Pan-O-Rama

I went to my first gig of the year last night - Ebony Steel Band play Kraftwerk, since you ask.

The band, who are multiple winners of the steel band competition at the Notting Hill Carnival, were belatedly promoting their album "Pan Machine". The album was released in 2019 and came about after the band were pestered into covering Kraftwerk by some intolerable hipster or other. It is available from all the usual outlets.

My colleague Mr F and I weren't quite sure what to expect, and were a bit worried it might be a novelty that wore off after the first couple of tunes. I am pleased to report we were wrong. The band were excellent, and not being a Kraftwerk buff I did not recognise most of the songs so was able to enjoy them on their own considerable merits.   

 Here is a track from "Pan Machine", followed by a history lesson on the origins of pan music from the great Lord Kitchener.

"Kometenmelodie 2" - Ebony Steel Band

"Tribute To Spree" - Lord Kitchener

There are many other weird and wonderful steel band cover versions out there in YouTubeLand. Like this one for example.