I need a Gideon boot and a khaki suit,
I'll stand out in Babylon and defend the truth....
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Pan of the Future
Just digitizing the stack of music I obtained during my all to brief trip to Trinidad and Tobago last week. My time there was almost entirely filled with the sounds of Jamaican music, which surprised me, though that just may have been what I was tuned into. Went to an amazing club in St. James on Friday which I can't remember the name off, and had my mind blown by the new Richie Spice single, blasted through righteous sound. Always good to hear the rough, short attention span style that people dj with in the Caribbean. One verse-one chorus-jump cut. The only Trini sounds I sighted in the whole session that evening was an amazing remix of Marlon Asher's "Ganja Farmer". Which is a serious jam.
The trip was also surprisingly devoid of steel drum music, until my last night, which was a Monday and seems to be the night when the bands practice. All night as I wandered around Woodbrook in Port of Spain I was treated to the ethereal shuffle of bands tuning up and locking in together. Below is an interesting video about the construction of steel pans. They have an interesting and singular history, totally apart from other tuned percussion, but incredible versatile. I've seen people play Mozart on them.....
The trip was also surprisingly devoid of steel drum music, until my last night, which was a Monday and seems to be the night when the bands practice. All night as I wandered around Woodbrook in Port of Spain I was treated to the ethereal shuffle of bands tuning up and locking in together. Below is an interesting video about the construction of steel pans. They have an interesting and singular history, totally apart from other tuned percussion, but incredible versatile. I've seen people play Mozart on them.....
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Elusive
Youtubery of the elusive Omar Hayat playing at last year's festival in Essaouira. Every guidebook blurb I've read about Moroccan music mentions this guy as being one of the few gnawa artists influenced by reggae, but no one in Morocco, particularly the CD vendors, seems to have ever heard of him.....
Anyone who knows anything about him or has any of his music let me know.....
Anyone who knows anything about him or has any of his music let me know.....
Back
Ok so I'm back at it. Been doing the radio for while but been seriously neglecting the blog for the last few months. I had new release back in january, an EP appendix to WAR which can be downloaded here.
Two new songs as well as a remix of "Xion Gate" by the great Pendle Coven. I'm in the process of mastering the new full length Teleseen record "Fear of the Forest", a sonic salve for all of you with dendrophobia out there.
Also the radio show is going strong. Listen to last week's show.
playlist soon come.
Two new songs as well as a remix of "Xion Gate" by the great Pendle Coven. I'm in the process of mastering the new full length Teleseen record "Fear of the Forest", a sonic salve for all of you with dendrophobia out there.
Also the radio show is going strong. Listen to last week's show.
playlist soon come.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Not an easy road
Posting this from Kampala Uganda, where I have been for the last three days. I'm here working with the incredible charity Keep A Child Alive, doing sound on a promotional film they are making to raise money for their clinics here in East Africa. In a few hours we will head to Rwanda for about five days, we spent all of last week in Kenya, the first few days in Mombasa and the last few in Nairobi.
This is my second time in Kampala and I've been having a really emotional time here. My first visit two years ago was truly incredible and I left feeling a strong emotional connection to this place, but at the time I was so caught up in the circus of the job I was here to do I didn't allow myself to really stop and listen to the trial and tribulations of the people here. This time around we have been at the Alive medical center in Nobongo, filming people's testimonials and the the experience has been overwhelming. The amazing difference that a small amount of capital can make in the lives of people is unbelievable. Most shocking is the infection rates in this, what is supposed to be one of africa' success stories in combating HIV. Talking to the doctors, hearing how of the 250 or so people they test a month, about 100 people are infected. That's almost %35!!! Shocking also to hear that the %4 national infection rate which is so lauded globally as a success story is reflective of only %10 of the population that has been tested. The lies and politricks that manipulate peoples lives globally never ceases to amaze me, and the muderation and manipulation of statistics is undeniable.
Have been privilidged to been in Africa during what has been an extremely big week here on the continent, what with the inditment of Bashir for war crimes by the hague, the power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, and the arrests of rebel leaders here in Uganda which took place over the last few days. All of these developments come as mixed blessings, the indictment of Bashir is easily the most problematic. How is the Hague to act of this indictment? By pushing a coalition of nations to invade the Sudan? The last comparable situation was the arrest of Charles Taylor, who at the time of his indictment had far fewer friends in his own country than Bashir does. Whatever happens, the indictment represents a gigantic shift in the attitude of the global community towards the genocide in sudan, at long last. More on this later.
But wait, isn't this blog supposed to be about music?
Hit the CD stores here in K'pla, only to discover that here they don't sell manufactured CDs but rather you tell a guy sitting behind a computer what vibes you like and he burns a disc for you. Pulled about 250 songs, and sorting through them now as I travel to Rwanda, will post the choice cuts as the appear.
sound.
This is my second time in Kampala and I've been having a really emotional time here. My first visit two years ago was truly incredible and I left feeling a strong emotional connection to this place, but at the time I was so caught up in the circus of the job I was here to do I didn't allow myself to really stop and listen to the trial and tribulations of the people here. This time around we have been at the Alive medical center in Nobongo, filming people's testimonials and the the experience has been overwhelming. The amazing difference that a small amount of capital can make in the lives of people is unbelievable. Most shocking is the infection rates in this, what is supposed to be one of africa' success stories in combating HIV. Talking to the doctors, hearing how of the 250 or so people they test a month, about 100 people are infected. That's almost %35!!! Shocking also to hear that the %4 national infection rate which is so lauded globally as a success story is reflective of only %10 of the population that has been tested. The lies and politricks that manipulate peoples lives globally never ceases to amaze me, and the muderation and manipulation of statistics is undeniable.
Have been privilidged to been in Africa during what has been an extremely big week here on the continent, what with the inditment of Bashir for war crimes by the hague, the power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, and the arrests of rebel leaders here in Uganda which took place over the last few days. All of these developments come as mixed blessings, the indictment of Bashir is easily the most problematic. How is the Hague to act of this indictment? By pushing a coalition of nations to invade the Sudan? The last comparable situation was the arrest of Charles Taylor, who at the time of his indictment had far fewer friends in his own country than Bashir does. Whatever happens, the indictment represents a gigantic shift in the attitude of the global community towards the genocide in sudan, at long last. More on this later.
But wait, isn't this blog supposed to be about music?
Hit the CD stores here in K'pla, only to discover that here they don't sell manufactured CDs but rather you tell a guy sitting behind a computer what vibes you like and he burns a disc for you. Pulled about 250 songs, and sorting through them now as I travel to Rwanda, will post the choice cuts as the appear.
sound.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Dubstep Gone Corporate
So check the triangulation bog for the first installment of the dj pause/radio ruido crate-off-needle-exchange takeover challenge of 08. The rules are this: each takes over the other's radio show with a crate of records pulled by the other from their collection. RR went pretty easy on me, it being the first time and all. He's not gonna be so lucky when he comes through here in August.
One discovery from his crate was the existence of Daddy Freddy and Asher D. A british Hip Hop duo from the 80's. These two are more explicit in their connections between ragga and hiphop than many of their contemporaries, like London Posse, who seemed to be going for a more distinctly British, non-NYC gazing sound. These guys are going for it straight out, posing on the cover looking like an carribeanified RUN DMC. Killer music. Check the playlist.
After doing the show we headed down the World Financial Center to see Kode 9(yes you read that sentence correctly). K9 was playing along with the Dub War crew as part of the city's ongoing summer River to River festival. I have to say it was probably the weirdest gig I have been to in years. First the start time was the very early hr of 8pm, which for anyone seasoned in ny clubing is lunchtime, and the venue; a vast glass and marble lobby of an office building right next to ground zero was an odd juxtaposition. That combined with the lack of alcohol, and the feeling that the audience was comprised of people who had just gotten off of work upstairs(architecture-blue dress shirts abounded) gave the whole gig a very very odd feel. I'm sure Kode 9 drew some pleasure from the Ballardy aspects of the venue, it was totally like a scene out of High Rise.
The music actually tended more towards funky and bassline then dubstep actually. Listening to K9 interviewed by Jace on Mudd radio the next day it was interesting to hear him contextualize funky in terms of it being like Soca. Another anglicized antecedent of a caribbean form. Though I'm not sure I'm convinced.
in other news,
fire blaze continually, to the fullest....
One discovery from his crate was the existence of Daddy Freddy and Asher D. A british Hip Hop duo from the 80's. These two are more explicit in their connections between ragga and hiphop than many of their contemporaries, like London Posse, who seemed to be going for a more distinctly British, non-NYC gazing sound. These guys are going for it straight out, posing on the cover looking like an carribeanified RUN DMC. Killer music. Check the playlist.
After doing the show we headed down the World Financial Center to see Kode 9(yes you read that sentence correctly). K9 was playing along with the Dub War crew as part of the city's ongoing summer River to River festival. I have to say it was probably the weirdest gig I have been to in years. First the start time was the very early hr of 8pm, which for anyone seasoned in ny clubing is lunchtime, and the venue; a vast glass and marble lobby of an office building right next to ground zero was an odd juxtaposition. That combined with the lack of alcohol, and the feeling that the audience was comprised of people who had just gotten off of work upstairs(architecture-blue dress shirts abounded) gave the whole gig a very very odd feel. I'm sure Kode 9 drew some pleasure from the Ballardy aspects of the venue, it was totally like a scene out of High Rise.
The music actually tended more towards funky and bassline then dubstep actually. Listening to K9 interviewed by Jace on Mudd radio the next day it was interesting to hear him contextualize funky in terms of it being like Soca. Another anglicized antecedent of a caribbean form. Though I'm not sure I'm convinced.
in other news,
fire blaze continually, to the fullest....
Monday, June 30, 2008
Forward to Azania
So it looks like I'll be heading to Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa the week after next for a while to work on a promotional film for the charity Keep a Child Alive. I'm really excited about returning to East Africa, Uganda in particular. Didn't get to pick up any music last time I was there because the trip was so fast and I was busy working the whole time. I did however get a chance to link up with Lillian Mbabazi from the group Blu 3, who took me out on the town to hear some incredible Bongo Flava cuts in the clubs. I'm not going to let this trip pass by without picking up some music!
Meanwhile I'll be in South Africa(Azania) for quite a while, and have been trying to hook up some gigs and colaborations down there. Been delving into the large South African reggae scene a great deal in preparation, and this week's show delves into a few of those cuts, as provided by DJ Dope from the African Dope Soundsystem. Big Up!!!
forward.
Also this week a few previews of some tracks I've been working on for my upcoming album... And a little three turntable remix of the new Percepts release from /sonde/, which drops tomorrow. We're really excited to be releasing the debut 12" from this new artist, hopefully it will be the first of many. I've played the track in its unaltered form a few times on the show, but this time I took some liberties. Look for an official remix in the future...
Whap'n Bap'n - I-Roy(Babylon OST, Takoma LP)
Westbound Train - Dennis Brown (600% Dynamite, Soul Jazz LP)
Love is The Light - Horace Andy(Techniques 7")
Nah Bow Down - Ruff Scott(Guidance 12")
Every Thing She Want - The Lone Ranger (On the Other Side of Dub, Studio One LP)
Hard Stuff - Jim Nastic (Chaunting, Studio One LP)
I'm Still in Love With You - Alton Elllis (Alton Ellis Sings Rock and Soul, Studio One LP)
My Woman's Dub - Johnny Clarke(Roots Reggae Disco, Weed Beat, LP)
Ion Storm - Black Uhuru(The Dub Factor, Island LP)
Africa - Twinkle Brothers Meets Jah Shaka(Rasta Surface, Jah Shaka LP)
Horsie - Twilight Dub Circus Soundsystem(M LP)a+ Sono Cairo - Face A
Let Me Rock You Now - The Love Joys (Wackies LP)
You Don't Care For Me - Maxine Miller(Wackies 12")
After All(Version) - King Tubby(FireHouse 7")
After All - King Everall(Firehouse 7")
Warmongers - Barry Issac(Reggae on Top 7")
No Pity
Can We Get It On - Jack Radics(Slam Records 7")
Jah Children - Johnny Osboure(Wackies 7")
Natty Lead The Way - True Persuaders(Forward Roots 7")
Tempo - Anthony Red Rose(Firehouse 7")
Temper Temper - Rodney P(Low Life LP)
Prophecy is Fulfillment in the Mouth of the Land - Teleseen(Unreleased)
Face B - /SONDE/(Percepts 12")
Untittled - Teleseen(Unreleased)
Quanun Solo - Mohammed Issa Matona(Unreleased)
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