Broken Things こわれたもの

Broken Things こわれたもの is a labour of love – a small but powerful photography book by photographer Sam Seager. It was launched last night at the ICN Space in Shoreditch and all profits from sales of the book will be donated to charities that are actively supporting local recovery efforts in Tohoku, Japan.

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Broken Things こわれたもの is the latest body of work by London based photographer Sam Seager. The book features images taken around the 1st anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of March 11th 2011. Shot over two weeks in devastated communities such as Kamaishi, Rikuzentakata and the island of Oshima, it shows people and landscapes in flux, facing ongoing issues from the disaster and an uncertain future.

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The book opens with the image of a clock, stopped at the moment the tsunami struck, it is a solemn reminder of the magnitude of what happened. The photographs then follow the course of the journey, beginning a week before the anniversary in the far north of Tohoku and then slowly moving south along the coastline through Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. It’s a time of year that can feel more like winter and the rugged landscapes, shrouded in cloud and sleet, seemed to reflect emotions heightened by memories of the previous year.

The days that followed took a similar course as over coffee or tea people related their stories of March 11th to Sam. They took him to see places and family or friends that held particular importance for them, from local fishermen working on new facilities to temporary housing shared spaces or the locations of their destroyed homes or businesses. This succession of personal insights traces a visual path through the many thousands of experiences that as a whole make up the complex narrative of the disaster and recovery since.

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The title ‘Broken Things’ is a reference to both physical and emotional damage. They were the words that a retired English teacher used to translate the Japanese phrase ‘gare-ki’ as he pointed to one of the many giant piles of debris that are now typical of the area. It’s usual translation would be ‘rubbish’ or ‘debris’ but his contained the seed of something more poignant. Everywhere you look there are physical traces of the Tsunami, broken and twisted material or their inverse the empty spaces where buildings once stood. And yet there is a more positive interpretation that life must carry on, and what is now broken can and should be fixed.

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This is what Sam Seagar says about Broken Things こわれたもの:

In March of 2012 I visited areas of Japan affected by the Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami of 03/11/2011. Photographs I took on this two week trip along the Tohoku coast are contained within the self-published book, ‘Broken Things’.

2012年の3月、東日本大震災の被害を受けた地域を訪問してきました。自費出版の写真集「こわれたもの」は、この時2週間にわたって東北を旅しながら撮影した写真で構成されています。

Proceeds from the sale of ‘Broken Things’ will be donated to local charities in Tohoku and you can find Paypal purchase links lower down the page.

O.G.A for Aid is based in Minamisanriku where their mission is to establish a long term support system which local residents and victims of the disaster may use to regain their lives and livelihoods. They have also launched a green farming project where unused farmland is being put back into use by unemployed local people. http://www.ogaforaid.org

It’s Not Just Mud is a vibrant volunteer organisation operating from two tsunami damaged houses in Ishinomaki. The constantly revolving mix of foreign and Japanese volunteers are helping in many different ways in the local area, including clearing debris, rebuilding homes and helping to set up activity groups and businesses in temporary housing. http://www.itsnotjustmud.com

この本の売り上げは、東北の復興を支援する団体に寄付されます。このページの下方から、PayPalまたはクレジットカードでのお支払いでご購入いただけます。また、この企画の詳細については、こちらのページをご覧ください。

This is a numbered edition of 500 copies only. It is a 21cm x 16.5cm soft-back book offset printed by Optimal Media in Germany on a combination of two papers: LuxoArtsamt 150 gsm for the interior and Conqueror Connoisseur Glatt weiss 300 gsm for the cover.

この本は、500部限定での製作・販売です。ドイツのOptimal Media社による21 x 16.5cm、ソフトカバーのオフセット印刷で、中のページにはLuxoArtsamt 150 gsm、表紙にはConqueror Connoisseur Glatt weiss 300 gsmという、2種類の紙が使われています。

Book design by Stewart Armstrong. レイアウトおよびデザインは、Stewart Armstrong氏によるものです。

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If you wish to purchase your copy of ‘Broken Things’ go to http://cargocollective.com/samseagerphotography/Broken-Things-Book. Payment is £17 via Paypal.

Sam Seager’s work has appeared in Dazed & Confused, NME, Nylon, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph. His 2010 ‘Lost Villages’ photographs from rural Japan were exhibited at The Orange Dot Gallery in London.

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IS THAT JAZZ? Only Millions Of Sounds To Pick You Up When You’re Down….

jazz-in-the-round_400The dreaded month of January draws to a close and this past week’s been very “jazz”. On Monday, it was Jazz In The Round at the Cockpit Theatre. The baby of Jazz On 3’s Jez Nelson and the Cockpit’s Dave Wybrow Jazz In The Round has now been running for exactly one year. Three bands a session and eight quid on the door – a bargain in these recession driven times – meant that despite a wet, dreary Monday night in London town the venue was buzzing with the usual anticipation.

metamorphic

metamorphic

Opening the night was a seven piece Leeds based ensemble, Metamorphic and it was most pleasant to see 84 year old bass player and former owner of the Bass Clef (the original Hoxton club!) Peter Ind, looking as hip as ever, tucked away behind the ensemble’s two bassists. Led by pianist Laura Cole, Metamorphic, drew on their F-ire release, ‘The Rock Between’, and worked their way through a selection of Cole’s diverse compositions. Singer Kerry Andrews delivered Laura’s poetic lyrics which offered a glimpse into the band leader’s personal struggles and added a fresh dimension to the tight instrumental compositions which were scored for each musician but brought alive by the ebb and flow of Laura’s piano and by alto player Chris Williams.

montauk variations
As I’d never heard Matthew Bourne play live I was looking forward his solo set. After giving us a few revealing insights into the process that resulted in his latest album, ‘Montauk Variations’, he commenced his solo set with a version of ‘Smile’, a tune he usually reserves for his encore. Watching this man is compelling and even the most abstract outpouring make sense as you engage with his body movement and the actual contact and timing of his ET like fingers with the piano keys. I love the way he allows the resonating sound of the piano to open up and create atmospheric space in the music. It was ‘Infinitude’, a tune inspired by a word he’d read in a Truman Capote book, that blew me away and had me seeking it out on-line the day after.

It was left to Jazz Jamaica/Tomorrow’s Warriors/ Dune Records don, Gary Crosby to close the night . The bassist has a solid record of working with and mentoring new generation of young players and this night was no exception. This latest venture is called Groundation – a term used by the Rastafari to describe a get together…a reasoning. Empirical alto-ist Nathaniel Facey kicked off the set with an extended ‘Tribute To OC’. (Ornette Coleman not Orange County!) that also introduced us to an undaunted, head nodding new talent, guitarist Shirley Tetteh. A Crosby composition which was dedicated to his other half and tentatively called ‘Dearest’ was graceful and touching and the bassist was clearly chuffed with the live outcome. However, it was the spacious, loose limbed, rhythm showers from drummer Moses Boyd that had this listener transfixed. As painter Gina Southgate said to him after the show, “So nice to see someone smiling while they are playing!”.

Moses Boyd

Moses Boyd

Talking about Gina it was she who invited me to the FlimFlam in Stoke Newington on Wednesday night. To my shame, despite being local, I’d never touched down on this session which is run by long time improv-musician and saxophonist, Alan Wilkinson. Down in Dalston, at Cafe Oto, the Art Ensemble’s Roscoe Mitchell was playing to a full house but at Ryans in Church street the upstairs bar was rammed with geezers watching Barcelona while below ground a small posse of devotees were immersed in the sounds being offered by the trio of Alan Wilkinson, Pete Marsh and Paul May aka I was Jack Goldstein.

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Their first set was drawing to a close upon my arrival. I knew that illness had forced keys whizz Pat Thomas to take to his bed and it therefore was left to percussionist Ansuman Biswas to play solo for the second set of the night. Following my working with Ansuman on the ‘Sacred Spaces: A Love Supreme’ project I am a definite devotee and his solo effort was never going to disappoint.

Ansuman

Ansuman

Taking the premise that Pat was there in spirit but tossing and turning, possessed with a fever, he embarked up a rhythmic journey that took him from bells to whistles to manual sirens to the waterphone to hang to tablas. It was an extraordinary and dextrous endeavor that climaxed with an attack of healing rhythms and sound that Pat Thomas might well have felt in his bed in Oxford.

After a short break to gather ones senses, we were treated another expended piece from I Was Jack Goldstein. Paul May’s drum kit consisted of a cymbal, a snare and a round piece metal that he used to great effect and it provided a nice foil for the metal on wood sound of Marsh’s bass. Wilkinson opted to kick off the piece on alto and the man has a strikingly deep tone and serious command of that instrument.

It was interesting for me to reflect on Nathanial Facey’s Ornette tribute on alto earlier in the week and Wilkinson’s exchange with his long-time brethren. I’m not knocking Nathanial ’cause he’s got serious skills but Alan Wilkinson was on another level when it came to  intensity and the element of melodic surprise. That really hit home  when he switched to that mighty growling baritone of his and gave the music a totally unexpected twist when riding a fleeting but enticing cyclical bass figure.

All in all, a most positive week that paves the way for those Jazz Warriors International events in February and March. Watch this space.

Metamorphic pic: prodigaljazztalk.wordpress.com
‘I was Jack Goldstein’ painting – Gina Southgate / http://southgateprints.weebly.com/index.html
Ansuman shot: Alex Coley
Title inspiration: Gil Scott Heron


FOR PICS OF JAZZ IN THE ROUND:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_sheppard/8425835615/in/set-72157632636527389/

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MAJESTIC VOICES OF MALI: Rising Against Those Who Would Silence Them

In response to the escalating conflict in Mali with the Islamic fundamentalist militias of AQIM and Ansar Dine, FATOUMATA DIAWARA has gathered together over 40 of the Country’s most renowned musicians, with a little assistance from Nick Gold’s World Circuit Records, to record a video and song calling for peace. The group is collectively called ‘Voices United for Mali’ and the track is called ‘Mali-ko’ (Peace / La Paix). The artists performing on the track include Amadou and Mariam, Oumou Sangare, Bassekou Kouyate, Vieux Farka Toure, Djelimady Tounkara, Toumani Diabate, Khaira Arby, Kasse Mady Diabate, Baba Salah, Afel Bocoum, Tiken Jah, Amkoullel and Habib Koite amongst many others.

Song Lyrics and translations

Refrain 1 : Il est temps que nous nous exprimions.
Il est temps que nous les artistes parlions du cœur. Notre Mali
The time has come for us to speak up about the crisis in Mali; we, the artists must now speak from the heart about what is happening in our Mali.

Haira Harby : 2 Maliens et Maliennes, donnons-nous la main car ce pays n’est pas un pays de guerre.
Men & Women of Mali, stand together! Our Mali never wanted a war.

Fatoumata Diawara : 3 Que se passe-t-il au Mali ? Paraît-il que nous sommes en train de nous entretuer, de nous trahir, de nous diviser. N’oublions pas que nous sommes tous du même sang (Rouge), de la même mère. Le jour que nous nous donnerons la main, le continent africain sera plus fort.
What’s going on in Mali? Do we really want to kill each other? Do we want to betray one another? Remember, we are all children of the same mother country when we stand together, all Africa is stronger.

Amkoullel : 4 Mettons nous ensemble, Maliens, Maliennes pour être encore plus fort.
Maliens, Maliennes, unissons-nous pour être encore plus fort.
Me & Women of Mali, let us unite and stand strong!

Doussou Bakayoko : 5 Le Mali n’appartiendra pas à ces gens-là. Ce grand pays ne sera la proie de personne. Our Mali will never belong to those people,
This great nation will not be their victim.

Kasse Mady : 6 Montrons au monde entier que le Mali est un pays de paix. Nous sommes tous du même père et de la même mère
We’ll show the world that our Mali is a country where peace reign. we stand together, we are all children of the same mother country.

Sadio Sidibé : 7 Le Mali mon beau pays, qu’est-il devenu ?
What has become of my beautiful Mali?

Baba Salah : 8 Tu as été le soleil qui a illuminé les 4 coins du monde. Notre Mali, sèche tes larmes, nous t’aimons!!!
Once you were the sun that shone ’round the world. Our Mali, we are proud of you – dry your tears! We love you!!!

Refrain 1 : les artistes Il est temps que nous nous exprimions.
Il est temps que nous les artistes parlions du cœur!!!! Notre Mali
The time has come for us to speak up about the crisis in Mali; we, the artists must now speak from the heart about what is happening in our Mali.

Soumaila Kanouté : 9 Je n’ai jamais vu de situation aussi désolante, de catastrophique. Ils veulent nous imposer la Charia. Allez leur dire que le Mali est indivisible mais aussi inchangeable!!
Never have I seen such a catastrophe, such desolation. They want to impose Sharia Law on us. Tell the north that our Mali is one nation.Indivisible!!

Master Soumi : 10 Hier, le Mali est devenu comme un mégot de cigarette qu’on jette politiquement, on a tous pleuré, on s’est tous inquiété. Chaque jour, on attend que de mauvaises nouvelles, c’est déplorable. Il faut se ressaisir, peuple malien, sinon on sera la risée du monde.
Of late, our Mali has been like a political cigarette butt thrown in the gutter. We cry, we worry, every day we await only more bad news, this cannot last! We must react or Mali become the butt of the world’s bad joke.

M’baou Tounkara : 11 Le Mali est un pays hospitalier et accueillant, la guerre nous fait perdre toutes nos valeurs et aussi beaucoup de temps.
Our Mali is a country of warm welcome, war deprives us of our values. We are losing time

Oumou Sangare : 12
Ecoutez-moi bien! Prenons garde, sinon, nos petits enfants n’apprendront pas la vraie histoire de notre Pays. On risque de le perdre.
Listen to me! We must take care now, or our children will never know the real story of our country. We might lose it. Careful now, our children will suffer tomorrow.

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Koko Dembelé : 13 Tant qu’il y a de la vie, il y a de l’espoir. Enfants du Mali, levons-nous!!!
As long as we live, we shall have hope. Rise up, children of Mali!

Babani Koné : 14 Je suis inquiète, j’ai peur. Nous sommes du même sang donc ne parlons pas de guerre. Quel avenir pour les femmes et les enfants dans ce pays ?
I am troubled, I am afraid, we are all of the same blood so let us not speak of war. What future can there be for our women, for our children in this country?

Afel Bocoum : 15 Le seul chemin de sortie de cette crise est le chemin de la paix.
The only way out of this crisis is the way of peace.

Iba one : 16 Soyons unis, peuple malien, l’union fait la force. Arrêtons tous nos divergences, la guerre n’a jamais été une solution.
Unite as one, Malians! Union makes us strong. Stop fighting each other, war has never been a solution

Tiken Jah : 17 Mali, tous ensemble, Mali indivisible, Mali tous unis, la paix n’a pas de prix!!!
Mali united, Mali indivisible, Mali united, Mali indivisible. Peace has no price!

Fati Kouyaté : 18 La guerre ne connaît ni femme, ni enfant, ni les personnes âgées. Cela ne nous ressemble pas!!!
War knows no child, no woman, no elder. Our country does not act like this!

Kisto Dem : 19 Qui pouvait imaginer une telle situation au Mal i? Au moment où les Maliens pensaient à leur stabilité, d’autres cherchent à nous bouleverser. Dans le nord, la population a faim, nos femmes sont devenues des marchandises, elles sont battues et violées!!!!
Who would have imagined our country this way? Just as we Malians were reaching stability, others try to destabilize us. In the north. people are starving, women are goods to be traded, they are beaten and raped!

Nahawa Doumbia : 20
Nous ne voulons pas de guerre!!!! Non, pas chez nous!!!! Elle détruit tout sur son chemin.
We don’t want war!!! Not in our Mali!!!War destroys everything in its path.

Mamadou Diabate « 21 DG » : Maliba, comme l’a toujours appelé nos ancêtres, ne reste pas à genoux, relève toi et bat toi pour honorer les ancêtres
“Maliba” as our ancestors alaways called you, dont say on your knees, rise up and fight for the honour of those ancestors.

Amadou et Mariam: 22 Ensemble, l’Afrique ne sera que plus forte !!!!! Avec plus d’avenir!
When we stand together Africa is stronger, when we stand united we have a future!

Tamachek: 23 Le Mali notre grand pays, qui a été toujours un pays de paix et d’hospitalité, soyons unis.
Mali our great country, which has always been a land of peace and hospitality, let us unite.

Oumou Sangare : 23 Faisons attention, pour ne pas perdre notre pays. Faites attention, sinon nos enfants et nos petits enfants ne pourront pas lever la tête. Je m’adresse aux politiciens et aux militaires !!!
We must take care, that we don’t lose our country, take care, or our children will hang their heads in shame.

I’m talking to you, military leaders!
I’m talking to you, politicians!

Habib Koite : 24 Maliens, c’est l’union qui fait la force !!! Ne laissons pas notre grand pays nous échapper !!!! Terre des grands hommes !!!!
Malians, union makes strong. we cannot let our great country slip through our fingers. Our land of great men!

Djeneba Seck : 25 Maliens, Maliennes, le monde entier nous observe, unissons-nous pour retrouver notre stabilité dans l’harmonie.
Men & women of Mali, the whole world is watching. Unite to bring back stability and harmony.

Vieux Farka Toure: 26 Réveillons-nous ! Nous sommes du même sang, donnons-nous la main.
Wake up!!! We are all family, let’s stand together.

Mylmo : 27 On est si apprécié dans du monde entier, pourquoi s’entredéchirer devant ces mêmes personnes ? Soundjata Keita et les héros de notre pays nous ont légué des valeurs, ne les bafouons pas.
The world is our country, so why now are we tearing each other apart before their very eyes? Soundjata Keita and our other heroes of lore taught us our values which shall remain steady.

Amadou et Mariam : 27 L’union fait la force!!! Donnons-nous la main!!!
Union makes us strong!!!! Let us stand together

Amadou Bakayoko : 28 Dans l’entente, le pays peut se développer!! Personne ne viendra nous déstabiliser et nos enfants auront un avenir.
In harmony, our country can develop. Nobody can destabilize us, our children will have a future.

Nahawa Doumbia: 28
On veut la paix, la paix.
En Afrique la paix ! Dans le monde entier la paix !
We want peace,
Peace Peace in Africa !
Peace in the world!

La paix, la paix
PEACE, PEACE

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For some in depth writing on the current situation in Mali check: http://www.andymorganwrites.com/

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OUTSIDERS… the music of Moondog, Cornelius Cardew, Conlon Nancarrow….

Moondog

Moondog

Couldn’t resist posting this shot of MOONDOG from the Cafe Oto news letter.Tremendous.

It relates to this Sunday’s performance from the Outsider Music Collective who interpret the music of “outsiders” – the homeless, the genre-less, the academically neglected, the commercially naive.

Following a critically acclaimed night at Bold Tendencies, Peckham, in summer 2012, the Outsider Music Collective come to Cafe OTO to present another programme of outsider classics from Britain and America. This will include celebrated player piano works by Conlon Nancarrow, a selection of James Tenney‘s rarely performed Postal Pieces, solo gems from experimentalists Cornelius Cardew, Howard Skempton and Michael Parsons, a generous portion of vocal and ensemble work by blind street musician Moondog (in brand new arrangements) and new work by the collective.

Word of warning. Very Limited advance tickets remaining! There will be a small number held back for the door. Sunday 20 January ’13 • 8PM • £8 adv / £10 on the door

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THE ROOM WITH A VIEW: Shuya Okino’s Tokyo Runnings

My relationship with Japan goes back to the mid Eighties and one my earliest friendships on the club scene was with Shuya Okino of the Kyoto Jazz Massive. I have fond memories of That Fuss Was Us playing in their underground Kyoto club and it’s great to see that his Tokyo club, The Room, is currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary. Shuya continues to DJ, produce and maintain strong links with others on the nu-jazz scene both in Japan and Worldwide. It therefore made good sense to ask this ever dapper don for his overview of the Japan scene 2012 and beyond. So, here we go.

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Above Right: Kyoto Jazz Massive’s Shuya Okino

room 1“With sales of CDs continuing to decrease and downloading music not yet popular in Japan, the music scene has suffered during the last year. Also, the recent enforcement of the ‘Fueiho’ law, a law making night clubs illegal, has damaged the image of DJs and put customers off going to clubs.

The political point scoring of the ‘Fueiho’ law and the re-election of the Liberty Democracy Party, who are in favor of using nuclear power although the dire problems of the Fukushima nuclear power plant have not been dealt with, has left many people feeling deeply frustrated with the government.

However, in spite of this frustration, new music and culture continue to be created. The popularity of electro in big clubs has never waned but fortunately in the small club scene, which we call ‘Kobako’, organic music like jazz, funk, Afro-beat are consistently attracting a younger generation of DJs and musicians. The ‘Kobako’ scene has chosen to support and dedicate itself to genuine music lovers rather than just following the latest “star” DJ and that has most definitely helped the scene stay active and alive.

BEST ALBUM OF JAPANESE MUSIC

Jazz Collective ‘Jazz Collective’

jazzcollective-300x300Takao Hirose who has played with Kyoto Jazz Massive, DJ KAWASAKI, Jazztronik, Root Soul and The Brand New Heavies has released his own group, Jazz Collective’s debut album. Their trademark spiritual Jazz with a boogie influence is fresh and along with Sleep Walker, Soil & “Pimp” Sessions and Quasimode they they are one of Japan’s most remarkable live jazz outfits.

Perfect Times ‘Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro’
This young Japanese band MMK have just released their 3rd album. The music they deliver is funk and rare groove but with energy that usually associated with punk and rock bands. Their performance at the biggest festival in Japan – ‘Fuji Rock Festival’- in 2012 brought them to the attention of that wider audience outside of the club scene.

Kingdom★Afrocks ‘SanSanNaNa’
In Japan the afro-beat movement is definitely growing and the leading light of this scene is Kingdom★Afrocks Their album is quite unique as they sing their lyrics in Japanese. That said, I’m sure though the Nao Ito’s soulful voice will still attract an international audience.

kingdom  band

BEST COMPILATION/MIX CD from Japanese DJ/Producer

V/A Deep Enough
DJ Daisuke Kuroda and DJ Yusuke Ogawa, the owners of the record shop Universounds started a new compilation series ‘DEEP GROOVE’ that features Mike Selesia and The London Experimental Jazz Quartet.

V/A Solid Black
mitsuDJ Mitsu The Beats put together this Mix CD from works from the Black Jazz label. Expect a new interpretation of Black Jazz by one of Japan’s most talented hip hop producer. The next releases in this series will come from Gilles Peterson and Theo Parrish.

blackV/A Black Finger~Queen Never Dies
This is my own latest compilation/imaginary sound track. It features Kyoto Jazz Massive’s cover version of Don Cherry’s Karmapa Chenno. The cover art features Dego (2000black) and Tasita D’Mour from UK.

BEST LIVE IN SESSION

Carlos Garnett feat.Bembe Segue @Ebis Garden Hall
The legendary Sax player arrived back in Japan after a 30 year absence. He’d first come to these shores as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messangers but this time round he played with Hajime Yoshizawa(Sleep Walker), Kenichi Ikeda(Root Soul) and Matzz(quasimode) for Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival 2012.

Osaka Monorail feat, Fred Wesley @ Nihonbashi Xex
The most famous Japanese funk band finally got to play with the Horny Horn of Fred Wesley from the legendary JB’s. Ryo Nakata has a similar style to James Brown so the audience went crazy for this first time collaboration.

Hajime Yoshizawa Trio @ Roppongi Alfie
Hajime Yoshizawa is still active after finishing his career as a member of Sleep Walker and in 2012 he introduced his new trio. His music has a cinematic dimension and the performance of the young musicians was very impressive.

Best Visual Art Exhibition…

Towa Tei’s ecollage @ AL
His first art exhibition. The modern collages using 70s Indian magazines pasted on the inner sleeves of records remind me of the artwork on his first solo album.

Chim↑Pom Exchibition @ Parco Museum

The first big exhibition from this young guerrilla art group. Crazy and pop, cynical but optimistic.

Chim Pom  painting21

yamaguchiAkira Yamaguchi @ Museau”Eki” Kyoto
The artist who created the cover art of United Future Organizatin’s ‘V album exhibited his current work – his first exhibition in Kyoto – after he painted a major commissioned piece for the World Heritage site ‘Byo-Do-In’ temple in Uji-city, Kyoto.

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https://www.facebook.com/shuya.okino?ref=ts&fref=ts

TOP PAGE


http://www.kyotojazzmassive.com/

PLUS if you want a little regular overview of the Tokyo ‘Kaboko’ scene check out http://tokyojazznotes.blogspot.co.uk/

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2012 RUNNINGS & BEYOND: Odds & Sods… My Own Take…

2012 has already slipped into the past and the new year is rolling in like the blizzard outside my window. It’s time to get busy and build on the rewards of last year.

banner sqWith the assistance of our brothers in the North formative plans are in place to initiate a UK tour for Sacred Music : Sacred Spaces and the ‘Enlightenment’ / A Love Supreme project that we premiered in The Chapel at Kings College on mid summer’s night last year. Watch out for news on that and expect the Sacred Music  : Sacred Spaces web site to surface very soon.

Following on from the energising and enlightening British Council backed ‘Yeah Nah’ project Swifty and I put together  New Zealand last May with a posse of bloggers, street artists, graphix cats, photographers and urban eco warriors we are looking to develop this and take it to other places… any offers? Brasil… Bahia would be sweet!

Our ‘Word Sound & Power: Reggae Changed My Life Stage 2’ exhibition is ready to travel and we are looking for UK partners with vision. We are also looking at Stage 3 of the exhibition… the journey is not complete.

Straight_no_chaserThe advent of Kickstarter etc. is creating an urge to publish. Upon hearing how Saul Williams had put together that exhilarating poetic volume,  Chorus,  I thought maybe I could do that.. a kind of Straight No Chaser “magazine mix-tape”… the sense of improvisation definitely appeals!

Looks like I’m poised to dig into my “free jazz” collection and spin a few tunes at FREEDOM! The Art Of Improvisation. From February  Jazz Warriors International are taking over Sunday nights at Charlie Wrights in Hoxton. After an excellent initial night which featured musicians spinning the tunes that have influenced them the session has now been expanded. Each Sunday will be hosted by a different crew and I’ll be there to support an improv-heavy jam session. The Vibe:  AACM & The Black Artists Group to Harriet Tubman. House musicians inc. Orphy Robinson, Pat Thomas, Neil Charles. More specific info soon.

Anyway… just to recap on a few sources of inspiration from 2012

Kate Tempest‘s Brand New Ancients at Battersea Arts Centre… don’t sleep on her self produced book/CD/DVD.  This woman is special. Believe. Also on the spoken word front, following his QEH session to promote Chorus, Saul Williams continues to inspire while shrugging off stereotypes in pursuit of the self!

Eighty eight year old ,Marshall Allen led the Sun Ra Arkestra onstage at the Barbican in 2012 and blew us all away with his playing and his continued leadership of that indomitable ensemble. In 2013 at Cafe Oto in Dalston Marshall  joins forces with with Cinema Soloriens & Decoy for two most promising nights. Other Cafe Oto sessions and residencies include The Thing, The Outsider Music Collective, Roscoe Mitchell, Black Top with Claude Deppa and Voice Extraordinaire.

kouyateAs I write this missive the latest offering from Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni B is in the CD player. Listening to the opening title track of ‘Jama Ko’ with it delicate swing, intricate rhythms and uplifting vocals one is  struck by a combination of desperate sadness and anger at the current situation in Mali.  A whole section of the Malian population are, at this moment in time, caught in the crossfire between the Malian army and their allies in an attempt to liberate an area the size of the UK from the  deluded and murderous Islamic fundamentalists masquerading as messengers from God. Whatever support we can give to people of Mali, we need to give.

In stark contrast to repressive dogma of Mali’s Islamist alliance (AQIM, MUJWA and Ansar Dine) Etoile de Dakar vocalist and Senegalese minister of culture, Youssou N’Dour offers an inspirational take on contemporary jazz culture on a profoundly moving DVD called Return to Gorée. It was released in 2008 but it’s new to me. In the company of blind Swiss jazz pianist Moncef Genoud Youssou traces the evolution of the music… gospel to jazz… in America as it evolved out of slavery. He recruits singers and musicians along the way kicking off in a church in Atlanta and then heading to the Crescent City where he hooks up with the tremendous Idris Muhammed. They then follow the route of jazz to NYC, where they meet poet and writer Amiri Baraka and vocalist Pyeng Threadgill. From there they head for Bordeaux and Luxembourg where they collaborate with guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and a mesmerisning hamonica player Gregoire Marcet. The music takes shape as their journey evolves and returns full circle to be played at a concert at the House Of Slaves on the island of Gorée.  Simply wonderful!

KawaAlso brilliant is a new book from P Vine in Japan that celebrates the art of Yosuke Kawamura.  Big thanks to journalist/producer Ikuo Okamoto for sorting me out a copy!  Ikuo was a prime mover in organising a major Tokyo exhibition (in 2 parts) of Yosuke Kawamura’s artworks and this book feature over 600 pieces that span the man’s diverse career. We carried a piece on Yosuke’s work in Straight No Chaser many moons ago and as this remarkable and highly innovative artist  is not in good health I definitely agree with  Ikuo and his friends in Tokyo that credit should be paid right now to his enduring influence on the genre that is called ” Heta Uma”… which roughly translates as “bad but good”.  Seek out this volume if you can. There’s very little writing and the images are left to speak for themselves. Maybe we can bring Yosuke’s show to the UK!

kozmaFor devotees of alternative practices I have to give thanx to Singing Dragon books who have published, amid their rapidly expanding catalogue, two small but crucial and highly illuminating volumes in 2012  – Master Chen Xiao Wang‘s ‘5 Levels Of Taijiquan‘ and Yin Shi Zi‘s ‘Tranquil Sitting – A Taoist Journal On Mediation and Medical Qigong‘. Expect more from this radical publisher in 2013 including Robert Shaefer‘s enticing ‘Ten Methods Of The Heavenly Dragon’ and Alex Kozma‘s ‘Warrior Guards The Mountain’.

Finally… I’m looking forward the Gilles Peterson’s annual Worldwide Awards at Ko Ko in Camden this Saturday . As ever it’s a cutting edge live line up…  Neneh Cherry & Rocket Number Nine, Marcos Valle, Mala In Cuba,Nick Mulvey, Hello Skinny, The Invisible, The Greg Foat Group, Stubborn Heart, Andrew Ashong… phew! Deejays include Romare, Mr Raoul K, Lefto and Alex Patchwork. The session kicks off at 7pm and runs till 3am…

https://soundcloud.com/gillespeterson/worldwide-awards-2013-preview

Whoops … Big respek to the man Gil Cang…nearly forgot this topical & rootical 7″ gem from Tuff Scout and The mighty Big Youth… all hail Jah Youth’s ‘Bail Out’ Yes, strong like Kong!!

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The Fifth Monarchist Prophets… The Epiphany Uprising! Who was Thomas Venner and Anna Trapnel? 2013…. Where Are Our Prophets?

Epiphany St Pauls

Last Sunday, January 6th, was the Christian festival of Epiphany. It was also the date that, in 1661, one Thomas Venner led the Fifth Monarchist Uprising in the city of London against the restoration of the King. As my good friends the Gillett sisters are involved in making a film, with long-time anarchist, Ian Bone, about these esoteric 17th century prophets and rebels I had my own epiphany and headed off to Moorgate in search of Swan Alley where the revolt began and filming was to commence.

Basically, it felt right. The previous night I’d had a spirited but heated argument about the need political activism and the need for radical new ideas with an old mate and vented my total frustration at the pathetic, ghostly, non-presence of the so called “leader” of the Labour opposition. To take on those vicious Old Etonians who dominate the Tory front bench of Parliament we need people who can give voice to an opposition that demands genuine and radical change. Where’s the sense of rage? The deeper the recession and the more savage the cutbacks. For a lot of people in 2013, young or old, all that’s on offer is hard time pressure – a combination of humiliation and desperation. So, heading off to Swan Alley, to celebrate a rebellion by a small army of historically obscure rebels, who put their lives on the line for a cause, felt like a cathartic and positive start to the new year.

Ian Bone displays the portrait of Thomas Venner

Ian Bone displays the portrait of Thomas Venner

After questioning a historical guide, who was addressing some tourists outside of the Guildhall, as to the the whereabouts of Swan Alley where Venner’s congregation had gathered in 1661 he admitted to having no knowledge of the uprising. However, he did know where there was a good map of the city and  along with a Class War veteran, who was also in search of the gathering, we finally reached our destination arriving  just as speeches inspired by Venner, Abiezer Coppe, Lawrence Clarkson and the Muggletonian leader Lodowick Muggleton were being delivered by Bone and other activists.

As a long time leftist, I’ve gradually acquired a modest knowledge of the working class activism and rebellion in Britain through the likes of EP Thompson, Christopher Hill and Eric Hobsbawm and have a soft spot for the Diggers, Levellers and Ranters. I’ve even played the odd deejay set under the moniker of Captain Swing… who inspired the Swing Riots of 1860 and who wrote many a threatening message…

“Sir, Your name is down amongst the Black hearts in the Black Book and this is to advise you and the like of you, who are Parson Justasses, to make your wills. Ye have been the Blackguard Enemies of the People on all occasions, Ye have not yet done as ye ought,…. Swing”

Anyway, I digress. The Fifth Monarchists took their name from a prophecy in the Bible that four ancient monarchies – Babylonian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman – would precede the return of King Jesus and these offbeat Christian fundamentalists were outraged at the fall of the Barebone’s parliament and saw Cromwell as part of a Bablyonian conspiracy. Venner and his congregation were intent on building Zion in this green and pleasant land and the restoration of a King who was “a profest Enemy, a Rebel and a Traytor to Christ” had no place in their vision.

Who could disagree? And so, all fired up, Venner and his congregation took to the streets to do what diarist Samuel Pepys described as “A thing that was never heard of, that so few men should dare to do so much mischief. “ Over forty people were killed and many more wounded. After a fierce fight Thomas Venner and many of his brethren were captured and subsequently executed. Venner himself suffered a traitors death and was hung drawn and quartered, his head displayed on London Bridge.

As our modest little band of former poll tax rioters, new generation anarchists and  Occupy activists went, under the guidance of the film makers, from Swan Alley onto the Guildhall (where Venner had failed to arrest the then Lord Mayor). At this point we were led by a pike wielding young woman,  who was playing the part of Anna Trapnel, one of the most compelling and prominent Fifth Monarchist prophets.

Epiphany 1

NPG D29220; Anna Trapnel after Richard GaywoodShe like other Fifth Monarchists had embraced Oliver Cromwell as God’s chosen tool to restore King Jesus’ kingdom but in the wake the Barebone’s Parliament disillusionment set in. It was in this political atmosphere that Trapnel made her most famous prophecy, The Cry of a Stone.

Anna Trapnel did not write her prophecies; they were recorded as she spoke in a trance then edited and printed later. The particular trance that resulted in The Cry of a Stone occurred in January 1654 and lasted eleven days and twelve nights! The fact that it occurred in Whitehall was radical and Trapnel singles out Cromwell, figuring him as the Biblical Gideon, for special condemnation for what she sees as his abdication of his divine role. Anna Trapnel was a fascinating woman who, had the Papists been in power, would have been burned as a witch in the blink of an eye.

Trapnel - Cry

Chanting “Heads on Pikes”, “Kill The King” we journeyed from Guildhall to King Street and onto St Paul’s where we stormed the steps and gathered around the banner bearing the symbol of the Lion and the declaration “Who will rouse him up”. Our dedication to that “Good Old Cause” and “A Door To Hope” attracted considerable attention and more than a little confusion… “Kill the King?”

As with all such events we finished our journey in a historically apt place of worship, The Cockpit public house, where pints of ale were readily consumed while discussing the May Day deadline for the premier of the film, which is appropriately entitled Epiphany.

Big Thanks to Peter Marshall for donating the photography. You can check his excellent work at: http://mylondondiary.co.uk/ + http://www.demotix.com/

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A BRAZILIAN ODYSSEY: The Life & Times of Deodato

THE LEGEND THAT IS DEODATO flies into London town in mid January to make a rare live appearance over four nights at Ronnie Scotts in Soho. Will Page, the  Senior Economist at Spotify and a regular contributor to Straight No Chaser magazine is no stranger to Deodato – the man, the music and his illustrious career – and this is his reasoning as to why we need to check him out.

deodato prelude

Widely regarded as one of the most respected and sought-after musicians in the music world, Brazilian-born Eumir Deodato has racked up 16 platinum records to his credit as artist, arranger or producer with combined sales of well over 25 million records in the USA alone. His discography, including compilations and all his work as arranger, producer and keyboardist, surpasses 450 albums. Yet it will be his CTI recordings that will forever be associated with his name, none more so that innovative rendition of Richard Strauss’ classical opus Also Sprach Zarathustra (or more commonly known as the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey).

Deodato Pointing B&W
ABOVE: The young Deodato!

That single compelling song, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album for CTI Prelude, sold at least five million copies and earned Deodato his first Grammy Award, instantly moved him to international stardom. The legacy of Deodato’s music can be found in samples being used by other artists, as 2001 was picked up by Fun Loving Criminals’ ‘Kings of New York’ and Max Sedgley’s ‘Happy’ to name but a few. Almost forty years later, he reunited with fellow CTI musicians Billy Cobham, Airto and John Tropea  to release the highly acclaimed album ‘The Crossing’ (Expansion Records).

"Deodato has an amazing capacity to understand the intimacy of the track".KD Lang

“Deodato has an amazing capacity to understand the intimacy of the track”. KD Lang

Deodato built his career back in Brazil during the Sixties, discovering and recording Milton Nascimento as well as arranging the work of the great Antonio Carlos Jobim. Into the seventies and based in New York, Deodato worked with Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack, arranging the timeless hit ‘Killing Me Softly’. He went on to produce the Kool and the Gang Records, arrange three Bjork albums and more recently conducted the strings for KD Lang.

Going beyond those timeless CTI recordings of 2001, Super Strut and Skyscrapers; the enduring influence of Deodato remains as strong as ever. The track ‘Whistle Bump’ from the 1978 album Love Island is considered by many DJs to be at the root of modern day house music. Rapper Lupe Fiasco ‘looped’ Deodato’s work into his hit ‘Paris Tokyo’. lupefiasco417712 And yet he continues to be in-demand, working with Spanish singer Luz Casal and developing emerging talent like Lara Rizzotto. Four nights at Ronnie Scotts offers a rare opportunity for UK audiences to watch this uniquely rich and diverse career be performed live on stage.

Eumir Deodato is at Ronnie Scotts, Frith St, London W1- Weds 16th – Saturday 20th January

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2012 RUNNINGS Pt. 3: ROSS ALLEN’S MELTDOWN!

OK people…I’m back from a windswept and bracingly elemental new year in north Cornwall … Having had no signal down there… yessss, off the worldwide web….. I’m itching to do a few posts. First up, I’m cheekily reprinting Ross’ excellent round up for 2012 because it only goes out on an email (to nuff people!) and because it is a most excellent insight into the music released last year. Ross is a feisty, extremely perceptive south Londoner who embodies that “freedom principle” and swims daily in a sea of vinyl, cds, downloads. As an active A&R person as well as a club and radio DJ he leaves no stone unturned. Luckily for us you can download much of his selection via Mi-Soul.com… see below!

It seems like only the other weekRossAllen1x I was contemplating writing one of these and got way laid by pre Christmas fun, work and shopping… I worked out what slows me down in life, and am glad for it, people… I have to say I have really enjoyed the last few weeks. After a year of battening down the hatches and working as, and when, you could people seemed to be very up for getting together and pausing for a minute away from the slog of it. I don’t normally think that way but it has been a funny old year and the break has been great, if only too short. Lots of good things have gone on this year but a general heaviness seems to lurk in the air. Still I suppose after surviving the Mayan calendars end we may breath a little easier… or not. We still have George Osbourne at the controls so I fear for the latter.

I won’t go over events of the year there is more than enough of that around at the moment and you have all the old missives to look at if you fancy that but a musical catch up at the end of year is always a good thing and here it is in classic Meltdown style (it’s long). Four hours of new musical deviations or some great re treads of styles that are now just classic. More often than not it is a fusing of the two. I think I would sum up the year with a word. Consolidation.

It’s always interesting going back over the year, as the list above suggests it did have a lot of great records but it started slow. I can remember scratching around at the start of the year thinking that there wasn’t that much. I suppose the lack of any coherent new forms of music may have abetted that. We saw the consolidation of all new forms of electronic emanating from the UK lumped together under the Bass music banner. A good catch all but it really saw many of those different forms homogenised, often under a housey groove. It was back in a slightly mutated form but it was how it got to be the sound of 2012 that was interesting.

A few years ago it seemed that Dubstep was the punk rock son of the black inspired dance music that had developed in the UK since the advent of Jungle. It was apparently the sound for a new generation of ravers. The sons and daughters of the UK’s second summer of love were dancing to a different beat. It had a new tempo, a new dance, a new drug. It was quite exciting even from my older perspective. What had cleared dance floors was now filling them as rapidly as it had emptied them. There was definitely a revolution happening. It had to come eventually and a new world order was sort of put in place.

Of course house music was installed around the world as the tempo of choice (it has been since pre disco really) but this was a serious challenge to it in its adopted home of the UK. The leaders of this new school, got sent out around the world to spread the word and it caught fire. It had the energy but in a different way and it worked. Of all places in the US. This was even more exciting. The US finally seemed to get it. Well they got it, ran with it and fused it with the already encroaching sound of dance music that they liked: from trance, to Switch’s stylings, to Swedish and French sounds and that had been grabbing hold all across the US away from its traditional homes of Black and Gay America.

Over the past few years this scene has grown into a huge business as this music has engrossed millions of young Americans and we have seen huge changes taking place at US festivals, gigs and even on US radio (a medium not known for changing styles unless there is serious advertising revenue coming through)… The internet was the obvious natural home for any rapidly spreading movement in this century and we here in the UK got to see first hand what was going on at US raves through You Tube and other postings. Almost as quickly as it spread there we got to see it. For many of us it wasn’t pretty. Sure the US ravers were having fun and the participants were getting paid but was it cool ? Was the music good ? I think the UK underground reacted to it. We got soulful this year.

Did you get in to dance music for money or for the elicit coolness of it (that includes the music) ? Exactly. What is good for mainstream American consumption often lacks what we here need or may be we just react to the mass appeal of it. I know I do

Of course that is only one facet of what we cover here at The Meltdown. What I am describing is a kind of mass consensus of the underground (is that possible ?) but I did think it interesting that this slightly soulful, funky, bass injected, house inspired underground was where we generally were at in 2012. I liked it. As the music above suggests there was lots of music that was very fresh and new but also lots that trod well worn ground with a slightly different skank.

I think this accounts for where I see where we are at on the verge of 2013. The re arrival of a more soulful kind of dance music seems to be a direct reaction to the boom in the US of the kind of music that moves thousands of people. It may be many things but rarely is it soulful. Could the excitement around new talent like Disclosure come at any time other than 2012 ? When all we heard about was the huge stage shows of numerous acts that were of a very instant gratification ? Sure they looked impressive and the US audiences were loving it but was it what the Uk underground was all about ? Its not exactly a dim light, a sound (system) and a basement is it ? I think that is at the key to any great party here and people looking for those parties were taken there by an, in part, UK reaction to that was going on in the US overground and the cold simple fact that everyone finds it easier to rock a dance floor with a 4×4 kick drum.

RINSECD026-430x430So on top of the US/global adoption/bastardistaion of dub step and the more ‘high energy’ end of club music. More and more of the DJ’s that started Dubstep seemed to tire of it and return to the music of their elders, albeit slightly rehashed and often improved – especially sonically. Look at the playlist of Rinse FM it is almost a house station now albeit with its own broad ranging and uniquely London spin on it. Though even there you do hear more and more house/garage classics from back in the day and less Grime and Dubstep shows. Though they are still there. For which I am thankful. Roska‘s Grimey experiments on Rinse’s Roska 2 EP were a couple of gems for me this year.

The London Underground is a fascinating thing. It’s why I am here. I love the morphs and changes that go on and approaching it with an open mind it always throw up some amazing music that touches on the constants of my own particular tastes – some soul/emotion and/or a groove and a funk. We definitely have a lot of groove about this year and also a lot of soul.

Having said all that we don’t actually play a lot of that new school soulful house/garage sound but it did seem to be the predominant sound. We could have played lots of Disclosure tracks, who were so impressive this year but settled for their remix of Jessie Ware which was almost like the warning call that they were coming. Definitely the remix of the year for me. It is exciting times as we now have very well made, structured, soulful music troubling the charts and that looks set to continue into next year. As Disclosure continue to solidify their very powerful reputation as producers and remixers. It is amazing that they construct records the way that they do and at such young years. They are definitely the most exciting producers in that area and deserve all the props that they are getting.

julio BashmoreJulio Bashmore continued to release significant records ‘Au Seve’ being a huge release and his Bobby Womack Remix picked up where that left off. Dusky took that classic 90’s house baseline and showed what you could do with it and little else, coming from a minimal place it was interesting to see how these tracks work so well on such a wide variety of dancefloors. Again showing how such disparate dance floors were all uniting under a housey/garagey norm that was emerging this year. Hot Nature’s ‘Benediction’ was on so many dancefloors this year too. Even old timers like Ashley Beedle got back into their mid 90’s swing and found favour with the nu skool house heads of 2012. His Girls Music released ‘Yardism EP’ was a hit with many this year. R-A-G is a perfect example of that over the shoulder look to the raw, under produced sound that was again prevalent this year through tracks like ‘Black Rain’ which was just a classic modern interpretation of those old Trax records from Chicago back in the day. As with all genres this year the volume of reissues also gave these older styles and sounds a big push. Labels like Amsterdam’s Rush Hour took in detail looks at classic labels such as Mitchball and Nu Groove.

Zebra Katz

Zebra Katz

There was also the ‘correct’ sound of hip hop influenced house. Whilst the overground got more Guetta infected Hip Hop and RnB cuts at 120bpm plus – that music doesn’t seem to go away but it truly the enemy of all things decent. On its flip side were tracks like Zebra Katz’s ‘Ima Read’ a tune which built over 2012 in that classic way. I’m not saying it’s as big as Azealia Banks was last year but these tunes do take their time to permeate. Her mix tape, in lieu of her album (which should be with us very soon), ‘Fantasea’ was full of tracks picking up where ‘212’ left off. Mixing the Gay NY sound of the Sound Factory with a proper underground rap style and not forsaking every thing for a cheesy chorus. She seemed to have a serious contender with the arrival of Angel Haze but she was less house and more straight up but very good.

Acts like Stubborn Heart gained attention by taking the more cerebral side of house and electronics that almost borders on Radiohead territory and putting some good songs on top of it. They made an album that looks set to have legs well into 2013. An interesting debut and ones to watch. One album that came late in the year but was an excellent addition to my collection was the Carl Craig inspired techno of Redshape. ‘Atlantic’, the album, was again reminiscent of early to mid 90’s music. This time reflecting the work of many of the 2nd Generation of Detroit producers with its eerie synths and odd tempo’s and rhythms… There seemed to be a lot of techno influenced music about this year. A lot of it from either post Dubstep producers – some of it good, most of it not really registering here (with me). And then there were the minimalist crew who on the whole left me cold – far too little melody or anything of any real substance, the closest I got to this sound was the Actress album which had some moments of sheer bliss. acress lp‘Ascending’ the track we start one hour of the show with here is one such moment. Taken from an album which I really liked but couldn’t quite see the level of hype that many put around it. A lot of people got excited about Jimmy Edgar and his album ‘Majenta’ – which did have some fine moments on it – ‘Touch Yr Body’ being one such electro moment. The 80’s feel was also present in lots of boogie inspired house cuts. One of my favourites was Juan Laya & Jorge Montell ‘It’s Got To Be Music’. Which could have been from the early 80’s and sounds all the better for it. Jesse Ware’s album had several nods to 80’s soul and that is one reason why I liked it so much. I think she will develop nicely and was a great uncovering for 2012. ‘Devotion’ is a good record only let down by the mix.

Frank Ocean - Feelin' that Gong Fu vibe

Frank Ocean – Feelin’ that Gong Fu vibe

Records that weren’t were Frank Ocean‘s much anticipated debut ‘Channel Orange’. Many people said they preferred last years mix tape (but then they always do) and though it may not have featured another Nova Cane, I thought the album was great. I love it when soul is moved forward and I think he genuinely has done that. He wrote songs in an interesting way and deviated from the norm with lyrics and production but always kept it soul, and to fine effect. It was many peoples album of the year. Tracks like ‘Pyramid’ and ‘Crack Rock’ are not your usual Neo Soul or RnB cuts and the hints that were made the previous year by him, and The Weeknd too, were pushed forward by this album. Miguel too, delivered a forward thinking album with the stand out being ‘Adorn’ a bass led groove that nags its way into your head and is a tune I will be playing for years to come. Jai Paul‘s ‘Jasmine’ was only a demo but extremely well executed and another hint at what’s to come, sometime… Though he did turn up on the Big Boi record.

On the tips for next year the, late arrival, soul of Typesun is well worth looking into. As is the excitement surrounding London Grammar who’s ‘Hey Now’ was posted on Soundcloud in mid December to an unsuspecting world that jumped on it. Keeping it soulful but moving ever forward was Damon Albarn and Richard Russells work with the legend that is Bobby Womack. I admired their ambition and many cuts were great but I think the album was only a part success. Still it was good to hear Bobby back and it was good to hear him against new productions/beats… some of the time. It is a modern production dilemma. You can either record these classic vocalists in a retro style (Rick Rubin, T Bone Burnett or Joe Henry style) or try and move it all forward which I think is a much bolder and harder task. If it were down to me I think I would have taken Bobby Womack down the route of georgiaGeorgia Anne Muldrow‘s latest release ‘Seeds’ which was by far her best release to date. Part produced by her and Mad Lib, it had a cosmic soul feel reminiscent of the 70’s but with tough sampled beats and some of the best songs she has written. Definitely one of my albums of the year. I think it was a good year for soul all told.

Hip Hop it went through an interesting phase with Trap being the word on everybody’s lips. Lots of 808’s, 909’s and not a lot else. There were lots of quirky tunes but not many that blew me away. I think I miss the lyrics with something to say. The beats though were quality and the world caught up. They provided a blue print for a modern take on Trip Hop (in the 90’s producers copied the NY sounds of Premier and Pete Rock, now they ape the sounds of the South) with lots of UK and European producers making instrumentals that occasionally ended up with US MC’s on them. Stand up Hudson Mohawke and Darq E Freaker for at least two great cuts this year in ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Blueberry (Pills N’ Cocaine)’ it’ll be interesting to see where the pair of them are in a years time with Hud Mo already making beats for Kanye.

Jamie XX was also busy stateside, and did some good cuts – I did like his Alicia Keys track but the new XX album was a classic second album – more of the same. It was good but didn’t blow me away as the first one did. May be they will have a new trick next time around. They are still set for bigger things and I do like them. I didn’t hear much from many other UK producers in that area. Switch left Major Lazer but they delivered a great cut/pre amble to their second album due this year with the free download featuring Amber from The Dirty Projectors ‘Get Free’. BaauerIn the US Baauer took that trap vibe and turned (it into ‘Trap Step’ ?? good eh ?) the heat up to 11. His EP on Mad Decent was a killer with some huge tracks on it none less than ‘Harlem Shake’ and he is now signed to Glasgow’s Lucky Me the original home to Hudson Mohawke.

As much as there was the hypeness around the Southern United States Hip Hop sounds’ mutations the influence of those classic old NY mid 90’s sounds still lives large, sampling hasn’t gone away. Geoff Barrow teamed up with a host of MC’s and fellow beatmakers to form the Quakers, a collective who’s huge sampling library delivered some interesting but straight up cuts. Then there was another album from Nas. It was such a relief to hear his dulcet tones over some classic NYC music and ‘The Don’ was one of those bloc rocking beats that are timeless. It was also good to hear the new school of MC’s not just using 808’s and that crunked southern sound. KendrickKendrick Lamar‘s record dabbled in both sides of this coin and to fine effect on his album ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City’ which was arguably Hip Hop album of the year. He was slack, he was conscious, the beats were rough and some were smoove. It didn’t rewrite any rules but was just a solid record with good stories. it was also nice to hear my radio co host Andrew Hale be sampled by Joey Bada$$. One of the up and coming MC’s in line for ASAP Rocky’s glories. The track we play ‘Fromdatomb$’ samples Andrew’s music for the computer game ‘LA Noire’ again in that 90’s style. It is reminiscent of London’s Piff Gang. Or may be it is the other way around but it’s good to know that the blunted beat is a live and strong. Especially if you are Andrew Hale !

I have to say that the music which has excited me the most this year is Drum n Bass. It’s been an interesting year for a genre which has scaled pop heights of late but in terms of hypeness and quality may appear to have stagnated but as ever is a strong hold if you are a fan. It never goes away DnB, it’s like Heavy Metal. It has legions of devoted fans around the world who love the energy and dance ability of it. The fusions within DnB were what excited me and it seemed like there were a few elements which when melded were explosive. The tracks we play on the show are good illustrations.

Manchester's finest: Dub Phizix

Manchester’s finest: Dub Phizix

The sound of Manchester was still a major pull for me. Dubphizix and his MC’s DRS, Fox, Strategy and Skittles were a dynamic combination. The old Broken English crew were all individually doing it but put them on stage together and they were dynamite. One night at Fabric was enough for me. If they can get it together there is a great album in those guys. DRS’s album highlighted how good they can be together but Dubphizix’s release on Critical ‘Never Been’ was the the epitome of bashment meets DnB. A rough groove and a hooky chorus won over so many dance floors… As did Need For Mirrors ‘Don’t Fight The Feeling’ again featuring DRS but in a different style again. Then there was D Bridges minimalist reworking of James Brown ‘Funky Drummer’ which sounded great on a system and had a nod to the old school. Just a simple filtered groove but such a good one. It also sounded good on 331/3 like all good DnB records do !! The fusion of Chicago’s footwork/Juke styles with DnB was a highlight for me. It seems like we are only at the tip of this iceberg but it is a good fusion. They go so well together especially when the music goes back a bit further to Jungle. Fracture under his Night & Day guise did this to fine effect with his Exit release ‘Get Busy’ which was a track full of energy. There were lots of other less legitimate fusions lurking about on line from the likes of Philip D Kick and more and more producers seem to be dabbling in these areas. I am looking forward to this area growing next year.

iBebeyAfrica has been a much plundered area of late. Again this year has seen the continued reissuing of lost gems of varying quality and inclinations. Labels like Soundway, Strut and Analog Africa reissued some quality old music and shone the light on parts of the world and artists that we might otherwise be oblivious too. Andrew loves a bit of Africa and his pick was the Cameroonian Francis Bebey‘s compilation African Electronic Music 1975-82 where he explores, surprisingly enough, electronic music fused with traditional songs and rhythms. It has some excellent and very quirky cuts from a little known African pioneer. Who’d have thunk it !! Whilst we are on the weirder, wonderful side of things and talking of fusing electronic instrumentation with more traditional forms. We land squarely at the feet of my compilation of the year Personal Space:Electronic Soul 1974-84. It follows a very similar time frame and is basically a collection of very rare and privately pressed recordings which, possibly quite badly, infuse some lo rent soul with some odd electronic quirks. It reminds me a bit of Arthur Russell’s proto disco fusions, in so much as, they kind of work but don’t fully, and didn’t, hence their lack of success and obscurity. Years later they sound quirky and cute. It is a very interesting compilation which if you stick with it benefits you loads. I fell in love with it in the spring and am still playing it now. You need to listen to it at least once.

Back to Africa there were lots of people experimenting with new forms of African music from LV and Debruit here to the second album from Portugal’s Buraka Som Sistema which had some very heavy club tunes which were so percussive you could get away with them on almost any dance floor. Daphni (also known as Caribou) became a UK name to reckon with in the afro inspired fusions though still never bettering his debut ‘Cos Ber Zam Nenoya’ – a reedit from an Analog Africa compilation. His name spread this year with a series of 12″s on his new Jialong label. All these were rounded up for an album which gave a new lease of life to these previous vinyl only cuts. I think I played ‘Cos Ber Zam Nenoya’ on last years best of but I have played it all year and it is the best track off his album. The influence of the compilations and re issues from the above mentioned labels is best seen with not only their spreading of these obscure sounds and artists but their influence on new music. The debut album from Sweden’s Goat has it writ large right across it.

Goat - World Music LP

Goat – World Music LP

The album ‘World Music’ is a truly great piece of fusion. The sound is that of a tripped out, psychedelic rock band fused with afro rhythms and inflections to great effect. I can remember putting it on at the counter at Rough Trade and being completely blown away by the sound and feel of the record. It didn’t sound like it was from now, or Sweden ! There have been a few other interesting/good stoner rock records around this year, as every year, but White Manna and Moon Duo shone for me. This is by far the best and they are a band that I really want to see live.

Leaning towards Africa, and with Tony Allen (Fela’s drummer) on drums its possibly difficult to to anything but that. Was the new album project from Damon Albarn: Rocket Juice & The Moon. I never got around to getting the album, which apparently was another winner but the 10′ single featuring Erykah Badu was ace, a slow shuffling Afro beat groove, Erykah doing her thing and being dubbed out in a style that I don’t think you would get on her own records. It had to be played. Talking of Erykah it was another high light of the year seeing her live at Hammersmith Apollo. She really is one of those artist that I can’t get enough of.

Neneh Cherry & Nat Guystafson of The Thing

Neneh Cherry & Nat Guystafson of The Thing

Another woman that I always want to hear more from who returned this year was Neneh Cherry. I am not sure where she has been but I was more than chuffed to hear her come back and in the style that she did. Hooking up with Swedish out jazzers The Thing she made an album which took a diverse array of covers and pushed them through a classic jazz interpretation. Keeping the themes but stretching them out and taking them somewhere else, so that they are their own tracks. The band were tight and Neneh has a unique characterful voice that I have been missing. It was a great return and Suicide’s ‘Dream Baby Dream’ was one of many tracks that worked so well

On the reggae side of things there were a few bits that shone through for me but my take is very superficial. I am still looking for those classic JA injections of craziness. Again there were lots of re issues. The Trojan compilation ‘Black Ark’ of classic Lee Perry 12’s from the late 70’s and early 80’s was a joy for me the full versions with Perry at his most creative within confines of the legendary Black Ark. There were lots of new rootsy releases about on 7″ and 12″ but there was a dearth of quality ragga and rhythms.

Busy Signal

Busy Signal

Three that did stand out were Leftside‘s ‘Johnny Bravo’, Damian Marley‘s ‘Set Up Shop’ and Potential Kid‘s ‘Yah So Nice’… I do try and unearth these tracks but I am always open to leads from others.  So please drop me a line if you think there is anything that I should be hearing and playing. Album wise I was still loving Busy Signal‘s album but that came out late in 2011.

Dr John & bredren from Treme Band

Dr John & bredren from Treme Band

Another album that blew me away was the return of Dr John. He has made a few records over the past 20 years but they have been interesting because they were him and not really because of the content but this record was different. Produced by Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys, it took Dr John back to his classic Atlantic Records period where the Voodoo was strong and the groove was lo slung, off key and funky. I do love the Black Keys anyway but this hook up was one of the best things they have done. The record is retro but so good. The grit they have in their own records is more than evident on this and it is what someone like Dr John needs in his records. Thankfully he got it on ‘Locked Down’. Definitely one of my albums of the year and a highly recommended purchase.

Other tracks that deserve mentioning in 2012 are Andrew Ashong’s debut on Sound Signature. It was a unique piece of soulful music. Super funky, kind of house but really more of a slow chugging groove that just built around his song in a nagging jazzy way. It is a classic in the making. If you don’t know it. Have a listen. You won’t regret it.

half Moon Run

half Moon Run

Two other tracks played on the shows and I am done. Both with nods to a period and place that I have a very soft spot for. It’s the harmonies, the melancholy and the emotion of classic Laurel Canyon releases by the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that I hear echoed in Damien Jurado‘s album and the debut from Canada’s Half Moon Run. Both albums blew me away but the youth, live performances and quality of the music by Half Moon Run really stole the show for me in 2012. I saw them plenty of times in 2012, as I tried to find a way to work with them, and every time they got better and the crowd got bigger. Definitely the new act of the year for me, and the album was probably my album of the year too. You need to know about them. They fuse elements of modern production ala Radiohead with those classic elements from the early 70’s and glorious harmonies. Its soul but of a slightly fairer hue. Essential listening for me in 2012.

So there you go I have a list as long as my arm of things that I wanted to play and talk about but above are my tunes of the year the ones that resonated the most with me.

If you like what you have heard/read don’t forget you can join me and Andrew Hale every Sunday night between the hours of 9pm and 11pm GMT on mi-soul.com or you could drop me a line on ross.allen@me.com and I’ll add you to the mail out list and you’ll get this mail out sent to you every week, and you won’t miss a minute…

So thanks to everyone who has sent me music, sold me music, tipped me off about stuff. It’s all much appreciated and thanks to you lot for reading,listening and getting in touch on such a regular basis. I am glad you are liking it.

Here’s to more music and mutations in 2013

Cheers

Ross

THE WILDSTYLE ROSS ALLEN & ANDREW HALE BEST OF 2012 PART1 MI-SOUL.COM SUNDAY 23rd Dec 2012 9-11PM

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UW14eVdsSWhrUm1VQU1UQw

LINK TO STREAM THE SHOW

HOUR 1

Spontaneous Overthrow – All About Money – Chocolate Industries CD (from the album Personal Space)
Neneh Cherry & The Thing – Dream Baby Dream – Smalltown Supersound CD (from the album The Cherry Thing)
Jai Paul -Jasmine (demo) – XL 12″
Typesun – The PL – download
Frank Ocean – Crack Rock – Def Jam CD (from the album Channel Orange)
Nas – The Don – Def Jam CD (from the album Life Is Good)
Azealia Banks – Este Noche – Free Mix Tape (from the album Fantasea)
Bauuer – Harlem Shake – Mad Decent EP (from the EP The Jeffrees Part 3)
Quakers feat Guilty Simpson & Phat Kat – Tribal Drums – Stones Throw CD
Red Shape – Atlantic – Word & Sound CD (from the album Square)
Grimes – Oblivion – 4AD (from the album Visions)
Daphni Cos Ber Zam Nenoya – Jialong LP (from the album Jialong)
Goat – Disco Fever – Rocket Recordings (from the album World Music)
Francis Bebey – Coffee Cola Song – Born Bad CD (from the album African Electronic Music 1975-1982)

HOUR 2

Damien Jurado – Moraquipa – Secretly Canadian CD (from the album Maraqopa)
Half Moon Run – Full Circle – Indica CD (from the album Dark Eyes)
Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra – Travelling Song
Johnny Mathis – I Love My Lady (Ashley Beedle Re edit) – CDR
Jimmy Edgar – Touch Your Body Time – Hot Flush CD (from the album Majenta)
The Invisble – Wings (Floating Points Remix) – Ninja 12″
Miguel – Adorn – RCA CD (from the album Kaliedoscopic Dreams)
Joey Bada$$ – Fromdatomb$ – Mixtape (from the album 1999)
Damien Marley – Set Up Shop – Tuff Gong 7″
D-Bridge – Cornered – Metalheadz 12″
Dubphizix feat Fox – Never Been – Critical 12″

THE WILDSTYLE ROSS ALLEN & ANDREW HALE BEST OF 2012 PART 2 MI-SOUL.COM SUNDAY 30th Dec 2012 9-11PM

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW
http://www.yousendit.com/download/UW15Q3Qrdzh0Ni9MYnNUQw

LINK TO STREAM THE SHOW

HOUR 1

Bobby Womack – Whatever Happened To The Times ? – XL LP (from the album Bravest Man In The Universe)
Dr John – Locked Down – Nonesuch LP (from the album Locked Down)
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid – Aftremath/Interscope CD (from the album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City)
Childish Gambino – LES – Glassnote CD (from the album CAMP)
Jesse Ware – No To Love – Island CD (from the album Devotion)
Juan Laya & Jorge Montell – It’s Got To Be Music – Imagenes Recordings 10″
Andrew Ashong – Flowers – Sound Signature 12″
Major Lazer feat Amber Dirty Projectors – Get Free – Mad Decent download
Rocket Juice & The Moonfeat Erykah Badu – Nothing Spoil – Honest Jons 10″
Buraka Som Sistema – Tira O Pe – Enchufada CD (from the album Komba)
Roska – You Dun Know – Rinse EP (from the album Rinse presents Roska 2)
Ashley Beedle – Only You – Girls Music EP (from the EP Yardism)

HOUR 2

Actress – Ascending – Honest Jons LP (from the album RIP)
R-A-G – Black Rain – Delsin Records 12″
Dusky – Flo Jam – Dogmatik Records 12″
Julio Bashmore – Au Seve – Boardwalk doanload
Zebra Katz – Ima Need – Mad Decent/Jefrees download
Fracture – Get Busy – Exit 12″
Need For Mirrors feat DRS – Don’t Fight The Feeling – Metalheadz 12″
Darq E Freaker & Danny Brown – Blueberry (Pills n Cocaine) – Southern Hospitality download
Leftside – Johnny Bravo – Keep Left download
Hudson Mohawke & Lunice aka TNGHT – Higher Ground – Warp EP
Debruit – Ata (LV Remix) – Civil Music download
Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti & Dam Funk – Baby – 4AD 12″
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Kali Yuga -Someothaship Connect (from the album Seeds)
Stubborn Heart – Need Someone – One Little Indian (from the album Stubborn Heart)
Jesse Ware – Running (Disclosure Remix) – PMR/Island12″

Well that didn’t take long ! (but this will I’m afraid)
x

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WORD SOUND & POWER: REGGAE CHANGED MY LIFE – POSTERS, POSTCARDS…

YO! YO! YO! Final shout for Xmas … The Word Sound & Power posters and postcards are the perfect Xmas & New Years present! Catch the final post for Xmas tomorrow (Thursday!) … they are in their tubes and ready to be mailed out!

This the poster of the 12 ft by 8ft piece we exhibited at the British Music Experience. No time line...more a journey. It's how  reggae in the UK evolved... off the top of my head!

This the poster of the 12 ft by 8ft piece we exhibited at the British Music Experience. No time line…more a journey. It’s how reggae in the UK evolved… off the top of my head!

Soundsystemmap

There’s also our UK sound system poster Above). It’s not intended to be definitive… more an overview of 50+ years… BOTH POSTERS are £10.0 each (plus P&P). Make sure you check the postcards… Wikkid set of 8 (£6.50 (plus P&P)… inc. this UK dancehall portrait is by the inimitable Liz Johnson Artur!

 

 

postacards

 

ORDER TODAY!  

http://www.swifty.co.uk/emporium_wsp.html

Posted in Urban runnings..., Words, Sound & Power | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments