Saharan music — Music Blog — Holiday At The Sea

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

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