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Africa: A Journey into Music

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I know it isn’t easy to cover a whole continent’s musical history in three one-hour episodes, but this series has a bloomin’ good go by cherry-picking the very best.

Fantastic stuff, it could really do with a soundtrack release. I’d buy it.

Episode 1 expires 3am Monday, so don’t hang about.

Paging @Junior Wells

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b54cmq/africa-a-journey-into-music-series-1-1-nigeria

black African woman covers album by white men* playing black African music

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Benin-born Angelique Kidjo is releasing a track-by-track cover album of Talking Heads’ Remain In Light. On drums, a certain Tony Allen.

For those who are not scholars of Mr Byrne, this album was when the Heads went African** after listening to lots of Fela Kuti.

(*) yes, I am aware that Tina Weymouth is a woman (**) except for I Zimbra from the previous album

http://www.kidjo.com/remain-in-light/

RIP Audio Fidelity

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Audio Fidelity are (were) an American audiophile reissue label specialising in HDCD, SACD and heavyweight vinyl mastered by Steve Hoffman or Kevin Gray.

Not just the usual selection of Clapton et al, they’re recently done albums by Jane’s Addiction, RATM and two sublime LP Kate Bush remasters (the only company la Bush allowed access to her master tapes).

They’ve never been easy to buy in the UK but, by crikey, they sound great.

First Oppo, now this. Buggerations!

Where are all the modern protest songs?

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On BBC Radio 4, it seems. I haven’t listened to it yet, but here’s the blurb:

BBC 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins listens to new music every day – and he’s noticing a trend. More and more of the bands he plays on the station are writing about politics. Acts like Nadine Shah, Cabbage, Idles and Life are covering topics as diverse as The NHS, the refugee crisis of 2016, austerity and rail privatisation. Chris visits the performers to ask them what is fuelling their music, considering whether supposedly radical bands are operating in a form of musical filter bubble – singing radical songs to an audience who already agree with their point of view. From the blues to grime, music and politics have always been intertwined, but Chris Hawkins provides a snapshot of the topics which are driving a generation of rock bands right now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062m5bg

what’s your superpower?

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A colleague has just asked me what my superpower is.

We’ve all heard the old trope that blind people can hear better. Sickle cell anaemia makes you immune to malaria. Cystic fibrosis gives you immune to tuberculosis.

I have Crohn’s and can clear a room by talking about music. Mrs F is a shortarse and can swear fluently in five languages, including Japanese. I’m not sure that’s what he was after.

What’s yours?

Field Music – Open Here

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What does it sound like?:

Sixth album proper from Sunderland’s (whisper it) prog/poppers.

They seem to be settling nicely into their niche. Album opener ‘Time In Joy’ rattles with polyrhythms and flutes and stretches out to over 6 minutes. ‘Count It Up’ riffs on a synth over a steady 4/4 beat and decries first-world whingers. ‘Front Of House’ sounds like a cousin of Prince’s ‘Christopher Tracey’s Parade’. ‘Share A Pillow’ is almost glam-rock. ‘Open Here’ is string-heavy ‘Eleanor Rigby’ alike. ‘Goodbye To The Country’ pokes a stick at little-Englanders over a Prince-style funk workout. ‘Checking on a Message’ goes full-on pastoral XTC. The final four tracks spread out, closer ‘Find A Way To Keep Me’ almost whispered over a simple piano refrain before wigging out into string & flute-driven mini-ELO symphony.

At under 40 minutes, the perfect length for a pop album.

What does it all *mean*?

On their last album, Commontime, Field Music let a chink of light into their private lives with lead track ‘The Noisy Days Are Over’ (about having kids). ‘Open Here’ nails their colours to the anti-Brexit mast but doesn’t batter you over the head with it.

Goes well with…

40 minutes of proper » Continue Reading.

ATM: choose me a music documentary

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I’m stuck at home with bronchitis this week and don’t feel like listening to music (or watching daytime telly). A kind soul sent me the recent Sky Arts documentary on Hansa studios, which was great. I have the XTC doc to watch today. All education is good education, after all.

I ask the massive to suggest a good music documentary to pass the time between coughing fits.

My telly does YouTube and iPlayer, 4OD etc but I don’t do Prime, Sky or Netflix or any of those subs jobbies.

Did someone mention one on Billy Mackenzie?

Bowie ANCIANT replacement “Heroes” discs

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I’ve just posted this in another thread and I’ll post it here for those who missed. The tape dropout during the English version of “Heroes” in the most recent Bowie box has been addressed and replacement discs are available free of charge from Warners.

I won’t link to the SDE site as it breaks the AW, so here’s the text.

The record label have issued the following statement:

We can now confirm that the “Heroes” audio has been updated via all digital download and streaming partners. CD and LP discs (in a plain sleeve) will be ready to ship week commencing 11th December.

Those who have bought the ANCIANT box set and would like an updated disc of “Heroes” should send an email to heroes@wmgcustomerservice.com. Your email should contain the following info:

• NAME • SHIPPING ADDRESS (and any delivery instructions) • EMAIL ADDRESS • PHONE NUMBER (required by some delivery providers) • FORMAT PURCHASED (CD or LP) • PROOF OF PURCHASE (email attachment / photo / scan / screen grab / etc.)

Please ensure that you limit the content of your email to these details only so that the Warner Music Customer Services team can process your order as » Continue Reading.