The Worldmusic Blog (Seckou Kouyate)

WorldBeatUK (28th Show) - Broadcast Notes (28/9/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips 1EYE Puerto Plata Celso Piņa Systema Solar Tomas de Perrate Martin Alvarado Hazelius Hedin Antti Paalanen Ragnhild Furebotten Huba Ballake Sissokho Vincent Segal Pacifika Renata Jambeiro Flavia Bittencourt Mariza Whiskey River

WBUK28 (28/9/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

“Welcome to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio! (Pause)  My name’s Glyn Phillips and over the next two hours we’ll be scooting all over the globe in search of interesting music that you wouldn’t necessarily hear on mainstream radio stations.   

Between now and 9pm (UK time) I’ll be playing you some mashups and remixes courtesy of Mixticius and [dunkelbunt], Ghanaian afro-hop, Scandinavian folk, Colombian Dub, Andalucian flamenco, Argentine Tango, Portuguese Fado, Brazilian Samba and Dominican bolero.

Alongside this there’ll be Malian Chamber Music, Canadian World Fusion and Afro-Peruvian electronica.  

Expect also to hear porros and cumbia - both traditional and cutting edge - from Colombia and Mexico, Funk from Finland, and to show that the English Midlands is not to be outdone, some Brummie Rocksteady and even gator-wrestling Swamp music from Herefordshire . . .  

Stick around - you’re guaranteed to hear something new and for those of you who like their fado stripped back and emotionally raw I’ve got a real treat coming up!”

Well first up on the show I’m going straight into something a bit heavy.  This is a bit of sitar-driven electronica by David Starfire from his album “Bollyhood Bass” on the Six Degrees Record Label.  It’s called “Sitarfire”:

2 “Sitarfire” (4:24) by David Starfire from the album “Bollyhood Bass”

Now last Friday I was able to attend the first of the new season of Jibbering Presents nights at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham, which was a special night to launch the new album by Brummie band, 1EYE

 Previously, 1EYE (spelled: numeral ‘1’, then ‘E-Y-E’) mixed up a blend of latin, funk and reggae on their last album “Whiskey Business” a couple of years ago.  But since then they’ve had a change of direction musically and immersed themselves into old school Jamaican rocksteady, locked themselves in their studio for about a year and half and emerged blinking into the sunlight with a 21st Century take on rocksteady, reggae and even some rock’n’roll!  

I’ve got to admit they were very good with a convincing sound and some lovely solos on tenor sax by Sam Rogers.  A 10 piece band, all suited up (apart from the MC) with two saxes, singer, MC, two backing singers, bass, keys, guitar and kit.  Although it was their official album launch, for some reason they haven’t decided on a name for it yet. 

However, it’s been recorded here in Brum and final production completed in Kingston, Jamaica by Soljie Hamilton from Channel One Studios.  I’m guessing you can track it down on their website and it’s released on their own label Industry Records.  I’ll let you know, when I do.  

In the meantime I’m going to be playing a couple of tracks from it this week (and another two next week).  First in the player is “The Time Is Here”.

3 “The Time Is Here” (3:52) by 1EYE

[CONTINUOUS]

4 “Mujer de Cabaret” (3:06) by Puerto Plata from the album “Mujer De Cabaret”

That last track was by the octagenarian sonero Jose Cobles aka Puerto Plata one of the last remaining old bolero singers from the pre-bachata days of the Dominican Republic. 

It was the title track of his 2009 debut album (recorded when he was a mere 84!) on the iASO Records label and was called “Mujer de Cabaret” - the cabaret in this instance referring to the old dominican term for a house of ladies of ‘dubious repute’.  Nuff said.  Love his stuff and in fact most of the output from Iaso Records.

Next we’re going West from La Republica Dominicana, to Mexico where we meet up with the cumbia singer and accordionist Celso Piña

With his nickname of El Rebelde del Acordeón (the Accordion Rebel) Celso is a pioneer in mixing and fusing tropical music often finding links between Mexican norteña music, sonidero, ska, reggae, hip-hop, RnB and cumbia of course. 

I’m really looking forward to seeing him at Womex next month.  This is from his live album “En Vivo” and is a track called “Cumbia Arenosa”:

5 “Cumbia Arenosa” (3:33) by Celso Pina from the album “En Vivo”

Yeah, Celso Piña there from Mexico with “Cumbia Arenosa”. 

Now many of you will know that Cumbia really originates from the South American country of Colombia.  So we’re off there next to check out what the dubby fusion band Systema Solar are up to… 

This is a really heady brew of influences and styles from them going under the name “Quién es el Patrón”  (Who’s the Boss?).

6 “Quién es el Patrón?” (3:26) by Systema Solar from the album “Systema Solar”

[CONTINUOUS]

7 “Olvidarte (Cuplé por bulerías)” (3:11) by Tomás de Perrate

ft Antonio Moya from the album “Perraterías”

Yeah, really enjoyed that one.  That was the amazing Spanish flamenco singer Tomás de Perrate from a 2005 album on the Flamenco Vivo label called “Perraterías”

The track was in the style of cuplé por bulerías and was entitled “Olvidarte” also featuring Antonio Moya on guitar and Alvaro Gandul on harmonica.

And now another Spanish language treat for you.  This is a young Argentine tango singer who’s creating a real buzz at the moment. 

His name is Martin Alvarado and over the next few weeks I’m going to be featuring him ahead of his November gig here in Birmingham at the mac, which I’m very much looking forward to. 

This is from his 2008 album “Así Es Mi Tango” and it’s a track called “Estás en Mi Corazón” (You are in my Heart).

8 “Estás En Mi Corazón” (2:53) by Martin Alvarado from the album “Así Es Mi Tango”

Beautiful!  I do love tangos as well as milongas.   OK, change of direction now.  If you were listening in last week,  you might remember that I was talking about the forthcoming world music tradefair, Womex, which takes place in Copenhagen next month.  

Womex each year produce a special CD called the Womeximiser full of the artists they are showcasing that year.  This is normally for delegates only, but courtesy of worldmusic.co.uk I've managed to get hold of some to give away in a draw on the WorldBeatUK radio show!  

I've already played a couple of tracks from artists appearing on the CD (Celso Piña & Systema Solar) and about half of last week's show and the next three tracks are all also featured on the 2011 Womeximiser.  

So to be in with a chance to get your hands on a copy - just submit your name and email address to me, Glyn Phillips, and your name will go into a blind draw.  The lucky winners will each get a copy of this compilation CD sent to them.  

So I need your name and email address or even a Facebook link.  You can either email me at glyn@worldmusic.co.uk, or if you're already connected to me via FB send me a message stating you'd like to be entered for the Womeximiser 2011 CD draw. 

Ok, so I’m going to indulge us all in some Scandinavian music for the next few numbers, starting with a track by a Swedish duo called Hazelius Hedin who fuse Irish and Scandinavian traditions into a very harmonious sound. 

his is from their 2010 album “Om du Ville Människa Heta” on the Amigo label and it’s a track called “Adjö Farväl”:

9 “Adjö Farväl” (4:04) by Hazelius Hedin from the album “Om du Ville Människa Heta”

[CONTINUOUS]

10 “Permafrost” (4:26) by Antti Paalanen from the album “Breathbox”

First you heard the Swedish duo Hazelius Hedin and that was followed by a stellar solo performance by the Finnish accordionist Antti Paalanen and track called “Permafrost” from the 2010 album “Breathbox” on the Siba Records label. 

Well, I don’t know about you but I could almost feel I was breathing in clean, sharp, icy air during that last one!

Let’s finish off this Scandinavian portion of the show with an jaunty uplifting piece by a fiery young fiddler from Northern Norway - a country I don’t get chance to play much from on the show. 

The fiddler’s name is Ragnhild Furebotten and this is a piece that features some rather interesting brass too, called “Jag Kan Inte Fela” from the album “Aldri På En Søndag”:

11 “Jag Kan Inte Fela” (4:29) by Ragnhild Furebotten from the album “Aldri På En Søndag”

[CONTINUOUS]

12 “Man Brings The Bread” (5:13) by Huba from the album “Huba”

[Change CDs!!]

Don’t forget you’re listening to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio, coming at you live and direct from the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.  My name’s Glyn Phillips and until 9pm (UK time) tonight I’ll be harvesting the musical fruits of mankind’s endeavours from around the globe to serve you a sumptuous feast of organic goodness for your ears, heart and soul!  Stick around and keep me company because I’ve got a pantry full of great music still to come on the show.

What about that last track then?  That was the really ‘most excellent’ Finnish soul and funk band, Huba

I remember the first time I heard anything by them - a tune called “Mary” - which was brought to my attention by Steve Williams of UKVibe.  Really blew me away and hard to get my head round the fact that there were from Helsinki! 

That was a lush, lush track called “Man Brings the Bread (but the woman brings the soul to the household” from their album, also called "Huba".

This next track is a rather interesting fusion of kora (that is to say the African Harp - the great classical instrument of West Africa) played here by the Malian harpist Ballaké Sissoko and the cello, one of the great instruments of European classical music, here played by French cellist Vincent Segal

This is a really beautiful meld of sounds on two fabulous stringed instruments.  The track is called “Chamber Music” from the 2010 album of the same name on the Six Degrees Records label.

(1) 13 “Chamber Music” (5:33) by Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal from the album “Chamber Music”

Hmmm.  Lovely!  Delicate and wistful!  

Now over to Canada for a bit, with the Vancouver fusion trio, Pacifika, who carefully glean bits of musical styles from all over the world and then proceed to card, spin and weave them into something uniquely their own with a kind of ‘world pop’ sensibility. 

This is called “Chocolate” from the album “SuperMagique”

(2) 14 “Chocolate” (3:39) by Pacifika from the album “SuperMagique”

[CONTINUOUS]

(3) 15 “Preceito” (3:22) by Renata Jambeiro

And you just heard some lovely Brazilian samba there from one of their great singers the lovely Renata Jambeiro and a track called “Preceito”.  

I want to stay in Brazil for this next one because I’ve got one last track to play for you all from my favourite Brazilian singer at the moment, the lovely Flavia Bittencourt, who as many of you know caught my attention at the recent Espirito Brum festival here in Birmingham.  

This is an exquisite piece of vocal artistry from Flavia accompanied only by guitar - it’s a track from her first album “Sentido” and it’s called “Estrela do Mar” (Star of the Sea).

Following straight on from that is something truly heartwrenching.   At the top of the show I promised you a real treat and now’s the time for me to deliver … so after Flavia’s song you’re going to be treated to some outstanding fado from the Queen of Fadistas herself, Mariza.  

Trust me, don’t go away, don’t leave the room, don’t put the kettle on, or start texting for the next 10 minutes, or anything! 

Just close your eyes and let these two amazing ladies take your souls in their soft hands and fly them away to a better place . . .

(4) 16 “Estrela Do Mar” (4:29) by Flávia Bittencourt from the album “Sentido”

[CONTINUOUS]

(5) 17 “O Gente da Minha Terra” (5:53) by Mariza from the album “Fado Em Mim”

What can I say?  Life is all about moments like that.  Music to put everything else in perspective.  If I could sing like that just once in my life I think I’d feel like there’d be nothing more to achieve.  Truly humbling.

Well, what on earth do you follow those two songs with?  How about some Herefordshire swamp music?!  Why not! 

This is a band called Whiskey River from Hereford right here in the English Midlands and a track from their album “Hot Sauce!” - sung by the gravel-washed voice of Mr Marty Blake - called “I Washed my Hands in Muddy Water” (and not a ‘gator in sight!):

(6) 18 “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water” (4:01) by Whiskey River from the album “Hot Sauce!”

Cajun and zydeco music are famous for their accordion traditions.  So here’s some from a different but no less impressive tradition that of Colombia in South America. 

This is by Oskar Julián and Hector Phidell from the 2009 album “Pórtate Chévere”. 

Oskar and Hector are very well known for their vallenato music but here they tackle a porro in their own unique style.  This is entitled “Por Un Beso” (For a Kiss).

(7) 19 “Por Un Beso” (4:01) by Oskar Julián & Hector Phidell from the album “Pórtate chevere”

I don’t know about you but I’m in the mood for some Ghanaian American afro-hop

This is from the wonderfully named Blitz the Ambassador and from his album “Native Sun” a track entitled “Akwaaba”:

(8) 20 “Akwaaba” (2:49) by Blitz the Ambassador from the album “Native Sun”

[CONTINUOUS]

(9) 21 “The Girl Can't Help It” (3:22) by 1EYE

Ha ha!  That was another track by Brummie rocksteady crew 1EYE and a re-working of the old rhythm & blues classic, “The Girl Can’t Help It” featuring the toasting skills of Mr Kidd

You can get more info on them by checking them out on Facebook or via www.industryrecords.org.

OK, Not long to go now - let’s take a really old afro-peruvian landó classic “Toro Mata” (The Bull Kills) whose origins are lost in the mists of time - or at the very least the garua mists of coastal Perú - and refix it for the 21st century via Los Chicos Altos.  This is a hazy, crazy remix, but I love it!  

(10) 22 “Toro Mata” (4:13) by Los Chicos Altos

Ok, that was a spacy one - this next one’s a remix by Mixticius and it’s just down-home, rust-bucket, shit-kicking mad!! 

Get bouncing and busting all yer best moves now. 

In fact: Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough!

(11) 23 “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” (2:55) by Mixticius

Ha ha ha!!  Love that tune - big up Mixticius!  

So time to go now.  See you all next week.

[Goodbyes, reminders, etc].

I’m going to leave you with a message - in fact the Revedere Message from [dunkelbunt] and Grandmaster Flash and you can guarantee that this piece of Balkan mash-up is pure insanity - but remember, just “don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to lose my head…”   Goodnight!


(12) 24 “Revedere Message” (4:27) by [dunkelbunt] vs Grandmaster Flash

1