Jun 12/07
Original Music always wins
A couple weeks ago Benn loxo reader, Andrew, hooked me up with a couple more precious Original Music compilations. Man, they’re always such a step above pretty much anything else out there covering the same eras.
Telephone Lobi is a compilation of 1960s Ghanaian danceband highlife released in 1995 by Original Music. The Lobi, by the way, are an ethnic group who speak a language of the same name in Ghana. They’re known for fiercely resisting French colonialism back in the day… with poisoned arrows. Ouch.
Anyway, for today’s post I picked a track by the Red Spots that I love, a track by the Professional Beach Melodians because they have an amazing name, and a third by Police Band #1 because they also have an amazing name plus I think we should all dance on this rainy day.
We’ve been posting danceband highlife and Original Music tracks on Benn loxo since ‘04 so I won’t bore you with the details. But remember: they’re out of print so grab ‘em whenever you can.
As it happens, the music on Telephone Lobi goes really well with another, totally different, group I’ve been into lately: Quantic. I’m really bummed I can’t make their show at the Maroquinerie on June 30th. If you’re in Paris it’s a must-see. But hey, I’ll be somewhere between Argentina and Bolivia, so who’s complaining!
Red Spots - Oya Ke Me
Professional Beach Melodians “Uhuru No. 2″ - Akwantu
Police Band #1 - Me Ye Fun
Quantic - When You’re Through
June 12th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
A drive-by comment, picking up on your aside about Quantic, how about that Alice Russell? I can’t believe i came so late onto her and Quantic.
And then I just wanted to say that I’m liking the variety of your most recent juxtapositions. It helps to keep one minded that all the various musics and musicians don’t live in a vacuum and that there is often interplay.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Just found your site through triangulation from My Heart’s in Accra and Crud Crud. Sorry to hear about Original Music (belatedly), but glad I picked up Giants of Danceband Highlife and Heavy on the Highlife when I did. Thanks for the site, I’m going to start picking my way back through the archives.