Gone to Rotterdam

R.I.P. ALICE COLTRANE

I am listening to Ptah, The El Daoud, one of my favourite Alice Coltrane albums. Only 3 years ago did I discover the amazing music of John Coltrane’s widow. Ever since, her albums have become cherished gems that I keep on returning to. Consoling and genuine masterpieces that often result in pure transcendental bliss. RIP Alice, I hope you are in Turiya Loka now.

Soul gem hidden between sludge mayhem

I have these 4 double 7” compilations called CRY NOW, CRY LATER released by Theologian Records in conjunction with Pessimiser fanzine in the early 90’s. Every one of these 4 volumes is filled with misanthropic sludge core that gets me in the right mood every now and then.

At the end of some of these 7-inches comes a 10 seconds fragment of a 60’s soul track that is supposed to contrast sharply with the heavy sludge mayhem. At the end of Side 2 of the second compilation however, comes a 10 seconds fragment of a song that I wish I could identify because it reveals an immense beauty of deep soul desperation. The lyrics go like this:

“I’m standing here crying - why, oh why? - because our love is dying.”

I really don’t know where to start my investigation. I could address my question at one of these specialised music message boards (what I once did which helped me to identify an awesome track Jah Shaka played at a live show) but I am afraid the soulsters won’t own records by bands called Excruciating Terror, Eyehategod or Man Is The Bastard.

Anyhow, I am convinced that in 2007, I will identify this majestic soul song. It is my personal objective for this year. To be continued…


P.S. If you know what I’m talking about, I enabled the comments option just in case…

FUCKED UP

It’s been ages since I went to a hardcore show. Last time I considered going to one (Regulations from Denmark), I decided not to go at the very last moment because I didn’t feel like watching 3 boring bands before the one I came for went on stage. At punk rock shows in Belgium, most often two bands are scheduled to play, whereas hardcore shows always tend to be small festivals with a lot of crappy bands. Yesterday too, I was bored to death before FUCKED UP went on stage. But once they did, this Canadian hardcore band showed why they are held in high esteem by many punk rock fans worldwide: FUCKED UP plays the ultimate mix between raging hardcore and furious punk rock. With a PA system, the sound would have been better but still Fucked Up managed to blast out some of the most amazing adrenaline-ridden Black Flag-style hardcore punk I have ever witnessed. A great start for 2007!

2006 AT THE MOVIES

I have listed my favourite films of 2006 on my site. As in 2005, I didn't see a single movie that I think was a downright masterpiece. Still, I did see a lot of great movies. 2006 was a strange year: Almodóvar's latest got halfhearted reviews while I think that 'Volver' is one of his very best. The same can be said about Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu's fascinating 'Babel'. On the other hand, I really don't understand why movies like 'Children of Men' and 'United 93' were regarded as masterpieces. Oh well, opinions are like assholes, remember?

The 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced its two filmmakers in focus : Hong Kong director Johnnie To (Breaking News, Election) and Abderrahmane Sissako (Heremakono, Bamako). On first sight, a bit of a letdown after the wonderful homages of the previous years (Kinji Fukasaku, Nagasaki Shunichi, Stephen Dwoskin, Girish Kasaravalli, Jean-Claude Brisseau, Guy Maddin, Stan Brakhage).

Favourite Live Shows of 2006

copyright Garage Savage

With only one show left (The Hipshakes), it’s time for another year-end roundup:

1. GREEN ON RED (03/09/06 – N9, Eeklo)
2. THE INTELLIGENCE (07/05/06 – Pit’s, Kortrijk)
3. WILLIAM PARKER & HAMID DRAKE (30/10/06 – Damberd, Gent)
4. KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW (14/01/06 (+Fredovitch) - 10/04/06 (+The Magnetix) – Pit’s, Kortrijk)
5. THE SEATSNIFFERS (14/01/06 – N9, Eeklo)
6. DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS (14/03/06 – Pit’s, Kortrijk)
7. THE KIDS (01/04/06 – Den Tap, Kortrijk)
8. LINVAL THOMPSON/THE CONGOS (05/08/06 – Reggae Geel)
9. JACK OBLIVIAN & HARLAN T. BOBO (04/11/06 – Lintfabriek, Kontich)
10. NAPALM DEATH (05/11/06 – Nijdrop, Opwijk)

While my pal Tom is exploring Mali, I found myself listening to some rather obscure but delightful Malinese records from the recent past:

Kulu - N'GOU BAGAYOKO (Frikiyiwa, 2002)



Recorded by Frédéric Galliano in Bougouni in January 2002, this is some truly wonderful Malinese finger-picking blues with great female guest appearances by the likes of Maïmouna Keita, Maï Sanogo, Fanta Koné and star Nahawa Doumbia. Subtle and echanting music for the bon vivants among you.

Déli - BALLAKE SISSOKO (Label Bleu/Indigo 2000)



Together with Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko is probably the best kora player of the new generation. Mama Draba is younger and lesser known abroad than Kandia Kouyaté, Amy Koita or Oumou Sangare but still one of the great performers of the epic Griotic Bambara and Malinké traditions. (Also check out Ballaké Sissoko's follow-up album on the same French label called "Tomora" and his collaboration album with Toumani Diabaté called "New Ancient Strings")

Segui – DJELIMADY TOUNKARA (Label Bleu/Indigo 2001)



The guitar hero of Manding music and one of the founding members of the Super Rail Band (a modern electric group, financed by the Malian Railway Company and comfortably installed in the Buffet Hotel de la Gare in Bamako to entertain the youth of Bamako as well as foreign visitors and Heads of State). On “Ségou”, Tounkara is backed by an acoustic outfit with superb female choruses. (Also check out his follow-up album on the French Marabi label called “Solon Kôno”)

Jako Baye – ADAMA DIABATA (Stern’s Music 1995)



Mesmerizing Wassoulou music by one of the new Malinese divas. A wonderful clash between acoustic and electric guitars, between traditional kora music and electric programming. The song “Sabafolo” must’ve been made in heaven. A contemporary classic!

Beat Expo festival

Last Saturday, I attended the first Beat Expo festival in Ternat near Brussels. Because of a rather obscure bill and cutthroat competition from Dick Dale headlining a Roots Night in Antwerp, the venue was barely half-full (say 150 people). Afterwards, people told me Dick Dale was boring as hell, but heck, what else did you expect? The Beat Expo however was great! The fact that the hall wasn't packed, created a cosy atmosphere, some kind of intimate rock 'n' roll party for the in-crowd. I missed THE AMBASSADORS, a local band from Antwerp and the second band, PRESTON PFANZ & THE SEATON SANDS who featured 2 members from The Thanes, played very boring Shadows-like instrumentals (The Twanging Wankers would have been a more appropriate name!). Next was CURLEE WURLEE!, a band from Düsseldorf whose enthusiasm made up for a total lack of decent songs. It was party time nonetheless and the band set the tone for the rest of the night. Some of you might know the Italian band THE HORMONAS from a 7-inch on Shake Your Ass Records but I myself had never heard of 'em before and was very impressed by their 120mph psycho-rockabilly trash. The female drummer as well as the rest of the band (including stand-up bass - yeah!) played very very tight and the songs were top-notch. I am really looking forward to their upcoming album on Billy's Bones Records! THE THANES from Edinburgh treated us on some mighty fine tunes: this was beat punk par excellence! Their cover of Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" might as well be my favourite live moment of 2006 (together with Jack O & The Tearjerkers godlike rendition of Booker T & The MG's "Time Is Tight"). Check out 'Evolver', their great 1987-2001 songs collection on Rev-Ola Records and cherish this band for the rest of your life! The headlining MORLOCKS (it was already 1.30AM) didn't disappoint to say the least. OK, it was a rather unbalanced set but Leighton was fun to watch, the guitars were loud & mean and you don't get to see many 1980s garage-revival bands who still can stand the test of time, right? So yeah, if you like The Fuzztones, The Stooges or The New York Dolls, fat chance you would've loved The Morlocks set! Anyway, some Morlocks footage of Saturday's show can be found here. Hopefully, there's still some courage & cash left for a Beat Expo II next year...

Paul Vernon's iPod Delta Blues

There's a great feature in the latest issue of fROOTS magazine where blues connoisseur Paul Vernon selects his favourite prewar blues songs. Here's the complete listing :

1. Cotton Field Blues – Garfield Akers
2. Mississippi Bottom Blues – Kid Bailey
3. Saturday Blues – Ishman Bracey
4. Future Blues – Willie Brown
5. Fare Thee Well Blues - Joe Calicott
6. Jailhouse Blues – Sam Collins
7. Down The Big Road Blues - Mattie Delaney
8. Bullfrog Blues – William Harris
9. My Black Mama – Son House
10. Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied - Mississippi John Hurt
11. Devil Got My Woman – Skip James
12. All Night Long Blues - Louise Johnson
13. Preachin' Blues – Robert Johnson
14. Cool Drink Of Water - Tommy Johnson
15. The Gone Dead Train - King Solomon Hill
16. Mississippi Jail House Groan – Rube Lacey
17. Shake 'Em On Down - Tommy McClennan
18. Sittin' On Top Of The World - The Mississippi Sheiks
19. So Cold In China – Issiah Nettles
20. Friar's Point Blues – Robert Nighthawk
21. Down The Dirt Road Blues - Charley Patton
22. Catfish Blues - Robert Petway
23. Outside Woman - Blind Joe Reynolds
24. Farrell Blues – Henry Sims
25. Motherless Child Blues – Elvie Thomas
26. Bedside Blues - Jim Thompkins
27. Sic 'em Dogs On Me – Bukka White
28. Get Away Blues – Robert Wilkins
29. Baby Please Don't Go - Big Joe Williams
30. Last Kind Words – Geeshie Wiley

Big sale at Document Records!

There's a big sale going on at Document Records. Until the 31st of January, there are 109 CDs on offer. If you are looking for more information about the CDs, go to Roots&Rhythm and search for 'Document'. Some of these CD's are highly recommended. This is a terrific deal!

Boogie Nights!

Roel Bentz van den Berg

Stoffer & Bentz are back on the air! They have a one hour show every weekday which can be listened to online here and here. I treasure so many records that I first heard at their legendary radio shows! Check it out!

Handy Boxes

I finally found great & handy boxes for my 7-inch collection at IKEA for a mere € 7,00. Me happy!

WILLIAM PARKER & HAMID DRAKE

picture by Johan Malot

On August 9th 2003, I saw a free jazz trio that totally blew my mind. It happened to be my first visit to the yearly FREE MUSIC XXX festival in Antwerp and for the last time, this small festival took place in a cosy little theatre. The Trappist beers were dirt-cheap and the ambiance was superb: about 250 jazz-aficionados were ready and waiting for some musical adventure. The first two bands were interesting nonetheless: MIKE (Mike Goyvaerts, Willy Van Buggenhout, John Edwards) as well as FRED & IVO (Fred Van Hove, Ivo Vander Borght, Maurice Horsthuis, Michel Doneda) took us on an experimental but very enjoyable musical ride. The headlining band however was no other than powerhouse trio PETER BRÖTZMANN, WILLIAM PARKER and HAMID DRAKE who put the audience in some kind of musical trance during the next 2 hours. It was one of the most impressive concerts I have ever witnessed. The spiritual majesty of the music left me speechless.

Last year, I saw this amazing trio again, this time at the Kunstencentrum Vooruit, and it turned out to be another fabulous gig. Parker had brought along his 8-string doson ngoni (traditional hunter's guitar from West Africa), Drake proved his master ship on a gigantic hand drum and Brötzmann scribbled incredible high notes on his alto clarinet. Again, I was totally mesmerized by the raw beauty of the music. It was unlike anything else I had heard before: some kind of exciting mix between world music and free jazz, without the ugly fusion element or the academic dullness. This music was ruthless, fierce & challenging.

Last Monday, Parker and Drake played another show at the Damberd café in Ghent, this time without Brötzmann. Between 2 long jams (one called 'Vietnam III' and another was a tribute I think to Dewey Redman), Drake played the gigantic hand drum and sang wonderfully (I think Moroccan). After some time, Parker changed his bass for what I think was a ghaita, a Moroccan folk oboe, and both master musicians took us to unknown territory. The gig started late and lasted until 1.45 AM. Yet, nobody left the place during this mind-blowing 2,5 hours session. Killer!

Some of the best music by William Parker and Hamid Drake has been released on the wonderful Aum Fidelity label from New York. The CD's as well as the shipping costs are very reasonably priced and label owner Steven Joerg is a terrific person to deal with. Do check out some of the fabulous music made by these fantastic musicians. You won't regret it!

Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent

EYES WIDE SHUT (Stanley Kubrick) ****

RABIA (Oscar Cardenas) ***

REQUIEM (Hans-Christian Schmid) ****


BLISS (Sheng Zhimin) ***

FROZEN CITY (Aku Louhimies) ***

SLUMMING (Michael Glawogger) ***

EL VIOLIN (Francisco Vargas Quevedo) ****


2001 : A SPACE ODYSSEY (Stanley Kubrick) ******

SALVADOR (Manuel Huerga) **

QUELQUES KILOS DE DATES POUR UN ENTERREMENT (Saman Salour) ***

FIREWORKS WEDNESDAY (Asghar Farhadi) ***

SEHNSUCHT (Valeska Grisebach) *

LA PERRERA (THE DOG POUND) (Manuel Nieto Zas) ***

COLOSSAL YOUTH (JUVENTUDE EM MARCHA) (Pedro Costa) ***½

NOCTURNES (Henri Colomer) *

CLEO DE 5 A 7 (Agnes Varda) **

MADEINUSA (Claudia Llosa) ***½

TRANSYLVANIA (Tony Gatlif) **

PRINCESS (Anders Morgenthaler) **½

OFFSIDE (Jafar Panahi) **

LE DERNIER DES FOUS (Laurent Achard) **½

ANCHE LIBERO VA BENE (Kim Rossi Stuart) ***

AND STILL I BELIEVE (Mikhail Romm, Marlen Khutsiyev & Elem Klimov) ***

A SHORT FILM ABOUT THE INDIO NACIONAL (or the prolonged sorrow of filipinos) (Raya Martin) *

SHORTBUS (John Cameron Mitchell) **

DIGITAL SHORT FILMS BY THREE FILM MAKERS 2006 : TALK TO HER (Darezhan Omirbayev, Eric Khoo & Pen-ek Ratanaruang) ***

LUCY (Henner Winckler) ***

AMERICAN HARDCORE (Paul Rachman) *

FIRST LOVE (Jukinari Hanawa) ****

LES OISEAUX DU CIEL (Eliane de Latour) *

OUBLIER CHEYENNE (Valérie Minetto) **

4:30 (Royston Tan) **

TAXIDERMIA - György Pálfi

I don't feel like writing a review of the Cannes 2006 shocker TAXIDERMIA so here's the press info that should wet your appetite. Taxidermia is definitely a Hungarian cult-classic-in-the-making. You really must see how György Pálfi films the vulgarity with incredible cinematography. Mmm... delicious!!!

Taxidermia contains three generational stories, about a grandfather, a father, and a son, linked together by recurring motifs. The dim grandfather, an orderly during World War Two, lives in his bizarre fantasies; he desires love. The huge father seeks success as a top athlete -- a speedeater -- in the postwar pro-Soviet era. The grandson, a meek, small-boned taxidermist, yearns for something greater: immortality. He wants to create the most perfect work of art of all time by stuffing his own torso.

Historical facts and surrealism become intertwined as magical realism, like in the works of Gabriel García Marquez or the Hungarian writer Lajos Parti Nagy; the script is based on two of the latter’s stories. Palfi added the third story, that of the grandson the taxidermist.

The first section begins with a disembodied voice pontificating obliquely about creation and three generations, explaining that if something has to end, the beginning has to be important. Immediately we see the grandfather, Vendel Morosgoványi (Csaba Czene), who is berated by his lieutenant in a remote outpost, with only the lieutenant’s fat wife and two beautiful daughters around. He retreats into the realm of gratification, no matter how extreme. He peeps in the daughters’ bath, drinks the girls’ dirty bathwater, masturbates until his penis emits flames of fire, and sleeps with the lieutenant’s wife. She becomes pregnant and the lieutenant blows off Vendel’s head — but raises his child, Kálmán.

In the second part, Kálmán (Gergõ Trócsányi) has become obese and competes for Hungary in eating competitions that their backers hope will be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Against a backdrop of empty Communist spectacle and military poseurs, Kálmán strives to win. He meets up with an oversized woman, Gizella (Adél Stanczel), another speedeating competitor, and the two get married, although she has sex with his teammate during the wedding party. She and Kálmán embark on a long honeymoon, returning to their respective factories to practice. Gizella gives birth to a tiny, tiny son, Lajos.

Section three, which is contemporary, is calmer, less manic than the previous two. Lajos (Mark Bischoff) has become a quiet taxidermist who has no prospects in love; he is rejected by the supermarket cashier, for one. He is as frustrated in his way as his grandfather was in his, but Lajos’s fertile imagination will prove to work in a very different way. His father, Kálmán, has reached enormous proportions and can no longer move. Kálmán’s wife has long ago left him, so Lajos brings food and cleans the apartment where Kálmán (now Gábor Máté, in a fatsuit) sits amidst boxes of food and the three cats he pushes to overeat. One day Lajos finds Kálmán dead, possibly having exploded from overeating or having been mauled by one of the cats. He stuffs him, and immediately after, begins stuffing himself by locking his body onto a board surrounded by perfectly attuned machines. At the end of the procedure, a glass blade he has set up decapitates him and an electric saw severs his right arm. The two men are found by a customer, Dr. Regõczy (Géza Hegedžs D.), who puts them on display at a chic art exhibition. Dr. Regõczy, whose lecture is a continuation of the voiceover at the very beginning of the film, maintains that one can mount one’s father and oneself but can not mount the essence, that being what Lajos felt at the moment the blade cut off his head. The camera moves into the black void beyond Lajos’s bellybutton.

Radio = the soundtrack of your boring life

There's a little chat on the radio with some dude that talks about his 3 favourite songs. We get to hear a CURE song, a DEUS song and a PREFAB SPROUT song. Afterwards, the radio host says to the guy : "You have a very varied record collection!".

He was deadly serious.

Moron.

God Damn Tiresome Rock 'n' Roll !!!

Two bummers this week. Firstly, THE CRAMPS who played a very conventional set without any highlights at the Lokerse Feesten earlier this week. Secondly, while visiting a record shop, what sounded as a dreadful record by a third-class grunge band turned out to be the latest SONIC YOUTH album. Like my friend Danny says : "The old rockers are getting older and older and the young ones play for 50 people at the Pits, that's the future of rock 'n roll in Belgium, probably Europe...". Hopefully, the upcoming GREEN ON RED reunion show in my hometown will prove us wrong.

Reggae Geel

The Congos

What do you get when you put PRINCE JAZZBO, CORNEL CAMPBELL, TAPPA ZUKIE, LINVAL THOMPSON, TRISTON PALMER and THE CONGOS on the same bill? Right, my favourite festival of 2006! Although Prince Jazzbo played one of my alltime favourite Jamaican tracks ("Harry Skank"), every song was put to an abrupt ending after 1 or 2 minutes with his many annoying "Pull up's" and "Take It Down's" shouts. I especially enjoyed Tappa Zukie, Linval Thompson (wonderful set) and The Congos (brilliant harmonies). Jah Mali and Sister Carol were also very good while Buru Banton turned out to be a public's favourite. Next are The Cramps on Wednesday. Right on!


Linval Thompson

I'm ready for the retirement home!

I spent the afternoon with some three hundred grannies & granddaddies in a marquee. Last year, my elderly neighbour aroused my curiosity when he told me about this convivial little folklore festival at a retirement home in my hometown. A couple of weeks ago, I checked the line-up and decided to give it a try. Well, I had a great time at what the organisers announced as 'a grandiose garden party'. Not only were the entrance free and the Trappist beers dirt cheap, the bands were great fun too!

The first band, KHUKH MONGOL from Mongolia, treated us to some great throat singing and exciting sounds that came out of traditional Mongolian instruments like the yoochin, a dulcimer with 13 double-wire strings. One piece was played on a string instrument by a young woman who sang like a 90-years old boozer. Cool!

The second band was SPANDAN SANSKRUTIK TRUST from Northern-India and began their set with a chant dedicated to the victims of a very recent bomb attack in their hometown somewhere near the Pakistan border. Besides the 4 musicians (a real Qawwali line-up with a great harmonium), there were some 20 young dancers and some beautiful Indian girls. They had a lot of fun while doing their folkloric dances and the audience loved them too!

The greatest fun was when RAIZES from the Brazilian northeast took the stage. Three young musicians played some wild roots music that reminded me a lot of the music on the Globestyle album 'Brazil: Forro - Music for Maids and Taxi Drivers'. Again, a bunch of young dancers took the stage and showed us some real hot dancing.

The golden-agers loved it and so did I. I left the place during the last band, LOUS TCHANCAYRES (men and women on stilts from the Landes region near Bordeaux, France). The band members looked rather boring and the folkloric element was overemphasized.

It was kinda weird to see all these young people from different parts of the world amusing themselves together with some three hundred Belgian old-timers. I hope this garden party will still exist when I'm an oldie myself!




LINK TO THE RETIREMENT CENTRE

Have a nice holiday y'all!

Me, I think I'm gonna place my tent somewhere here in beautiful Andalucia :