Sounds and Zounds

When does strange turn to really enjoyable? When there is a cover the song “Brazil” that sends you into Terry Gilliam flash backs?

Cornelius, who yes does a cover of Brazil, is on of the modern artist that I have been watching and “Point” is a very approachable abstract almost dance music that explores music in a no conventional almost noise form. He fits somewhere between “The Books” and Fennesz, playing with loops and pressing on with a message of understand the “point” of view. I have to say I hate “I hate hate” thought I have been caught chuckling at the power cords once, I debate if the song is worth the hard-drive space.

I fall into the more laid back songs, Tone Twilight Zone and Brazil on this CD, but there are treats to be found if you are looking for it… Yes I think that is Fred… that Macintosh voice that visits on the weekends…

Tony Allen for many are three different people. For many listeners of Afro-beat he was the drummer for the late Fela Kuli band, for others he was a powerful Nigeria drummer that has had a successfully solo career and modern listeners think of him as the drummer for The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

HomeCooking is a solo CD that mixes the Afro-beat funk with a fusion of smart London hip-hop. It foundation is a very powerful bass and bass drum selection of songs that at times remind me Holger Czukay and then of Lilly Allen (no relation) . Though for the most part it is beats and hip-hop that has the underline theme of self awareness.

As I prepare mentally for my trip in November to Africa I have found myself listing and looking for more African based world music. This had me thinking about what music from this gender started my enjoyment of this style. It started with Stewart.

The Rhythmatist was the gateway of learning of African music to a boy from a New England town (me). Hearing it for the first time in about 20 years I remember all the rhythms that I liked in it. How corny it could be in parts and how it reminded me of the soundtrack to the Equalizer. It is a very 80’s CD with lots of signature Copeland drumming parts that helped me start listening to different music. For this reason alone I will always enjoy this disc.