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Showing posts with label Samba Toure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samba Toure. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Samba Toure - 'Touri Idje Bibi' / Atri N'Assouf - 'Medan'

'WORLD MUSIC' CORNER




Samba Toure - 'Touri Idje Bibi' (2015)

I'm perhaps even more excited than when I looked out the window this morning to be welcomed by the season's first of the snow, 'darn sarf' anyway. The pathetic dusting will no doubt have caused panic as our news channels will inevitability be clogged up with reports of travel chaos in Surrey, unlikely given the amount of 4x4's. More excited because of the release of Samba Toure's latest album, Gandadiko (burning land), out last week. He's probably my favourite African artist, just from the brilliantly sombre Albala (2013), recorded in the back drop of the war in Mali. This album on first hearing is a lot more diverse than his last offering and a little more joyful, particularly on the single 'Touri Idje Bibi' (black fruit). It's still darker in places, losing none of his own brand of Desert Blues as the guitar playing is immaculate. I'm off the watch the news reports of the 'Surrey Snow Bomb' with the sound down.

Warning, I don't recommend the video if you are feeling woozy or a bit sea sick.



Listen to Samba Toure Gandadiko on Spotify here.





Atri N'Assouf - 'Medan' (2011)

Speaking of immaculate guitar playing, then you must check out Niger's Atri N'Assouf. 'Medan', is one of the standout tracks from their 2011 album, Akal, proving there's far more on offer on the Desert Blues circuit. Some members of Tinariwen helped out on the album but it doesn't detract from the fact that band member Rissa, is a talented guitarist with his own distinct sound. Hear for yourself below.

Atri N'assouf Akal on Spotify



Snow flurries making your nose run? Get some desert wind in your face with TuneDr's Desert Blues Vol.1. or
You could do a lot worse than having a listen to some more of our 'World Music' Corner.

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Sunday, 26 October 2014

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 26/10/14 - Foo Fighters, Dennis Bovell, The 2 Bears, Twilight Sad

Four tracks that were like an extra hour in bed....





Old Pa's Corner :-
Twilight Sad - 'Last January' (2014)


 

Here is a track by Scottish band The Twilight Sad and is from their new album released tomorrow and is called Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave (2014). It is rather good, I love that little hint of Scottish twang and that little hint of darkness too.  



London Scouser:-
Foo Fighters - 'Something From Nothing' (2014)



Last week Shellhunter asked me if I'd heard the new one by the Foo's which she described as 'a bit of a slow one, but probably a grower' I hadn't but looked into it. It starts a little slowly, but soon builds up into a raucous riff-tastic rock record... Really. This is the first release from their long awaited (certainly by me) new album 'Sonic Highways' which is out in November. I've been a fan since the beginning and on the strength of this I think 'I'll Stick Around'.

Shell Hunter:-
The 2 Bears - 'See You' (2014)


This track has everything I like about The 2 Bears in it: the toe tapping synths, the playful lyrics and that low signature bear voice. Some may say its too much of a novelty style but poo to them I say! Dance music should be fun and different, and besisdes, if it makes your head bob and foot tap then boogie away! This track is from their new album The Night Is Young which was out in September. They released Angel from it already but I hope they follow it up with this healthy dose of pop-rave-dance. Its Grrrrrrrrrrrreat!

Flycasual:-
Dennis Bovell - 'Aye Go Mila Dubwize' (2014)




This was a bonus track from the Nov/Dec Songlines sampler CD and what a cracker it is. Not only is it a Dennis Bovell Dub rework but he's done the business on a track from one of my favourite albums of last year, Samba Toure's, Albala. It was like putting on an old coat and finding a tenner in one pocket, checking the other pocket and finding a half eaten sausage roll, result! Or something along those lines. Anyway it's taken from Glitterbeat's Dubs and versions Vol.1...win....win.

Goodness from Glitterbeat Records here....





Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...



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Sunday, 9 March 2014

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 09/03/2014 - Wild Beasts, Perfect Pussy, St Vincent, Dirtmusic, Coldplay,

Five tracks that put the spring into Spring....


Sfw:-
Wild Beasts - Sweet Spot (2014)


"Sweet Spot" is the latest release from Wild Beasts, which comes from their latest LP Present Tense. It's bonkers to think this is their fourth LP, as it only seems like yesterday that they appeared on the scene. The guitar melody is great, then when the synth kicks in you'll think you are in Tron. If you don't like it straight away, give it a few goes, it is infectious.

Shell Hunter:-
Coldplay - 'Midnight' (2014)

You love to hate them, you hate to love them blah blah blah. That doesn't matter to me, if I like the sound of it then I don't care who it is. The other morning I was driving to work on an early at stupid o'clock (4am) when the XFM DJ revealed that Coldplay has posted a new track on their website but no other info about where it was from or what for. I wasn't really concentrating at the time, just watching road. By the end of it, I felt all warm and fuzzy. It was such a different and chilled out song, I really enjoyed it! When I got to work ended up hearing it 3 times before 7am and even on 2 different radio stations. By then I was hooked. Give it a go, it's worth it.


Old Pa's Corner:-
Perfect Pussy - Interference Fits (2014)
 

With a name like that they just had to be heard. I can't stop playing this, it gets a little bit addictive. I am really interested now to hear the full album which incidentally is well under 30 mins long. The album is  Say Yes To Love (2014). I am pretty pleased I cum by this track and I hope this little taster moistens you ear buds.

You may need the lyrics which are quite hard to decipher:

Interference Fits

…I thought it was amazing and I almost cried
Nothing that comes and comes is forever
…coming in
And conversation so check on
Since when they say yes to love?
Hey,hey,hey,hey,hey
Hey,hey,hey,he,hey
They say yes to love
…They say,yes,yes,yes,yes,they said

Flycasual:-
Dirtmusic - 'Red Dust' Feat Samba Toure (2014)


Samba Toure's album, Albala, was one of my favourite albums of last year, sombre and poignant, it was the Desert Blues at it's very best (read about it here). So naturally I was excited when I heard he features in Dirtmusic's forthcoming fourth album, Lion City. Aussie/US band Dirtmusic were originally formed as a Roots/Folk band but started recording in Mali after meeting another Desert Blues favourite of mine, Tamikrest at the annual 'Festival Du Desert'. Collaborating regularly with local musicians, they subtly incorporate their 'Western' influences with the bamboozling brilliant Bamako talent. Samba Toure lends his vocals to the atmospheric 'Red Dust', a reflective dub journey through a hurting Mali.

Dirtmusic and Samba Toure on Glitterbeat records...

London Scouser:-
St Vincent - 'Digital Witness'


I first heard of St Vincent (AKA Annie Clark) when I downloaded a playlist a few years back. Amongst the 100 or so tracks was a song called 'Sleep All Summer' which was a collaboration between one The National & St Vincent. As a big fan of the former I immediately honed in on the track and wasn't disappointed, so much so that I put the song on the latest CD compilation that Shell Hunter and I had compiled.
Fast forward to 2014 and the release of her eponymous 4th album. Digital Witness is the second release from the album and has a dancy feel to it which reminds me a little of 'LaRoux' I've listened to the album a couple of times and on the strength of these 2 listens I will be checking out her back catalogue for sure.

Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...


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Thursday, 26 September 2013

TUNEDR'S PLAYLISTS - Desert Blues Vol.1

Desert Blues Playlist Vol.1



...she's gone and left you for that Tuareg bloke with the bigger oasis. With the incessant sun, a hanky for a hat, the desert wind in your face and mouthful of sand...it looks like you have a case of the Desert Blues.

The Desert Blues is without doubt my favourite of all the African musical genres, from the Tuareg rebel music of Tinariwen and Terakaft to the 'Ambassador of the African Blues', Ali Farka Toure. With it's laid back hypnotic rhythms, hand claps, intricate guitar playing (of which you'll be hard pushed to hear any better) and the ululations of the female backing singers, it never fails to capture my imagination. (Sometimes, if it's recorded outside you may even hear the sound of crickets joining in). It's pure atmosphere, evoking feelings of distant barren landscapes, in which you can almost feel/see the heat shimmering over the dunes. Hang on, who's that coming over that ridge over there? Why it's Omar Sharif, oh no, not another mirage.


TuneDr's Desert Blues Vol.1
(Click to listen/subscribe)


1) Tinariwen - Tenhert (2009) - Imidiwan

The Hendrix of the dunes, the Santana of the sand whatever tag Northern Mali's Tinariwen are given, these guys are the without doubt the undisputed desert heavyweights. The first Desert Blues group to enjoy commercial success and along with Ali Farka Toure the first band that really got me into the genre.

2) Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Kele Magni (2013) - Jama Ko

This cat can play! One of my favourite tracks off his third album, as it showcases his skills. Another musician from the musically rich Mali.

3) Samba Toure - Ago Djamba (2013) - Albala

Samba Toure is my new Malian Blues hero. The brilliant 'Ago Djamba' is taken from his third album, Albala, it's fairly sombre stuff as it recalls Mali's recent turmoil. Essential listening.

4) Robert Plant - Win My Train Fare Home (2003) - Le Festival du Desert

You can't argue with Robert Plant, he's been championing the Desert Blues for as long as I know. This track is simply sensational, it's taken from the Festival Du Desert compilation, a yearly music festival held in the outskirts of Timbuktu. Atmospheric

5) Terakaft - Awa Adounia (2012) - Kel Tamasheq

Similar to fellow Malian's Tinariwen, probably because they have two original members of that band but their sound is a lot more vibrant. 'Awa Adounia', is the stand out track of last years Kel Tamasheq.

6) Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara - Fulani Coochie Man (2009) - Tell No Lies

Justin Adams has collaborated with many African Blues artists also producing albums for Tinariwen and Robert Plant. An accomplished British guitarist, he joined up with Gambian Griot player, Juldeh Camara on 2009's, Tell No Lies album. 'Fulani Coochie Man', unmistakeably the blues, with a Gambian twist.

7) Ali Farka Toure - Ledi Coumbe (2006) - Savane

What can you say about the late great Ali Farka Toure, he's the desert don. Martin Scorsese is quoted as saying that Toure's musical tradition constitutes the "DNA of the Blues". The posthumously released Savane is a fantastic album with a plethora of tracks to choose from but I feel 'Ledi Coumbe' is African Blues magic.

8) Tartit - Ansari (2006) - Abacabok

Another Malian Desert Blues Band but with a predominately female line up. The women will normally play more traditional instruments, hand claps and sing 'call and response' type songs to the men's electric guitars. What strikes me with them is that some tracks on the Abacabok album cut into vocal jams that sound like they have and will go on for ages. It's very trancy and if you add a beat to it, you could easily thorw a few shapes to it on the dancefloor on a Saturday night.

9) Tamikrest - Achaka Achail Aynaian Daghchilan (2013) - Chatma

This is taken from the Tuareg band's latest album, Chatma. A lot more percussive and 'rockier' than their Malian counterparts but here you find them perhaps more reflective. An atmospheric track that does sound like the desert wind.

10) Boubacar Traore - Mali Denhou (2011) - Mali Denhou

Definitely something in the water in Mali, a fantastic track that sounds like it's straight out of the Mississippi Delta. I love this track, which I heard on a random sampler, it's the simple guitar with the harmonica accompaniment. Just one of those gems you probably wouldn't normally come across.

11) Amadou & Mariam - Mouna (1999) - Sou Ni Tile

The first time I heard Amadou & Mariam was on the Manu Chao produced Dimanche a Bamako, it got my attention immediately and as a result they have become one of my favourite African artists. The beautiful 'Mouna' is taken from the "the blind couple from Mali's" first international release, Sou Ni Tile.

12) Bombino - Iyat Idounia Ayashen (2011) - Agadez

Hailing from Niger, Bombino's main influences came from watching VHS tapes of Hendrix and Mark Knophler! This track is taken from his second album Agadez, with some mesmerising guitar work you won't care that it's 9 minutes long, you won't want it to end. 


Check out our other TuneDr playlists....here



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Thursday, 4 July 2013

Samba Toure - 'Be Ki Don' / 'Aye Go Mila' / 'Ago Djamba'




Samba Toure - 'Be Ki Don' (2013)

Samba Toure is my new Malian Blues hero. These tracks are taken from his third album, Albala (Danger) and it's a brilliantly sombre affair, Desert Blues in every sense of the phrase, with most songs reflecting on Mali's recent turmoil. Imagine an Islamist ban on music for example, absolute nonsense considering Mali's rich musical heritage. This is everything I love about the genre, intricate guitar playing, hypnotic rhythms, creating a unique atmosphere only the Desert Blues can bring. I imagine the hot desert wind on my face and a mouthful of sand ruining my mint tea, it's essential listening in my view.


Despite cutting his teeth by making a name for himself with the legendary Ali Farka Toure's band and with two albums under his belt, it looks like Albala could be the deserved breakthrough for the 40 year bluesman and recognition amongst the plethora of Mali's musical talent.

I could only find an audio for album opener 'Be Ki Don' (Everybody Dance) but if you have Spotify you can stream my two favourite tracks from the album,

The love song, 'Aye Go Mila' (I only Think of Her (I don't know if he mentions his mother in law in it as it reminds me a bit of Willie Dixon's 'Walking the Blues')).


And the moody and entrancing, 'Ago Djamba' (Life Betrays Us), in fact why not treat yourself and listen to the album here....

Thanks to Songlines Magazine's free CD sampler for giving the heads up once again, and if you want to read more on Samba Toure, find him here on Glitterhouse Records....


Have a listen/subscribe to TuneDr's World Music Corner Spotify playlist below or have a look at some other WMC posts here..


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