MAK's most recent show

[Globaltruth]

Welcome back MAK - did anyone else listen?

At first I thought she was doing a reggae/dub/fusion show (and who could complain about that?), but then, after a passing plug for Chango, there was a lovely chunk of Tsugaru-Shamisen. As ever I would have liked more info on the history and traditions of this instrument - on the other hand that might have meant less actual music.

A picture of the musicians from the Wo3 page


Think I'm going to be listening to this show more than once...



(young Mr. Reynolds will be v.excited when he hears who the parents of Hollie Cook are...)

[french frank]

I see the thread title has been edited - it had me wondering

[ostuni]

I see the thread title has been edited - it had me wondering

It still had me confused: I was expecting something on Musica Antiqua Köln. Maybe I should pay more attention to which forum the thread's been posted in...

[Globaltruth]

Faithful readers, I thank you for your diligence and apologise for any confusion.

This TLA does not refer to the Kurdish word for mother, the North Frisian word for kiss, Slovenian for poppy, or an old German work for a mark

Instead it refers to the inimitable Mary-Ann Kennedy,

[french frank]

MAK was fine - it was the suggestion that she was departing from Wo3 that struck me

[Globaltruth]

MAK was fine - it was the suggestion that she was departing from Wo3 that struck me

yep - just exercising my moderator powers on myself, something I should probably do more in real life come to think of it.

I'm wondering if anyone else actually listened to the show, which was a treat after what seems like weeks of Lopa's curious mixes.

[johncorrigan]

I'm wondering if anyone else actually listened to the show, which was a treat after what seems like weeks of Lopa's curious mixes.

I'm catching up with a few shows - too much work lately! The Japanese session was both timely and beautiful. Fabulous musicians - and it was good to hear that Mary Ann was able to give us an update on them following the Tsunami. I agree that it was great to hear after last week's Lopa show, which was very strange indeed. In particular, Lopa played a series of Bangladeshi tunes which I found completely out of place and pretty unlistenable.

[Globaltruth]

When the World was Young

for the other listener, just in case you tried to find out what the first track MAK played actually was, but gave up at yet another whacky playlist listing...

It was Eric Agyeman.

Or perhaps, like Eric
'You don't care' ?

The double CD it's from is also worth investigating...here's a great review, unfortunately the author is Anon...

80s World Music Classics
“When The World Was Young” released on Nascente

Features Orchestra Baobab, Bhundu Boys, Ofra Haza, Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, Gilberto Gil, Khaled, Tenor Saw, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & many more.

2CD set of seminal world music tracks from the decade when ‘world’ music was born featuring full-length original versions of classic tunes.


These were the radio, press & club best-sellers that defined world music in the 1980s and have been selected by 12 of the DJs, journalists & promoters who shaped the world music scene in the UK at the time such as Charlie Gillett, Ben Mandelson, Ian Anderson, Jumbo Vanrenen, Iain Scott & others.


On the one hand the 1980s gave us Sloane Rangers and loadsamoney City boys resplendent in extravagant red braces indulging in the relatively new wine bar culture. On the other hand they were hard times for many with the country under heavy Thatcherite manners: teenagers sleeping on the streets, the notorious ‘sus’ laws, nationwide uprisings, police/youth confrontation, the National Front, Rock Against Rascism and the epoch-defining miners’ strike. But hard times can be productive times: pirate radio stations sprung up everywhere as an antidote to syndrums, poodle rock bands and Eurovision contest winners. People were also travelling much further afield than Benidorm, and in ever greater numbers, with many experiencing Africa and Latin America, maybe on gap years or working for VSO, and returning with more exotic tastes.

Until Thatcher abolished it in 1986 the GLC tried to reflect multicultural London, in part, by bringing in bands from around the world who, once in the country, toured its length and breadth calling in on regional arts centres and Town Halls. There was huge excitement in discovering the sounds of the cuica, berimbau and the kora; how to move to the clave rhythm as well and finding new uses for your hips.

John Peel played music from the Congo on the BBC, and Charlie Gillett featured music from farther and wider on Capital Radio, Manchester’s legendary Factory Records released Algerian raï music on a single (Sahraoui & Fadela’s “N’Sel Fik”, included here), uber-hip 4AD released the female Bulgarian orchestra: Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares (also included) and Israel’s Ofra Haza had a pop hit with Im Nin'Alu (yep, also included) after Coldcut sampled it for their remix of Eric B. and Rakim’s “Paid in Full”.

The term ‘World Music’ was agreed upon in 1987, Channel 4 were broadcasting “Big World Café” and I started the Mambo Inn, along with Sue Steward and Max Reinhardt, a superclub in all the best senses of the word following in the wake of sessions and venues like Sol Y Sombra, Gold Coast, A Night in Havana and the Bass Clef.

Imagine a time “When The World Was Young”. Not the easiest thing to do in the present era of vocodered so-called r&b, recidivist rock and generic pre-pubescent pap (and how could we forget Simon Cowell and all his doings?) - although with the likes of Manu Chao, Amadou and Mariam, Tinariwen and the African Express phenomenon being exposed to ever larger audiences the pioneering passions of the 80s bore tangible fruit. 80s World Music Classics: So rich, varied and still downright essential.

Contributors: Charlie Gillett (A Foreign Affair/ Sound of the World) // Ben Mandelson (GlobeStyle Records) // Ian Anderson (fRoots) // Iain Scott (Triple Earth) // Jumbo Vanrenen (Virgin/ Earthworks / Mango/ Island) // Simon Broughton (Rough Guide to World Music, Songlines) // John Armstrong (Bass Clef Club, Kilombo/Viva Latino) // Max Reinhardt (Mambo Inn/ Straight No Chaser/ Late Junction) // Gerry Lyseight (Mambo Inn/ Straight No Chaser/BBC London’s Planet Mambo) // Sue Steward (Mambo Inn/ Straight No Chaser) // Jo Hagan (Gold Coast Club) // Nigel Williamson (Songlines)


“This compilation began to take shape during a meeting in Charlie Gillett’s record–lined basement back in 2007, when, with typical enthusiasm, he began pulling out records from the period and offering a fascinating and impromptu guide to the birth of what we now know as 'world music'. Several of the tracks here were recommended for inclusion by Charlie on that day, and When The World Was Young is respectfully dedicated to his memory.” Nigel Williamson

[johncorrigan]

I certainly hadn't tuned in to hear an essay aboutinternet but that's what I got for a few minutes and then that rather strange start - but I did get Eric and very fine it was and I thought sounded a record worth a look at - tell you what Global, it's not overly costly.
What I didn't get was Taraf de Haïdouks & Koani Orkestar doing Jarretelle which I would have fancied hearing.

[Globaltruth]

I certainly hadn't tuned in to hear an essay aboutinternet but that's what I got for a few minutes and then that rather strange start - but I did get Eric and very fine it was and I thought sounded a record worth a look at - tell you what Global, it's not overly costly.
What I didn't get was Taraf de Haïdouks & Koani Orkestar doing Jarretelle which I would have fancied hearing.

Taraf wasn'y on oor version either...agree, that was an appetising prospect.

the CD's are defo cheap - I guess the thinking may be that the contents are a bit like those Now that what I call music type things...except in this case worth listening to.

Overall though not one of MAK's finest shows. ho hum

[johncorrigan]

Certainly not a patch on the previous - I ended up listening to the last week's Japanese session three times - quality!

[Globaltruth]

Not listened to all of MAK's show but ...

Track 1 Attwenger — Orkan...thought they were 17 Hippies.
and then
Track 4 The Two Man Gentlemen Band — Me I Get High On Reefer I thought was an early recording of Dan Hicks (and his Hot Licks)...


Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas provided a classy session, they've both crossed over from their respective areas (trad. Celtic & classical cello) and met mellifluously in the middle.

Bravo. more later maybe.

Has the other listener any comments?

[Paul Sherratt]

Well Globalperson I heard some pleasant stuff* while slipping in and out of conciousness ... better not do that tonight though when we're westward bound.
This worldly stuff. Better late than never I suppose ?


* I think it was the session guests

[Lateralthinking1]

Where is JC?

[Globaltruth]

Where is JC?

Which one? The man from Nazareth or Corrigan J?
Julius Caesar or, perhaps, John Cheese?

Not sure of any of their whereabouts...