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Mali Music
With Mali Music it's possible at last to see how Damon Albarn's foray into Africa has
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worked out: most members of what Albarn's friend Michael Nyman has dubbed the "world-music police" would probably be happy to give it a qualified thumbs-up. If some o...
worked out: most members of what Albarn's friend Michael Nyman has dubbed the "world-music police" would probably be happy to give it a qualified thumbs-up. If some o...
MALI MUSIC
The tracks on 'Mali Music' were culled from the forty hours of recordings that Blur
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frontman Damon Albarn made on his trip to Mali in 2000. Albarn collaborated both with unknown musicians and Malian stars alike. Afel Bocoum overdubbed his 'desert blues...
worked out: most members of what Albarn's friend Michael Nyman has dubbed the "world-music police" would probably be happy to give it a qualified thumbs-up. If some of the "Western" tracks are little more than an undifferentiated blur (no pun intended), the echt-Malian ones are a delight.But it's what lies between that's interesting: what Albarn and his colleagues Afel Bocoum, Toumani Diabate and Ko Kan Ko Sata Doumbia have achieved is best described as "the music of place". In "Kela Village" you can almost see the celebrations going on amid the chirruping of birds and the croaking of frogs; "Bamako City" comes with bags of local atmosphere.This CD was constructed in layers--after Albarn had edited down his 40 hours of raw material, he created collages with new melodies and beats and then sent his tapes back to Mali, where extra vocals and instrumental work were added. We thus get music that actually feels layered: a typical track will start with a simple groove on kora or ngoni, then it will acquire a voice, then some electronic effects, and it will finally be enveloped in a seductive miasma of local atmosphere.Apart from some nifty Malian balafon and string work, there's nothing here of instrumental note--Albarn's instrument is a battered melodica--but that doesn't matter, because in this game the final effect is the thing. Disregard Albarn's pretentious guff about this representing the "Africanisation of Western music"--where does the boy imagine jazz came from?--but do regard this CD as a healthy omen. --Michael Church
Advantages: Heartfelt lyrics, hear Graham sing! Disadvantages: Could have done with a couple of songs edited out.
...Or 'Graham Coxon's Album #2.' If 'Blur' was a gambit to keep Coxon in the group, '13' is, if anything, more influenced (at least musically if not lyrically) by GC's, er, more metal tendencies. Having said that, however, even through the most oblique noise tendencies, DamonAlbarn's ear for a tune saves the day.
Of course, this record has been noted for its lyrical content; namely Damon’s breakup with Elastica’s Justine Frischmann. Indeed, much of the album is a bleeding-heart paean to lost love (especially ‘No Distance Left To Run.’)
It’s a long album, maybe a little too long, but their class shines through....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
...An interesting partnership between the guy that does Tank Girl and DamonAlbarn of Blur plus who knows else. Reputedly formed out of a desire to stay away from the press and release non-conformist music, this translates as make a fictional band and then animate them. Featuring the talents of 2D (half Faerie, Murdoc (a Satanist), Noodle (a Kung-Fu fighting kid) and Russel (possessed by his rapper school friend), you've probably heard the irrepressibly catchy Clint Eastwood by now (or at least the god-awful remix of it. "nah, speed it up man, then stick some dodgy rapping over the top, they go mad for that stuff!"). The rest of the album is in a fairly similar vein, though less of Russel's (or should that be his possessor?) rapping over the top, which is a pity, as Albarn's vocals can be rather tiresome. The music is a rather laid back...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 14.05.2001
A Mixed Bag Review ofGorillaz [ECD] [PA] - Gorillazby
Cozmikal
Advantages: Well produced, highly original and inventive, the excellent multimedia section Disadvantages: the album loses itself in the middle with obvious fillers
...Perhaps the finest single of the year thus far has been released by Gorillaz, 'Clint Eastwood' appealed to both rock, pop and hip hop fans alike and this culminated in a top 5 position for the track, a rarity for good songs nowadays. The song itself was good, but even better was the idea behind the band.. they were imaginary.. a cyber band if you wish. The video was great, and the the brains behind the Gorillaz are seen as amongst the finest musicians in the world today.. DamonAlbarn from Blur fame, Deltron 3030 and Dan The Automator. Yes, the song was fantastic, but the real test would lie in the production of an album.
A couple of weeks ago, the self entitled 'Gorillaz' was released with mixed reaction. It is true that 'Clint Eastwood' is easily the best track, but this doesnt mean that the album itself is poor, this is not the case...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 01.05.2001
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