This is the first in a series of playlists sharing some of the biggest grooves that have influenced Waaju’s debut LP released very soon on our very own imprint, Olindo Records. You can check out the preview on Soundcloud now.
We start with a seriously heavy groove by Lindigo playing the traditional Maloya music of Reunion Island. We then move on to 70's Reunion Island Sega classic by Cameleon & Alain Peters, Sega is a style that grew from Maloya & is slightly more commercial, containing more Western elements. Next is a shift in culture to the Tuareg people of Northern Mali with little known band Tartit, a more traditional version of more widely known bands like Tinariwen & Tamikrest. Then further West with Group Doueh from Western Sahara. We then move to Nigeria for some Apala from Ogene Nti Ike Group, an Islamic style relatively unknown by Western listeners which was made prominent in Nigeria mostly by Haruna Ishola. Now, to DR of Congo for some Zaire music from Kiti Na Mesa - again, this is a lesser known style from the region, with styles like Soukous usually taking prominence. Next, a Ghanaian 70's classic from Highlife legend Alhaji K Frimpong, the gritty, dirty sound of the recording really adds to fat drum groove on this one! Probably the most widely known in the playlist, Ali Farka Toure's 'Ali's Here' from the legendary Niafunke on World Circuit Records, my favourite album of his. Back to DR of Congo now for some Konono No. 1 & their unique take on traditional Congolese rhythms with distorted kalimba. To end, a modern take on a Moroccan Gnawa classic from the amazing Oud & Guimbre player Majid Bekkas who's collaborations with jazz musicians & reworkings of the tradition have brought much international acclaim to Gnawa music.
