Sound of Africa

[kingdom hoop]

My turn to scrounge!

I love African music, but my knowledge doesn't stretch very far so I fear I could be missing out on some great stuff. So you are being enlisted to make sure I'm not, and for anyone with a virginal curiosity maybe I, or someone more knowledgeable, can ease you in. Everything I've ever heard has been top drawer - maybe I'm lucky or maybe the music is that good. :) (great music for long drives at night I've found - have to be careful not to fall into too much of a trance though!)

Albums I currently have:

Nass Marrakech - Bouderbala, and, Sabil 'a Salaam (both excellent, reasonably relaxed, but still head-bobbing).
Amadou & Mariam - Dimanche a Bamako (really, really, really outstanding African pop - one of my favourite albums).
Tinariwen - Amasskoul, and, Aman Iman: Water is Life (powerful guitars, great beats and guttural vocals - excellent).
Ali Farka Touré - Talking Timbuktu, and, Niafunke (the maestro at work).


So any artists, any styles, other albums by above, discussion on above, etc, encouraged. Just please don't tell me I have all the best stuff already!

[noby]

Toto.

[kingdom hoop]

Toto.

'Ear'Ear. ;) :D

[superfrank]

Fela Kuti - Zombie

[ken foree]

Fela Kuti - Zombie

YES! RUN TO THE SHOPS AND GET AS MUCH FELA AS YOU CAN!! sorry for shouting but it needs to be done. they have re-packaged/re-released a lot of his early records doubled up on one cd so look for "confusion/gentleman" "expensive sh!t/he miss road" or "opposite people/sorrow tears and blood" for starters. amazing stuff, his music is only rivalled by his incredible life story. political dissidence, persecution, giant harems full of women, drugs, insane music, the guy was way way way out.

[kingdom hoop]

Cheers lads. Fair play for the positivity and detailed, intriguing description kenny - my curiosity is certainly piqued! It's a little late to run to the shops but I'll pick some of his stuff up soon. :)


Now, can anyone come close to ken's enthusiasm, I wonder. :(

[Paddy Garcia]

Hlababa, Blue African Skies is an outstanding album. South African music. Highly recommended, all stuff which could easily chart over here.

[ken foree]

Cheers lads. Fair play for the positivity and detailed, intriguing description kenny - my curiosity is certainly piqued! It's a little late to run to the shops but I'll pick some of his stuff up soon. :)

Now, can anyone come close to ken's enthusiasm, I wonder. :(

well to be fair it was superfrank (foot.ie's resident funk guru) who gave fela's "zombie" a shout and that's a fine record too, from what i remember. i guess they call fela's stuff "afrobeat" and there are probably tons of related artists. i believe his son femi tours and plays the late fela's stuff these days. imagine james brown as a tribal drill sargeant in colonial africa and you're getting close to his sound i'd say...