Month: January 2018

Ousmane – Takandaout (Morocco, 1976, Mawel)

Ousmane (“Lightning”) was a band from Morocco who used to play Amazighe (berber tribe from North Africa) Gnawa music in the 70s.

Really setter for the time, the band was composed of 6 members : Ammuri M’barek, Said Bijaaden, Said Butrufin, Belaid el-Akkaf, Tarik el-Maaroufi and Lyazed Qorfi.

They recorded two singles in 1976, toured all around the country and performed a concert in Paris (France) at the Olympia Concert Hall on the 5 of February 1977 (that was also recorded on vinyl).

They splitted in 1978.

I decided to make you (re)discover the track “Takandaout”, one of their hits, a deep psych track with beautiful vocals, splendid violins, catchy guitar riffs and haunted organ parts – Enjoy !

Ousmane – Takandaout

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/F_NGH_49ixc

Have a nice week,

Armand

Floyd Lloyd Seivright – Check Out Your Mind (Jamaica, 1983, Tropic)

For today, I decided to make you rediscover a Reggae Disco track recorded in 1983 by the very well known Jamaican singer Floyd Lloyd, typically the kind of West Indian musical “Discolypso” mixed genre I like – Hope you’ll enjoy it too !!

Floyd Lloyd – Check Out Your Mind

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/GK5pFs83g6Q

Have a nice week end,

Armand

Tina – N’Goumbe (Gabon, 1976, Pathe-Marconi EMI)

Tina was a very obscure Gabonese singer who released an album and a single at the age of 18 years old in 1976, in the same vein of Myriam Makeba, Anne-Marie Nzie or Abeti.

I decided to make you discover “N’Goumbe“, a beautiful Folk track with melancholic guitar arrangements – Enjoy !

Tina – N’Goumbe

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/VQTFs5Xinwk

Have a nice week,

Armand

Ofo Black Company – Not Easy (Nigeria, 1980, Afrodisia)

Ofo & The Black Company were one of countless student band’s playing in Lagos during the 70’s. They became famous with their “Allah Wakbarr” first single, recorded and released in 1972 in London.

It was leaded by Larry Ifedioranma Jr. and composed of :

Larry Ifedioranma Jr. : Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bells, Whisltes and Percussion

Santana Otu Bassy : Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals

Johnson Hart : Drums, Marracass, Clavinet Piano and Vocals

Marcel All-Well Opara : Vocals and Organ

Eddy Cox : Bass Guitar and backing Vocals

Pappowei Daniel : Backing Vocals and Percussion

Koffibok : Congas

Felix Lebarty : Lead Guitar

They released 3 albums between 1972 and 1980, a few singles and toured several times in Europe in the 70s (they even played with Carlos Santana, student at the time, on stage during one concert, realizing after the gig – but too late – who he really was).

The track presented here, “Not Easy”, taken from their last album “People’s law”, is an awesome Afro Rock track with fuzzy guitar parts and catchy vocals – Enjoy !

Ofo Black Company – Not easy

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/YBtrp0tVYKI

Best regards,

Armand

Fayrouz – Ya Mayla (Lebanon, 195?, Pathé / Voix de l’Orient)

No need to introduce Fairouz (“Turquoise Blue” in Arabic), the greatest singer from Lebanon who recorded several dozen of songs, albums and theater plays, who was married Assi Rahbani and who is the mother of the well known Rahbani brothers.

Born as “Nuhad Rizq Wadīʿ Ḥaddad”, she is one of the most widely admired and deeply respected living singers in the Arab world.

I decided to make you rediscover a very early and rare song from the Diva, “Ya Mayla”, a romantic Bolero sung in Arabic language – Enjoy !

Fayrouz – Ya Mayla

You can also listen to it on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/Pa_LUAqqpEA

See you soon,

Armand