I'm a big fan of francophone sub-saharan and equatorial African music. The two main families are Congolese soukous and rhumba based music of Guinea, Senegal and Mali. From the former, Franco, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Zaïko Langa Langa and Papa Wemba are all very fine with irrisistable rhythms, thrilling guitar work and remarkable vocals. From the latter, Bembeya Jazz National, Orchestra Baobab, Etoile de Dakar, Youssou N'Dour, Balla et Ses Balladins, Salif Keita, Les Ambassadeurs are all artists that I'd highly recommend.
Posts: 119 | Location: Oakland | Registered: 24 January 2006
Originally posted by Smenkharon: DJ Cheb i Sabbah is a favorite of mine as far as indian-electonic fusion goes,
I love his Krishna Lila, especially the Carnatic half (first 5 tracks), he's one of the only non-Indians I've heard that seems to understand Southern Indian classical music (he's Algerian I believe). His treatment of the basic classical material is very sensitive, enhancing it's appeal to the non-Indian ear without destroying the form and content of the original.
Posts: 119 | Location: Oakland | Registered: 24 January 2006
For those who enjoyed Ali Farke Toure's Savane, I recommend Boulevard de l'Independance by Toumani Diabate Symmetric Orchestra. I enjoyed the variety here of acoustic and electric tracks, the big band sound meshing with traditional African folk-songs, gorgeous vocals from Kasse Mady Diabate, and that hot funky energy when kora meets guitar in the final number, "Single". I haven't heard the album that Toure & Diabate released togather last year but it's high on my want list now.
Posts: 8733 | Location: State of Insanity | Registered: 22 September 2005
I'm surprised that "Madsen" was mentioned in this threat, I didn't think that bands like this are really known outside of germany. But I like them too. They already released there new album "Goodbye Logik", but I only know the first single. In 2005 I bought the first release, that was selftitled and contained 11 great tracks, that used to be more rockier then the most german mainstream releases of so called "rockbands". One of these, probably the most succesfull so called "rockband" in germany is called "Tokyo Hotel", a bunch of 15 years old posers.... I just can't explain... look... http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/6246/tokiohotelwallpaper016be2yx2ba.jpg Also great and famous german indie bands are: Beatsteaks, Tomte, Tocotronic, Kante, Kettcar, Die Ärzte and Mediengruppe Telekommander. Unfortunatly the most international known bands from germany are The Scorpions and Rammstein, so I think. Apart from that there are some bands that could enter succes in various subcultures. Such as metal, metalcore and hardcore: Maroon, Blind Guardian, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban... ... Apart from english bzw. american music I'm very much into J-Rock. For Example "Mucc" is a really great and versatile japanese band.
...::Modern morality consists in accepting the standards of one’s age. I consider that for any man of culture to accept the standards of his age is a form of the grossest immorality::...
Posts: 12 | Location: Sublunaris | Registered: 04 September 2006
OPB: francamente: CSI and Afterhours are the two best "regular" bands of the last 10 years
I REALLY like afterhours' "ho paura del buio?" but that's all I've heard of them. I saw a video on youtube not too long ago from a different album that was not very impressive though.
In italian, I would also like to add tre allegri ragazzi morti. They're unabashed pop punk. Definitely enjoyable, and with only the barest of bones in Italian it's not too hard to figure out the general gist of many songs.
And Fabrizio de Andre. He's much older. Everything I've heard from him out of the 60s or early 70s has been dynamite. Amazing instrumentation/arrangements, songs, and lyrics (at least little bits and pieces I've been able to translate have all been great.)
Can't really place this one in the Afro-funk or Latin thread. It's a v/a comp of Cuban/Latin sounds and influences in African music, mostly during the '60s and '70s. De Dakar A Cuba On Danse La Rhumba: From Dakar To Cuba Swinging To The Rhumba Beat is a very nice set of Afro-Cuban rhythms with a distinctive Latin jazz beat from African artists. My favorite two tracks include the classic "Guantanamera", this time recorded by the Bembeya Jazz (the sound isn't too great but still I love this song) and "Caramelo" by the Star Band de Dakar. Hope they release a second volume as this is a real treasure and something I don't see often available on cd.
Posts: 8733 | Location: State of Insanity | Registered: 22 September 2005
Which album should I start with from Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben, and Caetano Veloso? PS- No one say the Tropicalia comp because I own it and love it! Also I forgot Tom Ze!
"Violence, she solved everything"
Posts: 1242 | Location: Nowhere | Registered: 31 July 2006
Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual: Which album should I start with from Gilberto Gil
I'd go with the his 1968 album, known as either Frevo Rasgado or Gilberto Gil 1968. Just a superb record. If you get it, the bonus track edition is the way to go.
Posts: 8733 | Location: State of Insanity | Registered: 22 September 2005
I will recommend Radio Tarifa, a spanish group of people trying to mix the arabic influenced spanish traditional music with more modern arabic music and also medieval music. They are really, really good.
Posts: 260 | Location: Stockholm | Registered: 30 November 2005
Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual: Which album should I start with from ... Caetano Veloso?
I would recommend Caetano Veloso (1969).
The whole album is really solid - also check out the song 'the empty boat.' Although... that B.R.I.S. comp already has 'Lost in the Paradise' on it, right?
(Tropicalia) is also really good. One of those (or both) would be good starting points.
I picked up The Sexual Life of Savages (a compilation of brazilian post-punk) and I was wondering if anyone knew of some other excellent brazilian post-punk.
Been picking up Songlines magazine at the stands in the last few months. They cover a good many non-english artists and each ish comes with a very good world music mixed cd. The cd does include bluegrass and non-English songs from artists who usually sing in English. I've picked up some great albums either due to articles in the zine or songs featured on the cd: including Celtic artist Julie Fowlis, bluegrass band Crooked Still and Romanian Gypsy band Fanfare Ciocarlia. The magazine and cd is a nice introduction to a variety of world music styles that I probably would have otherwise missed.
Posts: 8733 | Location: State of Insanity | Registered: 22 September 2005
The only album from this collective of Cuban musicians. It's a contemporary sound to the genre of old school son cubano (like spanish guitar/jazz sounding stuff). I discovered this album only this year, but I think it's fairly notable for sparking an interest in latin american music in the US after it's release in 1997. I guess it's sort of like the Revolver, or rather OK Computer of contemporary cuban music. Unfortunately I don't know much about Latin music or bands that would follow/precede them. Nevertheless I highly recommend it.
==== What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Posts: 503 | Location: Care-a-lot | Registered: 16 July 2007
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