Tuesday, May 25, 2010

VA - Jamiila: Songs from a Somali City [Original Music, 1987]



OMA 107

Side 1

a1. Jamiila [5'37]

  • Kusow Kurtunwaarey [vocal]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [guitar]
  • Cubdulaahi Iman Zamir [electric organ]
a2. Laac [6'14]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [vocal & kaban]
  • Xasan Xaaji Maxamed [taruumbo flute]
a3. Dakhtar [4'10]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [vocal & guitar]
a4. Yaabint [4'31]
  • Kusow Kurtunwaarey [vocal]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [guitar]
  • Nuur Maxamed Curuba [electric organ]
Side 2

b1. Muumina [4'04]

  • Kusow Kurtunwaarey [vocal]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [guitar]
  • Cubdulaahi Iman Zamir [electric organ]
b2. Ma Korto [5'11]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [vocal & kaban]
  • Xasan Xaaji Maxamed [taruumbo]
b3. Laiilaaf [6'05]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [vocal & guitar]
b4. Siina Miiri [4'11]
  • Cabdulaahi Iman Zamir [vocal]
  • Amin Xaaji Cusmaan [guitar]
  • Nuur Maxamed Curuba [electric organ]
These love songs are recorded in 1987 in a southern Somali city called Baraawe [Brava], 120 miles south of Mogadishu. The instruments are interesting: a small Japanese made electric organ with mechanical rhythm machine, taruumbo flute made now a days of plastic tube, 6 string guitar and traditional string instrument Kaban, which is an ud-like lute. The music is wonderful mixture of different ethnique influences: the electric organ comes from India [previously the harmonium], guitar from Europe, the flute is African and the Ud comes from Arabic culture. And it works. The free use of the small electric Casio-type organ & drum machine give a 'video game' feeling to this rudimentary & totally unheard Taarab. A wonderful recording, many of the songs sounding as if the Residents invaded Somalia

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