Category Archives: Afrofunk

Song Of The Day: Songhoy Blues – Al Hassidi Terei

Posted by Palmer Eldritch on

“We electrify traditional music a bit more to bring it to the modern level,” says guitarist Garba Toure, speaking through a translator in a phone interview. “It’s more beats, [faster] tempo — a younger way to show a new generation there’s no need to give [the music] a label: rock or blues.” -Billboard interview

Classification of Songhoy Blues is a tricky proposition. Clearly the African indicators are there: the tribal polyrhythms, the serpentine, almost surf-like electric guitar from a post-Ali Farka Touré, Mali, the chanted chorus… but as Toure stated on a “modern level”. I would throw this in a set between John Lurie’s, Marvin Pontiac project, and Swedish Psychedelic Afrophiles, Goat. Apparently their sound has struck a note with western ears, as Atlantic Records just signed them up, making them the first African act in their catalog since Manu Dibango electrified the airwaves with his funky, Soul Makossa, forty three years ago!

Here’s one from the recently released, Music In Exile, produced by Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist, Nick Zinner. Check out the amazing textile patterns and style

SONGHOY BLUES – “Without patience, nothing is possible”

Song of The Day: Charlotte Dada – Don’t Let Me Down (Ghana 1971)

Posted by Palmer Eldritch on

Welcome to the new feature “…Of The Day”, where I’ll be posting a song/songs, quotes, art, movies, bands, or anything else that might strike my fancy at that given moment. Today is a very interesting Africanized take on The Beatles, “Don’t Let Me Down” by Charlotte Dada