Rachid Taha / Gatanga Boys

Rachid Taha / Gatanga Boys

Gatanga Boys Kenya Mick Jones Rachid Taha Soundway Records The Clash World Music Corner

World Music Corner

Here are a couple of gems from a couple of albums I've been listening to recently

What are you talking about Rachid, what bloody tape?

 

 

Rachid Taha - 'Algerian Tango' feat Mick Jones (2013)

First up is Algeria's king of Punk Rai, Rachid Taha and 'Algerian Tango', taken from his latest album, Zoom and with non other than The Clash legend, Mick Jones on chorus duty, delivering some great lines over a sinister dub track.

 

Rachid Taha is a big fan of The Clash and sites them as a big influence, it's also widely rumoured that Rachid was perhaps the inspiration behind the classic 'Rock the Casbah'. In 1981 after a Clash concert in Paris, Rachid gave band members a demo of his music (he was in a punk band at the time, singing predominately in Arabic) with Strummer and co promising to give it a whirl. Rachid never heard back from them thinking that was that but a few years later 'Rock the Casbah' was released, tenuous perhaps but spooky. Of course Rachid Taha recorded the sensational cover, 'Rock El Casbah' and has performed with Mick Jones notably at the Stop the War concert in 2005.

Gatanga Boys - 'Keep Change Kairitu' (1977)

Second up to bat is a veritable foot tapper, Kenya's Gatanga Boys with the funky 'Keep Change Kairitu', which I heard on Soundway Records', Kenya Special and it just hit the mark. These cats hail out of the central Kenyan town of Gatanga, funnily enough and the song is apparently about a local tradition where the tea and coffee farmers congregate at the local pubs on a big harvest. They'd have wads of cash and would show off splashing it about recklessly, buying drinks and ting. The 'keep change' bit refers to the big tips left to the honeys (Kairitus, meaning young girls) serving the men drinks. 'Buy one for yourself love', thousands of miles apart but we are all not so different eh?

I saw her first,

Soundway Records

 

Have a listen/subscribe to TuneDr's World Music Corner Spotify playlist below or have a look at some other WMC posts here..

 

 

sfw Pada 04:46 2 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Clash - Justice Tonight/Kick it over

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Clash - Justice Tonight/Kick it over

The Clash Wednesday Club

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Banged up Abroad

They looked very menacing

 

THE CLASH - Justice Tonight/Kick it Over (1980)

There I was on my way to work in downtown Jeddah, it was the same old route, I took a short cut down a back road and had to cross a traffic light, everybody just slowed down and then crossed. There was never any traffic on this quiet area of town.

This time however I did stop, albeit for a split second as the lights turned to green. I proceeded a few hundred yards when out stepped two armed police, they looked very menacing. I was strongly manhandled from my car and placed in a van along with some other visibly shaken guys.

We headed to the outskirts of Jeddah and then into the dessert, I was beginning to get a little scared as you heard rumours of people disappearing. Eventually we reached what looked like a prison, plenty barbed wire fencing and many armed guards. Could this really be happening to me.

We were placed in a large, hot and smelly cell with another 20 or 30 confused and terrified guys. There was an adjoining room which had a hole in the middle and that was the only toilet.

Over in a corner I spotted a colleague, my squash and running partner. That was a relief, I almost hugged him (almost). We gained our confidence because of our shared company and began to relax and see the funny side of it, "Lets just enjoy it" we said. We found out eventually that we were allowed a phone call so we phoned our work and luckily our boss was at school with the Officer on duty. For approximately £20 each we would be released and he would come and collect us. Boy was that another relief.

If it was not for our boss we would have had to stay the whole week-end and not be released for almost 3 days.

Our crime was not stopping at a traffic light.

A lot of people won't get no supper tonight 

sfw Pada 00:44 5 Komentar

GUEST SPOT # 43 - The Clash - 'Bankrobber'

GUEST SPOT # 43 - The Clash - 'Bankrobber'

Dave 'The Builder' Green Guest Spot The Clash

IT'S SATURDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S GUEST SPOT DAY! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FEATURE ON A GUEST SPOT AND TALK ABOUT A MUSICAL MEMORY THEN LET US KNOW, WE NEVER HURT NOBODY..

The Clash - Bankrobber (1980)

This week's guest spot is my builder Dave Green. Dave is a Hull  (Hull is pronounced Hawl) boy, through and through and even supports Hull City F.C. (I did not even know there was such a football team). He also has a Jack Russell called Bully. His Wife is called Kath.

If you ever want anything done in your house and I mean anything, Dave is your man. Although a plumber by trade, Dave can turn his hand to anything and will do it quick and well. Have you ever had a builder that always turns up on time! Well is Dave is that Guy.

Dave is what I would call 'The Builder from Heaven', if you want his number, call me but make sure there is a good supply of strong tea (two sugars) and remember, Friday, 16.30 is Cider time, so have a case cooling in the fridge. Dave is such a fan he even wears a 'Strongbow' T-shirt. That in my book is dedication! Class!

Dave without Cider T-Shirt

After a few Ciders, Dave is a fantastic 'raconteur' and I am sure he will feature in further guests spots. How many times has Dave been to Glastonbury? Well, if you said 10 you would be way out, but if you said 14 times then you are bang on right. By the way Dave has been there with a camper Van lots of these times. heh! Dave I!  bet there are plenty stories to tell, I for one can't wait to hear them.

Dave was holding a party a few years ago and the next day he could not find his 'Story of the Clash' CD. He searched everywhere and as a last resort he asked his daughter Faye if she had seen it. She had it and was raving about this superb track 'Bankrobber'. Would you believe that was Dave's personal favourite too. Thats what I like to hear, Dad and Daughter bonding!! Many thanks Dave and brilliant choice of Track


Have a browse at some of our other guest spots. If you're tempted, look at them for ideas....we'd really like to hear from you....

sfw Pada 22:00 6 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Clash - Complete Control

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Clash - Complete Control

The Clash The Mescaleros The Who Wednesday Club What a Performance

MIDWEEK CRISIS? Your life is spinning away? Come to WEDNESDAY CLUB, we've got the Clash, they will soon have you back in control.

THE CLASH - Complete Control (1977)

There are some songs you will always remember the first time you heard them, 'Complete Control' by the Clash is one. I had to pick my wife up from Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 and I was a bit late. I was just going through the tunnel to the terminals when the song came on. I was totally stunned and must have gone into auto pilot (airport - get it?) and I missed my turning so I stopped in a lay by until it had finished. It took me a couple of minutes before I could compose myself to pick my wife up as my head was still in a spin.  I had to tell someone, I tried to tell her about this great song but all I got was a bollocking for being late.
 

THE CLASH - Complete Control (Live)

My love affair with the Clash had well and trully started. I had the great pleasure of seeing Jo Strummer with his band the Mescaleros they were supporting The Who. Oh! boy that was a night to remember it took me days to come down. I still have the T-shirt from that night (I won't get fooled again)

In control

What songs did you hear for a first that will be there forever in the memory bank?

More Wednesday Club snot

sfw Pada 03:33 2 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Clash - 'This is England'

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Clash - 'This is England'

The Clash Wednesday Club

'WEDNESDAY CLUB' is in mourning

The Clash - 'This is England'

It is with great sadness and disgust that I am preparing this post and I feel ashamed to be called British. I am watching TV, it is 0100 hrs 9th Aug in Spain and what I am witnessing is almost beyond my comprehen

'This is England' 

It is obvious that there must be so much underlying resentments / boredom / unemployment, which has just exploded, when the tinder stick was lit. But how can you condone the mindless violence, destruction, fire, looting, stealing and blatant opportunism. We are not a kick away from anarchy, adults and kids with smiles on their faces, even if they are not hidden by scarves with no regard for anyone but themselves. They don't know or realise or care what they are doing. There is a stink of organization in the air.

The question is why? and what can be done? I have never done National Service, but there is a case to bring it back, it may give people a chance to respect themselves and have a sense of purpose. It will never happen but is it just a thought.

I wanted to do a Clash post (one of my favourite Bands) but not in these circumstances and it is with apologies to the Clash that I have used their song.

sfw Pada 16:02 2 Komentar