Tuesday, June 18, 2013

 

Simon's Slow Music from Africa Vol. 2 mixtape



At long last, for the true heads who've been following Awesome Tapes From Africa for years now. One of my closest homies in the music/life continuum, Simon, has returned with a new mix of personal classics on vinyl. Without further ado, Simon's Slow Music from Africa mixtape Vol 2.

Tracklist:

Lord's Special - Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe - Nigeria
La Guinée-Wodi - Orchestre de Kindia (Dirou Band) - Guinea
Yatouloveras - UCAS Band de Sedhiou - Senegal
Teranga - Ouza et Teranga International Band - Senegal
Feresirima - Peacocks International Guitar Band − Nigeria
Na - Djorçon - Guinea-Bissau
Duga - Orchestre Rail Band - Mali
Sigala -  Magatte N'diaye with Star Band de Dakar - Senegal
Touraman - Horoya Band National - Guinea
Sali - Amadou Ballake Traore - Burkina Faso
Ma Penda - Orchestre Bawobab Gouye-Gui de Dakar - Senegal
Footaane - Etoile de Dakar - Senegal
Douga - Quintette Guinéenne - Guinea
Ife Uwa Adi Agwuagwu - Celestine Ukwu - Nigeria
Danaya - Nahawa Doumbia - Mali

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

 

Tondjon — Niyak3


Face A
Imadatji
Fanga
SIDA
Dedicace

Face B
Les Droit Des Enfants
Toubabou
Imadatji (Remix)
Intro

Rap from Mali. Deal with it. I think "tondjon" means "slaves" in Bambara.


Friday, May 10, 2013

 

Hailu Mergia & His Classical Instrument



The next Awesome Tapes From Africa LP release is by Hailu Mergia, the Ethiopian one-man-band accordion/keyboardist extraordinaire. Hailu made his name in Walias Band and later went on to do some visionary solo recordings. Hailu Mergia's beautiful and surprising 1985 foray into traditional Ethiopian songs via analog synth, electric piano and accordion has been remastered and will be available June 25 on LP/CD/MP3/C60.



Saturday, April 13, 2013

 

Massinko—DJ Mengie (NYC) & DJ XL Yafet





Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7

Side B
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10
Track 11
Track 12
Track 13

OK here's something you don't hear every day. In Bahar Dar I came across this NYC house-meets-Ethiopian traditional music cassette. I had to buy two copies, this one was so surprising. Blessed with Amharic club diva vocals, masinko riffs and an excellent I-don't-give-a-fuck creative swagger, this is one of those unique recordings that keeps me interested in this Awesome Tapes From Africa project. 

If you're like me and you still cherish your 90s drum n bass/jungle mixtapes and/or you ever went to a rave back in the day, this tape might be extra compelling.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

 

Groupe El Badil—Cassette 3





Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3

Side B
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6

Islamic chants as a vehicle for a varied and compelling array of rhythmic directions. Every song is different. I dance to the electronic super-charged second-cousin of drum n bass joints, I sway to the more acoustic, chorus-focused songs. I am going to be listening to a lot of this.

Groupe El Badil have some recordings available.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

 

Tafese Tesfaye—1989 Zemana Getem Derasi





Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6

Side B
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10

In observance of Great Lent, here is begena (bass lyre, King David's harp) music from an Ethiopian Orthodox monk, circa 1996 (1989 according to the Ethiopia calendar). Contemplate your sinning ways and get with the minimally stark low-end rumble of this ancient instrument.

BTWDur-Dur Band Volume 5 (ATFA004) comes out next week, March 19, on LP, CD, MP3 and limited edition cassette. Get yours here.

ALSO—Go deep into Sudanese, Somali, Ethiopian and Eritrean music videos and Ghanaian TV sit-com, Nigerian cinema, tons of African TV advertisements and more at ATFA-curated weekend of YouTube videos on Network Awesome.

Thursday, March 07, 2013

 

Kompilation Moytoul—Hip Hop contre le Sida





Face A
Nexuma (Manu)
Mariano (Bibson / Maxi Krazy)
Xolu Chando (Gaston / Bouks)

Face B
Yaye Balma (Billy Joe / KT)
Xippi te Xoi (Laye B)
Nit Ki (Big D / Fatim / Pacotille)

Year 2000 Senegal rap-ragga-dancehall all-star compilation to raise awareness about AIDS.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

 

Madiodio Gning—Sultanu Arifine






Face A
Sultanu Arifine
Kuy Def Lou Bakh
Doom Dou Bakh
Lamdou Lamdoubi


Face B
Andou Diamonodji
Nila Waramel
Kerssa
Firouma

Powerful female singer from Senegal seeking listeners to vibe to this. Inquire within.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

 

M.C. N'Djoll—Djeliya





Face A
Djeliya
Bonga
Rap Guinéen
Le Bon
N'na Fanta

Face B
Nimakénama
Fria Kira
Rap Guinéen Remix
I Kanawa

Rap Guineé from the early aughties, chock full of traditional instruments and new-jack hustlin. Feeling this.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

 

Chief (Dr.) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister—Fuji Explosion



 

Side One

Side Two

I love this 80s Fuji masterpiece by one of my all-time Nigerian favorites. Come for the explosive rhythms, stay for the futuristic keyboards.

The genius is well represented over on iTunes but be advised regarding multiple variations of his name so search around.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

 

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Sound Makers International—People's Club of Nigeria Special





Side One
People's Club of Nigeria Part One

Side Two
People's Club of Nigeria Part Two

This is some classic shit from a classic personage of Nigerian highlife excellence. Take two of these and call me in the morning.

Also, feel free to download and vibe to this track from the upcoming ATFA release by Dur-Dur Band (coming March 19 in all formats on all continents).:

 

Friday, January 04, 2013

 

M'Hamed Dammou





Side A

Side B

Amazigh dreams from Casablanca by one of the long-time crucial practitioners. Dude's been playing in amazing ensembles for decades and this solo outing from more recent years is hitting me pretty hard right about now.

Anyone able to translate the album and song titles for us?


Wednesday, January 02, 2013

 

Blind Musical Flames—Flames Morale





Side A
High Morale
Tifi Sidom
Diamond
Mantaraty

Side B
Big Berin
Poda Poda
Seda Seda

Positive greetings from essential Sierra Leonean sight-impaired super-group Blind Musical Flames. Welcome to 2013. We're starting light for now here at Awesome Tapes From Africa, deeper heavies to come. Hope you like simple pleasures, some dancing and a little bit of reggae.






Thursday, November 29, 2012

 

Okwueme '99'





Side A
Okwueme
Eli Ikwerre Marunma
Wenyi-Mo
Mind Your Way
Owa-Marule Nai-Mahara

Side B
Oge Asomeri
Njor-Vuenwu
Chidugwayi
Eli Rumuji Wegbom

Jump for joy to Nigerian praise singing and traditional drumming, spinning in hypnotizing cycles. I'm actually feeling dizzy. Despite the balance of lilty harmony and aggressive pulsing, this tape, produced outside Port Harcourt, takes me want a siesta.

Monday, November 12, 2012

 

Very excited to announce the next Awesome Tapes From Africa release. Dur-Dur Band Volume 5 comes out March 19 February 5, 2013. The classic Somali band's 1987 recording captures some of the incredible sounds happening in Mogadishu during that era. More info soon.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

 

Mamadou Camara dit Bikadi—Sognina




Sunday, November 04, 2012

 

Hirut Bekele





Side A
Track 1

Monday, October 22, 2012

 

Kouchouam Mbada—Swèga Menzui





Face A
Swèga Menzui
Ton Ngoùla (Jolie Jolie)
Lendè-Lec

Face B
Bin-Lânam
Adonis
Nouda
Zuit Tchap

These cyclical ruminations surely spell elation for many a Cameroonian social function.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

 

Finekeba Fali Camara—Raconte la Vie de Madou Hakilidouman de Fana Vol. 1





Face A
Face B

Vibe to griot tales from Mali today. The excellent instrumental and vocal accompaniment to this makes for a deep chill-out record. Settle in for the long haul. Ah, the life of Mr. Madou Hakilidouman. He apparently hails from Fana,which lies in a particularly culturally fertile part of Mali. Let that subtle, on-point guitar/n'goni work sneak up on you and feel thankful this gem made it to magnetized polyester.

Monday, September 24, 2012

 

FAC Alliance—Mariama



Face A
Telephone Love
Conakry By Night

Atente
Louganyi
Bee Labe Labe

Mariama*

Face B
Marche Doucement
Guiggol Maayata
N'kolon
Pauvrete
Nanfera
Sokho

*—Super warbly tape alert. Apologies for the awesome, nearly unlistenable effect.

Rap from Guinea, steeped in that quintessential urban West African stew of hip-hop, soul, dancehall and traditional rhythms and sounds (FAC Alliance lists Fulani, Susu and Mandinka inspiration on their website). There might be a touch too much reggae at times for me but I'm captivated by the overall vibe Nondi K, Pap G and Mista X are repping here. Frank Bessem's great encyclopedia has some more background here.

  

Monday, September 10, 2012

 

Awalom Gebremariam—Desaes






Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
     
Side B
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10 
Track 11

Thanks to my pal Patrick Seabase—celebrated fixed gear bike athlete—for this cassette from Eritrea, which he picked up while filming Asmawa, a documentary about a beautiful and challenging bike trip down there. This is a highly addictive take on Eritrean Tigrinya-language Bahlawi music. Legit modern sounds culled from relatively ancient means. Patrick says he heard this tape over and over again while traveling in Eritrea. I have been playing it on repeat myself and I am thoroughly obsessed.

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

 

National Youth Choir of Namibia—Namibian Images & Sound




Friday, August 31, 2012

 

Boubou Tounkara—Tara





Face A
Tara
Douga
Alpha Yaya

Face B
Bajuro
Albala
Bangasako
Na Kadija

In my mind Sahelian music doesn't get much better than this. You're welcome to disagree. But that damn n'goni might knock you over... if the one-two of the tinkly keyboards and Mr. Tounkara's vocalizations don't KO you first.

Monday, August 27, 2012

 

Jean Claude Bamogo—Panaki Panazoe Mix 2





Face A
Ting-Tang *
Ténè
Tinga Nooma
Laalé *

Face B
Mam Nonga Foo
Panaki panazoe *
Sougri
Panaki panazoe

*—Focus tracks

Here is a late period album of intricately rendered dance jams and low-key phone-ins from Burkina Faso's Jean Claude Bamogo (who was in old school awesome band l'Orchestra Super Volta). It is what it is, even legends don't make 100% perfect tapes. The good tracks are really good.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

 

Getatchew Mekurya





Side A
Side B 
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10

Definitely don't sleep on brilliant Ethiopian sax man Getatchew Mekurya. He has recently been touring and recording with the Ex and, of course, is featured in the earth shattering Éthiopiques series.

Monday, August 06, 2012

 

General Kollington Ayinla & His African Fuji Eaglets Lakukulala





Side 1
Tiwa Laye Nfe
Olorun Lo Jona Mo'le
Lakukulala
Tiwon Oto, Tolorun Oto

Side 2
Bi General Gborin Tuntun De
Basorun Abiola
Karaye Ma Se Damu Awa
Abere Ajesara
The Late Journalists
Alh. Sulaimon Oyegbemi

I can't get enough Nigerian fuji music these days. Here is a particularly deep one from a king among men. 1991 wishes you a blessed day.

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

 

Yedenou Adjahoui et son Groupe Folklorique d'Avarankou R.P. Benin






Face A

Face B

Traditional music from the Béninoise vodoun sound extraordinaire Yedenou Adjahoui.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

 

Gyedu Blay Ambolley and the Steneboofs—Simigwa Soca






Side 1
Simigwa Soca
Abrantsie
Bend Down Low
Ehuruw A Whewhe Beebi Koto

Side 2
Burkina Faso
Atwer
Nsamanfo

Somewhat rare version of this late-era recording by the Ghanaian hiplife originator/highlife innovator Gyedu Blay Ambolley. His 1975 lp Simigwa is a collectors' fave. He is still around playing shows, worth checking out.

RIP to Ghana's President Atta Mills.


Monday, July 09, 2012

 

Lahbib Boutaxi





Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3

Side B
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6

This is an awesome tape from Morocco: passionate and virtuosic on a track to track basis. A slight to yodel in the voice when things get intense. Wall to wall nimble hands and fingers. Get in the zone with Lahbib Boutaxi. I recently did and I don't think I've been the same since.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

 

Sandwidi Pierre—Vol. 3




Tuesday, July 03, 2012

 

Archach





Side A 
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3

Side B
Track 4
Track 5

Who wants to hear an Amazigh futurist ensemble actively big-upping Souss region traditional rhythms (i.e. ahwach) while presenting their music in a context of more cosmopolitan practices? I do. These guys have been doing it for decades with much success. They have made many, many records. Bliss out to tracks 1, 3 and 4 right now.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

 

Sawamites Lhmak Hmaki Avec El Miloudia





Side 1

Side 2

Obviously. More magic from Morocco.

Bola on tour in Europe coming up!:

July 27 / Basel CH // City Beach
July 28 / St. Gallen CH // Palace (+ SHANGAAN ELECTRO)
July 29 / Biesenthal DE // Sommerfest
August 1 / Berlin DE // Festsaal Kreuzberg (+ GROUP DOUEH)
August 2 / Berlin DE // Trickster
August 3 / Sejerø DK // Sejerø Festival
August 5 NL / Venlo // Zomerparkfeest
August 8 NO / Oslo // Øya Festival

August 9 SE / Stockholm // Trädgården
August 11 FI / Helsinki // Flow Festival 

Monday, June 25, 2012

 

Seydou Balani—Teguereni





Face A

Face B
Ne Dona Bara Kola
Bara
Mogoya

Hard rockin' balafon (balani in Bambara) and serious talkin' echo-y vocal incantations for this rainy afternoon. Dude is named after his instrument (Seydou Koita aka Seydou Balani), this definitely isn't his first rodeo on this West African xylophone.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

 

Hadda Ouakki





Side A
Track 1
Track 2

Side B
Track 3
Track 4

Berber singer Hadda Ouakki hails from the Middle Atlas region of Morocco and has a beautifully onomatopoetic name. I enjoy this recording from beginning to end, but the first track is super fun. Thanks to my special lady for scoring this recently in Chefchaouen.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

 

Ouza et ses Ouzettes—Tawatal



Néman Ari

Monday, June 04, 2012

 

Hallo Dawe—Volume 3





Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5

Side B
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10

Oromo music from Ethiopia via the singer Hallo (or Hello, Haloo) Dawe. The raw recording and effusive performance contained herein is worth the lo fi and almost anxious feeling of the whole scenario. Get buck with the unhinged acoustic guitar accompaniment below a sharpish, tense female vocal exposition. Thanks to Mitamitta and Andreas for sending me this one.

OH YEAH--Bola Remixes digital ep coming out next week. Features reworkings of Bola tracks by ITAL, Lamin Fofana, Miles Seaton (akron/family) and Blue Hawaii (Icy Demons), and Anzano & Palermo (Magic Touch/Mi Ami)!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

 

Alekpehanhou Roi du Zinli Rénové





Face A
Agbon Hou Agbon
Ta Hoho Mon Non
Nou É Kon Gningnin É

Face B
Gni Dokponon Homé Do
Mi Nou Mi Ni Mon Midé Gbô
Na Non Sô Tin Tché Mè
Noussoudaho Houésava

Polyrhythmic spirals courtesy of this zinli music cassette from Benin, for your journey to the other world. I am reveling in the beautiful, unified restraint of the elements here, boiled down to a persistent essence of drums, bells and vocals that linger like smoke in the mix. The eminently informative VOA African Treasures blog has some details on Alekpehanhou and the state of traditional music listening in Benin.




Tuesday, May 08, 2012

 

Sekouba Bambino Diabate—Syli National




Friday, April 27, 2012

 

Orchestre Régional de Ségou—SNAC 2001





Face A
Wimbrègué
Hanzounou
Election
SIDA

Face B
Macoroba Kouma
Douniya Latigué
Staglé
Kalilou

One of the things I love about music in Mali (in general) is that the music that you hear out on the streets in urban areas has such palpable roots in traditional music from the villages. You never feel like you're listening to bubble gum pop of the masses. This government supported band has been crushing it in some shape or form for many years.

Bola's new release for Awesome Tapes From Africa is out now and available on limited edition cassette (see links on sidebar at left).

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets coming up...Coming back to US soon!:

30.04 Gothenberg SE / Clandestino Festival at Röda Sten
02.05 Milan IT / La Triennale
11.05 Antwerp BE / Scheldapen (Cassette Connection tour with DJ Cinnamoon and Sebcat's Taj Mahal)
12.05 Brussels BE / Recyclart (Cassette Connection tour with DJ Cinnamoon and Sebcat's Taj Mahal)
18.05 New York NY / Santos Partyhouse Spencer's GIFs w/ Teengirl Fantasy, Ablehearts, Tim DeWitt
19.05 Brooklyn NY / 285 Kent w/ Lamin Fofana and Chief Boima
20.05 New York NY / Lisa Cooley Gallery at 7pm
23.05 Boston MA / Spectacle w/ Debo Band
25.05 Seattle, WA / CAIRO
26.05 Portland OR / Holocene w/ Sahel Sounds
28.05 George, WA / Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge


Saturday, April 21, 2012

 

Oliver Mtukudzi—Kuvhaira





Side One
Kuvhaira
Rudo Ndinarwo
Ucharoya Chete

Side Two
Mupfuhwira Rudo
Chisuwo
Makanganwa Here!

I saw in the news Mugabe is at death's doorway. Here's to hoping for freedom for all in Zimbabwe ASAP. Let's pray the bozos who've been propping the Old Man up the last few years don't take over.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

 

Yvonne Chaka Chaka—Sangoma





Side 1
Sangoma
Come A Little Bit Closer
Private Lover

Side Two
Save Me
Stimela
I'm Gonna Stop Loving You

I could only hold off on posting a Yvonne Chaka Chaka joint for so long. Her contributions to electronic dance-pop in the 80s, and later to South Africa in general, are immense and make for a good newspaper profile.

From SA post-disco trailblazer to her current work with the UN and as the face of Lifebuoy Soap, Yvonne Chaka Chaka remains a busy and successful lady. Two thumbs up.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

 

Assane Mboup—Nate-Yi





Face A
Nate-Yi
Walle Bagne
Sabablu

Face B
Coumba Bakhaw
Pass-PAss AK Farlu
Darou Khafor

Charismatic and tricked out mbalax from a stellar vocalist who has played with crucial Senegalese dynamo Orchestra Baobab and other well known Dakar-based ensembles. Mboup is simply one of the most incredible singers I have ever seen/heard.

Next week Awesome Tapes From Africa hits Los Angeles for some special shows:

Thursday, April 12 Future Roots Array by dublab w/ Cut Chemist, Duppy Gun DJs (Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras), Boss Harmony (the riddim specialist of Dr. Who), Mor Elian, Frosty

Friday, April 13 Desert Gold: Roadside Attraction at Ace Hotel Palm Springs during Coachella, 12pm-5pm curated by ATFA, featuring Peaking Lights and Secret Circuit

Saturday April 14 No-Chella at the Claremont Colleges

Sunday, April 01, 2012

 

Manka Le Phallang—Mokhosi





Side 1
Mokhosi
Lipotsotso
Koko Inama
Limakatso
Ngoka Kenna Feela

Side 2
Linyane La Tau
Tlo Hella Batho
E Tang Taba
Santile
Machache

This 1989 Basotho famo music recording from fascinating land-island-within-South Africa Lesotho oughta set y'all straight for a minute. Accordion and bass heavy. Nice n' smooth. Add to that high-pitched super-hot (perhaps a bit too hot?) whistling and the real mood of this music shakes out.

Forthcoming Awesome Tapes From Africa release by Bola comes out Tuesday, preorder here or your favorite record shop.

ALSO--Super stoked to let you know Awesome Tapes will be taking an extended hiatus for a 5-month surfing and sailing adventure in Southeast Asia. Be well.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

 

Lamissa Bengali—CAN 2002





Face A
Jema Yiri
Pousse-Pousse
Tie Pi

Face B
Son
Janjo
Ce Boda Muso

Jump for joy, this is blazin Senoufo balafon music from Mali at the hands of a mallet maestro to the extreme. Rock to these husky vocals as well, mes potes. Lamissa Bengali (or Bengaly) is joined by a coterie of Bengali brothers (Djakaride Bengali, Mamoutou Bengali, Seydou Bengali, Sidi Bengali). This man knew how to carry the torch of his regional traditional sounds, stuff the whole family can enjoy, circa 2001.

BTW—check out this music video of Bola (forthcoming release on Awesome Tapes From Africa) doing his thing.

Catch me DJing those phenomenal (and sometimes fickle) tapes in Hamburg at the Golden Pudel on March 28 or Berlin (supporting Konono no.1) at Gretchen on March 29.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

 

Alhaji Ayinla Omowura—Ati D'Ariyo





Side 1

Side 2

Warbly low end, complex bubbly rhythms that are part Yoruba talking drums, part bad tape... I love the almost meandering, laid back apala tempo, at one point a precursor to faster, more frenetic fuji music (with which I have lately been obsessed).

I have always enjoyed the solo and chorus vocals throughout this late 70s apala joint by one of the king practitioners of the genre. Oh nice, iTunes has a few other recordings by Nigeria's late great Alhaji Ayinla Omowura.

Monday, March 05, 2012

 

Brahima Guitar—Tchilla





Face A
Tchilla
Rognan Gaminin
Djon Ti Laban Lô

Face B
Gboron Fani
Djougouya
Siguisso

This might not be my favorite tape ever but this content and rhythmic Ivorian guitar/accordion meditation on middle-of-the-road tastefulness could not come from a more angelic-looking man, who happens to go by the name of Mr. Guitar. Longest sentence ever.

Monday, February 20, 2012

 

Issa Coulibaly dit Trih Issa







Face A
Kono Kambora
Lodjourato
Djoukounaba

Face B
Sida
Bara
Mogo

Please make way for Mr. Issa Coulibaly (and his cohort a.k.a Trih Issa). This cassettes plays like a personal communication from one established Guinean griot to another, soul-drenched kora and balafon and vocals to the hilt, something we've kind of heard before here but nothing quite like this. Traditional instrument parking only today. All others will be crushed.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

 

Muungano Cultural Troupe—Volume 17 Mambo Yapo Huku





Side A
Mambo Yapo Huku
Si Mzizi

Side B
Hutomchukua
Natumia Ufundi

Taarab music from Tanzania's long-running and legendary Muungano. This tape gets the award for wily, sinewy and swirly lo-fi keyboard tone of the year. Similar in crucial melodic and rhythmic ways to my earlier faves from Dar es Salaam, Jagwa Music. Stop by Afropop Worldwide for extensive cultural/social/political background on taarab in general.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets in Europe coming up in March, come say hello if you're nearby...Presented by Spex:

01.03. CH Bern / Bonsoir
02.03. CH Lausanne / Le Bourg
08.03. DE Berlin / Africaine 808 @ Soju Bar
10.03. DE Duisburg / Aula Im Festivalzentrum
15.03. IT Venetia / Teatro Fondamenta Nuove
17.03. IT Bologna / Locomotiv
28.03. DE Hamburg / Golden Pudel
29.03. DE Berlin / Gretchen (+ Konono No. 1)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

 

Mama Diabate—Nambiyo





Side A
Nambiyo
Koumbe Diara
Tenen Kaba
Bantan

Side B
Gbankole
Danka Boli
Fassoulouku
Koumbe Diara

Glittery and glammed out Manding pop from Guinea, perfectly balanced between traditional and modern persuasions. Vocals cut sharp, kora never dull, everything else falls into place / makes you want to dance. Don't stop.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets in California coming up:

Feb 2/Oakland//Hott Lava at Starline Social Club Feb 4/Oakland/Hott Lava at ABCo
Feb 6/San Francisco//Aquarius Records In-Store Whatttttt (5-7pm)
Feb 8/Los Angeles//Nomerica at Naya on Sunset (formerly Tantra)
Feb 10/Los Angeles//Top Tape by dublab at The Hyperion Tavern
Feb 11 San Francisco//Tormenta Tropical at Elbo Room

Friday, January 13, 2012

 

Bola Volume 7 Coming April 2/3 Worldwide





Listen to the track "Abayetidu Ma" from the forthcoming Awesome Tapes From Africa release by Bola. He is a singer and instrumentalist from Bolgatanga, Ghana who has been putting out tape after tape of ridiculously energetic and thoughtful songs for the last few years. I almost died when I heard this Volume 7 tape for the first time. Bola's intense Frafra-language vocals, along with his shredding kologo—a two-stringed lute—boosted by bass-heavy, angular keyboard melodies and dance floor-ready drums. I am fascinated by Bola's take on a traditional instrument and musical style. Look out for this release in early April on LP/CD/MP3/limited edition cassette.

Bola "Abayetidu Ma" by awesometapesfromafrica

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