http://callingyou.muxtape.com/ OR
http://8tracks.com/Sander...alling-you

Sander's Calling You.

As did most of you, I used a genre as my own little theme. Long ago I couldn't stand to listen to world music. For me this has changed, but I feel world music is served as roadkill on the highway of popmusic. Every now and then some world music genre becomes trendy, but for the most part it is ignored. That's why I choose it as my theme for this project (bringing up lost gems). However, I couldn't resist slipping in a soul, funk and a blues track. I'll try to talk those tracks into being world music!

1- Starting off with Jevetta Steele - Calling You seemed appropriate. She is kinda Prince related and I'm calling you to come listen. This song is the centerpiece of the 'Bagdad Cafe' soundtrack from 1988 (by Bob Telson). It's not very well known in my neck of the woods, but that could be different in the US, since it got some attention in the shape of well known awards. She performed a bit of this song during The Sacrifce Of Victor show (at Bagley's Warehouse), but sadly didn't make the video. However, it's a slow song, but the vocal delivery is so brilliant that I wanted to start off with it.

2-Ry Cooder - 3 Cool Cats. I must admit, he came to my attention during the Buena Vista Social Club hype, I didn't really knew much about him, nor did I care. But he has released some excellent music since. Highpoint for me is his 2005 album, Chavez Ravine, the first album of a triptych, which features this song. I love the laidback vibe of the song, the nonchalant guitar and delicious organ. And to top it off, catchy as hell!

3-Yael Naim - Too Long. The most recent of my tracks. This will also be the single as it is the most pop-oriented song on the compilation. I loved the emotion of this track. Then I looked up some live video's of this song and noticed a very funky synth line. When I heard that, I was sold on this french/Israeli girl and very much want to see her live now.

4-Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators - No one's gonna love you. I love how in recent years this old-school 60s soul has resurfaced and gained momentum. This track stands out to me because of the organ solo at the end, besides the fact that it's a killer ballad! Now, how did a soul-track end up in a compilation with worldly music as a theme? Well, the Soul Investigators are Finnish. Seriously though, I consider funk and soul music to be characteristic (classic if you will) of American culture. Whereas pop-music has become more and more a global genre, funk music is very much American music, therefor 'local music'.

5-Jimmy McGriff - Miss Poopie. Instrumental track in the middle to connote a change in the mix. Jimmy Mcgriff plays organ which takes the centrestage on this track. Funny trivia: Jimmy is credited on Hammond, Horace Ott on electric piano, 'others unknown'. Although I love a soaring hammond, it's actually the bassline that sold me on this track.

6-Ryuichi Sakamoto - Tango. I became aware of Ryuichi through the 'Merry Christmas, Mister Lawrence' soundtrack as I imagine some might know him from. After that I kinda lost him, he's just a little too productive! This song is from his 1997 album smoochy which also features the track Bibo No Aozora which is used prominently in the Babel movie. Smoochy is kind of his latin influenced album even though he still uses a lot of electronics. Combine this with his classical background and you have that typical Sakamoto mix which is still instantly recognizable. He writes such beautiful melodies that seem to flow on and on effortlessly.

7-Ibrahim Ferrer - Copla Guarija. Yes, one of the old men from Buena Vista. This track is taken from his last studio album, Mi Sueno, translated My dream. His dream, since he always wanted to record an all-bolero album but passed away before he could finish it. The album was completed with some demo tracks and was released in 2007. Beautiful album. I choose this track because of the clarinet which compliments Ferrers vocals with grace.

8-Oi Va Voi - 7 Brothers. Interesting group, Oi Va Voi means 'Oh dear god'. English but musically all over the map, klezmer, dance, folk and then some. While KT Tunstall used to be in this group around the time this album was released she isn't on vocals here. I choose this track from their 2003 album' laughter through tears' because of the time signature. I'm still not sure what it is, but I guess the title of this track gives us a hint...

9-CéU - Ave Cruz. I love me some Brazilian music. I especially like it when they spice it up a bit, be it a drummer who isn't afraid to hit a little harder and use his snare drum once in a while or a drumcomputer. CeU is one who goes the modern route, adding a lot of electronics and funk/soul influenced beats and bottom.

10-RL Burnside - Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues. Looking back on this mix I realized it's quite all over the map, even within songs there's often a mix of two genre's, east meets west or old meets new. Here the mix between two worlds in quite obvious. Blues veteran Burnside meets the new hiphop producer. While the album 'Wish I was in heaven sitting down' is a bit hit and miss, I really like this track. The modern beats and samples compliment the lazy guitar and voice effectively well.

Thanks for listening and reading!

Okay bye.

muxtape -> 8tracks edit
[Edited 8/26/08 16:00pm]

My utter faves are Nicole Willis' No one's gonna love you and Jimmy McGriff's Miss Poopie.

I love the fact you took (mostly) world music! Love Ry Cooder's projects. Ibrahim Ferrer's voice. Sad he passed away.

HamsterHuey said:

You're a soul man!

And eh, don't be afraid to tell me what you think!

Sander said:

It's monday. People are at work in the U States.

This mix makes me wanna go buy stuff I don't need from a local international bazaar. The following stir comment...

Calling You - This is a really good song to showcase Jevetta's chops. Something about her higher register occasionally strikes me as shrill, but it falls short of unbearable, and her control across her range is wonderful. I hadn't heard this song in years -- I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Too Long - I enjoy Naim's English voice, yet I think she particularly shines in French. Perhaps it's because I'm an Anglophone, but it seems her sinewy voice is made for the lyrical richness of French. I'd like to hear her in a duet with Oren Lavie. It'd run the risk of being a tad cheesy, but it'd be the sexiest thing to come out of Israel since Song of Solomon. (Barring ArielB, of course.)

No One's Gonna Love You - Willis' lead is decent enough, but it's the music that sells this track. The intro reminds me of James Brown's "Night Train." Nice. The organ and occasional strings are particularly hot, and I love the backing vocals during the chorus. (Is that live or a sample?) One gripe: Something about the mixing disturbs me. The instruments fight, I think, and Willis' voice sits too much "on top" of everything.

Tango - I love Ryuichi Sakamoto. I'm mulling including one of his '90s tracks in my own mix. I can clearly detect the Latin influence here, but I will ever hear the French in anything. For me, that accordion sticks out to make the track, along with the smoky piano, sound like something you'd hear rising from a swanky Left Bank café at dusk. Very nice.

7 Brothers - Interesting and, yes, it's musically all over the map. I'm most intrigued by the eastern-inspired singing at around 2:20 and later. Do you have any idea what language they're singing in? And what would an English translation be?

Ave Cruz - This is hot, and sounds a bit Meshell-esque to me in the bassline. I've not generally been a big fan of Brazilian music, but I'd check out more from this band.

Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues - I considered including this song on my mix also! I prefer Skip James' or the more intricate guitar work in (my favorite) Chris Thomas King's. But this hip hop reworking is interesting and somehow makes the heartbreak hit a little closer to home. It'd be cool if more projects like this could reintroduce a younger generation to its musical roots.

...I need to investigate more Ry Cooder and Jimmy McGriff, and I'd never even heard of Ibrahim Ferrer. Thanks for that. My faves: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yael Naim.... and Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators follow closely.
[Edited 8/11/08 15:22pm]

HamsterHuey said:

And orging while at work is frowned upon?

Sander said:

Not so much, but listening to mixtapes might raise a few eyebrows, I suppose.

Lammastide said:

I'm guessing this song is quite well-known on this forum?



I'll get back to you on the backing vox/sample bit. I understand your 'gripe'. There's definitely something about the mix that doesn't sit right with me either. I thought it would either be some ignored red lights on the mixing board or a little too much reverb, especially on the chorus.



Language, well, it's the only lyrics that's not featured in the booklet. However it's written by Sevara Nazarkhan, an Uzbek folk singer. She is signed to the Real World label (by Peter Gabriel). I guess she sings in her own language. If there's an orger from Uzbekistan, he/she might want to translate...



I agree with the Me'shell-like bassline! CéU isn't a band though, it's a (beautiful) girl.



Wow, you thought about including this one? I'm really curious about your mix now! Skip James, that name emerged somewhere, I still have no clue what it has to do with this track.




Luckily there are a few tracks you haven't already heard. Perhaps I should have dug a little deeper to find some more obscure tracks.

Around the World in Sander's Day

I started off with an instant comfort with this mix. Yet this is, so far, the mix that kept taking me out of any zone I thought I was in because of how many gears were shifted along the way It became nothing of what I expected based on the outset. N.O.T.H.I.N.G And that, of course, fits perfectly with the map motif

I said this in another thread but I don't read the writeup before listening but even still I hate knowing what is on the mix I always want to go into a musical experience blind. Thankfully I have never heard of any of these artists so even seeing the track list on muxtape I still was blindsided. I have enormous respect that you gave world music some love

Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever heard any Steels by themselves. I completely agree with you about Jevetta's vocal delivery. I would put her in that "pure voice" category Even after the first 3 songs, I still had no footing to speak of. So much of this mix made me long for travel but since I have yet to get to Europe as an adult, I'd have to travel to my local indie record store and search through the employee recommendations for new and different flavors.

This was like consulting one of those Employees that knew everything about everything and pointed me to the mystery disc that just happened to come in that day. One stop shopping! Then, because I live in LA, go about recreating my musical experience at a local restaurant that matches my regional mood.

And I do agree with LammyGod about reintroducing old school artists/music to gen Y communicating with new school tactics. Something to get their foot in the door. Loved Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues immensely.

My Favorite is goddamn freakin Nicole Willis!!!!! "Whatever" to anyone (Lammygod) who criticizes anything about this joint! Could there be adjustments to the production and mixing and all that. Yes. But don't even try and make me think about that crap while I'm in love! You just don't even know how hard I flipped out on it I would just die to hear it live

If I am to pick a "world track", I go with Ryuichi Sakomoto. I love Japanese Fusion Not sure if that is a real term but that is what I call it. That is why I love Towa Tei so much. He's a mad genius at incorporating his Japanese branding on other musical styles.

This is really the first time I'm getting to know anything about you and you surprised me






Oh yeah, here is the emoticon version:

Sander said:

No! I'd heard from some of these artists, but I'd heard only two songs from your mix -- "Calling You" and "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues." Your mixtape has been quite educational for me.

Sander said:

James first recorded "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" in 1931 for Paramount.
[Edited 8/11/08 15:10pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I only need to be warned once! It definitely was a cool joint.

Lammastide said:

All I'm saying is let me gett off first before ya start complaining about the bad bj

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Thank you, you're too kind!

Japanese fusion it is!

(See what you did? Your emoticon use is contagious!)

Sander said:

I can't live without them What am I going to do when I start having to blog without them!?

Lammastide said:

Aha, thanks for that bit of info! RL Burnside himself was still a toddler back then!

Sander said:

He sounds like father time on this track

Sander said:

The first one to give the correct time signature will get eh, ehm, my eternal respect?

Sander said:

I've tried to figure it out, but I'm about as smart as a box of hair when it comes to things like that.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

While you inevitably have this effect when using 'world music' as a theme, I took it a bit further with adding soul, funk and blues tracks. I'm not so sure it strengthened the harmony, flow or focus of the mix. Actually I'm sure it didn't!

The last five tracks are more focused on the world-music theme and lock together a bit more.



Yeah! Even though I usually like it when I see some names on a mix I know (and like) I would have hated it if everyone knew every track on this mix!



So, what do you wanna see?



LA of all places is great for witnessing a lot of live 'world music' isn't it? I wouldn't really know, I have yet to go to the USofA, but after NY I imagine LA to be the most mixed up diverse city there!

Sander said:

It blows me away the variety of music we're getting introduced to in this project. For me, it becomes soooo much more attractive and accessible to be spoon-fed somebody's favorites like this. I'm simply dying to take all this in!

Jevetta Steele-"Calling You" I love this song! Jeff Buckley does a great version of it on his Live @ Sine album. This is a great version too, what with Jevetta's delivery and that great harmonica in the background!

Ry Cooder-"3 Cool Cats-This tune cracked me up! In some way, I almost expected to hear people doing that coffeehouse clap afterward.

Yael Naim-"Too Long"-I can't remember if I've heard this song or not. My girlfriend has Yael's album and it's pretty good. For some reason, I always hear Beach Boys references in her arrangements and the chord progression sounds like some Yiddish folk tunes too. It's an interesting combo!

Nicole Willis-"No One's Gonna Love YouGreat tune! She's got a great voice and I like the retro arrangement. Is this a new track? It sounds like it could be the theme from a James Bond movie.

Jimmy McGriff-"Miss Poopie"This is a cool track! I like Jimmy McGriff, though I'm only familiar with his more jazz stuff. What year is this track from? (I'm too lazy to look it up, please feed your baby bird here. )

Ryuichi Sakamoto-"Tango"I think to call this a tango might be a bit misleading, but it's still a good track. I like when people combine jazz piano with flute, it's a great sounding combination to my ears!

Ibrahim Ferrer-"Copla Guajira"This reminds me of some of the Latin music my girlfriend has been listening to lately. Where is this guy from?

Oi Va Voie-"7 Brothers"Very cool track! I like how it blends a more LAtin bassline with klezmer horn arrangements and the pop vocals that some times get Arabic. By the way, it's in 7/4.

CeU-"Ave Cruz"I love the groove of this song and the Jaco-bass. Her vocals are great too, they're powerful but in a more understated way, which is always cool to hear.

R.L. Burnside-"Hard Time Killing Floor Blues"R.L. is like Delta blues for a new generation and he was great at it! This is a great ending track and it's nice to hear someone else appreciating him!

Great mix Sander! I don't think there was a bad track on the entire thing!

I have had "Calling You" in my head all day and night since listening

guitarslinger44 said:

Since I like Jeff, I 'd have to check that out!



New, yes, well, 2006 (the album is called Keep reaching up). Since the Dap-tone empire has established itself the retro soulsound movement is growing!



1969, on his 'electric funk' album. The entire album is like this track, it might even have some better, more accessible tracks on it (like spinning wheel), but this worked better I thought. It's the only album I have of him, so I didn't know he also did some jazz work!



Ibrahim Ferrer was the lead singer of the Buena Vista Social Club, a group of old Cuban musicians that took the world by storm in 1997. Ry Cooder produced the album and occasionally played guitar on some tracks that were mostly Cuban traditionals. It was a breakthrough (and recognition) for most musicians to finally get a career in music instead of struggling. Other notable Buena Vista clubbers are Ruben Gonzalez and Omara Portuondo. Ibrahim died in 2005 at age 78. More over at allmusic.com: http://allmusic.com/cg/am...qtjldfe~T1



WE.HAVE.A.WINNER! Silly thing, I know it's in 7/4 (or 7/8), hence the title, but whenever I try to keep count I get lost...



Thanks for listening!

I'll give this one a spin this weekend. My listening time before then is filled with doing homework for the Rancid and Regina Spektor shows tonight and tomorrow night respectively.

I'm getting a little behind on my listening. I barely got a chance to hear Anx's mix. Hopefully this weekend I can listen to this one!

Keep the dream alive!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Is Sander in the know about our code?

sextonseven said:

Was it that obvious? I hope so!