Listening Spot Check

[Des]

Super Mama Djombo

great band ! Have you heard their latest from a year or 2 ago (recorded in Iceland..) ? It's a good 'un too

Blimey I didn't know - I've only got odd tracks on compilations - must investigate!

[Jonathan E.]

It's called Ar Puro.



A bit of googling will find a fair bit of info, but I believe you'll have to lay out cash for a copy — no naughties readily available.

Pretty good general info on Super Mama Djombo here,

http://www.muzikifan.com/supermama.html

and here,

http://tpafrica-eng.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-mama-djombo-ar-puro.html

[Rob Hall]

"How I Got Over" by the Roots. Here's the title track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nDKTxjKK9k

I don't know much about rap/hip-hop, but I know what I like, and this album has been getting played more than just about anything else since I picked up on it.

[Jonathan E.]

That Aurelio album — once again. Still trying to hear its "supple and subtle backbone" of reggae. It escapes me once again.*

*See http://www.charliegillett.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14130&p=97774#p97774 for later developments.

[Ted]

An old BBC tape of Rosetta Howard and The Harlem Hamfats. On an old BBC Studer B62...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Okhg2-2VaU

[howard male]

J wrote -

Still trying to hear its "supple and subtle backbone" of reggae. It escapes me once again.*

As Vic Reeves used to say “You just wouldn’t let it lie!”

[Jonathan E.]

J wrote -

Still trying to hear its "supple and subtle backbone" of reggae. It escapes me once again.*

As Vic Reeves used to say “You just wouldn’t let it lie!”

I think this

*See http://www.charliegillett.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14130&p=97774#p97774 for later developments.

was the most relevant part of that post — and if you click through you will see that it was to your ultimate advantage that I "just wouldn’t let it lie!”

[Jonathan E.]

I've been listening rather obsessively to Burning Spear's "The Invasion (AKA Black Wa-Da-Da)" having picked it out of the soundtrack to that Reggae Britannia TV programme, which I just got around to watching last night. An OK programme, but definitely on the superficial side. "The Invasion (AKA Black Wa-Da-Da)" — not superficial! Nor subtle reggae. Supple, yes. (Please excuse me for having a bit of a laugh about the above exchange.)

[kas]

I've gone back, for an umpteenth time, to Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba's first album. I've found that I actually like it even better than "I Speak Fula".

Not long after Jonathan posted that previous entry on Burning Spear, I finally had the chance to catch Bassekou, Amy Sacko and Ngoni Ba live here in Helsinki. It was a smashing concert and I really meant to write a review of it - or attempt one anyway. But stuff, like work, got on the way.

They did suffer slightly from the fact that most "world music" gigs here are booked on an all seater theatre, where getting up and dancing is not, as a rule, encouraged. And many in the audience came from that middle aged, cultured, "sit down and be entertained" kind of a crowd. Surprisingly few from the local African community, even fewer young hipsters. Maybe it WAS the venue and the early evening that banished them?

But that was only slightly, and the audience response was immediate and intense, building a great, warm atmosphere. I've rarely seen a band so thoroughly enjoying themselves and enjoying playing on stage together. Either they really were having a great time, or they were extremely good at pretending.

From photos I've gotten the impression that Bassekou Kouyate himself is a more withdrawn, serious and regal kind of a man. Looks like I've been wrong: that night he was a great entertainer: warm, generous and quite a bit of a joker.

The central figure of the performance was, however, Amy Sacko. She also sang the absolute highlight of the concert, a medieval griot song.

A terrific night then. But you all knew already what they are capable of on stage. Right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8feOlhu8zo'

[Ted]

"Love Song" By Tony Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i01faO_cN44

Off "Spring". And it is. The sun is shining, the windows are open and I'm treating the whole street to it.

[judith]

Did the street like it, Ted?

I'm listening just now to No Reason, episode 2. I do enjoy Norman and Gary's podcast. The commentary might be my favorite part.

[Des]

Did the street like it, Ted?

Probably had no choice in the matter. Why people have to inflict their musical tastes on the whole neighbourhood as soon as the sun comes out I don't know. Crap.

[Ted]

Actually it was at a pretty civilised volume - loud enough to heard over the vacuum cleaner - and by my next-door-neighbour's standard of "loud" mine is absolutely pitiful.

The street, as ever, remained indifferent. But I do think everybody has a right to make a lot of noise every now and again. I tolerate other people's noise and if asked to turn it down I do (its been about 20 years since anyone complained)

I love the sound of music drifting (or even blasting) out of windows as I walk through my neighbourhood. This isn't suburbia.

Loud music is one of life's pleasures - although people who do it for 12 hours a day, every single day are obviously sociopaths. Or teenagers.

[Des]

Loud music is one of life's pleasures

Hmm....

[Adam Blake]

"Moanin'" by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. I've nailed the channel. Penny dropped. Light floods in. It's all good.