Interview: Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela is a lion of a man.

At 70-odd years of age, the man has seen more than most of us would even consider possible. Exiled from his homeland of South Africa aged just 21, Masekela spent the next thirty years playing, recording and/or touring with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, U2 and many, many, many more. He has recorded more than forty albums under his own name, topped the US charts, played the infamous Monterey Pop Festival of 1967, toured the globe countless times and (with longtime friend Stewart Levine) put together Zaire '74, the concert in Kinshasa held at the time of the 'Rumble In The Jungle' boxing fight between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman. He is a recipient of the coveted 'Keepers Of The Flame' award and a consistently strong voice for the rights of Africans and indigenous peoples.

And he spent fifteen minutes of his time speaking with me on Radio Ponsonby.

Have a listen here, or in the player below...

Review: Rob 'Make It Fast, Make It Slow'

ROB
Make It Fast, Make It Slow
[Soundway Records]

Make It Fast, Make It Slow is without doubt one of the most intriguingly weird afro albums I've ever encountered. Apparently the enigmatic Rob recorded a couple of albums during 1977 which, though released by the legendary Essiebons label, did little business locally at the time. Nowadays, of course, original copies are prized amongst collectors. The title track of this album was featured on the first of Soundway Records' excellent Ghana Soundz compilations - who are also to thank for this re-issue. A strangely psychedelic brew of afro-beat, funk and reggae, with the emphasis on heavy percussion and horns, Make It Fast, Make It Slow is a beguiling listen, with everything slowed down to treacle-speed; even Rob's vocal range is limited to a few emotive growls and grunts as he guides the listener through a strange mix of religion, philosophy and sexuality. While you could file Make It Fast, Make It Slow in the "afrobeat" section of most music stores, that label doesn't really go anywhere near properly describing the sounds found within. You know how famous old guys like William Shatner record bizarre vanity project albums which somehow actually end up sounding weirdly cool? Yeah, so Rob was never so famous, but that's the section this album belongs in. Worth searching out for the weirdness alone.

3 stars from 5

Review: Gilles Peterson In Brazil & In Africa

Various Artists

GILLES PETERSON IN BRAZIL

[Ether Records]

Various Artists

GILLES PETERSON IN AFRICA

[Ether Records]

While neither of these compilations are new releases, much of the music will be new to most of you. That's the way things are with compilations curated by Gilles Peterson, legendary UK DJ, label owner and talent-spotter. He has established himself as one of the world's most influential DJs - indeed, "taste-makers" - of the last twenty years, with a proven track records in exposing exciting music old and new. These two compilations, released on Ether Records in 2004 (Brazil) and 2005 (Africa), follows that pattern, each with two discs featuring a tailor-made selection from Gilles himself. The Brazil compilation's Classico disco does what it says on the tin, with tracks from Wilson Simonal, Sergio Mendes and Brasil '77, Mario Castro Neves and Tim Maia; while the second disc, Da Hora, brings the sound of the Latin nation's future, with DJ Marky and XRS (and the still-magical Moments Of Lust, with Vikter Duplaix), Drumagick, Spiritual South, 4Hero (with Patricia Marx) and Marcos Valle, alongside remixes from Edu K (featuring Bebel Gilberto) and Bruno E. The entire compilation sparkles like your stereotypical sun-kissed Brazilian beach scene, sambas nuzzling drum and bass while bikini-clad girls dance suggestively. The Africa compilation is also a joyful celebration, and tribute to the originators of Afrobeat. Disc one, Soul, features classics from Fela Kuti, Manu DiBango, Miriam Makeba, Lette Mbulu, Mulatu Astatqe and Oscar Sulley (with my favourite Afrobeat song, Bukom Mashie); and the second, Spirit, bringing together artists and remixers such as Masters At Work, Cesaria Evora, Carl Craig, IG Culture and Thievery Corporation. Though labels like Soundway have mined deeper into the musics of Africa, this selection covers all bases, providing the perfect introduction to the essentials. Indeed, both compilations are essential for fans of Latin and African music - and of Gilles Peterson. As usual.

4 from 5 stars (for both)

Check out the Brazil compilation here and the Africa compilation here...