This collaboration of the Athens, GA-based collective TaxiCab Verses helmed by Jim Wilson and the group of musicians from Accra, Ghana, Kofi Atentenben and the Warriors, became a regional treasure
In one sense it feels that we were in a similar place recently in terms of music that fused both Middle Eastern and African cultures. In fact, Alune Wade’s Sultan,
Insurrection Blues is the twentieth album for blues artist Corey Harris but his first in over three years and first for the M.C. label. Harris went back to the roots
The Budos Band has been playing their brand of “Afro Soul” since 2005, where they’ve recorded at their label's own studio, Daptone's House of Soul, in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Their brand of Afro Soul can best be described as “Ethiopian music with a soul undercurrent to it, sprinkled with a little bit of sweet 60's stuff on top.
As the spirit descended upon the South African band, BLK JKS (pronounced “Black Jacks”), again in the time following their 2009 full length release, After Robots, it brought forth messages of celebration and conveyed new adventures to be translated musically. The answer to that interpretation has come in the form of their latest release, a five song EP titled “ZOL!,” which will debut on Secretly Canadian just days before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The collection of songs is deeply rooted in vast African culture and combines psychedelic guitar riffs with complex drum patterns and echoing vocals.
Live! draws from all realms of LSMB's long career, including their most well known song, “Homeless”, which was co-written with Simon for Graceland. It is quite simply the culmination of the dream Shabalala had so many years ago, and the perfect choir he envisioned.
On January 15, LBM released Illembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu, the latest in a prolific career that has included more than 50 albums, two Grammy Awards and performances for the Queen of England and Pope John Paul II.
The Afromotive get freaky on their debut album Scare Tactics with nine tracks of funky polyrhythms that could summon James Brown's ghost.
Ticklah vs. Axelrod may not break any new ground, but it’s a solid addition to any dub collection and will certainly be of interest to Antibalas and reggae fans.
Much as The Grateful Dead did when they got psychedelic on the traditional folk music they grew up on, Toubab Krewe has blended the deep percussive sounds emanating from West Africa and straight ahead rock n’ roll, creating a style that is revolutionary and imaginative.
