A little more from Iceland today.

Have any of you ever tried ice climbing? Seriously fun.. I was like a Canadian stereotype, up there on the ice.

I also happened to have a Cuban cigar in my pocket. There’s nothing quite like blowing smoke rings on top of a glacier, looking out at the sea.

Today we’ll hear a track by Seabear off their 2007 Morr Music release, The Ghost That Carried Us Away.

I remember hearing these guys on the audioblogosphere a year or two ago. I like their simple, acoustic, happy sound. It’s good music for days like today when it’s raining outside and the sun is rising later and later.

You can grab it pretty much anywhere. Thumbs-up.

They also apparently have another album coming out later this year. I’ll keep an ear out.

Seabear – Seashell

Today we’ll hear a couple tracks off Original Music’s compilation of Zambian miners’ songs, From The Copperbelt. The recordings were all made by the amazing Hugh Tracey.

I’ve always had a thing for southern African, mid-20th century music. George Sibanda and The Forgotten Guitars of Mozambique compilation were early favourites.

From The Copperbelt covers a range of styles present in the Zambian mines in 1957, all based around the European acoustic guitar. Most of the musicians are bards who traveled from mine to mine, entertaining the miners. Others are by the miners themselves. All are great, if you’re into this kind of thing.

Zambia occupies an interesting part of the continent. Its geography influenced its inhabitants’ music, especially at this early stage of “modern” African musical development, such that some music sounds distinctly South African, while much of the rest sounds very Congolese.

You might have already heard some John Lushi, who appears on this compilation, on Original Music’s Africa Dances release.

Isaac Matafwani – Eko Bali Mukanina Bamayo
William Siwale – Mayo Mayo
Four Pals – Nifwe Ba Four Pals

Wow, busy week. Feeling a bit tired this morning. A little Zambian “you’ve done me wrong” acoustic by George Kazoka lifts me out of bed and into my mug of coffee.

Today we’ll hear music from yet another Original Music release that explores the various forms of music that were spawned by the acoustic guitar as it spread across Africa: Guitar Songs From Tanzania, Zambia & Zaire.

You know, I never was good at the guitar. Something about stringed instruments has always eluded me. Piano, percussion, horns, no problem. But for whatever reason my fingers could never quite work the frets the way they should. It’s a shame, really, because it’s such a portable and almost universal instrument. In my next life, I guess.

George Kazoka – Ulayinda Kubota

One of my favourite strands of music from across the African continent is a variety of styles that employ the European acoustic guitar. Original Music’s compilation, African Acoustic: Sounds Eastern and Southern, as the name implies, explores just that in eastern and southern African countries.

My two favourite tracks are both from the East so we’ll hit some southern acoustic another day.

The first is by the Kikuyu Kenyan duo, Peter Kimuri and Patrick Roy Roger. The track’s title apparently translates into “Kirinyaga is Our Good”, refering to a legendary tribal founder.

The second track is by Somalian steel guitar player, Amin Xaaji Maxamed. We don’t get to hear Somalian music too often, and Maxamed’s oud-like guitar playing and Arab-influenced singing is great.

Patrick Roy Roger & Peter Kimuri – Kirinyaga Ni Igai Retu
Amin Xaaji Maxamed – Dakhtar

Nacio Makanda’s growling on the track Kerestina sounds like I feel this Monday morning. A pinch of grumpy, a dash of missing the weekend, with its beer, fish and wine.

Another Original Music post today on my quest to post it all. Today’s tracks come from the 30th OM release, Kerestina: Guitar Songs Of Southern Mozambique 1955-1957. It doesn’t get much more niche than that.

I’ve always liked music from Mozambique and the songs on this release are no exception. Easy going and jangly, plus I love the sound of the languages spoken in that part of the world.

Mozambique is on my places to visit short list so hopefully I’ll be able to bring you more Mozambican music first hand sometime in the future. In the meantime, five bucks to anyone who can pronounce the first track’s name five times fast.

Mahikwani Makhuvele – Hayilolosa Amale Ye Matshangana
Nacio Makanda – Kerestina