La canción de la semana #176

Enjoy Que Lindo Suena from Nuevos Sonidos Afro Peruanos, a debut album of Radiokijada. The band was co-founded by Rodolfo Muñoz and Christoph H Müller of Gotan Project. According to Charlie Gillett's review,

A kijada (also spelled quijada) is made from a donkey's jaw, used as a percussion instrument in Peru for centuries by former African slaves and wielded here by Rodolfo Muñoz, reportedly trained at the Conservatory of Havannah in Lima. Having seen Rodolfo in action, I can vouch that he is unlike your stereotypical conservatory graduate, making formidable sounds with both his voice and his instrument's rattling teeth while prowling the stage with menacing intent.

Radiokijada plays at WOMAD Charlton Park on 25 July.

La canción de la semana #175

In his feature on Cuba, Jan Fairley writes (Songlines #60, 2009, p. 27):

The misleading mythology of Ry Cooder as the prince who kissed back to life the princess (music), who had pricked her finger on the revolutionary spinning wheel, has blinded people to the fact that, not only was there always new music in Cuba, but the old music never stopped to be played to the older generation in clubs and classic hotels. While no one doubts the beauty of the music itself, the negative effect of the popular revival of Buena Vista sounds for audiences outside Cuba is that tourists arrive on the island expectig all Cuban musicians to be 'old' and hear Chan Chan everywhere. Cuban musicians puzzle as to why retro-romantic, pre-revolutionary music sung by a bunch of veterans appeals to a worldwide audience, while Cubans participate in more vital styles created by NG La Banda, Cándido Fabré, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Haila and a host of others.

It's a shame none of these musicians were featured in this blog — until now, that is. This week's song is El Trágico by the creators of timba: NG La Banda.

La canción de la semana #174

...is Mírame sung by Eleftheria Arvanitaki (Ελευθερία Αρβανιτάκη) and Buika. This song appears on Arvanitaki's new album of the same name.

La canción de la semana #173

...is El Cuarto de Tula as performed by the legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

En el barrio La Cachimba se ha formado la corredera, En el barrio La Cachimba se ha formado la corredera. Allá fueron los bomberos con sus campanas, sus sirenas, Allí fueron los bomberos con sus campanas, sus sirenas. Ay, mamá! ¿qué pasó? ¡Ay, mamá! ¿qué pasó? Al cuarto de Tula, le cogió candela. Se quedó dormida y no apagó la vela.

La canción de la semana #172

Incredible as it is, but so far this blog did not feature a single song by the great Peruvian singer Susana Baca. I am going to correct this oversight of mine right now and here with Chabuca Granda's classic, María Landó, from Susana Baca's 2001 album Lamento Negro.

La canción de la semana #171

...is Tú Te Vas performed by Zulú 9.30 and guest vocalist Amparo Sánchez of Amparanoia. This song appears on the band's new record, Huellas.

La canción de la semana #170

...is Yo No Quiero Trabajar by the London-based band Peyoti For President. On 31 May 2009, they will support the stars of my previous post, Ojos de Brujo, at Roundhouse, Camden.

La canción de la semana #169

Continuing with flamenco: Todos Mortales from Aocaná, the new album from my old favourites, Ojos de Brujo.

La canción de la semana #168

This week, I chose a flamenco song, even though sung mostly in Arabic: Ech Edani by Algerian singer, songwriter and guitarist Souad Massi, from her second album Deb ("Heartbroken").

La canción de la semana #167

When I was looking at the harbour of Corralejo, I did notice a boat named Celia Cruz. It was one of the boats going to Isla de Lobos daily. This made me to realise that I never posted on this blog a single song by the artist who was known as "Queen of Salsa". I can't think of any song that is associated with Celia as much as La vida es un carnaval.