14/21 - I've Been Normal, I've Been Ostracised

Here's a list of goodies that's been stewing for a while. I think I managed to get the flavours just right.

 

Pa Salieu ft. Ni Santora, Lz Dinero, Stizee & Shakavellie - Active

Discovered this trough a Quietus list a while back and only just realised he's also playing Le Guess Who? this November. Love the 80s progrock vibes of the intro. 

 

 

Antipop Consortium - NY To Tokyo

One of my suggestions for the most overlooked album of the 2000s. I love every strange angular sci-fi track on it and I have since it first came out.

Nadine Shah - Buckfast

Back to newer discoveries. The namechecking of Glasgow's favourite pastime: getting Buckfast pissed, would be enough to land it on a Top 5, but it also happens to be an amazing chugging standout on an album full of amazing songs and thrilling husky vocals. The brass stabs at 2.20 are perfection.

 

Erik Lundin - Jag Räcker

Generally not a big fan of Swedish rap and not keeping track of its scene, but I heard this on the radio this summer and it hit a spot somehow. Like with Pa Salieu it's the mixing in of unexpected music that really adds the spice to the concocture: the singing in the chorus turns out to be a Gambian lullaby.

James Blake - Say What You Will

James Blake heads deeper into pure crooner-territory, and while on the one hand he is getting close to crossing the border to cheesy. But on the other hand it is also disarmingly gorgeous. You can't stay cynical after that 3.20-3.40 wail.
 

13/21 - Open Your Heart

I don't know how to handle time. Here is a tributary Top 5 to this year's Clandestino Festival that is already three weeks in the past. But it was my first experience of live music since the pandemic began, so it needs to have a list of its own, no matter how belated. I don't know if it was that all my reference points have faded, but each one of the four gigs I managed to catch felt like an absolute revelation. Such joy!

 

Islandman - Shu!

This Turkish trio arrived from an arduous journey an hour before their stage time, didn't have time to soundcheck, but still managed to effortlessly slide into the most blissful groove of eclectic ingredients. And their album is almost as good as the live experience!

 

 

TootArd - Open Sesame

The loveliest, charmiest band from the Golan heights is named 'strawberry' and makes irresistible Arab folk pop about love and freedom. The Covid regulations for the whole festival required seated audiences, and it was frustrating to have to sit-dance through all these gigs, but at TootArd's set it became almost impossible. Some couldn't help but take to their feet, only to be urged to sit down again. 

Free Palestine!

Goran Kajfeš Subtropic Arkestra - Dokuz Seki/Esmerim

My first gig of the festival might have been the best. Not only were we treated to cosmic jazz jams but also a guest appearance by Moroccan master guembri player Majid Bekkas. I had almost forgotten how important live music is to me and what incredible highs I can get from it, but this concert immediately reminded me.

 

 

MC Yallah ft Debmaster - Dunia

The hardest gig of the festival set Kenyan-Ugandan rhymes to French-German beats and the result was immense. MC Yallah flowed in four different languages and connected in each one. She's one of the coolest rappers I've ever seen.

 

Mazhar Ve Fuat - Adimiz Miskindir Bizim

Mazhar Ve Fuat did not play at the festival, but through an amazing coincidence covers of this song were played independently and uncoordinated by two different acts; Goran Kajfeš and Islandman. After their gig, the guys from Islandman showed us this original version of the tune and its melody has since infiltrated my brain.