Interactive poll #22: The Africa edition

Talking Heads video shows as "unavailable" here.

Meltdowner wrote: When I read the title I knew I had to nominate this song It's rather long so I'll make it my only suggestion to this poll.

This time I am going to reprise Senegalese kora player, Seckou Keita, three ways.  I introduced him in, I think, the first of these polls that I participated in. He's wonderfully versatile, these three pieces, are all different from one another and he presents the kora in collaborations and also a lovely solo piece here.    It's going to take every bit of restraint I have to not vote for the tractor, lol!    And, wonderful idea for a poll, I don't know a lot of African music, more Middle Eastern, so I'm looking forward to some edumacation from all of you.  

Edited by Snicolette - October 27 2020 at 12:12

Starting up the playlist for all videos.

Hahaha, I just see that the guy on whose youtube account the Jasper Van't Hof video is posted is Dissidenten drummer Marlon Klein, and he's also the drummer on that one. Jasper Van't Hof is great by the way. I saw him playing Pili Pili live at some point in the 80s or 90s. In the early 70s he was in a free rock jazz outfit called Association P.C. who are listed on PA (although quite outlandish for PA's standards), and at least two of their albums are great.


Edited by Lewian - October 27 2020 at 17:25

Had some listening space today, so here are my thoughts on the first page, on first listen.  Thank you to The Anders for a fun and different slant than we've had for a while, to George for starting the listening YT link and also, always, to Lorenzo for being the originator of these polls. Nice to see some new faces, too, welcome!

The Anders:  Kokoko! “Malembe” Well, this is a TON of fun!  Love that they made so many of the instruments as well as the music.  It’s very spirited, both modern and somehow also ancient in feel.  The washboard/guitar thing is very cool.   The Tractor.  I love that.  One could say it was very minimalist, as it made no sound at all, even though tractors are known to be a bit noisy. 

Samuel:  Black Bombaim “Africa II”  Lots of Dead Can Dance sounding clacky things in the background, with wonderful, fuzzy electric guitar over the top, then moving on into more intensity from both the percussion and guitar.  About halfway through, guitar drops out and it moves into a great sax solo with bass and the ever-present clackies. Smooth guitar chords and riffs in a much quieter way, with the sax duetting along.  Guitar intensifies again for quite a while, eventually they all quietly exit into deep space.  I liked it!

George:  Steward Copeland & Gizmo “Koteja”  This one has a fun sound to it (so much African music has an upbeat feel, doesn’t it?).  Very rhythmic with first an African melodic vocal, then a rap in English, back to the African melodic bits and call and response with the audience.  Electric lead and bubbling along under bass with very precise drumming undernearth. 

Easy Money:  King Sunny Ade “365 is my Number/The Message” Very gentle, village-y feel here, I love the soft blending of the vocals when everyone joins in singing with him.  The jam is very cool, as you’d indicated.  Lots of twisty guitar and a deep bass-y guitar twanging along, with tons of understated klicky-clacky percussion.  Gets very trance-y too, with guitar curlicue adornments, then they get all plinky towards the end as they gently fade away.

Greg: Ali Farka Toure “Savane” The modality kind of feels Middle Eastern, here, interesting hollow-ish guitar tone and interplay between that sound and a twangy kind of picked sound, plus some really low, bass-y notes.  Love his vocal quality as well.  Ladysmith Black Mambazo “Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes”  We carried this group many times on the buses.  All a capella, done in a light-hearted style, plenty o’ rhythm.  Miriam Makeba with Hugh Masekela “Soweto Blues” Beautiful, soulful vocals and you can’t beat Hugh Masekela’s style. This was done in documentary style, something we’ve not seen much of in these polls, but it only added to get more of the story, and then move back  to the music. 

Drew:  I knew what you brought would not disappoint.  Samite “Night Stories”  Begins with kalimba or marimba and some really gorgeous layered vocals, almost sounds prayerful.  Distant horn intersperses from time to time with those haunting vocals, as the kalimba sound continues as the foundation of the piece.  Little bits of harmonics drift in from time to time, reminds me of stars twinkling in night skies.  As far as I’m concerned, this could have gone on twice as long and still seem short.  Hamza El Din “Nagrishad”  This one, I will have to recuse myself from.  I have this on CD and have been lucky enough to see Hamza El Din live a couple of times in a very small, beautiful old church in Santa Cruz.  Just a wonderful musician, a completely authentic performance and mesmerizing piece. 

Lewian:  Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela “Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)” Jazzy piece (as expected), very infectious groove, staccato vocals, great understated drumming, too.  Sad and moving memorial piece, taking it all down to some of what life is all about.  Dissidenten “fata morgana”  Has the feeling very much of Moroccan village music (which I enjoy), but in a modern setting.  So much Middle Eastern music is geared toward dance, so the beat doesn’t bother me, it’s just a bit odd to my ear without the heavier sound of oud and dumbek.  Gives it a lighter touch. 

dwill123:  Soul Makossa “Mano Dibango”  Funky, repetitious vocals, steady beat throughout with horn punctuating, also repeating it’s own sound.  Vocals come back in and out, then there’s a more full horn section, which also repeats. 

suitkees:  Sunburst “Vijana”  Definitely more rock than we’ve been hearing thus far.  Interesting to hear a more “standard,” rock structure, but with a decidedly African edge.  I like the bass in this one a lot.  They close it out with a bit of a horn, then a fuzzy bass-y guitar solo.  Pili Pili “Hoomba Hoomba”  A jazz/rock-type setting here, which is nice to hear.  Lots of effected keys and horn in this with a steady conga player setting the pace.  Angelique is fun to watch in this live setting, also, when she finally gets a chance to add her part.  Afro Celt Sound System “When I Still Needed You”  Begins with some keys sounding vaguely concertina-like and a way-back-there drone underneath it.  Some guitar and bass starts building up and some drum and light cymbal-ly thing accenting the sound here and there.  Pretty, fairly deep female voice, with just a touch of vibrato, comes in about halfway in, building the tension nicely.  I really like what the acoustic guitar is doing underneath all of this.  This is my favourite of the 3 you brought this time. 

I had planned to go for some Fela Kuti and maybe something off Afreaka, but this will probably be my nomination (I love it).

Lokonon Andre Isidore et l’ Orchestre Les Volcans - "Glenon Ho Akue"



This so long that I don't expect people to listen:





Edited by Logan - October 28 2020 at 12:18

Very 80's, but I loved this song and am surprised no one brought up Johnny Clegg, here with Juluka (maybe too well known?).  

Edited by Snicolette - October 28 2020 at 12:47

Snicolette wrote: Mike:   Horns have a great groove, backed with strong percussion and plinky (I know, my technical terminology is wanting) keyboard accents with some whirlies thrown in.