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Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars: Radio Salone
Sixteen great new tracks from Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. -
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, Amadou et Mariam: Folila
Amadou and Mariam continue their foray into fusing their Malian styles with the sounds of western artists. -
Nneka: Soul Is Heavy
Nigerian-German soulstress channels her inner neo-soul star on her latest release -
Sauti Sol: Sol Filosofia
Kenyan, Afro-fusion outfit Sauti Sol continue their exploration of all things "pop." -
KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter. -
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Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa. -
Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more -
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Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion. -
Sia Tolno: My Life
Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
Robert Plant stands apart from other pop and rock icons who seem to have reinvented themselves years later with world music overtones.Partly, that's because there really has been no reinvention here.From the earliest days of Led Zeppelin, Plant sensed a connection between the roots blues he grew up loving and the desert music of north and west Africa, and that awareness was always there, lurking just beyond the obvious, a distinct ingredient in Zeppelin's mystic magic.Now, when Plant's band The Strange Sensation rock out on a Songhai takamba rhythm, the connection is more obvious, but perfectly continuous with the past--on the one hand, a fresh take on African desert groove music meets good ol' rock 'n roll, and on the other hand, the Robert Plant we've always known, just being himself.
Plant describes his current music as a "collision" of genres and "our own unholy liaison," words that telegraph the robustness and confidence of his approach.There's nothing precious or reverential about even the rootsiest songs, like "Somebody Knocking," 12/8, guimbri-driven rock in which north African sounds--thrumming string melodies and deep-toned, bendir drums--dominate.The familiar swagger of Plant's vocal seem neither restrained nor out of place in this context.Plant has broadened his musical language on this release, even in comparison with earlier work by The Strange Sensation.To say he has "mellowed" would be misleading."Freedom Fires," a punchy, riff-driven, 5/8 groove with a north African tilt, rocks as surely as any Zeppelin cranker, and covers a fantastic span of emotional ground in less than three minutes.And "Shine it All Around" would also have been right at home on a Led Zeppelin album, with its swirling symphony of guitars, wailing-to-heaven refrain, and pounding beat, enlivened by the funky syncopation of Plant's melody and a soulful crack in his voice.
Plant the Celtic balladeer is also not neglected here."All the King's Horses" is an affecting love song in which the singer's world-weary voice manages persuasive sweetness, accompanied by mostly acoustic guitar atmospherics. The lyrical "Dancing in Heaven" recalls the classic sound of The Byrds.Guitar work on Mighty Rearranger by Skin Tyson and Justin Adams--another veteran explorer of African desert sounds--deserves special mention.Whether rocking hard, shadowing Plant's vocal with Duane Eddy twang, or mingling with the more fragile sounds of the desert, both players come through with sureness and nuance.This is Plant's first studio work since Afropop Worldwide met him at the 2003 Festival in the Desert.Two years later, it is obvious that the experience meant enough to him to find vivid expression in his music.It is also clear that the man did not lose himself to the sand jinns.
Banning Eyre
Read our interview with Robert Plant at http://www.afropop.org/multi/interview/ID/38/Robert+Plant-Mali%2C+2003 .And watch for him on tour with the Strange Sensation this summer.
15 JUNE
17 JUNEBank of
19 JUNEBorgata Casino & Spa,
21JUNETower Theatre,
22 JUNETower Theatre,
24 JUNEMohegan Sun Arena,
26 JUNE
27 JUNE
29 JUNERyman Auditorium,
30 JUNE
4 JULY
6 JULYMolson Amphitheatre,
7 JULYMeadow Brook Music Festival,
9 JULYAuditorium Theatre,
10 JULYOrpheum Theatre,
12 JULYUniversal Lending Pavilion, DENVER, CO
15 JULYDodge Theatre,
16 JULYLas Vegas Hilton,
19 JULYParamount Theatre,
21 JULYBayside Concerts,
23 JULYSanta Barbara Bowl,
24 JULYGreek Theatre, LOS
29 JULYWOMAD Festival
31 JULYVilla
20 AUGV Festival,
21 AUGV Festival,
26 AUGRock En Seine,
26 OCTWOMEX (opening event),
30 OCTWOMEX (closing event),
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org
