Awesome Tapes from Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Alekpehanhou Roi du Zinli Rénové

Face A

Agbon Hou Agbon
Ta Hoho Mon Non
Nou É Kon Gningnin É

Face B
Gni Dokponon Homé Do
Mi Nou Mi Ni Mon Midé Gbô
Na Non Sô Tin Tché Mè
Noussoudaho Houésava

Polyrhythmic spirals courtesy of this zinli music cassette from Benin, for your journey to the other world. I am reveling in the beautiful, unified restraint of the elements here, boiled down to a persistent essence of drums, bells and vocals that linger like smoke in the mix. The eminently informative VOA African Treasures blog has some details on Alekpehanhou and the state of traditional music listening in Benin.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:33:00 +0000

Sekouba Bambino Diabate Syli National

Side A
Syli National
Ballon Tant
Ka Souma Man

Side B
Lanaya
Pot Purri
A Nyara-N'Na

It's the time of year where one's attention might turn to sports. The Olympics are coming. It's baseball season. Why not a record dedicated to a soccer (football) team? I have noticed tons of albums by African artists with football-related topics. Here is a 1994 effort by one of the crucial stars of Guinean music, Sekouba Diabate, which is dedicated to Guinea's national team.

BTW--check out this epic Bola video, taken from his new album Volume 7.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Orchestre Régional de Ségou SNAC 2001

Face A
Wimbrègué
Hanzounou
Election
SIDA

Face B
Macoroba Kouma
Douniya Latigué
Staglé
Kalilou

One of the things I love about music in Mali (in general) is that the music that you hear out on the streets in urban areas has such palpable roots in traditional music from the villages. You never feel like you're listening to bubble gum pop of the masses. This government supported band has been crushing it in some shape or form for many years.

Bola's new release for Awesome Tapes From Africa is out now and available on limited edition cassette (see links on sidebar at left).

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets coming up...Coming back to US soon!:

30.04 Gothenberg SE / Clandestino Festival at Röda Sten
02.05 Milan IT / La Triennale
11.05 Antwerp BE / Scheldapen (Cassette Connection tour with DJ Cinnamoon and Sebcat's Taj Mahal)
12.05 Brussels BE / Recyclart (Cassette Connection tour with DJ Cinnamoon and Sebcat's Taj Mahal)
18.05 New York NY / Santos Partyhouse Spencer's GIFs w/ Teengirl Fantasy, Ablehearts, Tim DeWitt
19.05 Brooklyn NY / 285 Kent w/ Lamin Fofana and Chief Boima
20.05 New York NY / Lisa Cooley Gallery at 7pm
23.05 Boston MA / Spectacle w/ Debo Band
25.05 Seattle, WA / CAIRO
26.05 Portland OR / Holocene w/ Sahel Sounds
28.05 George, WA / Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:22:00 +0000

Oliver Mtukudzi Kuvhaira

Side One
Kuvhaira
Rudo Ndinarwo
Ucharoya Chete

Side Two
Mupfuhwira Rudo
Chisuwo
Makanganwa Here!

I saw in the news Mugabe is at death's doorway. Here's to hoping for freedom for all in Zimbabwe ASAP. Let's pray the bozos who've been propping the Old Man up the last few years don't take over.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:02:00 +0000

Yvonne Chaka Chaka Sangoma

Side 1
Sangoma
Come A Little Bit Closer
Private Lover

Side Two
Save Me
Stimela
I'm Gonna Stop Loving You

I could only hold off on posting a Yvonne Chaka Chaka joint for so long. Her contributions to electronic dance-pop in the 80s, and later to South Africa in general, are immense and make for a good newspaper profile.

From SA post-disco trailblazer to her current work with the UN and as the face of Lifebuoy Soap, Yvonne Chaka Chaka remains a busy and successful lady. Two thumbs up.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Assane Mboup Nate-Yi

Face A
Nate-Yi
Walle Bagne
Sabablu

Face B
Coumba Bakhaw
Pass-PAss AK Farlu
Darou Khafor

Charismatic and tricked out mbalax from a stellar vocalist who has played with crucial Senegalese dynamo Orchestra Baobab and other well known Dakar-based ensembles. Mboup is simply one of the most incredible singers I have ever seen/heard.

Next week Awesome Tapes From Africa hits Los Angeles for some special shows:

Thursday, April 12 Future Roots Array by dublab w/ Cut Chemist, Duppy Gun DJs (Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras), Boss Harmony (the riddim specialist of Dr. Who), Mor Elian, Frosty

Friday, April 13 Desert Gold: Roadside Attraction at Ace Hotel Palm Springs during Coachella, 12pm-5pm curated by ATFA, featuring Peaking Lights and Secret Circuit

Saturday April 14 No-Chella at the Claremont Colleges

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Manka Le Phallang Mokhosi

Side 1
Mokhosi
Lipotsotso
Koko Inama
Limakatso
Ngoka Kenna Feela

Side 2
Linyane La Tau
Tlo Hella Batho
E Tang Taba
Santile
Machache

This 1989 Basotho famo music recording from fascinating land-island-within-South Africa Lesotho oughta set y'all straight for a minute. Accordion and bass heavy. Nice n' smooth. Add to that high-pitched super-hot (perhaps a bit too hot?) whistling and the real mood of this music shakes out.

Forthcoming Awesome Tapes From Africa release by Bola comes out Tuesday, preorder here or your favorite record shop.

ALSO--Super stoked to let you know Awesome Tapes will be taking an extended hiatus for a 5-month surfing and sailing adventure in Southeast Asia. Be well.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Lamissa Bengali CAN 2002

Face A
Jema Yiri
Pousse-Pousse
Tie Pi

Face B
Son
Janjo
Ce Boda Muso

Jump for joy, this is blazin Senoufo balafon music from Mali at the hands of a mallet maestro to the extreme. Rock to these husky vocals as well, mes potes. Lamissa Bengali (or Bengaly) is joined by a coterie of Bengali brothers (Djakaride Bengali, Mamoutou Bengali, Seydou Bengali, Sidi Bengali). This man knew how to carry the torch of his regional traditional sounds, stuff the whole family can enjoy, circa 2001.

BTW—check out this music video of Bola (forthcoming release on Awesome Tapes From Africa) doing his thing.

Catch me DJing those phenomenal (and sometimes fickle) tapes in Hamburg at the Golden Pudel on March 28 or Berlin (supporting Konono no.1) at Gretchen on March 29.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:01:00 +0000

Alhaji Ayinla Omowura Ati D'Ariyo

Side 1

Side 2

Warbly low end, complex bubbly rhythms that are part Yoruba talking drums, part bad tape... I love the almost meandering, laid back apala tempo, at one point a precursor to faster, more frenetic fuji music (with which I have lately been obsessed).

I have always enjoyed the solo and chorus vocals throughout this late 70s apala joint by one of the king practitioners of the genre. Oh nice, iTunes has a few other recordings by Nigeria's late great Alhaji Ayinla Omowura.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Brahima Guitar Tchilla

Face A
Tchilla
Rognan Gaminin
Djon Ti Laban Lô

Face B
Gboron Fani
Djougouya
Siguisso

This might not be my favorite tape ever but this content and rhythmic Ivorian guitar/accordion meditation on middle-of-the-road tastefulness could not come from a more angelic-looking man, who happens to go by the name of Mr. Guitar. Longest sentence ever.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:38:00 +0000

Issa Coulibaly dit Trih Issa

Face A
Kono Kambora
Lodjourato
Djoukounaba

Face B
Sida
Bara
Mogo

Please make way for Mr. Issa Coulibaly (~~and his cohort~~ a.k.a Trih Issa). This cassettes plays like a personal communication from one established Guinean griot to another, soul-drenched kora and balafon and vocals to the hilt, something we've kind of heard before here but nothing quite like this. Traditional instrument parking only today. All others will be crushed.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Muungano Cultural Troupe Volume 17 Mambo Yapo Huku

Side A
Mambo Yapo Huku
Si Mzizi

Side B
Hutomchukua
Natumia Ufundi

Taarab music from Tanzania's long-running and legendary Muungano. This tape gets the award for wily, sinewy and swirly lo-fi keyboard tone of the year. Similar in crucial melodic and rhythmic ways to my earlier faves from Dar es Salaam, Jagwa Music. Stop by Afropop Worldwide for extensive cultural/social/political background on taarab in general.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets in Europe coming up in March, come say hello if you're nearby...Presented by Spex:

01.03. CH Bern / Bonsoir
02.03. CH Lausanne / Le Bourg
08.03. DE Berlin / Africaine 808 @ Soju Bar
10.03. DE Duisburg / Aula Im Festivalzentrum
15.03. IT Venetia / Teatro Fondamenta Nuove
17.03. IT Bologna / Locomotiv
28.03. DE Hamburg / Golden Pudel
29.03. DE Berlin / Gretchen (+ Konono No. 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Mama Diabate Nambiyo

Side A
Nambiyo
Koumbe Diara
Tenen Kaba
Bantan

Side B
Gbankole
Danka Boli
Fassoulouku
Koumbe Diara

Glittery and glammed out Manding pop from Guinea, perfectly balanced between traditional and modern persuasions. Vocals cut sharp, kora never dull, everything else falls into place / makes you want to dance. Don't stop.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets in California coming up:

~~Feb 2/Oakland//Hott Lava at Starline Social Club~~ Feb 4/Oakland/Hott Lava at ABCo
Feb 6/San Francisco//Aquarius Records In-Store Whatttttt (5-7pm)
Feb 8/Los Angeles//Nomerica at Naya on Sunset (formerly Tantra)
Feb 10/Los Angeles//Top Tape by dublab at The Hyperion Tavern
Feb 11 San Francisco//Tormenta Tropical at Elbo Room

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:17:00 +0000

Bola Volume 7 Coming April 2/3 Worldwide

Listen to the track "Abayetidu Ma" from the forthcoming Awesome Tapes From Africa release by Bola. He is a singer and instrumentalist from Bolgatanga, Ghana who has been putting out tape after tape of ridiculously energetic and thoughtful songs for the last few years. I almost died when I heard this Volume 7 tape for the first time. Bola's intense Frafra-language vocals, along with his shredding kologo—a two-stringed lute—boosted by bass-heavy, angular keyboard melodies and dance floor-ready drums. I am fascinated by Bola's take on a traditional instrument and musical style. Look out for this release in early April on LP/CD/MP3/limited edition cassette.

Bola "Abayetidu Ma" by awesometapesfromafrica

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:03:00 +0000

~~Who is this?~~ Mahmoud Ahmed

Side A

Side B

Hoping someone can provide some details on this excellent recording.

Happy New Year to all of you.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:25:00 +0000

Ding Ding Djello Koumandian

Face A
Sida
Hypocrite
Hommage à nos mamans*
Barimihi-Faré*
Sida (Remix)

Face B
/Koumandian
Daff mi Yakh
Ecoutons nos Parents
Koumacitiri-Ghö*
Hypocrite (Remix)

*—Made me feel/think something

Guinean rap from a group of well-educated lads, who big up their school with the album title (Koumandian Keita is the largest private school in Conarky). Established Senegalese rapper Sister Fa helps on vocals. Senegalese and German producer/musicians Bob Dynaa and Steven Töteberg (who ran a very important studio in Dakar for the youth called Maison Yes, where this was recorded) produced and mixed the album. Not much info about the group themselves...I think this is from the late '90s. Meh, this album is mediocre but tracks 3, 4 and 9 made me feel like sharing it.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:21:00 +0000

El Hadj Hamado Kanazoe

Face A
Nabi Yaam Pingr

Face B
Nabi Yaam Siifo

Majestic, otherworldly Sufi music from Burkina Faso. Damn, all zoned out on this "no instruments allowed" recording this morning. Vocal-to-mental invigoration.

More info on Wazu music in particular and Sufi music in general from West Africa and beyond right here.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Ahwach Souss

Side A

Side B

This is Berber music from the Souss region of southern Morocco, which sounds like it was recorded at a festival or event (I think I outdoor ambiance plus background chatter... an awesome spontaneous vibe to this recording). Ahwach music blows me away and I think this tape is particularly insane. Listen to the bone crushing drum rhythm that follows the eerie solo vocal introduction. Side B completely loses its shit around 12 minutes in.

But could someone please help us with the band/album name for this one?

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Ndiogou Seck Tarou

Face A
Lupaa-Lup-Samba
Coow-li (Lang)
Interesse +

Face B
Yaama NDiaye
Xoox-yi
Bari-Jom

Man. This tape is killing me today. Senegalese mbalax-ish style acoustic music with amazing choir vocal responses back by beautifully produced ensemble of drums and massive torso-sized kalimba. Enjoy.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:27:00 +0000

Jess Sah Bi & Peter One Our Garden Needs Its Flowers

Face A
Clipo
Katin
Kango
Minmanle?

Face B
Our Garden Needs Its Flowers
Apartheid
African Chant
Solution

Buy this shit on iTunes/Amazon because it's amazing that cats are making straight up country music in Cote D'Ivoire. My man Marco Werman came across these guys back in the 80s, but I have not heard anything else about them.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Alhaja Queen Salawa Abeni and her Waka Moderniser India Waka

Side 1
Mo Ti Goke
Thank You
India Waka
Mo De Inu Ile Ola
Ayinla Lo Ni Fuji Abeni Loni Waka
Abeni De Olo Un Orin

Side 2
Eru Mba Mi
Chief Popoola Olaofe
Mo Jawe Oriji
Kiniun Ti De Oko
Abeni Ti De Lady Waka Queen
Orin Wa Dun Un Jo

On this Thanksgiving 2011 we give thanks for the female practitioners of Nigerian fuji music. We at ATFA wish you a happy holiday and offer this 1984 recording as the extra gravy for your turkey/tofurkey.

For more info on Alhaja Queen Salawa Abeni's catalog check here.

Extra credit can't hurt.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ sets coming up in early December:

02.12. DE Berlin / Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Ghana Hiplife @ Worldtronics)
03.12. CH Genève / Festival Face G
07.12. IT Perugia / Loop Café
08.12. IT Roma / Vangelo @ Animal Social Club
09.12. IT Pescara / Maze

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Bereket Mengistab Vol. 13

Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4

Side B
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8

Eritrean music! This 1999 recording from legendary singer and krar ninja Bereket Mengisteab (spelled "Mengistab" on the tape) coalesces much of what I love about music from this region of the world: angular melodies, vocal acrobatics, warbly keyboard effects, heavily-swung rhythms and pounding bass.

Attention Berlin: I am super stoked to mention the upcoming Ghana Hiplife night at Worldtronics festival at Haus der Kulturen der Welt on December 2, which was curated in part by Awesome Tapes From Africa. The show features Ghana rap virtuoso Kwaw Kese, up-and-coming hiplife visionaries Bradez, mega-accomplished producer Appietus and UK rapper Sway.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Awa Kassemady Diabate Kayira Vol. 2

Face 1
Baya
Dania

Face 2
Talassa
Kayira

Happy 11/11/11 (and Happy Veterans' Day). Mande griot music for the masses from Mali with an after-taste electronique. Maybe that's just this recording's tinny treble-heavy mix [editor's note--I don't equalize these rips]. I feel like this solid package of soul and virtuosity was worth sharing here regardless.

BTW--First release on Awesome Tapes From Africa is out now: ATFA001 Nâ Hawa Doumbia "La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol 3". You can find it at eMusic, iTunes, Amazon or hopefully your favorite local record shop. It's a beautiful album.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ set at Spencer's GIFs with Janka Nabay at Santos Party House in Manhattan on Friday, November 18.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Fatou Laobé Hé Laobé

Side A
Serigne Bi
Hé Laobé
Sida

Side B
Djoudé Diabé
Kheul
Diour Dom Sani

Life is short. It's not nearly long enough post the best tapes by all the top mbalax divas from Senegal. Fatou Laobé's ecstatic yet masterfully controlled vocal cadences will have to suffice for today. Likembe has some tracks and info as well.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Shimkovitz) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Zig Zag Crew Bongo Msoto

Side 1
Bongo Msoto
Wazo Jipya feat. F.S.G.
Zig Zag
Watu Bwana RMX feat. Sir Nature
Intro

Side 2
Tumepagawa
Kanyagia
Watu Bwana
Bongo Msoto Instrumental
Kanyagia
Intro

Ill early aughties Tanzanian hip-hop (aka bongo flava). If you like '93 rap you will appreciate these guys' aggressive Kiswahili cadence over Dar-meets-BK kicks.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJ set Saturday (tomorrow) at the New Museum with tons of bands and djs including Atlas Sound, Light Asylum, Weird Magic, Todd Pendu, et al.

Also, Nâ Hawa Doumbia's La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol 3, the first release on ATFA the label, is out now on LP/CD/MP3 and limited edition cassette (see link at left).