Welcome to a new week, folks, as we continue to work our way through the backlog of Tsonga CDs that I picked up in Johannesburg last year. Last time out we featured George Maluleke, the patriarch of one of the two great Tsonga musical clans. In the interests of balance we feature a representative of the opposition, the Chaukes.
Hamilton Chauke uses his full name when writing and producing, but as a performer went by the name of Hammy Chauke. For his fifth album, "Hlolwa (Lumba Ncuma)" - the one we feature today - he added a "Shinyori" in the middle. I am not sure why. The backing singers of Thomas Chauke - George's equivalent - are the Shinyori Sisters, so possibly Hamilton (I can't bring myself to call a grown man Hammy) is related to one of them. Or maybe Thomas, who produced the album, insisted on it. If anyone can shed any light on the matter, please do.
"Makweru" - Hammy Shinyori Chauke
"Ximutwani" - Hammy Shinyori Chauke
Today's clip comes from the American branch of the clan. It is a genuine true fact that this lady's real name is Chauke Khan.
Monday, 7 March 2016
Saturday, 5 March 2016
Old Pals Act
A couple of old pals of ours have new albums out this month. I can heartily recommend both of them, but I am a bit biased.
First up is demented German bluesman Dad Horse Experience, for whom I once flew back from Romania in order to see him perform in our local pub. His new album, the snappily titled "Eating Meatballs on a Blood-Stained Mattress in a Huggy Bear Motel" is awash with the usual demented German blues. As always there is plenty of death and depravity. No dogs this time, but there are swine and bears. And fish.
Pierce Turner's album has a relatively succinct title - "Love Can't Always Be Articulate". Based on the first couple of listens I would say it is as good an album as he has ever made. Which I'm extra pleased about as I was one of those who pledged money to help him get it made.
I have chosen the track "He Gets Gone" as it was a YouTube clip of Pierce explaining the story behind the song that led me to contact Pierce with a request that led in turn to the clip below. Pierce can tell you the story much better than I can (though not necessarily more accurately).
"Little White Fish" - Dad Horse Experience
"He Gets Gone" - Pierce Turner
First up is demented German bluesman Dad Horse Experience, for whom I once flew back from Romania in order to see him perform in our local pub. His new album, the snappily titled "Eating Meatballs on a Blood-Stained Mattress in a Huggy Bear Motel" is awash with the usual demented German blues. As always there is plenty of death and depravity. No dogs this time, but there are swine and bears. And fish.
Pierce Turner's album has a relatively succinct title - "Love Can't Always Be Articulate". Based on the first couple of listens I would say it is as good an album as he has ever made. Which I'm extra pleased about as I was one of those who pledged money to help him get it made.
I have chosen the track "He Gets Gone" as it was a YouTube clip of Pierce explaining the story behind the song that led me to contact Pierce with a request that led in turn to the clip below. Pierce can tell you the story much better than I can (though not necessarily more accurately).
"Little White Fish" - Dad Horse Experience
"He Gets Gone" - Pierce Turner
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Right Up Your Alley
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Going Wild In Walsall
Today we have three tracks from a fine 2-CD compilation called "Brumbeat" - like Merseybeat if it headed west on the M62 and then south on the M6.
All the major West Midlands beat groups of the 1960s are featured, as you would expect - The Spencer Davis Group, The Moody Blues, The Move and so on. Two of today's three selections have a connection to The Move. Carl Wayne, of course, went on to be their lead singer, while "William Chalker's Time Machine" was written by bassist Ace Kefford.
"You Could Be Fun (At The End Of The Party)" - Carl Wayne & The Vikings
"That's When Happiness Began" - The Montanas
"William Chalker's Time Machine" - The Lemon Tree
The Montanas weren't from Birmingham at all but from Wolverhampton. Like this lot.
All the major West Midlands beat groups of the 1960s are featured, as you would expect - The Spencer Davis Group, The Moody Blues, The Move and so on. Two of today's three selections have a connection to The Move. Carl Wayne, of course, went on to be their lead singer, while "William Chalker's Time Machine" was written by bassist Ace Kefford.
"You Could Be Fun (At The End Of The Party)" - Carl Wayne & The Vikings
"That's When Happiness Began" - The Montanas
"William Chalker's Time Machine" - The Lemon Tree
The Montanas weren't from Birmingham at all but from Wolverhampton. Like this lot.
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Tsonga Titan
Last time out in Tsonga Disco World, I mentioned George Maluleke, the leading light of one of the two great Tsonga musical dynasties. On that occasion he was involved as producer, this time he is performing in his own right. Backed up as always by the redoubtable Van'wanati Sisters, here are a couple of tracks from his 26th album, "Byelo Khokholo". That's right, 26th. And this came out in 2010. He must be up to 30 by now.
"Timhisi" - George Maluleke & Van'Wanati Sisters
"Leswi Ungo Pfuka Ubombili" - George Maluleke & Van'Wanati Sisters
Normally I spend hours agonising over the right choice of video to go with the songs. No need for that today, not when this bloke comes right after Mr Maluleke and the girls on my iPod playlist.
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Single Song Sunday
You can blame Charity Chic for this one. He recently posted several versions of "Wanted Man", one of those songs that is essentially just a long list of place names. I mentioned in passing that I had a number of dodgy renditions of the similarly themed "I've Been Everywhere", and he dared me to prove it. I am sorry that the rest of you have to suffer the consequences.
Until I started preparing this post I had assumed that the American version of the song, which was first a hit for Hank Snow in 1962, was the original. But that is not the case. The first version was actually Australian, written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and popularised by Lucky Starr three years later. Hank heard Lucky's version and asked Geoff to rewrite it for the American market.
Since then, people all over the place have had a go at adapting it. We start with the Australian and American versions and then tote our packs around the roads of the UK, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Catalonia and Cajun country before concluding our trip in the Netherlands.
"I've Been Everywhere" - Lucky Starr
"I've Been Everywhere" - Hank Snow
"I've Been Everywhere" - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
"I've Been Everywhere" - The Raybone Experience
"Honzův Song" - Zelenáči
"Espinàs" - Vàlius
"I've Been Everywhere, Cher" - Choupique
"I've Seen Pubic Hair" - MacLean & MacLean
Let's leave the last word to the Wanted Man himself.
Until I started preparing this post I had assumed that the American version of the song, which was first a hit for Hank Snow in 1962, was the original. But that is not the case. The first version was actually Australian, written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and popularised by Lucky Starr three years later. Hank heard Lucky's version and asked Geoff to rewrite it for the American market.
Since then, people all over the place have had a go at adapting it. We start with the Australian and American versions and then tote our packs around the roads of the UK, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Catalonia and Cajun country before concluding our trip in the Netherlands.
"I've Been Everywhere" - Lucky Starr
"I've Been Everywhere" - Hank Snow
"I've Been Everywhere" - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
"I've Been Everywhere" - The Raybone Experience
"Honzův Song" - Zelenáči
"Espinàs" - Vàlius
"I've Been Everywhere, Cher" - Choupique
"I've Seen Pubic Hair" - MacLean & MacLean
Let's leave the last word to the Wanted Man himself.
Friday, 19 February 2016
Nomadness
I went to an excellent show last night at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Top of the bill was Terakaft, the Tuareg blues band from Mali formed by two former members of Tinariwen. For touring purposes they are joined by a young French rhythm session, and the four of them treated us to ninety minutes of loping grooves which were guaranteed to put a smile on your face (as long as you don't understand the lyrics, many of which are apparently about the dire political situation in Mali).
The support act, Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak, was pretty marvellous too. The Tuvans, like the Turaeg, are a traditionally nomadic people, in their case hailing from what is modern day southern Siberia/ northern Mongolia, and are known for a style of throat singing called "khoomei". Sainkho started out as a khoomei singer but over the course of her long career has experimented with all sorts of weird and wacky styles. On her most recent album, "Like a Bird or Spirit, Not a Face", she was backed by the Terakaft boys, as she was last night.
Here are two tracks from Terakaft - one from their current album "Alone" and one from "Aratan n Azawad" - and one from Sainkho Namtchylak. This is not from the collaborative effort but from an earlier album called "Seven Songs For Tuva", but listening to it you can hear how their styles might work together.
"Amidinin Senta Aneflas" - Terakaft
"Idiya Idohena" - Terakaft
"Mogeler Dugajinda Iri" - Sainkho Namtchylak
The only minor disappointment about the whole evening was that Terakaft did not attempt a cover of this traditional Saharan classic.
The support act, Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak, was pretty marvellous too. The Tuvans, like the Turaeg, are a traditionally nomadic people, in their case hailing from what is modern day southern Siberia/ northern Mongolia, and are known for a style of throat singing called "khoomei". Sainkho started out as a khoomei singer but over the course of her long career has experimented with all sorts of weird and wacky styles. On her most recent album, "Like a Bird or Spirit, Not a Face", she was backed by the Terakaft boys, as she was last night.
Here are two tracks from Terakaft - one from their current album "Alone" and one from "Aratan n Azawad" - and one from Sainkho Namtchylak. This is not from the collaborative effort but from an earlier album called "Seven Songs For Tuva", but listening to it you can hear how their styles might work together.
"Amidinin Senta Aneflas" - Terakaft
"Idiya Idohena" - Terakaft
"Mogeler Dugajinda Iri" - Sainkho Namtchylak
The only minor disappointment about the whole evening was that Terakaft did not attempt a cover of this traditional Saharan classic.
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