Music for 7/28/22!!!! Afrodelic, Cumbiamuffin

@@@ Afrodelic: Weleli (Afrodelic, 2022) I got to this African recording via this week’s WRIR weekly playlist email. I assume that the band Funkadelic partially inspired this music as there’s some shreddy rock guitar and the name, you know Afrodelic Funkadelic, Funkadelic Afrodelic. I’ve checked out this musician’s bio and it’s a blend of influences – African father, European mother, lived in both of those continents so it’s a mash which I dig. I don’t hear a ton of Funkadelic but there is a fair amount of more modern electronic sounds that make this more than a traditional African recording with a blend of electric guitars and African percussion. It’s got a jump around feel that I’m agnostic on but there are places where I be like this is awesome. I will circle back on this record later when I have more time as there’s a lot up in here.

@@@ Cumbiamuffin: Ritmo De Sinaloa (Peace and Rhythm, 2022) Another listen off this week’s WRIR playlist email, that station kicks ass. A kickass cumbia record is a special kind of pleasure and this record has it all — thick and tight rhythms, a female singer working it both melodically and vibe wise and great playing. It would be annoying to get into why this record is slamming but that’s annoying as it’s the complete package. If you can’t recognize music that’s heartfelt, energetic, and pretty much perfectly played I don’t know what to tell you. Year end list for sure. I don’t know how they got to the band name cumbiamuffin, it’s quite unusual but hey get yer freak on!

Music for 10/24/21!!! Kam-Bu, Qiensave

@@@ Kam-Bu: Dumpling (Parlophone, 2021) Got to this via a Crack magazine promo email. Oh British hip hop, I love this shit. The accent makes the whole thing so Great British Bake Off, it’s just hard to feel the menace with this vocal flow. Once you get past that, and maybe you’re the kind of listener that likes British accented hip hop, the sounds are quite original. There’s a fragemented come and go flavor to the sounds which really jumps out in places. In addition to the accent of the MC I have tough time following the subject matter here. I’m guessing from the title that this MC is out for some takeaway Chinese and he just loves dumplings! Well, that’s made up, I’m entertaining myself. I’m checking out the second track ‘Black on Black’ that features strings (which I hate in hip hop) and a very nicely done bassline. Again I find the arrangements more interesting than the MC. He’s not bad but the sounds win here.

@@@ ?Qiensave?: Para Poderte Olvidad (Qiensave, 2021) I got to this track via a music publicist email. This is a single that opens with rock bluster before breaking into what I think the music publicist referred to cumbia urbano. To me it’s way more electric guitars at points and some rock drums swirled into the cumbia flavor pack. The singer is mad smooth and they even get into some multiple vocal track passages. Nice space organ solo, and it’s recorded well but I switched over to another single they released this year and find a similar electric guitar sound but the vocals are busier and the tune is more energetic. This track is called La Poderosa and I’m feeling this much more than the more recent single.

2015 Honorable Mention Pick 17

Chico Trujillo: Reina De Todas Las Fiestas (Barbes, 2015)

A hot and sweet mash of various Latin musical influences by the new cumbia band out of Chile.  A little salsa, a little Brazilian music, even ska and reggae.

The combination of swinging brass lines and the hand drumming in the first four tunes is caliente, caliente, client.  Other instrumentation includes accordion, various stringed instruments, and a thick pulsing bass.

After those 4 songs the temperature drops a little bit — still above average but not as 5 star as the opening half.

Check these guys out, I’ve clipped the first two tracks below.

 

 

Active Music Listening Sunday July 8, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 406
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 220
Not good music:168
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas

I listened to 3 Bancamp recordings, including a wonderful Justin Bieber cover out of Salt Lake City.

@@@ Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas and Interludes (Aeon, 2012).    This is some beautiful music, folks should check it out.  Al the words to describe this are upper crust, shall we say, but it’s solo prepared piano pieces and they’re happenin’.

This record is on Spotify, and you can catch a piece from this record over here on his website.

@@@ Harris Eisenstadt: Canada Day III (Songlines, 2012).  Neither a swingin’ or a melancholic straight jazz record.  It’s midtempo and sounds very composed, but creatively composed.  I like how much space goes to the vibes and the sound of the horns and the vibes work great together.

You can read about the record and hear a sample here.

@@@ Lilith Velkhor: Shame (Self-released, Bandcamp 2012)  Does a damned fine job channeling Bleach era Kurt Cobain on track 3 Sorry Entertainer.  Check it out.  Monster bass sound as well.

@@@ Las Malas Amistades: Maleza (Honest Jon’s, 2012).  The first tune is acoustic guitar and female voice.  Good start.  The second tune, Lamento, is self-expainafying.  There is a male singer that shares the work through the record, and there’s some whacky electric organ that lends a certain indie vibe to the proceedings.  I liked it.

There’s nothing for me to attach here for you great listeners out there.