Afro Moses

"FUNK IS IN THE BLOOD!"

Funky Africa comes to Australia in the form of Afro-Moses. He talked to us about his unique sound and being known as "The African James Brown" as a teenager...


Search our entire AFRICAN CATALOGUE. More AFRICAN reviews 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

alpha blondy - the best of (Shanachie)

 
Filifin - Siran (Frikwiya)

Mali desert blues produced by the most interesting producer, mixer and sonic manipulator in the world of African music today, Frederic Galliano...
 
Women of Africa - Various Artists (Putumayo)

On this joyful and uplifting collection of some of Africa’s most prominent female vocalists, Putumayo got the mix right once again. “Women of Africa” is not definitive but certainly indicative... featuring Angelique Kidjo, Tarika, Souad Massi, Judith Sephuma and Sibongile Khumalo from Benin to Madagascar, South Africa, Cape Verde and Cameroon...
 

idrissa Soumaoro - kote (Wrasse)

A new voice from West Africa, but in reality an old one that was an active participant in the evolution of the modern Malian sound is that of Idrissa Soumaoro. Idrissa left Les Ambassadeurs, the seminal band led by Salif Keita in the 70s, to raise a family. Kote (Wrasse Records) recorded in 2003 is his first album.

 

boubacar traore - the best of the bluesmen from mali (Wrasse)

Another Malian musician who took a long sabbatical from music is singer/guitarist Boubacar Traore. Initially a popular performer widely heard on Malian radio in the early 60s he too was forced to work at a variety of jobs in order to support his family.

 
mali lolo - various artists (Smithsonian Folkways)

Since the rise in popularity of West African music, and Malian music in particular, there have been many excellent compilations. In "Mali Lolo' (Smithsonian Folkways) each of the 16 songs has been skilfully selected by John Kertzer with assistance from the Smithsonian staff and Banning Eyre to create a panorama that is rootsy, contemporary and extremely varied.
 
kings of highlife - various artists (Wrasse)

Another Wrasse Records compilation "The Kings of Highlife" captures highlife at a critical point of evolution, the 60s and 70s when the earlier brass bands were ceding to the exciting electric guitar bands of the younger generation. As a result the music exudes a unique charm that is both forward and backward looking.
 
Hossam Ramzy - Classical egyptian dance - The collection

If any doubts lingered as to Hossam's mastery of traditional rhythms and arrangement they should be dispelled by El Sultaan, a collection of instrumental pieces sub-titled Classical Egyptian Dance...
 
Dalinda - self titled (ARC Music)


A trip to Libya or Egypt might be more properly included in Le Son Africain although at a pinch Libyan born songstress Dalinda could be construed as belonging to the world of bellydance....
 
Oliver Mtukudzi - shoko
"It´s difficult to say what type of music I play. I don´t understand for one type of music. What counts is the message and the beat. I have tried to combine some of the beats which are the true, free expressions of Zimbabweans from each region where that kind of music is sung and danced to in order to make a national rhythm." Sotsa, Keradibu and Jit Jit are the main traditional rhythms on which the music of SHOKO is based. This pan-zimbabwean music which is unique to Oliver Mtukudzi can only be described under the name of Tuku music.
 

 




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