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SHANKAR/ESHAN/LOY
MY NAME IS KHAN Soundtrack (SIN UK)
Shahrukh Khan fell off the radar last year. He didn't even make the top five film idols in India where he has been number one for a decade. He was in the SF Bay Area making a film and with the typical desperation you see in fading stars he appeared on TV advertising a "meet-&-greet" at a hotel in San Jose where, for $150, you could have your photo taken with him or get an autograph. 2009 was a really bad year for Bollywood, not just in the abysmal quality of the films released, but there was a lengthy strike as producers and distributors came to an impasse over what percentage each should get. Bollywood also continues to ape Hollywood so "Benjamin Button" was remade with Amitabh playing a dwarf child-man. And Shahrukh made this film where he plays a man with Aspergers Syndrome who finds himself in a pickle after 9/11. The attack on the World Trade Center was not the first. A decade earlier angry Muslims had blown up a truck of explosives in the basement parking garage, starting a fire. I watched in horror on TV because only a week earlier I had been stuck in that hotel for a snowy weekend & I imagined the panic of the people trying to get out of the smoky hotel down staircases. After the Twin Towers collapsed Dubya called together his cabinet and said, Let's get Saddam! I suspect his mother had said something like, Are you gonna let that sunonabeach diss your father and get away with it? No one, it seems, asked Why would someone do this to us? Osama in his tapes has repeatedly said, We will attack the US until Palestine is safe and free. Now is that such an unreasonable demand? Bushco however are Bible literalists. And there is some rubbish in the Bible about the Jews, Israel & the End Time that they actually believe in. Rumsfeld even put Bible quotations on his interoffice memos. These guys are loonies, but the problem is they have allowed the Israeli lobby to dictate American foreign policy. Ultimately Israel will lose. It's just a matter of time... A Pakistani with a smart bomb in a suitcase in Tel Aviv, or a lumbering scud ridden by Akmad Dinnerjazz. But the US is not helping matters by propping up the failed state of Israel. Let's start by cutting off military aid to them & if that doesn't bring them to their senses, let's give the military aid to Palestine instead. Level the playing field as it were. So given the ongoing state of the Middle East, Osama seems to be exercising the only option he has. There's no question that the USA needs better understanding of the Muslim world. We needs to reach out to Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia in a meaningful way. And before I get off my rant I would like to point out that the Irish Republican Army was reborn in the 1960s during an economic slump in Northern Ireland to murder Brits. As soon as factories were built and employment numbers rose, a truce was signed. Unless America bankrupts itself buying off the Taliban, we will have to put 30 million Yemenis on the welfare rolls too.
This film is about a man named Khan who feels the anti-Muslim backlash after 9/11 and sets off to Washington to have a word with the President. Because he has Aspergers, Shahrukh can play him like an Idiot/Savant (à la Tom Hanks), and there are guaranteed to be wet hankies throughout. If there was an Oscar for Best Male Weeper, Shah Rukh would win hands down. The soundtrack is out now & it is orchestral and lush; the writers have also gone to the Muslim faith and turned out some tunes that would credit Nusrat himself. Well, that may be overstating it, they use the traditional instruments, harmonium and tabla, & the vocalist manages a few warbling scales that certainly evoke Sufi praise singing ("Allah ki Raham"). Shankar/Eshan/Loy have reused a couple of their old hits to pad it out: there's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai from Shah Rukh's 1998 hit film of that name, and "Suraj Hua Madham" from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, not to mention Kal Ho Naa Ho from the enjoyable film of that name. No doubt in the movie these are references to scenes in the older films in which Shah Rukh also starred -- in one case with the same leading lady. This is a clever ploy because it turns into a "Greatest Hits" sampler and ends upbeat. After bombing out on Kambakh Ishq, I am not rushing out to see this, but instead waiting for the next big historical costume drama from India. However, the soundtrack is very enjoyable. Call it "Bollywood Easy Listening" if you must, but it beats what passes for popular music in the US right now.
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CALYPSO DREAMS (MAJOR & MINOR PRODUCTIONS on DVD)
(Directed by Geoffrey Dunn)
This is a documentary film about Calypso told in the Calypsonians' own words, with wonderful performance excerpts. From Lord Kitchener singing "London is the place for me" as he steps off the boat in 1952 to the global hit of "Hot Hot Hot" by Arrow in the 1980s, Calypso has been the pulse of Trinidad, the news, the scandal, the wit of a nation. Presented here are reminiscences, clips and performances by the legendary, the infamous and the obscure: the Mighty Sparrow, Lord Pretender, Black Stalin, Relator, Scrunter and many others. Some of the classic calypsos are performed by the duo Regeneration Now who are a delight to watch. Harry Belafonte is called to account for ripping off the music and defends himself rather pathetically by saying, It's true, I never could be a real Calypsonian, I never sang in the tents, etc, and further claims the title "King of Calypso" was thrust on him by a record company.
David Rudder, who is himself associated with Soca more than Calypso, provides commentary: "A Calypso is everyman's opinion," he says. The film shows the love of language and lyric, warm humour and risqué riposte that is the mark of the art form. For all that the world loves reggae, you don't hear (regular) people quoting reggae lyrics much, or commenting on them as relevant. People worship Bob Marley but what did he say? Other than "Redemption Song" his lyrics are puerile rubbish. Even he, himself, on his deathbed said "What is Jah Jah? -- It sounds like baby talk!" The Caribbean had the English education system until independence, so the Calypsonians depicted in this film had the benefit of loquacious and articulate teachers and words like "soubriquet," "extemporaneous" and "bachannalian," which are not part of everyday vocabulary in America, are commonly used in Port of Spain. Like the troubadour tradition of old Europe, Calypso lyrics tell the news even when it is old news. This film exudes joy and is the definitive account of this musical form.
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ETRAN FINATAWA
TARKAT TAJJE/LET'S GO! (Riverboat Records TUGCD1055)
Etran Finatawa is one of the better desert blues bands from West Africa. They combine Tourag musicians from Niger with members of the Wodaabe people (the ones who paint their faces). These are two of the eleven tribes that make up the people of Niger, one of the three poorest nations on the planet. Their name means "Stars of Tradition," so they draw from their roots but have a wide contemporary appeal. This, their third album, was recorded in the middle of their 2009 European tour; they have their act together, and are doubtless enjoying the change of scenery from sand dunes and camel herds to Autobahn rest stops and crowds of ecstatic white youth. Actually, come to think of it, I would prefer the former. Lyrically they have moved from wondering how nomads fit into modern society to broader concerns for humanity. The tunes are clipped and defined, with clear vocals and percussion, and move beyond the open-chord-strumming jam bands from the desert that are getting all the press. The album opens at sunset, which sets you up for an evening of storytelling and magic around the campfire. Track two, "Diam walla," addresses the big issue facing desert-dwellers: with global warming where are we going to get water? Their other concerns are universal: why can't we all get along? Let's celebrate our similarities rather than amplify our differences. By the middle of the album, Anivolla the guitarist take a break and we get a traditional Wodaabe song, usually sung by girls, about a handsome boy. The accompaniment is hand drums, clapping and calabashes being beaten by ringed fingers. The call-&-response vocals discuss the boy's long hair -- and long neck! There's also plenty of the spaced-out trance vibes, courtesy of their Fender guitar, to groove on, if that's your dime bag. There's an excellent half-hour video of them performing at Amoeba in LA here.
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CAZUMBI: African Sixties Garage, Vol. 1 (No Smoke Records)
You've heard of punk bands the Kryptons and the Invaders, right? Uh, wrong. Here's a collection of garage band rock from Africa that came out on the Portuguese No Smoke Label in 2008. I skipped it at the time because it has two tracks by Dr Nico, "Save me" and "Eh bien mon ami" that are awful. However, in the context of this disc they work just fine. This is low-fi at its lowest. Monaural recordings of Africans jamming the 12 bar blues with occasional bursts of Surfaris or Shadows guitar, thrashing drum kits, yakkety sax, etc. I was in bands like this in the 60s. Seriously. But at least we knew what the words meant. We banged out Who, Stones and Buddy Holly and even the odd Yardbirds cover. This collection (first of two) kicks off in South Africa with a Chuck Berry cover-band called the A-pads doing "Down the road apiece", with all the balls of a gang of youth who have figured out how to arrive at the same note simultaneously. We hear "Save me" by Bovic Bondo and African Fiesta (a knock-off of "Gloria" by Van Morrison and Them), arguably the worst thing ever recorded by Docteur Nico. South to Mozambique, we turn on the massive echo machine for "You'll be gone," which was either by the Pretty Things or the Moody Blues, I don't recall, but definitely a B-side worth reviving, unlike the awful & wooden "Knock on wood" from Impacto. "Baby I love you," from Angola suggests the Doors: at least in the singer's histrionics.
Highlights are "I had too much too dream last night" covered by Mozambiquan Olivera Muge and his Conjunto (with shades of "Paint it black" and "Pipeline"), and "Venus" which was a hit for Shocking Blue, covered by Bovic Bondo, here fronting Orchestre Veve of Kiamunguana Verckys. Shocking Blue were a Dutch band who modeled themselves on Grace Slick and company and had this one international hit. The fact that English was not their native tongue doesn't matter, as you know, in pop. And it doesn't seem to bother Bovic who just blurs the syllables together. Bovic is also the vocalist for "Eh bien mon ami," a James Brown pastiche with the band playing "Papa's got a brand new bag," while Bovic grunts and yells. Arguably even worse than "Save me," but not as bad as his version of "Sookie." The second volume covered Ghana, Cameroun and Madagascar as well, but one was enough. Other than Nico the only other familiar name on here was Teta Lando from Angola. His "Muato wa n'Gingila" is a moment of calm in the madness. It has a kind of Tim Hardin vibe to it. H2O from Mozambique sound like some early Library of Congress wire recording of a bluesman! The CD has three bonus tracks not on the double LP. "I put a spell on you" by Os Rocks from Angola is a give-away of their source (BBC Overseas Service radio), because it's not a cover of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins original, but the Alan Price remake which was a hit in England (& the version I covered in my miss-spent youth). To amplify the difference, the guitarist adds "House of the Rising Sun"-style riffing with his plectrum. The rock feel is more Monkees than Beatles, oddly. Their other contribution, "Wish I may," is one of the low spots on here, but "I put a spell on you" rocks. This CD is a novelty disc, and also guaranteed to puzzle your friends with vaguely familiar rock & early psychedelic oldies in a new interpretation. The sequencing keeps your interest, and it's an hour of fun trying to guess the original.
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MACHITO & HIS AFRO-CUBANS
CARAMBOLA (Tumbao24)
As it's been a quiet month for new releases, I have been listening to some old favourites. In heavy rotation is a collection of radio broadcasts by Machito from 1951, that are a little thin, but full of life. There is also the repartee with the original hipster Symphony Sid who is the MC, and pretends to understand them: "Look, I took Spanish, Jim!" while Machito comes out with little sly quips. Sid imitates his English, saying "What we have cooking, ming?" It's fun but the music is hot. These shows were broadcast live from Birdland at midnight on Fridays for jazz buffs and homesick Cubans. Tumbao is a wonderful Spanish label and their entire line is worth knowing. There are the hits "Blen, blen, blen" and "Mani picao." They do "Zambia" and "Tanga" twice (on different nights), but there are several other tunes I would love to hear multiple takes of, including Graciela singing "Si, si, No, no" -- in short, it's fabulous to hear these songs performed live. I swear in "Zambia," Machito is actually yelling "Cambiar," i.e. Change. The band includes Mario Bauza on trumpet, & Graciela on vocals & claves. Zoot Sims guests on tenor sax on two cuts, one of which sadly fades out. Brew Moore also pops in for one number, showing the fluid interplay of New York jazz men with the Latin bands of the period. This gives a be-bop edge to the Afro-Cuban groove. Solid.
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Recent posts & reviews:
(click on maps at the top of the page to get to continent of choice)
I have created a Cambodia page for the band Dengue Fever
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro is filed under Colombia
So is Bomba Estereo
Rocksteady is under Jamaica part 3
John Storm Roberts: an appreciation (by me & Richard Henderson) is here
Cubanismo from the Congo is filed in Congo Classics
Boban i Marko Blown away to dance floor heaven is under Gypsy brass
March Fourth Marching Band's Rise up is under Brass bands
Amampondo is under South Africa
Delroy Wilson's Dub plate style is under Jamaica 3
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba's I speak Fula is filed in Mali 2
Click HERE for my top 10 of 2009 Click HERE for my top 9 of 2008 Click HERE for my top 10 of 2007 Click HERE for my top 11 of 2006
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NEW BOOK!
"Essential reference guide to the Congo guitar king" -- SONGLINES 64 **** (four stars)
A DISCOGRAPHY OF DOCTEUR NICO
By Alastair Johnston
Poltroon Press, 2009, 78 pages; price $19.95 post-free in the USA; please add $5 for overseas airmail shipping.
Available now. Click here for details.
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