You Get Half of What was Originally Available
Written: Sep 10 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Historic release -- Proceeds benefited the WOMAD Festival and concept.
Cons: Out of print and extremely hard to find.
The Bottom Line: Not a complete compilation. Eight original tracks were cut to create this CD, just under one hour in length.
|
|
|
| 4-1-1's Full Review: Best of Music and Rhythm (Womad Festival) |
This album was originally released (on cassette tape and vinyl) in July 1982 to benefit "A World of Music Art and Dance" -- The WOMAD Festival.
WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts and Dance). First festival: July 16-18, 1982; Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, UK. This festival of alternative world music attracted an audience of 15,000 music fans. Musical artists included several performers from Africa and the Middle East, as well as several leading U.K. based bands of the time, including: Echo and the Bunnymen, The English Beat, and XTC.
The CD listed here at Epinions appears to be a discontinued item. I am a Peter Gabriel fan (he was one of the founders of WOMAD), and I haven't seen this CD in stores for years. It's actual title is: Best Of Music And Rhythm -- and that's because it only contains 13 of the original 21 cuts that appear on the double-LP or double-tape version of this album. (The LP was released in the UK as WEA catalog #K68045; in the US on PVC Records, catalog PVC 201. The cassette was released in the US on the WEA International label, catalog PVCC 201.)
Released 1983; the actual album cover for the CD release is shown here:
http://www.artistdirect.com/store/artist/album/0,,51955,00.html
http://www.thewho.net/fang/WhoRelated2.htm
I really question how this compilation can rightfully be named as a "Best Of" presentation... missing are eight great "world music cuts" that provide the listener with a better perspective of what this concert was supposed to be about. The missing cuts include:
» Drums of Makebuko by The Drummers of Burundi. This was the lead song on the original album release. Recorded by La Radiodiffusion Nationale du Burundi, September 24, 1977. Tribal drum beating with some scattered chanting and whoops. At the actual festival in 1982, The Drummers of Burundi joined Echo and the Bunnymen on stage. In my opinion, this is one of the strongest songs on the original album -- very similar in style to music by Babatunde Olatunji (the Nigerian percussionist known for his "Drums Of Passion" albums). It is a shame that it is missing from the "Best Of" compilation.
» Zuu-Waa, performed by Alhaji Ibrahim And His Dagbamba Cultural Group. Originally the fifth cut on the album. Recorded in Ghana in 1981. A barrage of drum beats in four beat measure. This is a great song and is better represents the spirit of the WOMAD festival. It's a pity that it was cut.
» Pengosekan, performed by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven. This was the 13th cut on the album and was a studio recording. An instrumental that features some insect noises, overlapped with some percussion, synthesizer and woodwind. Some interesting voice work (more like chanting; no spoken words). An interesting piece and hard to find elsewhere. Pengosekan is an art colony/village in Bali. This is a good song and that it does not appear on the "Best Of" compilation is unfortunate.
» A short excerpt from the Ramayana Monkey Chant performed by Balinese Ketjak. A Balinese tune from a music drama; this was the 14th cut on the album and a studio recording dated February 1982. A fascinating tune with fast, exciting chanting. A song that definitely would be of interest to world music fans.
» Noor Azli Chamkia, performed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. This was the 15th cut on the album. It features the fabulous Qawwali singing of a true legend, Khan, who died a few years ago at the age of 49. A fascinating sound. Khan was also featured on Gabriel's albums "Passion" and "Passion Sources."
» Sudurum Kumbosora, performed by Alhaji Bai Konte and Malamini Jobate. This was the 18th cut on the album. Features a spoken word introduction. This is a melody -- a folk song -- from the African nation of Gambia.
» Mkazi Wa Mulomo, performed by Alhaji Bai Konte and Joni Hetara. Another folk song from Gambia. Recorded in 1958; an instrumental featuring dueling xylophone play between Konte and Hetara. This was the 19th cut on the album.
» Persian Love, performed by Holger Czukay. This was the 21st (and last) cut on the original album. Sounds, ummm, like someone sampled some old Persian tunes and filtered it through a popcorn machine. Was probably an experimental and interesting cut 20 years ago, but the synth work on this track does not hold up today.
What You Get...
------------------------------------------------------------
Although this recording is listed as a "live" release, virtually all the tracks are studio cuts. None of the music listed here was recorded during the actual festival -- which is somewhat misleading and confusing. What the listener actually experiences on the "Best Of" compilation is more commercial and radio-friendly music that features, predominately, leading acts of the time: Peter Gabriel, XTC, The English Beat, Rico, and David Byrne. Only a few oddball world-music selections are included to prevent this album from being a total falsity.
1) Across the River - by Peter Gabriel. I bought this album for this song alone, as it was not available on any other Peter Gabriel recording at the time.
Peter Gabriel (playing Fairlight CMI) and providing vocals. Joined by the Indian violinist, Shankar, on the double neck violin. Shankar also collaborated with Gabriel on the Passion and Passion Sources CDs. Drumming by Stewart Copeland, who was the drummer for The Police at the time. Recorded and mixed in Bath, England. Something about this song reminds me of Hesse's novel, Siddhartha.
2) Kpan Logo - by Ekomé Arts -- A 1981 studio recording, Bath, England. This is a troupe of drummers, dancers and singers. Good African singing and percussion; rapid beats. The Ekome Dance Company also contributed drum performances on Peter Gabriel's 1977 self-titled solo release, as well as his 1982 release, "Security."
3) It's Nearly Africa - XTC. This was one of my favorite groups in the early '80's. This song has a slightly Afro-Caribbean feel. XTC excelled in developing songs with clever rhythms and lyrics. This particular song, speaking about "missing links" and shaking "bags of bones" reminds me of Oingo Boingo music. Appears on the album "English Settlement." This song is actually about the civilized world being on the brink of war... the eve of total destruction... and that we (the Western world) will soon be reduced to a third-world African society. Actually, it is quite odd and almost ironic (insulting) that a song like this would appear on an album featuring so many African artists.
4) Mirror in the Bathroom - by The English Beat. Ska with heavy sax. This is a remixed, dub version of what was a big hit of the time -- "Mirror in the bathroom... You can watch yourself ...beating." I liked the radio version of this tune, but this remix is also delightful and even a bit sharper.
5) Sweet Mother - by Prince Nico Mbarga/Rocafil Jazz. A fun, rollicking tune; great for parties and dancing. Recorded in Nigeria, 1976. Sung in English. Rhythm guitar is played brightly, supported by congas and drums.
6) Music and Rhythm - by Mighty Sparrow. This is a re-mix. A wicked, infectious dance tune. Slinger Francisco ""The Mighty Sparrow" (also known as "The Birdie") is the "Calypso King of the World." This music is pure steelband Calypsonian, with a touch of big band brass. A fabulous dance tune.
7) What You Talkin' Bout - by Rico. A Ska/Dub classic. Rico also had a Ska hit with its single, Jungle Music. This tune features Ska horn and organ and displays some salsa and meringue influences.
8) Marrakesh - by Morris Pert. An interesting instrumental blending a Prophet synthesizer with percussion and a soprano sax. Very jazzy. Suffers in that it becomes repetitive ...the tune is too long.
9) Ascension Two - By Pete Townsend. A complete throw-away release. Experimental, with plenty of piano and drum and little guitar. But, then, I was never a fan of Townsend's solo efforts.
10) Ba Benz'el'e - by Jon Hassell. One of the few songs that was actually "recorded in concert." This tune was recorded November 14, 1981, at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada, and features some interesting synthesizer treatments by Brian Eno and Talking Drum by Aiyb Dieng. Very experimental and interesting -- a blend of new world and ancient Africa.
11) The Ritual Mask - by Peter Hammill. Eerie. Sounding a little like Peter Murphy/Bauhaus tune. Not much music. Some odd-picking on a Bodhran and some spoken word. Halfway into the tune, some Chinese drums and lentil shakers add some rhythm and body, and Hammill stops reciting his poem and starts singing. Poetic, progressive, and artistic. Interesting.
12) His Wife Refused - by David Byrne (of Talking Heads fame). Features Adrian Belew (of King Crimson fame) on steel guitar. This song appears on "The Catherine Wheel" album (the score commissioned by Twyla Tharp for her dance project of the same name).
13) Himalaya - by Shankar/Bill Lovelady. Features the violin play of Indian master, Lakshminarayana "Lakshmi" Shankar and some more Prophet synthesizer. Kind of sounds... like a Bee-Gees song. Somewhat slow and boring.
Price and Availability: Out-of-print and impossible find. This album was released 20 years ago, with benefits/proceeds intended to support the WOMAD concept.
Verdict: 3-stars. Not particularly recommended unless you really, really like Peter Gabriel and are interested in filling out your collection.
The Track Listing - Original Album
------------------------------------------------------------
1. Drums Of Makebuko - Burundi
2. Peter Gabriel - Across The River (7:05 long)
3. Ekome - Kpan Logo
4. XTC - It's Nearly Africa
5. Alhaji Ibrahim And His Dagbamba Cultural Group - Zuu-Waa
6. The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom
7. Prince Nico Mbarga And Rocafil Jazz - Sweet Mother
8. Mighty Sparrow - Music And Rhythm
9. Rico - What You Talkin' Bout
10. Morris Pert - Marrakesh
11. Pete Townshend - Ascension Two
12. Vic Coppersmith-Heaven - Pengosekan
13. Balinese Ketjak - A short excerpt from the Ramayana Monkey Chant
14. Jon Hassell - Ba Benzele
15. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Noor Azli Chamkia
16. Peter Hammill - The Ritual Mask
17. David Byrne - His Wife Refused
18. Alhaji Bai Konte And Malamini Jobate - Sudurum Kumbosora
19. Lonesi Chewane And Joni Hetara - Mkazi Wa Mulomo
20. Shankar And Bill Lovelady - Himilaya
21. Holger Czukay - Persian Love
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1091
Trusted by: 695 members
About Me:
Go U.S.C.!!!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.