08/23 - I'm Not From 'Round Here, But I Am

July, shifty summer weather, a mix of work and play. After a fleeting resurgence of anxiety I am treating myself to all my best activities. As Björk said: I am only into this to enjoy. And this is the music I enjoy:

 

 

Rosalía - La Fama (live en el Palaus Sant Jordi)

As followers of the blog know, I've been a Rosalía fan for some time, but it was this amazing bonus track from Motomami that made me sign up for her mailing list, because I. Want. To. See. Her. Live. Now!

 

 

Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Thank You    

I love me some dripping sarcasm in music. Few people have done it well since Bob Dylan, but this takedown of jumped-up, patronising opiners and critics is absolutely delicious. This whole album is fantastic: equal doses of humour and sincerity around identity politics set to giddy danceable productions.

 

 

Yard Act - Fixer Upper

Oh man, I hate Graham. But I love, love, love the way Yard Act put him to music.

Jaako Laitinen & Väärä Raha - I tåget finns en restaurangvagn

Looking forward to do some travelling again at the end of summer. Not to Finland this time, but I do hope the train has a dining car! Saw this outstanding Rovaniemi act live at the end of last year, and it was a party!

Ethel Cain - Thoroughfare

I didn't know this was the music I craved, but late summer can indeed be the time for epic rock anthems. Masterful crescendo, with a broadlegged guitar solo to boot. To be listened to as the sun sets over the sea while you think of friends and lovers past.

07/23 - Nice-Nice

This year's Clandestino festival finished up three weeks ago already, and of course it was brilliant, but I just haven't been in blogging mode since. So here is my traditional roundup of highlights, belatedly:

 

 

Ghosted - I

This was the finale of the festival, the last concert of the more laid back Sunday, and it was hypnotic and great. Clear Dawn of Midi-vibes here, and since their Dysnomia was such a favourite of mine, I am very much welcoming more in this vein!

 

 

BCUC - Ntuthwane

My third time seeing the best live band in the world. The circumstances weren't quite as idal as the two earlier times, so they had to work a little harder. But if there's one band that knows how to work up a frenzy from nothing, it's BCUC. Their new album is great too.

 

 

Ukandanz - Lebèsh kabashen

Best gig of the first festival night came courtesy of a short, stout Ethiopian superstar of a singer - Asnake Guebreyes - and his brass-heavy French backing band. Phenomenal headbanging grind with insanely good vocals.

Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek - Bal

Big surprise of the festival for me, and my favourite gig of the year. Went in expecting some interesting psychedelic folk rock, came out shook to my emotional core. At some point during the concert, the voice of Derya Yildirim just pierced through all my defenses and I found myself weeping helplessly to songs in a language I couldn't understand. Their recorded output does not make her phenomenal voice and presence justice, but I'm still gonna listen to this music a lot from now on.

Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Sèw

Even though I felt emotionally drained after the previous gig, seeing the old master of Ethio-jazz perform with a big band was a powerful experience. Classic melodies like this were performed with amazing arrangements and stunning musicianship.

And since they're not on Spotify, I'm adding the fantastic Congolese street mavericks Kin'gongolo Kiniata as a YouTube-bonus. Definitely the most I danced during the festival: