Episode 23
Episode 23 originally posted on November 12, 2018.
Tracklisting:
01) “감은 듯 (Gameun Deut)” by 공중도둑 (Mid-Air Thief).
From the 2018 album 무너지기 (Crumbling).
South Korea.
As you know, our dear friends know, sometimes when trafficking in musical goodness from all around the world, sometimes it is difficult to find out much about some of the artists we play. Such is the case with 공중도둑, or Mid-Air. Tiny Mix Tapes profiles the album thusly:
South Korea’s 공중도둑, or Mid-Air Thief, specializes in the kind of autumn vibes that all of us in the northern hemisphere are craving hard. So it may be a good thing that 무너지기 (Crumbling) took a little while to make its way out of Seoul. It’s hard to tell exactly where the buzz came from, but at some point in late August, this broke into the top 25 rankings for 2018 on RYM, whose lists are always full of left-field gems.
The album’s Bandcamp page doesn’t provide much more information, simply offering: “Voice &
Lyrics: Summer Soul
Album Cover: 신혜정
It only adds that the artist is from South Korea.
Purchase the album at Bandcamp.
02) “Dil Mere” by द लोकल ट्रेन (The Local Train).
From the 2015 album Aalas Ka Pedh.
Delhi, India.
The Local Train (Hindi: द लोकल ट्रेन) is an Indian Hindi rock band from Delhi, India with lyrics in both Urdu and Hindi. The group has become one of India’s best-selling groups and is often featured at music festivals.
03) “Poo Too” by Oneness of Juju.
From the 1975 album African Rhythms.
Richmond, VA, USA.
The album’s Bandcamp page says:
For bandleader James “Plunky” Branch, ‘African Rhythms’ marked a significant return to his home town of Richmond, Virginia after a politically charged five years based on the East and West coasts. His personal journey had taken him from activism at Columbia University to San Francisco where Zulu musician Ndikho Xaba used theatre to “resurrect” Afro-Americans with a new African identity. The first incarnation of Plunky’s band, Juju, drew attention to the struggle in South Africa under apartheid, layering heavy Afro rhythms under uncompromising avant garde jazz.
Allmusic describes the album as: “a group playing with the dexterity of Kool & the Gang, the forward-thinking musical ideas of Herbie Hancock, and the social consciousness of Gil Scott-Heron.”
04) “East Indian Traffic” by Okko Bekker.
From the 1971 album Sitar & Electronics.
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Prog Archives describes Okko Bekker’s music as: “Freaked out kitschy exotic musical project formed by German krautrockers.” Works for us.
Purchase Bekker’s music at Amazon.
05) “Shimmy She Wobble” by Otha Turner & The Afrossippi Allstars.
From the 2000 album From Senegal to Senatobia.
Canton, Mississippi, LA, USA.
Otha Turner was one of the most well-known (and one of the last) fife players in the vanishing American fife and drum blues tradition (sometimes included as a sub-genre of “Hill Country Blues.”). Turner even “performed as the "Mississippi Fife and Drum Corps" in episode number 1509 of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood that aired on November 18, 1982.” Turner’s music was featured in the 2002 Martin Scorsese movie Gangs of New York and Scorsese “featured Turner in his 2003 PBS mini-series The Blues.”
06) “Mercy (Variation #1)” by Demon Fuzz.
From the 1970 album Afreaka!
Britain.
According to Wikipedia:
“Demon Fuzz was an afro-rock group which was formed in 1968 and broke up in 1972. Its members had all immigrated to Britain from Commonwealth countries. The band's name means "devil's children or bad policemen". They originally played soul, but the music they heard during a trip to Morocco lead to a change in their style to what has been described as a blend of funk, rock, jazz and African music. Their album, Afreaka!, has become a popular source for sampling.”
Purchase the album at Amazon.
As always, browse the interactive map. This week’s artists are represented by the green map-points. To switch between episodes, use the little window/toggle thing in the upper-left corner.