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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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Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage. -
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. -
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Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit. -
Tinariwen: Tassili
Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud. -
Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results. -
Cheikh Lo: Jamm
The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record. -
David Rudder: Random Notes
Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.
All on their own, Hukwe and Charles Zawose of Tanzania can put out a sound that whole orchestras of dedicated to the trancey side or world music would be hard pressed to rival. This uncle-and-nephew team play a selection of fiddles and hand-pianos (lamellophohnes) derived from pre-Colonial Wogogo tradition, and they sing in strong, resonant harmonies that have a near-narcotic affect on this listener. The music has been modernized in ways that only insiders would spot. For instance, the instruments have been tempered to a diatonic tuning. However impure, the result is one of the most beguiling sounds in all of traditional Afropop, and this is the Zawoses' most varied and satisfying recording yet.
"Mkatale Kulonga," an a capella piece, sets the mood with dark, buzzing harnonies reminiscent of Pygmee choral music. "Kwetu Kutali" combines the smallest of the hand pianos (chimimbwalimbwa) with the two-stringed fiddle (chingwenyewenye). Each of these eleven tracks brings different instruments to the fore, ane each is magical. Searing vocals and pure-toned fiddles slice the air, while deep, metalic tones bubble up from the various lamellophones used here. Some pieces swing; others drive hard or shuffle into 12/8 time; still others seem to float in a hauntingly beautiful haze around the listener. The selection culminates in magnificent piece for the 14-string izeze kubwa fiddle. In all, one of the most powerful and irresistable tradidional African recordings we've heard in a long time.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org
