Mama Matthews

[johncorrigan]

Cerys was her usual self, interviewing Mama Roisin in this morning's 6 Music show - she'd carefully done her homework about Cajun and Zydeco and had a couple of fine tracks lined up, Clifton Chenier's 'Josephine Par Sa Femme' for one. As she got to the end of the interview she got a bit thrown when the guys informed her they weren't from Louisiana swamps as she obviously thought but from the Swiss Alps. She was also having a bit of pronumciation difficulties with the names of the Band and the boys - healthy banter ensued. What a Cerys, she is! The Mama boys were very good especially their first track which was a right toe tapper - you can hear them in the last 15 minutes of the show if you fancy.

Anyway in her usual mishmash she played some fine tunes none better than the song 'Mama Josefina' from Hugh Tracey's recording 'Origins of Guitar Music In Southern Congo and Zambia, 1950-’58' - absolutely terrific to my ears - it's about an hour in just after 'Red Beans and Rice' - theme time radio!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xy8l5

Oh by the way it's not on the playlist - that's all over the place too - there's at least three great songs on the show that ain't on the playlist - she makes for great Sunday morning radio.

[Lateralthinking1]

John - Many thanks for these tips. I will certainly listen to it. Surely part of the appeal of bands like Mama Rosin is that they come from the least likely places. I always enjoy the eccentricity of music associated with specific areas being produced elsewhere. There are traps. Some artists attempting that kind of difference can be too reverent or too cheesy but when it is done with spirit it really works for me. I really hope that the Swiss 2-steppers get to Womad and that I will be there to see them.

I've started to dip into 6music again occasionally. I found Catatonia pleasant enough but I do think that Cerys has settled very nicely there. She is a natural presenter with charm and a unique way which is quite refreshing. Tom Ravenscroft is another good choice. He is his own man but there is some reassuring familiarity in the intonation. With Andy back, sort of, and Lucy, Mary Ann and Lopa, Radcliffe and Maconie, the evergreen Bob H, Mr Zimmerman, and quite a few others, I'm beginning to feel that there is almost sufficient presentational quality across the network for a decent week of music on the wireless - Lat.

[johncorrigan]

Cerys played a great bit of West Indian vinyl, crackles and all and an early bit of hip hop with out the over production on Sunday, Lat - they're not on the playlist and she doesn't always back announce (if you know what I mean) - I like Craig Charles on 6Music on a Saturday evening. He plays a really good range of old and new soul and funk and jazz; unfortunately not lots of African but fortunately only a small amount of what they appear to call R'n'b these days, though it never sounds like it to my ears.

As for Bob - haven't heard anything for a while and there doesn't appear to be much sign that he will be back to do some more Theme Times in the near future - more's the pity.

But at heart none of them are a patch on Andy when he's on form and he's been on great form on the MPs. More Andy please BBC.:cool2:

[johncorrigan]

I notice that R2 are binning the Radcliffe/Maconie show which will now shift to 6 daytime - they're replacing it with Jo Whiley - I mean what's that about?

[Paul Sherratt]

I suppose the transfer to 6 daytime is a marginally better thing for the spread of tunes around the dial.
Possibly !
No doubt the boss of 2/6 is primarily interested in his figures.



PS
I know of a US chap who bought the Mama's cd thinking they were from Louisiana !

[Lateralthinking1]

Radcliffe and Maconie to 6 daytime? Not sure. As 6 has been "saved", I guess they might as well give it more boost. Jo Whiley is, shall we say, a "pragmatic" presenter. She will slot in wherever but I doubt I will be tuning in to her regularly. Radio 2 though - surely it is the new ITV on radio. Expect a soap - but not Waggoners Walk - any time now.

[johncorrigan]

Radcliffe and Maconie to 6 daytime? Not sure. As 6 has been "saved", I guess they might as well give it more boost. Jo Whiley is, shall we say, a "pragmatic" presenter. She will slot in wherever but I doubt I will be tuning in to her regularly. Radio 2 though - surely it is the new ITV on radio. Expect a soap - but not Waggoners Walk - any time now.

With the return of Tony Blackburn and dallas, I reckon it's time they dusted off Mrs Dale's Diary.