Some gutsy tunes this week from Montreal, Ireland, UK, Timbuktu,
Sweden, Madrid, Nassau and the East Village in NYC. What? Nothing
from Brooklyn!
No time to take a picture today, but I was reminded, in a
conversation with www.PeteCogle.com that it is a while
since we've partaken of a pint or two together - I think this one
from last year sums the feeling up pretty well.
Since you ask, yes, it is Adnams … and it is in Southwold, not a
hundred yards from the brewery.
Mr Hurricane - Beast (Montreal,
Canada)
Montreal-based Beast began as something of an experiment.
Drummer/composer Jean-Phi Goncalves, leader of his own cutting edge
electro band Plaster and also an established platinum level
producer, asked acclaimed chanteuse Betty Bonifassi to lay down
vocals on a work-in-progress track. Something clicked during that
first recording session, and Beast was born.
Musician and songwriter Simon Wilcox worked with Betty (whose first
language is French) to polish her English lyrics, while maintaining
the structure and strong imagery Betty had infused them with. Betty
spits the resulting fiery stanzas with a delivery that melds the
spirit of rap and slam poetry with bellowing soul. The recording of
Devil marked her first
foray into rapping and the words, she says, "came out in a rage
flow."
Jean-Phi ventured into unknown territory during the making of the
album as well. "It was the first time I ever had a mic in front of
my face," he says. His vocal tracks were recorded with the
intention of having someone else replace them later, but Betty
pushed for them to stay. "I love the difference of texture," she
says.
The entire process spanned two years. www.myspace.com/beastsound
BEAST | MySpace
Music Videos
Long Goodbyes - I am not left-handed (London, UK -
but mostly Irish)
I played a track from their instrumental album Time to leave last week. Now time to
unveil the fabulous voice of Kathryn Williams.
"We don't play pop music, we don't
write music for art's sake, we don't represent any movements, we're
not hip, we're not cutting edge, we don't dress to be cool. We
manage ourselves, we write our own songs, we do our own recordings,
we shoot our own videos, we design our own covers, we run our own
website. We're not generally negative people. Oh yes, and
we're not lefthanded."
Naafigi - Justin Adams, Juldeh
Camara (UK)
From the album Soul
Science on World Village.
Justin Adams co-wrote The Robert Plant album Mighty Rearranger released in 2005 to
rave reviews. He has played guitar with Robert's band the Strange
Sensation around the world, gaining an awesome live reputation. Soul Science is the result
of a meeting of two worlds, an Afro-Blues shakedown. After a few
years of collaborations with Robert Plant and Tinariwen, Juldeh's
sound seemed like a perfect match for Justin's guitar and
production. An African Master Musician who played in the fields for
farmers as a child, Juldeh has the drive and effortless flow of a
great Bluesman. And while his instrument brings to mind Delta
players like Big Joe Williams, as well as Ali Farka, there is a
lilt in his playing that hints at the ancient links between North
Africa and the Celtic World.
Soul Science is far from a purist piece, it has gritty rock and
groove throughout. It uses the ancient Soul Sciences of scale and
Rhythm to create a 21st Century Afro Blues. www.myspace.com/justinadamsproducer www.irl.org.uk/justinadams.htm
Scarecrow
Blues- Blind John
Gunn (Timbuktu, Mali, Africa)
"Blind John O'Gunn is a 19 year old
boy I met when I travelled to Mali.
I found this young boy playing guitar and singing near the
Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, so I went and talked to him.
Apparently he learned english by guiding tourists around the city,
and one day he found a mp3 player with a john lee hooker album, and
ever since then, it's the only music he listens to.
In his announcement card he says he accepts donations in either
cash or batteries.
So I sat down with him, put my mp3 player in record mode and
improvised some solos over his guitar playing, singing and
stomping!
So this is little John's only recording so far.
There are a few more songs that will be published soon, and more
when I visit him again."
Butley Priory songwriters'
retreat
1st - 5th February 2010
Songwriters and wannabe songwriters of all standards and genres who
would like to spend a few days away from the usual demands of life
and take time to focus on their music in beautiful countryside
surroundings will be welcome.
The team Kate, Kay and Frances will be there to encourage, enable
and support, and there will be talks from at least one visiting
guest during the course. A BOSE PA system, sound engineer, pianos
and keyboards, plenty of rehearsal space will be provided;
wholesome food, log fires, time to walk on the beach or in the
woods, goose down duvets and owls hooting at night are all thrown
in!
If you are interested please contact us as soon as possible as
residential places are limited. Alternatively join us for the day
for £45 inclusive of food.
Phone: +44 (0)1394 450046
website: www.butleypriory.co.uk
High and Low - Sambassadeur
(Sweden)
The band's second album Migration not only gave them a more
glittery sound than they had enjoyed before, it helped them gain
further success around the world and brought them on tour in
countries like Spain, the UK, Austria, Germany and Denmark. Offers
for shows kept coming in but due to the severe flying anxiety of
guitarist Joachim Läckberg most of them had to be turned down which
gave the band a certain secret stars status.
Their third, European has
taken almost two years to finish and they've once again employed
the talents of Mattias Glavå. According to the band he did very
little. He merely lay on the sofa and cursed how badly they played
their instruments and continued to bring in more and more
musicians. A string quartet, three drummers, a saxophone player,
clarinet, the list goes on... On European they've finally accomplished
to make the grand, classic and orchestrated album they've always
wanted to. www.sambassadeur.com/ www.myspace.com/sambassadeurtheband
Prelude to
Common Sense-
Hypnostate (Madrid, Spain)
The opening track of their album Curious State of Harmony. Madrid
band Hypnostate formed in 2003 in the district of La Fortuna in
Leganés. Its four Members: Alex (bass) Leo (vocals, guitar) David
(guitar) and Sergio (drums) will soon begin to take matters into
their own until the summer of 2006 and after a long list of concert
halls of Madrid, they recorded a two songs demo, Aloe Vera and Desperate way to madness. In the
course of 1 year between 2007 and 2008 the group gives a quantum
leap recording the demo, Curious
State of Harmony, featuring 11 tracks, and playing in venues
such as Ritmo y Compás, Heineken, Heaven (Santander) and give their
first concert outside the Spanish borders in Portugal. In early
2009 Hypnostate recruits a new band member, Roberto Vivancos "Robe"
to the guitar. He's is bringing band progression's new ideas. In
May 2009 Hypnostate presents its first album of the same name as
the model with 16 songs inlcuding a DVD with its first two video
clips, 27 and My dear contempt. Currently gigging around,
Hypnostate continues throughout the country. www.hypnostate.com www.jamendo.com/fr/artist/Hypnostate
I agree - Savage Bull (Nassau,
Bahamas)
Ray Ewing in Nassau keeps in touch and occasionally sends a tune or
two our way. You may remember the excellent Badness out of Style by Peter Runks
back on show 164.
There is a live Buffboo show coming up in February but the link for
details isn't working right now. www.myspace.com/buffboomusic
Bad City - SAADI (East Village,
NYC, USA)
Songwriter Boshra AlSaadi was born in a tiny village in Damascus,
Syria before relocating and growing up in a rainy suburb of
Pittsburgh. At the tender age of 17 she moved to NYC's East Village
where she has resided and created music ever since. Having
developed her New York roots with Serious Business band, Looker,
SAADI has come into her own with the upcoming 12"/EP titled
Bad City. Due for release
in March 2010. Prepare to dance.
Leading up to the release of the Bad City 12", SAADI took over
Pianos (NYC) on Sunday and will be doing so on both remaining
Sundays in January - 24th, 31st. If you're really into comedy and
ladyporn (meaning porn for ladies, not porn of ladies), the 17th is
a must-see joint event with Kong Magazine. In the meantime, enjoy
12 inches of white vinyl (digitally, of course) from SAADI. www.myspace.com/saadinyc