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.