Tuesday 28 December 2010

Maimoona: Music of the Rif Mountains



As a special festive treat, here is the last of Uncle David's Moroccan cassettes, and this one's a complete mystery. The words 'Maimoona: Music of Rif' are handwritten on the label and this is the only clue we have to go on. The music is completely timeless, and this cassette could possibly be a complilation of songs recorded from other cassettes, but in the end, I'm as clueless as everyone else.



Tracklist:

Side One
Side Two

Get it HERE.

Monday 13 December 2010

Bhai Davinder Singh Ragi & Party - Shabad Kirtan



As I said previously, I know very little about Indian music. It would be fair to say that I know even less about the music of the Sikh religion. I picked up this album of Sikh devotional songs in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago and its very beautiful. As usual, any information about the songs or the artists would be much appreciated.



Tracklist:

01 Ek Onkar Bani Guru-Guru
02 Sun Sun Jeevan Teri Bani
03 Choji Mere Gobinda
04 Ditha Sab Sansar
05 Guru Mere Sang Sada Hai Neale
06 Kirpa Karo Deen Ke Datay
07 Abh Tabh, Jabh Kabh, Tuhi Tuhi
08 Mithay har Gunn Gao
09 Toou Mera Pita Tu Hai Mera Mata

Get it HERE.

Thursday 9 December 2010

Los Guaraguao - Es Mi Viejo (1974)




When I was at university a couple of years ago there was a big debate between different members of the teaching staff over elements of Marxist theory. Which is the more pertinent element of the theory, exploitation or alienation? Some liked the work of Guy Debord and Walter Benjamin and the idea that capitalism creates a world of illusion, an enchanting wonderland of fashions and glittering trinkets which help separate us from our fellow human, whilst others thought this irrelevant in the face of the real exploitation of the world's poor for the benefit of the world's rich.

Of course the world is never so simple as such false dichotomies would suggest. The spectacle is necessary so that the exploitation can be perpetuated, and the spectacle must be brighter and more encompassing as the exploitation intensifies.

What does all this have to do with this week's charity shop musical 'bargain' you may ask. Well not much would be my answer, other than that this group of Venezualan musicians were part of the Nueva Cancion (new song) movement that swept Central and South America in the 1970s and '80s. Music was used as a form of immediate mass communication to express ideas that were in opposition to the views of the repressive, right wing regimes that were being installed and supported by the US government across the continent. This music expressed the feelings of the people, of the workers, and was considered dangerous enough to warrent repression in many South American countries, and many songwriters and musicians were harrassed, beaten and forced into exile.

Check out these great recordings from the 1983 Nicaraguan peace concerts for a good overview of the Nueva Cancion movement.

Tracklist:

01 Es Mi Viejo
02 Canto a mi Pueblo
03 Mi Canto
04 Cancion Por Il Fusil Y La Flor
05 Ay Que Si, Ay Que No
06 Algo Diario
07 Cristo al Servicio de Quien
08 Juventud Adelante
09 El Campesino
10 Eres Asi

Get it HERE.

Sunday 5 December 2010

Bukka White - Mississippi Blues (Sonet 1968)



This was a fantastic recent charity shop find. Bukka White was born in 1906 and recorded some 78s in the 1930s before spending a number of years in prison, apparently for shooting a man. This classic album of delta blues was recorded by the guitarist John Fahey in 1963 and if you haven't already, then you need to hear this. Great voice, great slide guitar as you can see:



Tracklist:

01
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues

02
Baby Please Don't Go

03
New Orleans Streamline

04
Parchman Farm Blues

05
Poor Boy Long Way From Home

06
Remembrance Of Charley Patton

07
Shake 'Em On Down

08
I Am In The Heavenly Way

09
The Atlanta Special

10
Drunk Man Blues (Piano)

11
Army Blues

Get it HERE.