‘If you've never regarded the oud - the fretless lute at the core of so much traditional Arabic music - as a rock'n'roll instrument, then you've clearly never heard Speed Caravan or the frenetic and joyous playing of Mehdi Haddab. Once part of Parisian-based global electronica trio Ekova and then half of the experimental oud duo DuOud with Jean-Pierre Smadja, to call Haddab the Jimi Hendrix of the electric oud would, of course, be a hopeless cliché. But it's not that far from the truth.
Now working as Speed Caravan with bassist Pascal Teillet and former Ekova electronic beat mistress Hermione Frank, the Algerian-French trio create music that references The Cure and The Chemical Brothers alongside Algerian rai and other Arabic influences in a glorious collision of global sounds and styles. Their debut album Kalashnik Love features guest appearances by Rachid Taha and members of Asian Dub Foundation.’ - WOMAD Tracklisting:Taq On The Beat / Kalashnik Love / Killing An Arab / Qat Market / Dubai / Galvanize / Erotic Chiftetelli / Parov Yegar Siroon Var / Idemo Dalje / Daddy Lolo / Hotel
Get it here from Conch
Pax Nicholas was a conga player and singer in Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band, and this, his only proper solo album, was recorded in Ginger Baker's Lagos studios and put out in very limited release in 1973. According to sources, however, when Fela heard the title cut for the first time, and saw how the crowd responded to it, he told Nic to never play the music again.
The album, ostensibly forgotten, was only rediscovered when celebrated DJ and cratedigger Frank Gossner (who ran the legendary Vampyros Lesbos party in New York in the 90s) discovered it by accident in 2005, shortly before he embarked upon his own trip to West Africa.
Now, Daptone is proud to be re-issuing the full-length, with it's original cover art and tracklisting, marking the first proper and global release since the initial limited pressing some three decades ago.Sample Tracks:
1. Na Teef Know De Road of Teef
2. Ataa Onukpa
3. Na Six Feet
4. You
To reserve a copy let us know at info@conch.co.nz
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