, but CD3 has a lot of tinny pop stuff which I find a complete turn-off. The individual CDs aren't programmed chronologically, which doesn't help.

Overall, there have been only a few of the North African tracks which stood out for me. There's a nice book(let), but the CDs come in cardboard sleeves in two piles inside the box - not the best arrangement.

Anyone else got a copy yet?

[jackdaw version]

I sent email asking what had happened to my order and Robert Urbanus emailed back:

The response was so overwhelming that we're running behind processing them. We have been processing them, in the order of which they came in. Your order will be send tomorrow.

But so far no ding on my credit card and I got the £50 price in my confirming email meaning I should have been in the first fifty, so I'm not convinced they're as organized as they might be. They need Dominic!

I have to say that the entry point for Neil via North Africa probably isn't the one I'd have recommended. I assume you've heard the Big Men release, Neil. Did you like that with its N Africa/reggae connection? I think I'll approach via the Lusophone and East African sets.

[Neil Foxlee]

Yes, I did like Big Men. I chose N Africa to start with because I'm least familiar with it, realizing that it might be harder going for me. Perverse, I know.

[Des]

My copy is on the way. I think there'll be at least some surprises and discoveries for me despite African music already being my main world music interest. Bring on the tinny pop stuff!

[Neil Foxlee]

The opening track on CD1 of the North African CDs, and one of the most striking, from 1975. A song of exile, sung in French. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=761UvIzkxDg

Here are the lyrics (for Francophones):

Je me rappelle cette nuit d'orage
Entouré de mon père et de ma mère
En exil dès mon jeune âge
J'ai préparé mes affaires
Pour mon premier voyage
M'exiler au-dela des mers

Je revois d'ici mon village
Et tous ceux qui me sont très chers
Pour moi ce paysage
Est le préféré de la Terre

L'Algérie, mon beau pays
Je t'aimerai jusqu'à la mort
Loin de toi, moi je vieillis
Rien n'empêche que je t'adore
Avec tes sites ensoleillés
Tes montagnes et tes décors
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
Quelque soit mon triste sort

Seul, je me parle à moi-même
J'ai failli à mon devoir
J'ai mené une vie de bohème
Et vécu dans le cauchemar
Quand je chante ce poème
Je retrouve tout mon espoir

L'Algérie, mon beau pays
Je t'aimerai jusqu'à la mort
Loin de toi, moi je vieillis
Rien empêche que je t'adore
Avec tes sites ensoleillés
Tes montagnes et tes décors
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
Quelque soit mon triste sort.

But now I'm on to East Africa, which means (with the exception of Ethiopia) the lilting guitar sound I love, at least on the tracks I've heard so far. Just as the tracks aren't chronological, however, they aren't always grouped by country, which I would have preferred, though no doubt it provides greater variety.

[Des]

Here are the lyrics (for Francophones):

Je me rappelle cette nuit d'orage
Entouré de mon père et de ma mère
En exil dès mon jeune âge
J'ai préparé mes affaires
Pour mon premier voyage
M'exiler au-dela des mers

Je revois d'ici mon village
Et tous ceux qui me sont très chers
Pour moi ce paysage
Est le préféré de la Terre

L'Algérie, mon beau pays
Je t'aimerais jusqu'à la mort
Loin de toi, moi je veillis
Rien empêche que je t'adore
Avec tes sites ensoleillés
Tes montagnes et tes décors
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
Quelque soit mon triste sort

Seul, je me parle à moi-même
J'ai failli à mon devoir
J'ai mené une vie de bohème
Et vécu dans le cauchemar
Quand je chante ce poème
Je retrouve tout mon espoir

L'Algérie, mon beau pays
Je t'aimerais jusqu'à la mort
Loin de toi, moi je vieillis
Rien empêche que je t'adore
Avec tes sites ensoleillés
Tes montagnes et tes décors
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
Quelque soit mon triste sort.

It concerns Algeria.

[Neil Foxlee]

Er, thanks Des, for going to all the trouble of reposting all the lyrics and pointing that out for the benefit of non-Francophone forumistas. Perhaps that explains all the references to "l'Algerie"...

[Des]

Just my leetle joke.

[Neil Foxlee]

For the benefit of non-Francophones:

I remember that stormy night
Surrounded by my father and my mother
In exile from an early age
I packed my things
For my first trip
To go into exile beyond the seas-

I can see my village from here
And all those I hold so dear
For me this landscape
Is the favourite of the Earth

Algeria, my beautiful country
I will love you until I die
Far from you, I am growing old
Nothing stops me from adoring you
With your sunny places
Your mountains and your setting
I will never forget you
Whatever my fate

Alone, I'm talking to myself
I have failed in my duty
I have led a bohemian life
And lived in a nightmare
When I sing this poem
I rediscover all my hope

[As verse 3]

Many Algerians (and particularly Kabyles like Slimane) became migrant workers in France to escape poverty in their native land. Kabylian Berbers also suffered cultural repression under the Boumedienne regime that was in power at the time the song was recorded.

[Neil Foxlee]

Another striking Algerian track from the North African CDs, Aadrouni Ya Sadate (1965) by the blind diva Reinette l'Oranaise (i.e. woman from Oran, while Reinette might mean little queen): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNjzNvMiVcE&feature=related.

Does her instrument have a special name, I wonder?

[jackdaw version]

Just the tiniest little bit of topic drift here, but about the best raï compilation I've ever heard is Raï — The Best of the Original North African Grooves, out on Manteca back in 2000. Compiled by a certain Garth Cartwright.

[Des]

Received it today - loving the First North African CD - so many great voices, especially the incomparable Cheikha Rimitti. Monster.

[kk]

Got mine also today, and I started with the “tinny pop” CD to get it out of the way, but actually found it a perfectly enjoyable “pop” (without the adjective) compilation to play on a sunny afternoon

The packaging is a bit flimsy –the little cardboard bridge which is supposed to hold the CDs in place was already torn when it arrived, and I can’t imagine in a year or even a few months from now, there will be one single box anywhere where it isn’t torn.

But apart from this minor gripe, it is a nice looking box and booklet and I am looking forward to listening to the discs, I don’t think I ever received 18 new discs in one day...

I also think it’s good that within each region, the tracks aren’t sorted by country and in chronological order, as that would have made it feel a lot dryer, more like an aural lecture