Ever since I heard a Kora play, I was in love with the instrument. And Toumani Diabate is delightful to listen to, his technical brilliance documented on loads of his CDs. “Recorded in one night, without re-takes or rehearsals” is not an uncommon piece of information to be found in the sleeves of his CDs.

And this collaboration between Balafon player Keletigui Diabate and Ngoni player Baseou Kouyate (“I speak Fula”, “Afrocubism”) is no exception. All are virtuosos in their own right, and together they will send you on a fast paced journey of string cascades,  themes, melodies and improvisations that never feels rushed or forced. No instrument is dominating, but they rather playfully take turns to interweave the strengths and beautiful sounds of their music into a ballet of harmonic delight.

Pure bliss.

What Can I say, the Womad festival is truly inspired. And for what it has done to my music collection I am am truly grateful. As in 2008, when I saw Toumani Diabate on stage, playing in total bliss with his smile beaming from the stage for the entire duration of the set. And what that man does with the 21 stringed Kora is mind-bending. The instrument is only played with the thumbs, making the dexterity and virtuosity of this man only the more inspiring.

If you like west African music,  the harp or the sound of acoustic guitars, you will appreciate and admire this. Among his growing body of work Kaira is my favourite album from the Prince of the Kora (his father being the King of the Kora)

Below a few links to reviews:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/03/100329_strand_toumani.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/a4wm2007/2007_toumani_diabate.shtml

Dangermouse: Name is the game

DJ Dangermouse has done it again. An incredible album. Loads of people love it. A lot of people call it “Album of the year”, and you can’t buy it, cos EMI killed it.

Some lawyer, jobsworth, moron, accountant, employee over at EMI obviously believes that if DJ Dangermouse’s creation won’t fit into a legal framework 300 years old  (no kiddin, kids. 1709 a.d.!) , then no-one can have it. So Dangermouse did what he did before, and pulled the plug. Anyway, someone “unkown” pushed it up on all sorts of filesharing sites where it happily lives today. Funnily enough, non of the 13 artists working with Dangermouse on it complained out that, which is a well as saying they put it up for download themselves.

Album is hauntingly beautiful and fresh, turn on your fav torrent client and enjoy this Gem. My favourite is track 12, “Grain Augury”, which sends shivers down my spine. The emotion that reverberates through the lead’s voice (who?) is outright haunting!

Both our families
Are to gathering
For cutting the baby out
With my grandmother’s heirloom antler-handled carving knife

They were under her grand chandelier
Where we altogether have shared holiday dinner
But it was YOUR father that was holding the knife!

Yeah, I begged me not to make me tell ya
Yeah, I pleaded with ya
To leave it alone

I told ya, I told you that
You didn’t want to know
What went in my horrible dream

I was peering in through the picture window
It was a heartwarming tableau like a Norman Rockwell painting
Until I zoomed in

I was making noises in my sleep
But you wouldn’t believe me when I told ya that I wasn’t with someone
In my dream

Catfish were wriggling in blood and gore in the kitchen sink!

Yeah, I told ya, I told ya, I told you …
You …

In my crate this week:

I bought three Hauschka CDs recently. Directly from the label’s website.

Three CD’s directly from the independent label is probably the best chance that the creative artist get a decent share of the money.

Awesome stuff,

Hauschka’s Label: Fat Cat Records