Group Doueh Live at WFMU (2017)

Continuing to explore the WFMU Monty Hall archives, here is Group Doueh Live at WFMU (2017).

From the show’s Youtube page:

“One of the most blasted psychedelic Western Saharan combos to hit American shores. Founded in the 1980's, headmaster and guitarist Doueh's raw distorted electric guitar stylings juxtapose western elements of Hendrix and James Brown with the poetry of Hassania language in Saharawi folk tradition, all centered around a big band environment that includes two vocalists. "Unhinged virtuosity" is a common phrase attributed to the sound of Group Doueh, truly a spectacle to behold, and thanks to some high profile releases on the Sublime Frequencies imprint, the band's audience has grown greatly. This gig, presented by Brian Turner's program, also featureed NYC's excellent 75 Dollar Bill supporting. Severe thanks to Doueh, Scott Konzelmann and Glenn Luttman for the mix, Ruth Polduk, Todd Abramson, Bridget Murray for cam work.”

Now if that 75 Dollar Bill set could just see the light of day . . .


Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on October 7, 2017.


  • Visit Group Doueh’s profile at Sublime Frequencies

  • Visit WFMU’s Youtube page

  • Browse Group Doueh’s music at Amazon


Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp 03 by Jeich Ould Badou

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Over the past couple of months, I have been pleased to pass along the announcement that 10 years later, the Sahel Sounds was following up their fantastic Music From Saharan Cellphones compilation with the ground-breaking compilation, Music from Saharan WhatsApp.

“For the year of 2020, Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp." Every month, we'll be releasing an EP from a musical group in the Sahel. Every album will be recorded on a cellphone, and transmitted over WhatsApp, and uploaded to Bandcamp - where it will live for one month only. Available for pay as you want, 100% of the sales will go directly to the artist or group. After one month, the album will be replaced by another one, until the end of the year.”

The label says of this third installment:

“This month we go to Mauritania to one of the premiere players of the tidnit, Jeich Ould Badou. Coming from a hereditary family of musicians, Jeich's tidnit (the Mauritanian lute) is updated, with built in phasers and pre-amps. Jeich is well known in Nouakchott, where he regularly gigs in weddings and invitations. Here he presents a series of WZN recordings, instrumental classic Mauritania music, for dancing: three songs recorded at home with the drum machine, and one live invitation recording with percussion.”

credits

released March 16, 2020

Jeich Ould Badou - Tidnit
Boss DR-770 Drum Machine (Tracks 1, 2, 3)

Recorded by Jeich Ould Badou on iPhone 7, March 2020
Album Art by Christopher Kirkley

Tuareg Guitar: Welcome To Saharan Desert Rock

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I have made my love of Tuareg Guitar music known to you, dear friends. So the following mix should come as no surprise. As if any of you are waiting around to be surprised by the music mixes I post. But, hey, you go have your own weird daydreams, alright?!

The Sahel Sounds Records Tuareg Guitar page says:

“Tuareg guitar has become one of the most popular folk music in the contemporary Sahara. Originally political ballads, created in exile in Libya, today the sound has expanded to encompass everything from introspective love songs, blistering psychedelic rock, and synthesizer and drum machine. At its core, the music still relies on poetry to transmit a message, carried by the pentatonic solos of a guitar.”

Here is a mix of songs from some of my current favorite Tuareg albums.

Tracklisting:

  1. “Itous” (Live) by Tamikrest

  2. “Nar djenetbouba” by Tinariwen

  3. “Wiwasharnine” by Mdou Moctar

  4. “Idrach” by Timasniwen

  5. “Afous Dafous” by Tartit

  6. “Ici Bas” by Songhoy Blues

  7. “ASCO” by Ali Farka Touré

  8. “Chebiba” by Tallawit Timbouctou

  9. “Imigradan” by Les Filles de Illighadad

  10. “Alemin” by Group Inerane

  11. “Tenere” by Afous d'Afous

  12. “Tekana” by Etran Finatawa

  13. “Dounia” by Toumast

  14. "Amidinin Senta Aneflas” by Terakaft

  15. “Tamudre” by Imarhan

  16. “Ameji (douleur)” by Imaran

  17. Tumastin by Amanar

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea playlists.

Mdou Moctar: Hopscotch Music Festival (09/07/19) // NYC Taper

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Once again we are incredibly indebted to the fine folks over at NYC Taper. This time, for capturing one of my current favorite artists, Mdou Moctar (Read more about Moctar at my post here).

Read my recent post about Moctar here and hear “Tarha” by Mdou Moctar, from the ‘Blue Stage Session,’ featured on Episode 43 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow here. In the meantime, here’s NYC Taper’s notes for the show:

“On the final night of the Hopscotch Music Festival, our buds at Kings curated an eclectic show that featured two recordings we have already shared (Moon Duo and Boogarins), a superb set from “house” band Birds of Avalon, Kid Millions, and another very special international guest, Mdou Moctar. Hailing from a small village in Niger, Moctar has received international acclaim as one of the best-known Tuareg guitarists. If you’re not familiar with the Saharan brand of rock music, or you have no idea what that means, let me put it more simply: this guy shreds like Jimi Hendrix. His latest LP, Ilana, the Creator was recorded in Detroit, and is already making its way onto early “best of 2019” lists for obvious reasons. Moctar’s work is special not only for its technical virtuosity but for his willingness to expand upon the genre’s conventions, as well as focus on original music over standards and covers. These four songs will give you a taste of what Moctar is about, but really, do yourself a favor and head to Sahel Sounds to get educated not only about his work, but the variety of 21st century African artists they represent. (Jesse Jarnow wrote an excellent piece about the label here). And keep your eye on those “best of 2019” lists — I know Mdou Moctar is making mine.

I recorded this set with onstage Schoeps MK5 microphones, MBHO microphones back at the soundboard, and a soundboard feed. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Thanks to Mdou Moctar and his management team for letting us share the recording.

Download the complete show: [FLAC/ALAC/MP3]

Stream the show here.

Further details and setlist:

Mdou Moctar
2019-09-07
Hopscotch Music Festival
Kings
Raleigh, NC USA

Recorded and produced by acidjack

Soundboard + Schoeps MK5c (onstage, XY)>KC5>CMC6 + MBHO MBP603a/KA200N (at SBD, PAS)>Aerco MP-2>>Sound Devices MixPre6>24/48 polyWAV>Adobe Audition CC>Izotope Ozone 5>Audacity 2.3.0>FLAC ( level 8 )

01 Iblis Amghar
02 [tuning]
03 Ilana
04 Afrique Victime
05 Tarhatazed

Please consider supporting NYC Taper for all the great work they do in making so much terrific music available.

Tartit: Amankor / The Exile

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As if 2019 releases from Mdou Moctar and Tinariwen weren’t enough, earlier this year, Tartit released the long-awaited follow-up to their 2006 album ‘Abacabok'.

According to Last.fm:

“The Ensemble Tartit are Malian Tamashek (Tuareg), comprising five women and four men. Tartit means 'union' in their language. They met in a refugee camp in Burkina Faso, where their music was a means of survival against the social and political mayhem in the Sahara Desert.”

Worldmusic.net says:

”Originally created to safeguard the Tuareg traditional music which was slowing disappearing, Tartit’s members all originated from the Timbuktu region and formed the group whilst in exile between Mauritanian and Burkinabe refugee camps in the mid-90s during the Tuareg uprising. Fast forward a quarter of a century, and with the help of friends and aid agencies the band have played all around the world at many of the biggest world music festivals in Europe, North America & beyond, and have achieved iconic status as guardians of Tuareg music. With their traditional instrumentation and repertoire their music speaks directly to the issues of today, seeking to preserve a culture under attack.”

The group formed in exile from their homeland in the mid 1990’s (hence the album title) but used their music not only as a way to preserve their identity and heritage but to protest the injustices rocking their homeland. Tuareg music is born out of political unrest and that sense of urgency permeates almost of all of it, regardless of the performer. Though many of the songs here are slower tempos than someone like Mdou Moctar, the same sense of urgency is no less present.

The same swirling, droning, psychedelic desert blues guitar patterns are present but what’s immediately striking is the female vocals which helps distinguish Tartit from their other Tuareg counterparts. While other Tuareg groups have women sing with them, few others give women the lead. This, of course, is in keeping with the group’s name, which means ‘Unity,” or “Union.”

The group was founded with the idea of preserving Tuareg music and instruments and as such, Tartit take a somewhat more traditional approach than some of their counterparts. Playing instruments like the tende (Tuareg hand drum), teherdent (three-string ngoni), imzad (a type of violin made from calabash wood), and the wooden flute, Tartit don’t rely on electric guitar and solos the way many other Tuareg acts do. Instead, the songs hold you with their focus on the repeated patterns and call and response vocals.

This may initially seem to bring a more laid-back feel, as if these songs originated around a campfire and that’s where they belong. But the same driving rhythms and chant-like vocals remind us that this is music created by nomadic people to help find home in the journey. They express joy and anger, even in or because of exile. Accentuated by call and response vocals and insistent hand-clapping beats, the mesmerizing and often complex repeated rhythms take center stage with vocals weaving in and out of and around the percussion. The group brings joy to our struggles.

Watch the EPK for Amankor, including interviews with Fadimata "Disco'' Walet Oumar and live footage, filmed in Bamako, studio Akan 2018.

Watch the official video for ‘Asaharaden’.

  • Listen to “Afous Dafous” by Tartit.

    From the 2019 album “Amankor / The Exile” on Episode 37 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

  • Follow Tartit on Facebook.

  • Purchase the album on Amazon.