martin phillips

downtown dunedin on a friday night
even though the school year is over the place is still buzzing
during the big middle part of the year the city is overrun with students
for otago university is well regarded internationally and drags 'em in from all over
which of course means a healthy sub-culture exists to provide for the transient population
per capita the city is well set up with many cafes, bars, bookshops, clothing shops, etc
for 3 days of this week i was staying in dunedin i started the day in the same manner
off to the legendary (in my mind) moana pool for some lap-swimming
then a walk down (literally) town to a cafe called modaks
a cup of coffee and a muffin and plenty of time to survey the fliers and posters on the main wall
it is here that it becomes obvious how healthy the music scene is in this relatively small city
i was due for a night out and unusually i found i had a choice to make of what to see
then i saw the name of martin phillips buried in a list of other performers due to play at a bar called 12 below
further reading of the flier advised that he was on as part of a performance for a conference on independent music
so decision made and that friday night found me in said bar to witness 'music on the edge'
the bar was found by walking down a cobblestone alley that lead onto a large courtyard
through a low doorway and down another couple of right-angled walkways
a small but well-appointed bar with low lighting, comfortable seating and a decent sized stage
serious deja vu going on now with recollections of this kind of activity many years ago
but still comfortable with this and especially so after conversations with various other visitors and organisers
as for the music - raw, energetic, passionate, earnest, pure, formative
i saw a few acts but one that i was very taken by was a chap named sunley
a smallish, bespactacled, suit-wearing, messy-haired fellow thrashing his guitar
and giving his microphone all his attention and daring the band and audience to keep up
will be keeping an eye and ear out for sunley - which i think is also (or only?) the band's name
the main man martin phillips was on quite late in the running order
which is why presumably the audience was thin in numbers and attention span
he played solo with a guitar and effects box to a fairly uninterested audience except for a few of us
his claim to fame is an outfit called the chills
in my humble opinion one of the best bands ever to come out of nz
in truth it's all about him as each incarnation of the band he drafts new members
he gets away with it as his songs and voice are so unique and now well entrenched in nz culture
not to mention a not insignificant degree of recognition internationally
pink frost is one of those songs that will live forever that refuses to age
with a song title like that it would be fair to assume the name of the band is temperature related
but no no no - i will never forget an interview i read with m phillips from way back
where he articulated that the name the chills actually comes from an emotion
that feeling you get he said when you hear, see or otherwise sense something really special
and a little shudder reverberates with that emotion - the chills
now i'm a bit addicted to that feeling and get it often enough usually related to the enjoyment of music
every time it happens i think of this man and his music
so for me his performance on this occasion was a bit of a nod to his legacy
as for the performance - there's one simple way for me to describe it
the ed kuepper of nz - complete with vast repertoire, guitar/effects, and attitude
that is a lazy way of reviewing a musician's performance
but all respect due

mbalax (senegal)

senegal would be to african music what new orleans is to american
that statement probably displays a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding
but my limited exposure to african music has mali and senegal often referenced
particularly with a number of performers from both countries as regular performers at womad
here's what songlines magazine had to say about the indigineous music of senegal
throbbing, syncopated cross-rhythms played by traditional sabar drums
in an eloquently chattering dialogue with electric guitars, blaring saxophones and full-blooded wolof vocals
it can only be mbalax the dominant sound of modern senegal
pioneered by the incomparable youssou n'dour
that has become one of the rhythmic glories in the rich patchwork of pan-african music
i had the very great pleasure of seeing youssou n'dour at womadelaide a few years ago
on a beautiful sunday night with a huge band, sound system and light show
just a magic night of music with the man completely winning over the audience
the sound of the sabar drum for me now always linked to that performance
even though i have seen and heard it in the hands of others since then
youtube delivered a number of videos featuring youssou n'dour
but as is my want sometimes i was looking for something less familiar
and came across quite a few clips commonly branded 'african divas'
now this is good - not enough women performers in this little project
of blogging the 50 rhythms of the world according to songlines
so i've picked 1 clip that features a female group called ndeye marie ndiaye
which presumably is the first name of each of the 3 performers
this is quite a long video featuring the 3 ladies
and providing a great example of mbalax
strong vocals, incessant drumming, rhythm to spare
(25 of 50)

marrabenta (mozambique)

the sweetly rolling rhythms of marrabenta may not sound particularly insurrectionary
but during mozambique's war of liberation
the colonial portuguese authorities moved ruthlessly to stamp it out
believing music was a medium of revolution
they failed of course and since independence marrabenta has defied years of civil war
to become an all-singing all-dancing emblem of national identity
combining an affinity with other tropical rhythms such as salsa and calypso
with distinctive elements of island tradition
the songlines description of marrabenta conjures up images of high-energy music and dance
not unlike various other styles of music from the african continent
but when trying to track down an atypical tune ex youtube
mostly what i found was more examples of the global influence of hip-hop
so lots of clips of young african males emulating their brothers in america
an unfair comment probably as their roots are right there and also in the music no doubt
the other dominating form of modern marrabenta seemed to be young women
also in a way emulating their western peers and singing/performing with the s word uppermost
digging deeper i came across a performer by the name of wazimbo
singing a beautiful tune that though not the afore-mentioned fast all-singing all-dancing style
it is still pure and authentic marrabenta - guess they also need time out with a quieter number
seems wazimbo's claim to fame is as lead singer of a hugely popular group in his home country
orchestra marrabenta star de mozambique
seems they had significant success in europe in the early nineties
but disbanded upon returning to their now peaceful country in 1995
there is something quite familiar about this lovely song
seems it has been used by microsoft for an advertisement
and also by sean penn in his film 'the pledge' from 2001
it's a gem of a song
(24 of 50)

la radiolina

the 4th album from spanish-born french-living multi-lingual singer-songwriter manu chao
whose claim to fame for me was as producer of amadou and miriams last big hit of an album
i'm always on the lookout for new music from out there in the world
especially if that music is closer to a genre or style of music than the culture it comes from
that is i'm not going to be buying into bagpipe music from a traditional scottish group
but if a group from poland is into bagpipes then i'll give it a listen (they're called shannon)
ditto this well-respected spanish performer with his dance/electronica/rock sound
13 dias
off to a flying start with this very up-tempo number
the similarity to amadou and miriam in sound, style and production is immediately obvious
nice acoustic and electric guitar work over the head-bopping beat
tristeza maleza
and a nice seque into this track which runs at the same speed and similar beat
harmonising voices give way to a very catchy blast of trumpets
spanish lyrics with some mention of el presidente george buuush
politik kills
which leads into a great tune that has a slower beat and english lyrics
politik need votes, politik needs your mind, politik needs human beings, politik needs lies
that's way my friend it's in evidence, politik is violence
rainin in paradize
today it's raining, today it's raining, today it's raining - in paradize
heading off into rock territory here with lots of electric guitars
mixed in with electronica and other noises to give it a very contemporary feel
besoin de la lune
now we're in french and another up-tempo guitar-pickin' tune
besoin - demand, la lune - the moon - so the demand of the moon?
man he cranks them out - nice consistency and beat - ballade? moi? non!
el kitapena
and they seque together so seamlessly - why waste valuable seconds with gaps between tracks
this album would make for excellent workout/aerobics backing music
another 2 minute track that gets along very nicely
me llaman calle
back to some traditional instrumentation - those mandolin sounding instruments
and other acoustic guitars and trumpets with a very catchy vocal line
could easily be a well-known standard tune put through the manu chao treatment
a cosa
vocals dominate on this slower and gentler number sung in his native spanish
there's an acoustic guitar in there somewhere and some brass and female backing vocals
a lovely tune that no doubt would be so much more with a translation of the lyrics
the bleedin clown
funny how a return to english brings back a familiarity in the music - a bit sad this one
i used to make the children happy now little girls cry when they look at me
i'm goin down... down... down...
mundoreves
another micro-tune - this one clocking in at 1 minute and 48 seconds
stripped back production compared to the rest of the album
kind of forgetful, kind of album-filler, kind of not-much-at-all really
el hoyo
back to the trademark production technique used throughout the album
up tempo number, brass backing, noises (in this case sirens), electric guitars (in this case wah-wah-ish)
and a lyric that means something to someone but not an essential component
la vida tombola
lovely flamenco-style guitars backing up harmonising male voices
then a slow build bringing in lead vocals then brass and wah-wah guitar
he almost swoons on this one - probably a great live favourite
mala fama
and sequeing to another acoustic-backed track with a slow sad feel
it's time like this it would be really good to lay hands on an english translation
this is as close as it gets to ballad territory i suspect - a sad-sounding singalong song
panik panik
more sirens, more wah-wah and fuzz guitar, more rapid-fire playing
get the impression this one is an ode to modern day life in the fast lane
panik economik, panik aux assedics, panik a la boutik, panik demografik, panik sans plastik
otro mundo
taking a bit of a breather on this slower one with almost spoken vocals
in fact almost a rap style vocal delivery over light instrumentation
sits in there quite nicely without causing too much of a fuss
piccola radiolina
1 minute and 8 seconds only of the most gorgeous flamenco guitar (lute?) playing
it sounds like a backing track from one of the other tracks on the album
but no problem - as with everything else brilliantly produced
y ahora que
unfamiliarity breeds cloning - or at least the sound of it
haven't investigated too far but i'm sure i've already heard this one on the album
but then again why not flog a good thing - it's all over in less than 2 minutes anyway
mama cuchara
the sister song to panik panik - same rapid playing, sirens, guitars
not sure who mama cuchara is but it or she seems to be held in high regard
the song goes out on an almost head-banging type beat and sound
siberia
another clever segue with some guitar hooks carried over from the previous tune
nice smooth liquid bass-playing comes to the forefront of this one
and the usual fade-out with all guns blazing
sone otro mundo
i'm guessing here but with sone translated to sound
this may explain that this seems to be the song earlier in the album but with no vocals
so easy to dismiss as album filler material but who cares with this pleasant little piece
amalucada vida
the last track and almost an anti-climax with a fairly average tune
though in it's favour is a reminder of the feel of the whole album
great production, mixed-up sounds, vocals not dominating, and feeeeeel

21 tunes on the album with an average of 2 minutes and 24 seconds
almost a punk like attitude - bang em out, bang em down, get on with it
but there's been some serious amounts of time spent on the production of this album
reminds me a lot of that huge album from moby (play)
lots of sounds and noises to get hooked in to
though the language barrier will be a problem
though obviously not in france and/or spain
est bon, esta bien

makossa (cameroon)

love these african rhythms that are well represented in the 50 rhythms of the world
at least according to songlines magazine who had this to say about makossa
it started life as rhythm in a hand-clapping game among school kids in cameroon
then in 1972 manu dibango adapted it added a dash of american-style funk and turned it into 'soul makossa'
the track was picked up by a new york radio station and the makossa phenomenon was born
once there were 9 different versions of the track in the billboard chart
and the makossa beat has even been credited with launching the 70's disco boom
michael jackson later copied the rhythm on his album thriller
now that is big talk and even bigger claims to fame
but nothing would surprise me about the reach of african music
i went on a search on youtube for makossa
by far the most common artist was none other than the afore mentioned manu dibango
get the impression he is a superstar in his home country of 18 million people
a bit of wiki research also comes up with some other interesting facts
particularly that he is credited by many as inventing disco
when he released his first album in 1972 featuring soul makossa
listening to that track and it is easy to hear the parts m jackson stole
there's also very healthy slabs of jazz, funk and r&b
(23 of 50)

freylekh (usa)

songlines magazine nominated freylekh as one of the 50 rhythms of the world
it certainly is a unique style originating in jewish and/or gypsy culture
but now apparantly well entrenched in the yiddish culture of the u s of a
a bit of research tells me that while freylekh is the dance
the music that accompanies it is known as klezmer
which is backed up by the text found in songlines magazine
if you have ever been to a jewish wedding or seen a film of one
then you'll recognise a freklekh (also spelt freilach)
when dancers with arms entwined form a ring or a line
and do exaggerated stomps on every down beat
freklekh is yiddish for 'merry' or 'happy' and the dance has a fast 4/4 beat
it's one of the exuberant staples of klezmer music
the magazine also recommended an outfit by the name of the klezmatics
i found a few videos of them on youtube
but they didn't exactly grab me
possibly because of a crossover with arlo guthrie music
which in itself may be ok but to my ears it was not something i wanted to remember
so further searching uncovered this outfit called metropolitan klezmer
performing a tune called wedding dance medley
looks like a pier possibly on the hudson river
so all the elements are there - klezmer, jewish, wedding, dance, america
(22 of 50)

end of an error

federal election day in australia
my home for 25 years of which the past 11 with john winston howard in charge
somehow by hook or by crook he had convinced the electorate he was the man
i'll never forget election night in 2004 as he took to the stage for his victory speech
it wasn't what he said that was memorable
it was the hideous little chuckle that came with it
basically the artful dodger personified
apart from all the other important reasons he had to lose
i just did not want to hear that noise again - it would be tooooooo much
and so it came to pass in 2007 that i was to be spared
though 2 of his cohorts gave equally cringe-worthy 'victory' speeches
p costello was positively gloating even though his party had been beaten
he'd come back with only a slightly reduced majority
unlike his boss who had been trounced by the alp candidate
pc spoke as though claiming the spoils of the election
transparant is an over-used word but very appropriate in this case
for his manner revealed all about him and his personal ambition
not even a hint of a mention of his concerns for his country and his fellow citizens
now that the dreaded enemy had seized power and were going to lead us all to rack and ruin
same with the sydney based power hungry chap malcolm turnbull
his speech was even more blatantly ego and self-centred
for he too had retained his seat and behaved as though the good fight had been won
went on about the wonderful egalitarian society that is modern day australia
for example in my own electorate i recall going to the local swimming pool with my father
and mixing it with judges and lawyers and businessmen and...um...and...garbos!
of course his own good fight had been won - howard out of the way and one step closer to the ultimate prize
again no mention of his concerns for his country and fellow citizens given the enemy was now in charge
and then the man himself took to the stage to give his concession speech
no chuckling this time but then also not an iota of sentiment
in a moment of madness i had prepared myself to even extend a bit of sympathy to him
but that evaporated when he advised us that he had just telephoned 'mr kevin rudd'
using all the formality he could muster and thus in fact denying his opponent any concession
seems to me in that moment he could have redeemed himself ever so slightly
but he still chose to be the as cold-hearted and calculating as ever
and also i don't think he even wished the best for his country or his fellow citizens
so 3 speeches and 3 self-centred ego-centrics playing their parts
at which point i gave up on the broadcast
so missed the new pm's speech
hope if was more about us and less about him
kind of what his party still stands for i hope
good-bye johnny and good.....luck

diary of a bad year

the latest book by respected south african author j m coetzee
who has resided in australia since 2002 and in 2003 won a nobel prize for literature
i'd read a positive review about this book in the monthly magazine of the same name
the title also appealed to me so tracked it down and have now consumed it
first and foremost the structure is unlike any other book i have ever read
the main character in the book has been contracted to write a series of articles
stating his opinion on various issues to be compiled into a collaborative effort
part 1 of this book are individual essays detailing those thoughts
providing opinions on matters ranging from 'on the origins of the state' to 'on dostoevsky'
part 2 of the book is the personal diary of the character come author
telling the story of his relationship with the lady he employs to transcribe his work
part 3 is this lady telling her story of that same relationship
including her own insight into many of the matters written by the author
now in a most unusual manner these 3 parts all run concurrently
in horizontal form on every page of the book
i.e. each page is dissected into 3 parts
so there is a lot of page-turning back and forward
reading forward on one part to a convenient finishing point
then returning back to pick up the thread of one of the other 2 parts
one reviewer had re-read the book by following each part from start to finish
which is a very sensible approach and probably worth doing
but i'm not one for re-reading books in the same way that i don't repeat view films
something about too many other books and films in the world to be visited
that said the opinions offered by j m c in his random essays are very re-readable
especially as each chapter is unrelated to that before or after
i found i was agreeing mostly, learning quite a lot and occasionally dis-agreeing
upon finishing the book i reflected on how it had been constructed
it is quite possible it could have been totally autobiographical
laying out his thoughts, transcribing his diary and his assistant's story
or - it could all be a clever work of fiction wrapped around the various essays
either way the essays 'on' the various subjects he has selected are very insightful
and given the right circumstances would spark some interesting debates
maybe even make for good blogging
now there's a thought....

conversations with my gardener

dialogue avec mon jardinière
sounds so much more appealing in it's original language
somehow i doubt i would be that interested in a film
e.g. set in england featuring 2 ageing men and a garden
but the french factor weighs in big time on the curiousity scale
it would be easy to describe the film as a classic french love story
beautifully contained in the love and respect between 2 men
without a hint of anything more than that
it begins as one man a painter returns from paris
to tend to his deceased mother's property not far from the city
and employs a gardener to help restore the badly neglected garden
they quickly recognise each other as old school chums
and their friendship is restored and allowed to mature
in parallel with the re-establishment and flourishing of the garden
the gardener (as he is known in the film) has lived his whole life in the area
and so can fill in some gaps for the painter (the dauber in the film)
they then proceed quite gently teaching each other a thing or 2 about life
with the simple wisdom of the gardener constantly astounding the painter
which is why his return to country life is so fulfilling for him
and presumably why he so enjoys the company of his friend
there's various scenes back in paris providing another contrast in the film
but it's the look and feel of the country where we are most comfortable
there is a real subtlety in the way we also become students of art
alongside the appreciation of the art of gardening
there's also the love of wine and women
and quite a few laughs simply in the joy of life
music is very gently and cleverly in the mix as well
with a powerful use of mozart in the film's sad conclusion
i doubt if there was a dry eye in the house (all 3 of us)
after which the final scene is one of redemption
even though maybe a little too contrived
another classic french film i would say

kwaito (south africa)

it's time like this that this little project pays dividends
there was an album given to me by my best friends on return from a trip to south africa
a group going by the name of mafikizolo and the album titled sibongile
sibongile meaning in zulu 'thank-you god'
as a result of the trio surviving a near-fatal car accident
it is a brilliant album of great up-tempo numbers and excellent production
stunning female vocals and strong bass and dance beats
apparantly it was a huge hit in south africa thanks no doubt in part to sony
i go back to it occasionally and still enjoy it from start to finish
had no idea that it was atypical of a whole genre of music
but doing a youtube search for kwaito threw up this group as leading lights
songlines had this to say about the music rhythm known as kwaito
after apartheid south africa needed to find a fresh sound
that reflected both its new optimism and the return to the international fold
of the newly liberated rainbow nation
that sound was kwaito a uniquely south african hybrid of local beats
and such imported forms as hip-hop, house and techno
which to me very well sums up the music of mafikizolo

real life

the name of the debut album by joan as police woman
an american 3 piece group featuring joan wasser on vocal, guitars, strings, etc, etc
she also writes all the songs so she seems to be the star of the show
seems she has worked in the past with the likes of lou reed, sheryl crow, elton john amongst others
i heard a track of hers on a compilation cd which i quite liked
so when i saw the debut album titled real life in a shop i decided to go further
real life
lovely piano introduction and backing with some strings
our lady singing a sad but quite lovely tune that grows in confidence
and it's true what they say about love
yes it's true what they say about life
and i'm taking it for all it's worth
eternal flame
the band comes in on this original tune - as opposed to that other song of the same title
instrumentation is quite simple and back there in the mix
so that the quite impressive and agile voice is out front
and some extra interesting overdub and backing vocals
one of the singles from the album
feed the light
keep it simple - piano intro , minimal instrumentation
voice dominating again on this quite slow tune
there's a guest vocalist named joseph arthur who adds deep bass harmonies
not so sure about this one - it seems to get lost along the way
kind of think the attitude is just let the music look after itself - or something
the ride
ah - the song i am most familiar with from the compilation cd
now that i am aware of the sheryl crow connection the influence is there
it's the kind of song that could easily be made famous by someone famous
again very simple and straightforward instrumentation
but a lovely melody and a chorus with a real hook - and a wurlitzer
i defy
we're now getting a bit more serious musically with brass added to the mix
but the big surprise is that this tune is song as a duet with a very distinctive voice
no less than antony from him and the johnsons
their voices work very nicely together making this a memorable tune
seems she has worked with him in the past so maybe favour returned
flushed chest
another gentle piano introduction making way for some more light instrument playing
very much in vein with feed the light earlier in the album
so not much of a melody or specific tune underneath
just more opportunity for the voice to be the focal point
as before - not a standout but also not a complete waste of time - is ok
christobel
unlike this one which i reckon is the standout track on the album
guitar and melody that sounds straight from a forest by the cure
christobel why won't you just fall in love with me
the middle has some quite distorted violins from the lady herself
sits nicely in this up tempo and head-nodding tune
save me
i don't want to live for tomorrow - save me
repeat, repeat, repeat - not a happy lady it seems
another one that doesn't exactly leap out of the speakers
especially with the bridge part which is just a little too average
has a good organic feel to it and an outro featuring a solo violin
anyone
it's not lo-fi but it is lo-arrangement or whatever term should be used here
same as others - musicians do their parts to a suitable level
so that joan can put her voice on top and make the song depend on that
another vocal workout really that again impresses with the range and control
quite a nice chorus bit saves this tune from average-land
we don't own it
this song dedicated to elliot smith (rip) according to the liner notes
very restrained guitar playing and the slightest of snare drum beat
she's at it again with the voice dominating and impressing
while listening it's a case of waiting for something to happen
but it doesn't - it just kind of just winds up and stops

imho we're going to be hearing a lot more of joan wasser or joan as police woman
this album is pointing to a more solidly produced album next time around
with this one she has got something she can be quite proud of as numero uno
but i think it will fade into obscurity with whatever comes next

karsilama (turkey)

i thought i may have found a glaring omission in the songlines 50 rhythms of the world
through the pursuit of the playing of the style by a young and clever clarinetist i know
i thought it odd that the clarinet style of klezmer had not been included
but then up pops karsilama which sounds very similar to this untrained ear
though i am probably likely to be offending entire cultures by saying that
wiki says klezmer is a jewish music style originating from south-east europe
used extensively at yiddish weddings particularly in the u s of a
karsilama on the other hand is a turkish dance especially for couples
i think i should abandon any attempt to connect the 2 styles
which brings me back to my claim of a glaring omission
we shall see - maybe klezmer is known by another name
here's what songlines had to say about karsilama
the karsilama isn't the best known dance in turkey but it's one of the most seductive
it comes from trakya the small european part of the country
and is a staple of the gypsy musicians who dominate the wedding scene in the region
although described as a 9/8 rhythm it's essentially a lop-sided 2/4
i'm not even a beginner at understanding music times
i mean what is 9/8 as opposed to a lop-sided 2/4
(wonder if music rhythms for dummies exists)
i'll just go with a statement of fact learnt watching the following video
them there beats and rhythms sure are complex
the musician in this video is selim sesler
as recommended for attention by songlines
(20 of 50)

mt john observatory

there's a very plain sign on the side of the road past the township of tekapo
pointing the way along a sideroad to a place called mt john observatory
and something about a cafe providing food and refreshments
well it was that time of the day and so a detour seemed a good idea
so off the main road we went, along the road for a few minutes
then across a cattle stop and then the quite ascent up the sealed road
the higher we went the more impressive the views became
which is probably stating the obvious in this beautiful area
near the peak of the climb we passed a fellow striding up the hill
no sign of a car anywhere so a bit of a mystery where he had come from
parked the car and then walked about 100 metres or so to the very top
and took in the breath-taking (literally) views
a 360 degree panaroma of snow-capped mountains , plains and lakes
some serious looking buildings housing the various telescopes
owned and operated by various nz and overseas universities
were also scattered around the area
and a very impressive steel and glass building housing the astro cafe
great coffee it seems knows no boundaries
nor does fresh carrot cake or generous and fresh sandwiches
so after a top-up in the fuel department
a wander around the site seemed appropriate
a opportunity for quiet contemplation of the beauty laid out around us
including an imagination only of what the night skies would be like
some photos in the cafe gave some indication of the night views to be had
there were lots of photos taken and cameras offered
in my case by the fellow we had passed on the way up
he told me he had just completed the 3 hour walk from tekapo township
following a track specifically provided for that purpose
mental note taken - do that walk one day (ahem)
an hour or so later we descended by the same road
tummies full, lungs cleared, senses in awe
another magic destination

lake tekapo scenic flight

catching up on a badly overdue birthday present
my father had his 70th birthday 6 years ago
as a gift i took him up the hunter valley to do an early morning balloon flight
alas just as we were ready to depart at 5 am the weather turned against us
and so a promise was made to take the birthday boy on a scenic flight sometime
finally the opportunity presented itself on a day trip to lake tekapo
this was not part of the planned expedition but everything seemed in it's favour
especially the timing as on an impulse we made some enquiries at the airfield
to be told a flight would be leaving in 20 minutes - seats available, weather perfect
on our flight we were to board an older vintage plane called a nomad
this particularly pleased my aircraft-loving, ex-pilot father
and even more so pleased our travelling companion who prefers twin-engine aircraft
to which i agreed considering the territory we were about to enter
as an added bonus on this flight we were informed of a normally unscheduled stopover
adding extra journey time to the normal 40 or so minutes in the air
we were also told that lucky us had 2 pilots for the price of one
the plane itself had seating for about 16 passengers
we were about half full so a bit of latitude in the seating arrangement
the first part of the flight was over the beautiful lake tekapo
and then into serious mountain range territory
it really was quite overwhelming gazing out the windows
feeling quite intimidated at the size and grandeur of these giants
beholding the wonder and scale of the peaks in close proximity
mount cook in all it's glory from one side then another
and the spectacle of a full view of the tasman glacier
with the runoff of a milky glaciel river feeding into lake pukaki
touchdown and catching of breath at a small airfield servicing the mountain area
then the return flight across the lake and grassy plains to lake tekapo
after landing we had the pleasure of a chat with fellow passengers
and our pilots seemed as enthusiastic about the adventure as us
turns out the main pilot for the day was learning the ropes
oddly enough this information had not been passed on pre-flight
but it was obvious we were in the best hands
an amazing experience
happy birthday dad

coniston ashburton nz

putting in a plug for a wonderful little cottage available for renting
i had a work acquaintance coming to town for a week of serious brain-storming
had him booked into the local-yokel hotel-schmotel
i.e. over-priced rooms, barely adequate service, amenities hit-and-miss
over the years i have learned to seriously mistrust what hotels advertise as facilities
e.g. oh you mean the internet - yes right over in that corner - sorry - it's down at the moment
that and other things have happened toooooo many times
and of course the view, location, interior are never as good as the photos
end result is i tend to favour either as they are known boutique hotels
of just go straight to the lower end of the market and not be disappointed
so when i heard of this cottage on the outskirts of town being available
a visit confirmed my thoughts that it would be a good work base for the week
cheaper than the local hotel and surroundings far superior
the cottage itself is the remains of the original homestead on this sprawling property
build in the 1870's and now less than half the original size due to a fire some time ago
but lovingly restored by it's current owners who have their own house on the 75 acre property
between the cottage and the house are nearly 6 acres of beautiful gardens
including an array of ponds, bridges, walkways, grassed areas, seats, etc
entrance to the property is via a long tree-lined driveway
reminiscent of some english-type country property come estate
seems this particular property is highly enough regarded
to warrant a royal visit by the qe2 on her tour of nz in 1983
she was handed a spade and a young tree (a sapling?)
told to dig in and now there is a rather large tree sprouting forth
proudly overlooking a plaque marking the occasion of it's transplant
there's also a increasingly rare kauri tree on the property
planted in the 1930's by the owner of that time
and still only about 10 metres tall
indicating the slowness of these beautiful trees of diminishing numbers
found mainly in (very) old growth forests mainly in the north island of nz
and also being retrieved from swamps with their hard timber still in solid condition
you could spend countless hours wandering around the gardens
but for us the week was mostly spent holed up in the cottage
doing the required brain-storming and systems-creating
listening to some nostalgia-based classic radio and a few cd's
the waterboys pagan place album will now forever be linked to coniston
what a great way to spend a week at work
will do the same again soon i hope

juju (nigeria)

back to africa for another of songlines magazine's 50 rhythms of the world
although it's origins are disputed, the term juju music was first used in the 20's
to describe the dreamy, hypnotic rhythms emerging from the yoruba neighbourhoods of lagos
with the arrival of amplification after world war 2 it took off as the capital's premier urban dance style
the music then undertook another dramatic development in the 60's with the dense, tight grooves
and multiple guitars of bands led by ebenezer obey and king sunny ade
back to nigeria having already visited afro-beat courtesy of fela kuti
there are some obvious similarities between these 2 performers
apart from their origins they both seem to favour large bands
with the compulsory female backing singers come dancers
both like to get the audience involved
but my first impressions of king sunny ade who's name is familiar
is that his music is far less politically charged than fela's
he seems to smile and laugh a lot more too
not sure where or when the selected video was recorded
but judging from the huge number of africans in attendance
i suspect it was from a concert or festival in his home country
the audience does generally seem to be quite uninspired
i don't think that is because of the music
get the impression this is a result of hardship
that life in general in nigeria is not to be celebrated
anyway digressing from the music and the man
there is a real nice groove to this tune
reminds me of various african artists seen at womadelaide
nothing quite beats the mastery they have of their music
making it seem very easy to produce the highly infectious beats
reminding me now of an interview i saw once of miles davis
basically saying he may be black but he's not african
meaning he can't generate the rhythm like they do
so what chance any other non-african musician?
(19 of 50)

jaipongan (indonesia)

strictly speaking jaipongan is not the name of a particular rhythm
rather it denotes a style of music and dance
purportedly developed by the bandung musician and producer gugum gumbira in the 70's
from various traditional sources it was perceived as rather wild and suggestive at the time
but is now established as a classic west javanese form
so says songlines about the jaipongan style or rhythm
my personal exposure to this sound was from a songlines sampler cd
featuring an outfit from indonesia called sambasunda
seems they are making inroads internationally
with this western infused form of gamelan orchestra music
had the great fortune of seeing the band at womadelaide this year
and stumbled on this clip on youtube of their performance
so i'm in the audience at this show
shame about the very poor audio quality
but the video captures the style of the music
lots of percussion on traditional instruments
with western bass lines thrown in
and a lady up front doing some traditional dance movements
which according to songlines above is as important as the music
there may be better examples of jaipongan on youtube
but it's great to have a video momento of my favourite music festival
with thanks to whoever made the effort to record and post the show
(18 of 50)

comicopera

the latest album from english singer-songwriter robert wyatt
his 16th album according to wiki
other interesting information ex wiki is that in 1973 he had a nasty accident
fell out of a 3rd floor window while 'inebriated' and has been paralysed from the waist-down since
seems he is also good friends with the english music aristocracy including pink floyd
who have put on benefit concerts in his aid
which probably means he may be well regarded but he ain't rich from it
this album has had raves in at least 2 magazines i respect
so decided to take the plunge
my first impressions are less than enthusiastic
maybe an in-depth track by track listen and critique may make a difference
stay tuned
the thing about robert wyatt is the voice - totally unique and instantly recognisable
he's starts out the album with a track with everything thrown at it
orchestral arrangement, female operatic backing, pleading vocals
so if you can hear me - if you're still there stay tuned
there is more to come oh don't start searching stay tuned
just as you are
this tune gets special mention in the reviews i have read
features his life partner monica benje on vocals
and paul weller guesting on guitar
it's a lovely little ditty about the love between him and her
maybe it will grow on me but i find it quite cloying in it's simplicity
you you
i'm not sure whether it's intentional or not with his style
but he seems to be the master of the non-song
that is record some interesting noises from various instruments
and ditto come up with some lyrics and interesting vocal techniques
then stick 'em together and see what comes out - it kind of works with this one
a.w.o.l.
i do think that he has a distinctive style that he has cornered the market on
one review suggested he is the quintessential english musician
whatever that means but maybe the ability to churn out a style of tune
that captures the feel of the english countryside, nostalgia and all
as with this quite likeable jazz-based tune recalling days gone by
anachronist
and carrying forward with the same feel into an instrumental track
with his voice making noises in unison with the brass
again it's a bit of a non-tune with no riff or melody
you could say it's a straightup jazz track
but it seems too light and non-eventful for that label - a bit forgetful really
a beautiful peace
co-credited to a chap by the name of eno
and featuring phil manzanera on guitar
so further proof of mr wyatts standing amongst his peers
another very simple little ditty about a walk around his town
gets along quite nicely and inoffensively - not too bad
be serious
i really envy christians, i envy muslims too
it must be great to be so sure as a top hindu or jew
paul weller again on guitar on this anti-religion tune
maybe i just am missing the point or something
but take away the guest guitarist and the voice and there's not much left
on the town square
another instrumental with an odd collection of instruments
cornet, sax, steelpan all at work here
starts out with a gentle cyclic riff
that builds on the basis of each muso repeating a simple pattern
nice sax work from one gilad atzmon is the standout on this tune
mob rule
this is a quick little tune which references life in a small town
seems there has been some debate about a local town planning issue
directors of planning must be given the right to make plans
just as say the woodworm must bore so too advisors must advise
yeah thanks for the insight and hope they get it worked out
a beautiful war
uh-oh mr wyatt is a cynic up there with the best of them
unlike the title the lyrics talk about a beautiful day
when i open the hatch and i dropped the first batch
i'll give him points for consistency
another example of a non-song musically with vocals to the rescue
out of the blue
features an enotron - 'i.e. the voice of brian eno'
why do i get the impression he has put this album together very quickly
a sort of 'down in one take' approach to both the lyrics and music
here we are trying to be clever with off-key noises
and the enotron is interesting but in the end is kind of annoying
del mondo
sung completely in italian so no idea what this is about
credited to 5 italian sounding names so maybe a cover
well if nothing else it's a change to other songs on the album
instrumentation is very light and simple - bass violin and keyboards
all a bit of nothingness unfortunately - starts and goes nowhere really
capricion de julieta
and continuing the theme of foreign language songs
very similar feel to the previous tune
some interesting brass noises going on in the background
and the bass violin also kicks in with some good weirdo noises
leading to a long almost groovey outro - quite a pleasant one really
pastafari
the guest musician on this tune is a vibraphone player named orphy robinson
he seems to have been given the brief to play whatever he wants
and then other noises are added to the mix ('electrical interference')
the obvious question is - why
the obvious answer is - album filler
fragment
ask the same question and get the same answer
take a few samples of the big hit single off the album (track 2)
mix it up, reverse them, add some piano bits
add some electronica just for the fun of it
and stick it on the album to prove we are contemporary
hasta siempre comandante
not even beginning to pretend to be an expert on linguistics
but the lyrics to this song seem to be spanish
and all the other musicians (5) have names that seem spanish
there are musical hints of an authentic spanish gypsy kind of tune
before a vocal mixed-up fade-out of the tune (and album)

conclusion - more listens required to be totally judgmental
but i have a feeling a warm and fuzzy feeling is not going to develop
but all respect due to mr wyatt - he definitely is in his own space

highlife (ghana)

ghana - west africa - popualation 23 million - borders the ivory coast, togo and burkina faso
and more useful information available from wiki
songlines had this to say about their unique home-grown music style
the exuberant rhythms of highlife began among the ashanti people in ghana
but swiftly spread throughout sierra leone and nigeria
by ghana's independence in 1957 the original traditional-based style
had diversified into sophisticated dance bands led by the likes of e t mensah and king bruce
and vibrant electric guitar combos such as a b crentsil's sweet talks
doing a search on youtube threw up a number of hits for ghana highlife
but interestingly most of these also had reference to hiplife
so it seems like in the rest of the world
hip-hop (rap) is morphing with the local popular music
to produce a style with a vein of international recognition
specifically in this case hiplife with rap-style vocals and african dance music
there were quite a few examples of this on display
and not many original highlife clips that were not just slideshows
so i went for the following clip
seems to be mostly authentic highlife as best i can tell
but with the obvious influences
(17 of 50)

trespass

winner of the orange prize
was proudly printed above the author's name valerie martin
so being a sucker for a good book i bought it
even though i had no idea what for or where the orange prize is awarded
of course she is the winner for a previous book not this one
but the back cover read well and appealed to me so i committed to it
there are 4 main characters in the story who share the limelight
chloe is an artist living in the country outside new york
her current project is producing an illustrated version of wuthering heights
devoted husband brendan is a university professor of history
and is similarly writing a book about 13th century cruasder frederick
only child toby is at university in new york finding his way in life
he falls in love with salome she of croatian descent
who has a family with a story to tell of the balkans war
her father is a fisherman relocted to louisiana
her mother it turns out though presumed dead is living in italy
the book flits between times, places, people, events
there is the backdrop of the war in iraq that gets the authors attention
and so there seems to be a lot going on at any one point
it hangs together quite well actually
i enjoyed a bit of exposure to the 13th century crusades
and an insight into heathcliff's story in wuthering heights
mostly though it was salome's mother's story that was the most effective
a very sad tale of the brutality of the balkans war of late last century
though i'm not sure why this story was fully contained in italics
as if the reader needed to be reminded this was a story within a story
a minor point but it seemed we were being asked to remember this point
when for me it was probably the strongest part of the book
i'm not sure where the title came from
there is a sub-plot of a poacher on the couple's country property
though the violence affected on salome's mother would warrant the title
i have a feeling the author had all this and more in mind
when she chose the title and built a story around it
hint: the book that won the orange prize is called property
this one is quite a good read really
though it ends quite suddenly
and with a few unresolved issues
i'd recommend it

the italian

a russian film about a 6 year old boy
an orphan who is destined to be sold to an italian couple
hence his nickname and the title of the film
but he takes things into his own hands and escapes from the orphanage
and does a cross-country dash in search of his real mother
there is absolutely no mucking about here from the director
it's a very bleak, cold, sparse, miserable place that he is living
the film is in colour but there is none of that for a while
the only snatches of comfort are the occasional displays of decency
for while everyone seems despondent and verging on desperate
the innocence of the child brings out the best in most he encounters
his first ally in his escape is a young girl prostitute
who sacrifices herself in the hope our boy finds a better life
cleverly as soon as they are away the sun is out
and life in deep russia seems a bit more bearable
but he has to keep moving as his pursuers know his destination
he's on his own but he has watched and learnt fast
how to deal with the worst in people
and when it suits to bring out the best in people
no sledgehammer directing but that seems to be the theme
i found myself totally drawn into the story
my heart was with the boy and against those in pursuit
all the way through you just want a happy ending
but as usual and with what i particularly like about foreign films
that is not a given and anything is possible
the final scenes are quite harrowing
there's violence and self-harm and blood spilled
but also bad becomes good
and there's a rare smile at the end of it all
which probably coincided with my own expression
though the translation of the last spoken words needs concentration
and a bit of a think back to a brief scene earlier in the film
a great story of the worst and best in humanity

control

directed by uber-director anton corbijn
who's claim to fame from memory is the cover shot of the joshua tree
on the album of the same name from that big irish band from the 80's
he's gone back to the previous decade in this film
to tell the story of joy division and ian curtis in particular
i'm always a bit wary of biographical films
to me they can come from the same place as tribute bands
that is to milk a revered musician or group for the obvious reason
the reviews for this one seemed favourable
and a blast of j d music is never a bad thing
i was fortunate to see the film in a particularly good theatre
a big wide screen with a superb sound system and large comfortable seats
the director has used his photography background to great effect
technically the film is shot in black and white
but the sepia toning means it is quite easy on the eye
so the cinematography stunningly depicts the time and place
not to mention the entire mood of the film
there's quite a long preamble covering school days for ian curtis
and the eventual forming of the group comes quite naturally
at the same time as a teenager he falls in love for the first time
he marries his sweetheart as the group starts to find fame
thus embarking on a twin career of musician and husband/father
it is just so sad to see this good man struggle to be both
and in a strong way suggests the true meaning to love tearing us apart
we know where the film is heading but it's still a riveting story
there is very little offered to explain the source of the music
but there are plenty of scenes of the music played live
and totally convincingly by the actors
who all bear an uncanny resemblance to the actual group
but that is typical of the film in general
as there is amazing attention to detail
it's a long one at over 2 hours
totally absorbing

forro (brazil)

sometimes you can't go past the original
songlines recommended a chap by the name of luiz gonzaga
seems he was the man who rescued the style of forro
and is now a household name in his native brazil
his influence now permeates throughout a lot of modern brazilian music
there are quite a few contemporary clips demonstrating that influence
david byrne also gets a mention due to his interest in this style
there's a few clips with him and a band called forro in the dark
here's what songlines had to say about forro
this jittery jig-like 2/4 rhythm was ostensibly born in barn dances
thrown by english railway companies in north-east brazil
brazilianised with a soft portuguese 'i' and 'r' these 'for alls'
as they were christened by the english became 'fa-haws' - spelt forros
today the rhythm is brazil's favourite dance after samba
the clip shown here features luiz gonzaga
recorded in 1958
(16 of 50)

didgeri-beat (australia)

didgeri-beat gets a mention as one of the significant 50 rhythms of the world
as nominated by songlines the world music magazine
significantly though all they had reference to was yothu yindi
the group that had the huge hit titled treaty back in 1991
i've seen the odd group since then but like all things aboriginal
that culture seems to have been on the wane since then
no doubt due to a liberal government in power most of that time
that only paid lip service to this culture
and then only when there was a chance of scamming a few votes
the text from songlines regarding didgeri-beat as follows
based on original aboriginal clapstick beating patterns of arnhem land's yolngu people
which can vary from a slow 20-30 beats per minute to a very rapid 240bpm
the term didgeri-beat has been used to describe the fusion of these ancient dance rhythms with contemporary indigenous music
accompanied by the circular breathing modulations of the yadaki (didgeridoo)
the pulsating tempo has been successfully combined within reggae, rock, country and electronic genres
to form the basis of most modern aboriginal music
as much as i would like to see other examples of this style
the video for treaty has significant political interest
in it we see a much younger bob hawke
presumably attempting to forge a significant relationship
with the original inhabitants of australia
(15 of 50)

how to be an artist

back in auckland for a week of mainly pandering to client's requirements
holed up in a less than celebrious motel in the mostly revered suburb of newmarket
morning breakfast consisting up a wander up the road to a quaint little cottage
converted to a cafe come arts and crafts display house
my eye was drawn to a wordy poster titled how to be an artist
read through it and managed to mentally tick some of the suggestions
decided it needed to be preserved for posterity herein
so i can aim to tick a few more

stay loose
learn to watch snails
plant impossible gardens
invite someone dangerous to tea
make little signs that say yes and post them all over your house
make friends with freedom and uncertainty
look forward to dreams
cry during movies
swing as high as you can on a swingset by moonlight
cultivate moods
refuse to 'be responsible'
do it for love
take lots of naps
give money away
do it now
the money will follow
believe in magic
laugh a lot
celebrate every gorgeous moment
take moonbaths
have wild imagination, transformative dreams and perfect calm
draw on the walls
read every day
imagine yourself magic
giggle with children
listen to old people
open up
dive in
be free
bless yourself
drive away fear
play with everything
entertain your inner child
you are innocent
build a fort with blankets
get wet
hug trees
write love letters

the shepherd's dog

the third album from the group known as iron and wine
which i understand is actually one man named sam beam
a performer from the south of the u s of a
i was turned on to him after the release of the second album
played that one on quite high rotation so this one was met with a little excitement
especially after reading quite a few favourable reviews
pagan angel and a borrowed car
the immediate impression from track 1 is more elaborate production
many more instruments in the mix and more vocals too
though still a very organic sound with violins, piano and a bit of banjo(?)
the voice is just so distinctive - like no other
it drives me nuts actually as he sounds like someone i know well from the 70's - but who?
white tooth man
a slower number with a banjo/guitar sound and slide guitar
allowing vocal harmonies to be brought to the fore
quite a lovely love song really - nothing not done before
but it's that voice that makes it so distinctive
wiki says nick drake, simon and garunkel, neil young, elliot smith - musically presumably
lovesong of the buzzard
up tempo number with what sounds like a hammond organ and steel guitar
nice beat and the typical organic sound allowed to flesh out
hmmm - overtures of seals and crofts maybe who i am thinking of
there has to be at least 7 or 8 musicians at work on this tune
but it still feels very light and certainly very easy to get into
carousel
very clever production techniques at work in this one
his voice warped through some process to sound almost organ-like
no drums or other percussion but sounds like an electric piano used sparingly
and then his voice used as an instrument to accompany the vibrophone, etc
so easy on the ear but not easy listening - just gentle
house by the sea
as opposed to the genesis tune titled home by the sea
another bunch of strange instruments used to back him up here
reminding me of southern america's answer to waterboys circa fisherman's blues
similar themes too obviously and the production not dissimilar
some sort of electric guitar takes over here and takes it out nicely
innocent bones
oh yes lovely production - sounds like a lot of time spent in the studio here
a traditional piano sound adding richness to his almost whispered vocals
overdubbing of his vocals and sweet harmonious backing vocals
reminds me as a listener that there is no end to what can be done with music
given a nice tune, a distinctive vocal and a sympathetic producer
wolves (song of the shepherd's dog)
and to presumably the title track of the album
more studio wizardry on (aural) display with this one
vocals back in the mix and in reverb mode
some wah-wah guitar sounds, steel guitar, more bass than usual
allowed to take over but heard in balance with each other instrument
resurrection fern
one of those songs that sounds like it has lived forever
starts out very gently and builds with slide guitar dominating
he's leaning right up to the microphone and reminiscing of childhood days
like stubborn boys with big green eyes we'll see everything
in the timid shade of the autumn leaves and the buzzards wings
boy with a coin
my favourite tune from this very fine album of very fine tunes
but who is it - it's that 70's vocal sound coming through loud and clear
csn&y maybe - though maybe it's just the production style that is familiar
again the vocal harmonies are superb but not far back in the mix
is some more wah-wah guitar sounds, hand-clapping, rhymical bass, etc, etc
the devil never sleeps
boogie-woogie piano introduces this one and hangs around in the background
quite a short little ditty clocking in at just over 2 minutes
a lament to the lack of good music on the radio (i think)
bounces along very nicely and gets the head bopping
about as rock oriented as anything on the whole album
peace beneath the city
more studio aural experimentation at work here
vocals overdubbed and in echo/whisper mode
electric guitar sounds warped and otherwise distorted
get the impression this tune would work very well live
allowing the musicians to really indulge themselves within the sound
flightless bird, american mouth
the album outro starts with just gentle vocals
swings into a lovely waltzy feel singalong number
another tune sounding like something already etched into our memory
the piano kicks in and all and sundry add their bits
finishing with a long sustained note on a hammond organ (?) - very nice

i haven't read a review that is anything less than glowing about this album
for me it's a real grower - repeat play just makes it better and better

csardas (hungary)

going all eastern europe on this project now
finding a youtube clip to associate with songlines 50 rhythms of the world
the clip below came up on top of the list when searching for csardas
that seems to be the title of the very familiar piece
so i assume it is also representative of the rhythm in question
this is a a youtube video of excellent quality
there is some exceptional musicianship on display here
4 musicians very much in control of their instruments
and looking like they have been doing it for a long time
even the conductor of the waiting orchestra seems impressed
looks like the 4 piece were guests at the concert
maybe doing the national anthem or something
or a touch of nationalism at an orchestral night perhaps
as the songlines text indicates below about csardas
a traditional csardas tune starts slow and ends up fast
so if only for that reason i think this is a fine example
(14 of 50)

emil and karl

my new found (need to be) thriftiness has seen me entering second-hand bookshops
not to mention the local library (more coming on that front)
i've found a second-hand shop in my current town of domesticity
that is very well organised and has a large number of titles on offer
so as is my want when on a mission to get into a book
i enter the shop with the promise to not exit until a book is in hand
this approach has worked well in the past at airport bookshops, etc
it means on occasions a title is purchased that may not otherwise be
if given the chance the spirit of procrastination means leaving empty-handed
rather than take a chance on something not totally convincing
which means of course possibly missing a gem of a book
so after a good hour or so in the second-hand shop
i decided on a book titled emil and karl
written by an unknown author named yankev glatshteyn
a polish jew who wrote this book just prior to world war 2
a stark and brutal portrayal of the darkest hour in human history
is written in sub-titled text on the front cover
emil and karl are 2 austrian schoolboys
swept up in the nazi clampdown on jews
emil is a jew whilst karl is his loyal and best friend
i'm not entirely sure why i decided to give this book a read
war books and films are something i tend to want to avoid
i think purely on the basis i just don't want to be reminded
of what terrible things us humans are capable of doing to each other
but the innocence of the child in an adult world is an appealing subject
with some recently seen foreign films fresh in the memory
further investigation of this book offers some further insight
only just recently translated from yiddish
it has been a staple read in yiddish culture since it was written
what i had not expected though
was that in fact it is written with children as the target audience
presumably to provide a tale of friendship transcending culture or faith
for this i enjoyed the story and the comradeship on display
there is also the enjoyment of reading of adults being softened
by the innocence of these two boys and their need for shelter
however it is a very simply written tale
so the book can be consumed in one take over a few hours
something a bit different

cocek (macedonia)

pushing on with this fun project
finding an appropriate youtube video for songlines 50 rhythms of the world
here's what they had to say about cocek
the cocek of the balkans is a solo dance of turkish origin
sensual and sometimes bordering on the lewd set to a hypnotic syncopated rhythm
sinuous chromatic melodies and plenty of space for passionate improvisation
on the part of dancer and musician alike
they also recommended a chap by the name of ferus mustafov
rated as macedonia's top clarinetist/trombonist
it's him in the video on display here
surrounded by like-minded musicians
and a bunch of people enjoying the opportunity to hit the dancefloor
i find it quite catchy and very close to the gypsy klezmer style
but not surprising considering that like our man here is a balkan gypsy
(13 of 50)

cumbia (colombia)

songlines magazine said this about this south american rhythm
cantering basslines, lurching percussion, spiralling clarinets and punchy trombone choruses
that's colombian cumbia
the racing 2/4 rhythm of a bamboo guacharaca (scraper)
and rumbling , cone-shaped tambora drums
drives dancers into flirtatious moves
descended from the slaves in ports like cartagena
cumbia remained low-class and largely black until the early 20th century
and the 50's and 60's society big bands like
lucho bermudez's and los corraleros de majagual spread it nationally
today's salsa-influenced modernists co-exist with roots accordian groups
whose singers yodel like cowboys
most of the youtube clips i found for this style
seemed mostly focused on the obvious sex appeal of the music
or at least the supposed sex appeal of the young and beautiful performers
with presumably a loose connection to the original style
but heavily updated with modern recording techniques and instrumentation
the clip linked here seems to lean more to the traditional
and contains many of the elements mentioned in the songlines text
including the scraper, trombones, accordian and (almost) yodelling
so i suspect a good example of this style
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