random tunes part 15

enjoying a lovely summer in this part of the world
unusually consistently clear and hot days
makes for a memory of a tune from 1983 (?)
the long hot summer (just passed me by)
a fine song that was from the style council
which gives me the excuse to check out some more tunes
on this similarly classic summer night here and now
adduna by ba cissoko
these guys are a 4 piece outfit from guinea in africa
centred around 2 kora players, bass, drums
young guys with a great sense of groove and rhythm
beautiful production on the album makes for the complete package
great beat, clean sounds, wah-wah guitar, harmonies, etc, etc
diablo rojo by rodrigo y gabriela
mexican man and woman on acoustic guitars
making noises that just do not sound possible from a duo
the album this is from came with a dvd of them in concert
so there was proof that they were totally making all the sounds
as this one - tune plucked at speed, beat on the guitar body, thrashed chords, indescribable
ha umo musica do povo (there's a song of the people) by mariza
what can be said about this lady - how about she would eat celine dion for breakfast?
the thing i can't stand about the likes of cd is that she may have a brilliant voice
but there's not a miniscule of an ounce of soul in her body so neither in her music
this lady has it in spades - and the voice - and her beauty - sigh, gasp, melt, etc
i think this my favourite (so far) - listen and weep - literally
just because i like by laughing clowns
and for a complete change in style but sticking with the soul
mr ek also has it in spades and pours it into every tune he records or performs
if there's one band from the 1980's that sounds nothing like that era this is it
another typical clowns track where all musicians get their share of attention
ed leads but there's the raw sax, the gunfire drums, fluid bass and piano (chris abrahams)
bisbee blue by calexico
had forgotten i had this band's last album sitting in the iriver
saw them play at the basement last year - full 9-piece band on a small stage
at that time i was unsure of their music and came away very impressed
this tune is anchored in country/rock/pop territory and ok for it
it has a familiar beat, riff, chorus making for a very pleasant album track
anyone by joan as policewoman
joan wasser is the leader of this 3 piece from boston
apparantly she was jeff buckleys lover and inspiration for a few tunes
real life is the debut album of this lineup and it has a great appeal
on this slow number her voice is pushed to it's boundaries with simple but superb instrumentation
anyone can see through me - but you're not anyone
i am a beautiful and unique snowflake by triosk
i refuse to use the j word to describe triosk as that is what they are not
except in the sense that make noise, no vocals, double-bass, drums, keyboards
but adrian klumpes on piano is like a 4th member with his electronic gadgets
here he plays a beautiful melody on the piano while blips, scratches, noises are going on
then he hammers away on the same notes brilliantly supported by bass and percussion - superb
cruenza de ma by corou de berra
starts out like the intro to a major classical overture with serious viola intro
then the beat kicks in also on violin closely followed by the harmonising voices
corou de berra have hit a real chord with me with their beautiful music
no idea of course what they are singing about in their french dialect
but as here it's the richness in the instruments and voices that does the trick
confianzas by gotan project
a highlight act at last year's womadelaide was this french-argentinian outfit
they were loud - the bass in particular giving the old stomach-punch - but i like it like that
this one is so typical of their style - bandoneon leads, electronica grooves, sensuous vocals
in this case a lady talk-singing her way through the tune as another instrument
it all sounds just so french - so evocative and downright cool-smooth
fast boat to china by wanderlust
this 6 piece would be rich and famous if they were based in the u s of a
they compose and perform music that covers many different sources
some say they have captured the sound of australian jazz - whatever that may be
but for me they have an openness and appeal that may be of their 'multi-cultural' origins
as with this one - 8 minutes of all over the place music but still with feel and a theme

now that was fun with iriver tossing up a few new artists or songs
a very interesting mix of tunes has been delivered
but still need more in there - gotta get to it
might do some shopping tomorrow
unless it is too hot to go out
i'll take that also
hot summer
is good