Izvorišta 374: Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy, African Head Charge...
In this edition of Izvorišta, we listened to musicians from Ghana, Cyprus, Belgium, Spain, England, Zambia, Scotland, France, Israel and Turkey.
(you can also listen to this episode on mixcloud, just click here)
Alogte Oho and His Sounds of Joy - O Yinne! (Philophon 2023.)
With the strange journey of music through the world, it is not surprising that certain styles appear in different forms in different parts of the world. For example, the Frafra people of Ghana and Burkina Faso have developed their own style of gospel, and when gospel is combined with local highlife music, the result is very interesting music. Frafra gospel singer Alogte Oho is the real proof that this combination can work brilliantly, and he showed it on his first album, 2019's "Mam Yinne Wa." His second album "O Yinne!" was released this year. who perfected the whole story, and in this album we have one of the most beautiful feel-good albums of this year.
African Head Charge - A Trip to Bolgatanga (On-U Sound 2023.)
African Head Charge are back with a new studio album after exactly 12 years. They did not mind the break much, because "A Trip To Boglatanga" is one of the best albums in the group's career. The recipe for success has not changed - traditional African rhythms and melodies mixed with reggae/dub music and electronica. This recipe has proven to be quite successful, and I am personally glad that African Head Charge did not indulge too much in electronics as they did on some of their previous albums. Special bonus is the great guest appearance of King Ayisoba on two songs.
Michalis Kouloumis, Tristan Driessens, Miriam Encinas - Music for Shepherds and Sultans (Home Records 2023.)
Michalis Kouloumis, Tristan Driessens and Miraim Encinas say that they are united by their love of Turkish Makam music and that they draw inspiration from it for their songs. However, they have not blindly followed Makam music, but often draw inspiration from Greek Cypriot music as well as other Mediterranean traditions. They describe "Music for Shepherds and Sultans" as 'a cyclical journey of constant transmission and renewal which defines their actual legitimacy through time and space." There is nothing to add to that.
We also listen the Zambian group Witch, which released its first album in almost 40 years; the Scottish musician Brìghde Chaimbeul, who performs miracles on the bagpipes, creating a modern sound from a traditional heritage; the Italian group La Cantiga De La Serena, which once again performed its version of a Mediterranean soundtrack on its new album; French cellist Matthieu Saglio, who had some great singers as guests on the new album; and the Israeli group Sababa 5, which has a new dance hit with Turkish singer Canay Doğan.
Tracklist:
Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy - This Is Bolga!
Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy - La Ka Ba'a
Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy - Gure Yose Me
African Head Charge - A Bad Attitude (feat King Ayisoba)
African Head Charge - I'm A Winner
African Head Charge - A Trip To Bolgatanga
Witch - Nshingille (feat Keith Kabwe)
Michalis Kouloumis, Tristan Driessens, Miraim Encinas - Koyde Sabah
Michalis Kouloumis, Tristan Driessens, Miraim Encinas - Cecen Kizi
Brighde Chaimbeul - Tha Fonn Gun Bhi Trom (feat Colin Stetson)
La Cantiga De La Serena - Almaya
Matthieu Saglio - Elevation (feat Alim Qasimov)
Sababa 5 - Bigane (feat Canay Dogan)