Today we bring you the first of our slim pickings from Malaysia, bought purely on the basis of the cover:
As the eagle-eyed among you will spot, the album is "Masa Scarecrow" and the band is Doktrin Metos, which I am am advised is Malaysian for Metal Doctrine. Which gives you a pretty good idea of what you get - bog-standard metal of the era (1990) with a couple of less heavy tracks thrown in to show depth. It's not for me, but make your own minds up. "Patahyna Sayap Malam" - Doktrin Metos "Benar Atau Jelmaan" - Doktrin Metos
But whatever else might be said about Doktrin Metos, they are at least an improvement on the similarly named novelty band Doctor & The Medics.
Well, I'm back from my trip to Jakarta and assorted parts of Malaysia, and a great time was had by all. My visit to the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak was curtailed by the arrival of torrential rain - I suppose the name of the festival should have been a clue - but I was taught how to use a blowpipe while there. I am sure that is a skill that will come in handy in the future.
Apart from the festival, the musical pickings were pretty slim. While admittedly I didn't scour every inch of Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or George Town, I failed to find a single CD emporium in any of them. I had better luck in Kuching, where I managed to acquire a compilation of 1970s Malaysian pop plus what judging by the cover may be a concept album involving aliens. Let's hope so.
More of those anon. For now, let's get back in the saddle with some fun and frivolity from Cameroon. Both tracks come from a groovy compilation with the self-explanatory title of "Pop Makossa". "Mussoliki" - Bernard Ntome "Nen Lambo" - Bill Loko
As far as I know, "Mussoliki" is not a misspelt tribute to the former Italian dictator. We don't need that kind of thang.
I'm heading off on my travels in a couple of days, back towards the end of the month. I'm looking forward to the trip - work in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, and a couple of long weekends in Penang and Sarawak, with a visit to the Rainforest World Music Festival likely to be a highlight of the latter.
As usual, I'll leave you with a selection of tracks that were first featured here back in the pre-zeitgeist era of 2009. They aren't quite as exotic as some of the earlier selections but that is because the dredging is nearly done now. There are a few dodgy things that I couldn't bring myself to inflict on you twice - and I say that knowing that "Finnish Whistler" made the cut - but not much else.
A couple of slices of sunny, funky pop for you today. One from Turkey, one from Cote d'Ivoire, because that's how we do things round here. "Bis Istersek" - Mazhar Fuat Özkan "Black & White" - Moussa Doumbia
Which leads us inevitably to Greyhound. Those are some enormous microphones.
Some sad news to report. I found out a couple of days ago that the great Texan troubadour Jimmy Lafave died of cancer in late May.
I was lucky enough to see him play in London a couple of times three of four years back. He was very personable and he and his band knew how to put on a great show.
But the unforgettable thing about Jimmy was his incredible, emotive voice. There are very few singers, if any, who can more reliably bring a lump to my throat. R.I.P. Jimmy. It's not dark yet, but it's getting there. "Home Once Again" - Jimmy Lafave "I'll Remember You" - Jimmy Lafave "Not Dark Yet" - Jimmy Lafave
Later than intended due to unexplained Blogger problems, a couple of tunes from Durban-born songwriter, producer and performer Zakes Bantwini (or Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bantwini, as his friends call him).
Both are taken from his 2013 album, the extravagantly named "The Fake Book & Real Book: My Music Bible". Most of the album is a bit too mellow for my taste, but I like these two tracks - especially the "conscious soul" of "Marikana", about the massacre of striking mine workers by police in South Africa the previous year. "Marikana" - Zakes Bantwini "Ifumaya" - Zakes Bantwini (featuring J Martins)
Those of you who noticed the appallingly contrived title to this post will have worked out what is coming next, but possibly not which version. I can't find a single clip on YouTube of the Swinging Blue Jeans performing their signature tune live, so you are getting this instead.
To ease you into Saturday evening, here's a couple of tracks from smooth Pakistani popster, Ali Haider. Both are from his 2004 album "Tera Naam Liya To?". The first appears to have nicked a riff off George Michael's "Faith" while the second sounds like he has roped in Tom Petty or someone of that ilk, but don't let that put you off. "Dildaar" - Ali Haider "Hum Tumhein Bhool Ke" - Ali Haider
And as a bonus treat, here is Ali way back in 1998 looking remarkably fresh-faced performing his biggest hit.
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