3 current household favourites...

The following 3 records probably got the most spins over here in the last couple of weeks:

THE GOLDWAX STORY Volume 1 (Ace Records 2001)

At The Golden Circle, Volume One - ORNETTE COLEMAN (Blue Note Records 1965 CD)

Aman Iman: Water Is Life - TINARIWEN (Independiente Records 2007 CD)

The latest & third CD by TINARIWEN is the first real masterpiece of 2007 and I am thrilled to bits that the band will be playing together with the amazing TARTIT ensemble & TOUMAST in Brussels on May 8th! A musical trip to the Sahara and without a doubt a night to cherish!!!

Jah Shaka in late 70s session

I will try to post great MP3's & YouTube videos in the future. Let's start with this damn cool Jamaican video...

At the movies

It looks like 2007 is going to be a great film year. Here are my favourites so far, as well as other movies I enjoyed recently...

1) Summer Palace
2) Climates
3) I Don’t Want To Sleep Alone
4) Inland Empire
5) Opera Jawa
6) Daratt
7) Syndromes and a Century
8) Khadak
9) The Host
10) Les Anges Exterminateurs

Hamaca Paraguaya, A Bittersweet Life, Time, Walking on the Wild Side, Prendre Femme, Koorogi, Exiled, The Journey, The Optimists, Jardins en automne, Ca brule, Bamako, Half Moon, Bes Vakit, Weed, Scream of the Ants, Still Life, Rain Dogs, Nue Propriété, Our Daily Bread, Letters from Iwo Jima

Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Iklimler (Climates), the latest film by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Uzak) who plays the main character together with his wife Ebru Ceylan, is a cinematographic masterpiece. Ceylan tells the story of a university professor who breaks up with his lover, wanders between lethargy and hesitation, looks out for her again only to abandon her once more. Ceylan is very poised in what he does and tells his story in a brilliant slow narrative style. The breathtaking perfection of the image frame and the extraordinarily beautiful photography left me completely in awe. Definitely one of the year’s very best movies!

CINEMA NOVO FILM FESTIVAL

The CINEMA NOVO film festival made another terrific selection of the best movies in contemporary world cinema. I will try to write some more this week about the films seen in Bruges...

Lollipop Shoppe

Fuck! I finally bought myself a decent vinyl copy of The Lollipop Shoppe’s 1967 psych masterpiece “Just Colour” on some bootleg label, paid way too much cash only to find out NOW that the album has just been officialy reissued and authorized by Fred Cole and features 6 extra tracks to the original album! Grrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Black Keys

I went to check out The Black Keys yesterday to see what all the fuzz was about. Although I really do like the two-piece band’s first two albums I own, I always found it rather strange that they draw hundreds of people while similar bands (Deadly Snakes, Jack Oblivian, Reigning Sound, Digger & The Pussycats, etc.) play for a mere handful of people. The Black Keys however seem to have their hearts on the right place: the set was never less than exciting. The drummer kicked ass like a real wildman and the singer/guitar player fuckin’ ROCKED! Think Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The White Stripes, Junior Kimbrough & one raw white-ass soulful singer. A damn fine gig!

Richard Minne

Het leven is een dans, o ja,

getrappel in de malsche sla.

Maar hij echter die dansen moet

met blooten balg en barrevoet,

trapt in de distels, ré, mi, fa.

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!