Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Bonga—Kandandu
Side A
Sambila
Um Kandandu Amigo
Kamusekele
Malalanza
Saudades Terras Enclave
Side B
Mambia
Midjeris Di Pano Preto
Nguzo
Iokangue
Here's something different for me. It's from Angola (by way of a semi-mysterious package from Switzerland I received a while back). Softer, fado-oriented jams. Portuguese.
I will be playing Awesome Tapes from Africa as guest of my good friends MI AMI in San Francisco on Thursday, stop by if you're in town.
7/2/09
Knockout SF
9:45 / $5
AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA from NYC DJ SET!
MI AMI live
DOUBLE DAGGER live (Baltimore - Thrill Jockey)
PSYCHIC REALITY live
BEAST OF THOUGHT live
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Oum Koulsoum—Rak El Habib
Side 1
Side 2
Oum Koulsoum
Side 1
Side 2
If you aren't familiar with the magic that is Oum Koulsoum (or Umm Kolthoum or whatever; there are a million ways of spelling her name in the Roman alphabet so take a deep breath before googling) consider this your formal introduction. She is bigger in Egypt than Prince and R Kelly are in the States (combined).
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Bill Diakhou—Nation
Side A
Intro
Hôpital*
Mère Mbaye
Audience Baykät
Side B
Dabakh
Baye Aiou Mat Baye*
Yarou
Gaïndé
*—GREAT
I found this tape inside the case of another and since I love a different Bill Diakhou joint from a while back I thought I'd grab this. The cassette cover above is the best I could find on the web, it will have to do. There are approximately two really good songs on this tape, and I think they are GREAT. Senegalese rap from 2002.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
African Stars (Twanga Pepeta)—Chuki Binafsi
Chuki Binafsi (Ally Chocky)
Busu La Kufunga Mwaka (Ally Chocky)
Wa Mbili Havai Moja (Victor Mkambi)
Jaribu Kufikiri (Hadjia Mnoga)
La Mgambo (Rogatte Hega)
Amani Africa (Bob Guard William)
Wanga Pepeta Show (African Stars)
Jovial-sounding music from Tanzania with a summertime vibe. It feels appropriate today. Buy this album here.
PS: I came across a post of incredible early Fela recordings at the Voice of America's African music blog the other day.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
The Best of Alhaji K. Frimpong—Rikia
Side A
Rikia
Kyenkyen
Ewurade
Side B
Adam
Owuo Kyiri Obiaa*
Asaasi Yiso
*—So good
I could not get into this highlife cassette from Ghana for the longest time. But I recently tried again and got hooked on the 5th song. I am feeling much of the rest of the tape right now too. Having showered tons of attention on a different, far superior K. Frimpong tape, I won't let this fiesta of drum programming and quality vocals suffer in the shadows any longer.
