The Knife-Like a Pen
No need for me to go on about how much I like the Knife so sit back and enjoy the videos. (Although, I would like to know why/how Sweden and Norway are creating such good music?)
The Knife-Pass It On
Matt beat me to this one!
[oh crud, all the videos are gone!-4/19/08]
Kurdish Halay Wedding Dance
Back in the early days of Napster, users would often chat and exchange music through recommendations. One memorable musical exchange occurred with a Kurdish guy who had emigrated to Germany. I recommended Ozomatli which he loved and he offered lots of Kurdish popular music in return. One song that stood out from the rest of the pro PKK tunes I ended up downloading from him was a song titled “Kurdish Disco.” I’m a sucker for anything “disco” but this song was exceptional for the time, it combined a traditional Kurdish folk tune with dance beats. It seems some of the traditional Kurdish rhythms are quite close to disco/dance beats and the combination of these two styles sounds quite complimentary. Perhaps now this song wouldn’t be a big deal as this kind of global meshing is pretty standard in the DJ world.
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Best found trash on the streets of Lincoln Heights
I’m a little late but I’d like to present my ‘Best of’ for 2007…
Best Live Show: Manu Chao and Radio Bemba at the Los Angeles Sports Arena and Stereototal at El Rey (tie)
The best part of Manu’s show was the after party with Radio Bemba: impromptu bulerias and palmas, some Django/Manouche guitar playing, fun sing-a-longs, Leila. Drunken revelry all around. Stereototal: ditto, drunken revelry all around!
My favorite album of the year: The Knife-Silent Shout
So what if this album was released in 2006? It was my most listened to record in 2007. To be honest, I didn’t really like the album when I first heard it but it’s one of those that kinda grows on you. It goes beyond the usual electronic stuff out these days, I think it’s the bizarreness of the vocals: tweaked, modulated and at times sounding almost demonic. The structure of the songs too are very different with hooks coming in at strange places. And on top of all this, it sounds as if they have a thing for Native American music. I guess I could go and read up on all of their influences instead of speculating but the music speaks for itself.
The Best Album I Bought This Year: Son Antologia de Mexico: Huasteco
I’ve been working on a Son Huasteco post since my return from Mexico but for some reason I’ve neglected to finish it. Violins, fiddles, not sure how they are referred to in the context of Son Huasteco, all I can say is they are magnificent – listening to them gives me chills. Son Huasteco moves me in a way so few types of music can…So for now, a sample from this wonderful album:
La Rosita-Trio Renacimiento Huasteco
Favorite Song(s) of the Year: Robyn-Konichiwa Bitches, Jape-Floating, Caribou-Melody Day, Maps-You Don’t Know Her Name
Another tie! Konichiwa Bitches was a Favorite Video of the Week as well as Maps and Caribou was mentioned in the Electro-Psych post. Jape is a newcomer from Ireland, his hippie-ish, anthemic ‘Floating’ provided repeated listenings of aural joy.
Jape-Floating
Best Flamenco of the Year: Excavated Shellac’s Early Flamenco & Angelita Agujeta’s Bulerias (private juerga, Tujunga, June)
JW put together an awesome collection of Flamenco tunes collected from 78s, meticulously cleaned up, digitized and researched. Modern Flamenco wishes it could sound so good!
Dancing bulerias while a member of the Agujetas clan sings for you, how much more Flamenco can one get?
Best Party of the Year: Bookfair after party at Matt’s house in Oakland.
Cumbia dancing, comrades, hufu, discussions of the economic/cultural situation in China, 60s French Pop and drunken revelry all around!
Best Art Exhibit: Edith Abeyta’s Salty: A Tale of Three Sorrows
Tiny Sumo wrestlers clinging to sides of cups, a room made from the pages of Marie Antoinette’s diary, piles of delicately crafted ceramic bones, graffitied hankies, textual embroidery and an assortment of lovely handmade artifacts. Her work is always an inspiration. Check out Marshall Astor’s photos.
Best Blog of the Year: Chanfles!
Y’all know! His Eastside 101 posts on Metroblogging LA put the uninformed on check and plus, he has his own distinct style and voice (who hasn’t bitten his photo essay style?) that’s finally getting recognized.
More ‘Best of’ to come…
La Jardinera-Violeta Parra
An amazing singer and composer, Violeta Parra is not well known in this country but popular in most of Latin America. This is one of my favorite songs.
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Bule Bule-Los Rockin’ Devils
While this may not be my favorite song by this band, that distinction goes to “Yuyu Mata Yuy Jen” (an excerpt can be heard here), this Spanish version of “Wooly Booly” certainly has it’s own unique charms. Plus, the dancing is quite entertaining!
(Hehe, it reminds me of a night out at Transistor.)
Thanks to El Chavo and his readers for the links!
C’est Comme Ca-Les Rita Mitsouko
I first came across this video on the Tam Tam Books myspace page. I was intrigued, was this video recent? The music sounded a bit retro but I couldn’t tell. In any case, I’m a sucker for thespian chimps. Equally compelling is the awkward style of dancing by the singer, Catherine Ringer, a herky jerky, stiffed backed series of rhythmic lurches. I did a bit more investigating and found out the video was from 1987. Imagine that? A full 20 years later and the Emo kids are still rocking Catherine Ringer’s look.
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The Pandoras-First EP
The recent talk of post psychedelic music got me thinking, when exactly did my interest in psychedelic inspired music start?
Much credit must be given to Rodney on the Roq, which I would listen to religiously as a kid. Sunday nights were always a bit depressing, as school was the next day. Falling asleep to Rodney, made me momentarily forget the dread of the impending school week by losing myself in the amazing music he’d play.
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