TAG: R&B

Mar04

Next Stop… Soweto – Township Sounds From The Golden Age Of Mbaqanga (Review)

Township Sounds From The Golden Age Of Mbaqanga

NEXT STOP... SOWETO



With Next Stop... Soweto, Strut trace some of the amazing music that often only appeared on short run 45s at the time; rare lost gems deftly culled from the '60s + '70s South African "township jive sound." Featuring music recorded primarily for the local market, the album takes the listener far beyond the accepted township jive template into fusions with jazz, gospel, rumba, funk and traditional mining songs. It delves into the golden age of mbaqanga. Jazz had been a fixture in South African music since the ‘50s and jive (or mbaqanga) initially emerged a decade later as a fusion combining elements of rural Zulu music and harmony vocal styles with Western instrumentation. You can hear influences from American R&B and '60s rock and surf, in the same way ska and rocksteady developed in Jamaica. And if you like desert blues from Sahara, you will also like the fusion of mbaqanga.

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Feb27

Black Man’s Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti (Review)

Various Artists

Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti

Released by Now-Again Records


To begin describing the epic importance of Fela Kuti is to write a doctoral thesis on the history of African music from before his birth to the present day. To understand the impact the music of a person such as Fela is to consider the history of struggle, prejudice, racism, and political disenfranchisement as an understandable whole.  In the music of Fela Kuti, we see these positive undercurrents of political awakening, consciousness, activism, empowerment and liberation.  These values are what make the messages embedded in the work of Fela ...

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Feb19

Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones: Live @ Park Grounds (Video)

The cultural and historical importance of the Dust to Digital imprint remains to be covered widely. There was that New Yorker piece, but the label still seems to be relatively low key despite the various awards that its releases have received – and yes, that includes a Grammy.

But what the label works towards is documenting musicians that have impacted their immediate surroundings, but perhaps not the culture at large.

A case in point is Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones.

[via]

...MORE

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Feb14

InLove – Stories (Review)

InLove

Stories

Released by Inflamable


Stories is the debut album by former Ford model InLove, and it’s produced by legendary DJ CAM. She was born and raised in Nigeria, and spent the 15th first years of her life under the influence of African vibes, music, rhythm and dance. At 20 years old she met DJ CAM, and they collaborated on DJ CAM's album Soulshine, featuring the million selling hit “Summer In Paris." She is inspired by great artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Jill Scott, Sade, Dusty, Springfield and Portishead. However, you can’t hear any African influences on Stories; it sounds more like the cosmopolitan brand of sophisticated R&B and Japanese nu-jazz. Dusty Springfield and Beth Gibbons are clearly sources of inspiration with her laidback cool and smoky singing, but her voice sounds a little thin over the ten tracks.

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Feb07

Erykah Badu – “Window Seat” (MP3)

Here’s one that’s surely gonna be a treat.

“Window Seat” is the essence of classic and fundamental Badu. The official first single from New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh is velvety and melodic, perfectly framing Erykah’s timeless vocals, nodding to past projects such as Mama’s Gun, and blending it all together to produce a sound that’s both fresh and organic. Lavish in its soulful glory, its live instrumentation is lush and possesses musical qualities that will not only touch spirits, but have them grooving as well. Can I also get a window seat?

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[Via TheLIGHT]

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Jan28

Gaga x Beyonce x Crookers x Dr. Rosen “Telephone” Remixes (MP3)

I would HATE to be on the receiving end of this. But I’m not (zing!), so I’m enjoying this Crookers banger and the spiraling Rosen synth-wave remix. Permission to make this the anthem to a million 12-26 year-old ladies has been granted.
Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce (Dr. Rosen Remix)

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Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce (Crookers Remix)

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[Please Don't Stare]

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