Francis Bebey ~ Akwaaba [Original Music, 1985] 320/FLAC

OMCD 005

1. Akwaaba
2. Bissau
3. Binta Madiallo
4. Ngoma Likembe
5. Tumu Pakara
6. Sassandra
7. Di Sengi



Composed By, Flute, Percussion, Kalimba [Sanza], Bells, Double Bass [String Bass], Vocals, Claves, Talking Drum, Pipe [Ndehou] – Francis Bebey

'In this 1985 release, composer/guitarist/singer/author Bebey used finger-piano, African flute, percussion and electric bass to draw on the whole range of African music today: traditional vocal styles [including an extraordinary 'double-voice' technique], Ghanaian flute, soukous basslines. The Boston Herald called Akwaaba "one of the most amazing and beautiful records I have ever heard.' ~ John Storm Roberts

a much needed interwebular upgrade of this seminal, desert island disque, which radically altered my perception of 'world music' & my relationship to it. a total game-changer. we encourage you not to miss the similarly stunning African Sanza over at freedomblues. special thanks to spinning fer the engaging booklet skans

Brigth Engelberts & the B.E. Movement ~ Tolambo Funk [Discogram, 1978]

Disco 001

A1. Civilisation in the World
A2. Free Me Now
A3. Tolambo Funk

B1. Let Me Hear Them Say
B2. Get Together
B3. Shifty Hand Woman

recorded at Lagos EMI Nigeria in 1978 on a 16 channel mixer



'Rare late 70s Afro soul from Cameroonese bassist and singer Brigth Engelberts – insistent, hyponotic and danceable grooves that points the way to myriad trends in soul in the decade to come, well beyond easily categorizable Afro funk & soul! Some numbers have a punchier, hypnotic rhythmic dynamic, others steer a bit closer to a psych soul vibe! The groove is fairly tight, with Engelberts backed by keys, drums, congas & other percussion, and some horns, and it's plenty funky!'

perch merch

Cameroon ~ Baka Pygmy Music - Musical Atlas v. 21, Unesco Collection [EMI Italy / Odeon, 1977] 320 kbps

3C 064-18265

A1. Music For The Buma Dance (Musique Pour Accompagner La Danse Buma)
A2. Hut Song - Chanson De Hutte
A3. Orycterope & Pangolin (Sung - Fable - Fable Chantee)
A4. Song For Gathering Mushrooms (Chanson Pour La Cueillette Des Champignons)
A5. Song To Atract Game (Chanson Pour Attirer Le Gibier)
A6. Music For The Nganga Dance (Musique Pour Accompagner La Danse Nganga)

B1. Lullaby - Berceuse
B2. The Water Drum - Le Tambour D'eau
B3. The Humming Of The Bees - Le Bourdonnement Des Abeilles
B4. Music For The Buma Dance Musique Pour Accompagner La Danse Buma

Recordings & text by Simha Arom and Patrick Renaud, 1975

Featured here are several superb field recordings by ethnomusicologist Simha Arom, whose documentation of pygmy polyphony continue to be pivotal points of reference for contemporary composers. György Ligeti, whose fascination with 'the other' as a source of musical inspiration stated:

Having never before heard anything quite like it, I listened to it repeatedly & was then, as I still am, deeply impressed by this marvelous polyphonic, polyrhythmic music with its astonishing complexity. For composition, [Arom’s research] opens the door leading to a new way of thinking about polyphony, one which is completely different from the European metric structures, but equally rich, or maybe, even richer than the European tradition.' source

Highly inventive and constantly changing, the vocal polyphony and the polyrhythmic sounds of hands and drums are prodigious achievements which astonish contemporary composers. The art of the Pygmies is fascinating for its ingenuity on all occasions, even when children play in the river and clap their hands rhythmically on the surface of the water.

a superlative snapshot of everyday life in the baka pygmy realm circa 1975. at this stage in my development, i've heard enough pygmy musique to be able to discern what i consider the really remarkable recordings & this one's a bona fide head swirler, friend. i figure if more folks played 'water-drums', fings might start looking up for our species. remerciements à zwan et l'idiot. 320 polyphonic portals to pygmy paradise

Prophet 23 - Mbum from Cameroon

Prophet 23 - Mbum from Cameroon [Mbum du Cameroun]
Philips 468449-2, recorded 1966, released 2001

Inedit - North Cameroon - Music of the Ouldeme. To the rhythm of the seasons

North Cameroon - Music of the Ouldeme. To the rhythm of the seasons
(Nord Cameroun - Musique des Ouldémé. Au rythme des saisons)
Inedit W 260104, recorded 1995 & 2000, CD released 2002

Inedit - Cameroon - Bedzan Pygmies from the Tikar Plain

Inedit - Cameroon - Bedzan Pygmies from the Tikar Plain
[Cameroun - Pygmées Bedzan de la plaine Tikar]
Inedit W 260095, recorded 1999, CD released 2000