The Belgian band Aksak Maboul, (Aksak means odd rhythms, or limping and Maboul means crazy) released Onze danses pour combattre la migraine (11 dances for fighting migraines) back in 1977, just as New Sounds was but a glint in John Schaefer’s eye and a few pitch meetings away from being born. Musically, the record was all over the map. Part proto-techno music, part systems music, part weird jazz, while still others parts tapped into world music instruments, the record really set the tone for the past three decades plus of New Sounds, the radio program. For this episode, listen to selections from the newly-reissued classic recording, Onze danses pour combattre la migraine, from Aksak Maboul.  

Also, hear musical projects by the two members at the heart of the band – Mark Hollander and Vincent Kenis – in music from Brazil, Ethiopia, the Balkans and beyond. Hollander is the founder of Crammed Discs, and has put out so much groundbreaking music, most way ahead of its time, like Mahmoud Ahmed, the Ethio-groove singer, released in 1987, to the Macedonian brass band, Kocani Orkestar, recorded and produced by CramWorld resident producer Kenis. Kenis is now probably best known as the producer of the “Congotronics” series, showcasing the extraordinary and inexorably danceable music from the Congo since 2004, with the release of Konono No. 1's record - featuring electrified kalimbas (thumb pianos) wired to used car parts, a pots-and-pans rhythm section, and megaphone loudspeakers. Also, hear music from under the Crammed Discs umbrella, like music by Brazilian Celso Fonseca and Argentinian DJ/producer Chanchavia Circuito.

PROGRAM #3862, Onze Danses and Beyond (First Aired 5-18-2016)       

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: Saure Gurke [2:24]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: Milano per caso [3:19]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Mahmoud Ahmed
WORK: Abbay Mado [3:18]
RECORDING: Ere Mela Mela
SOURCE: Crammed, Cram 047 (1987),
INFO: reissued as Ethiopiques, Vol. 7: Eré Méla Méla, Buda Musique 829802

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: DBB (Double Bind Baby) [3:28]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: Cuic steppe [4:28]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Celso Fonseca
WORK: Buteco [5:37]
RECORDING: Natural
SOURCE: Six Degrees #1086 / Ziriguiboom ZIR 14
INFO: sixdegreesrecords.com in USA, released on Crammed's Ziriguiboom label in Europe

ARTIST: Chancha via Circuito ft. Miriam Garcia
WORK: Coplita ft Miriam Garcia [3:49]
RECORDING: Amansara
SOURCE: Wonderwheel WONDERCD-23 / cram245
INFO: wonderwheelrecordings.bandcamp.com in USA. In Europe, crammed.be

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: Glympz [4:41]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Konono No. 1
WORK: Kule Kule [4:33]
RECORDING: Congotronics
SOURCE: Craw 27
INFO: crammed.be

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: Mastoul Alakefak [6:15]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Aksak Maboul
WORK: The Mooche [1:36]
RECORDING: Onze danses pour combattre la migraine
SOURCE: Crammed Discs Cram101
INFO: Reissued on vinyl, with 3 bonus tracks crammed.be

ARTIST: Kocani Orkestar
WORK: L’Orient Est Rouge, excerpt [3:31]
RECORDING: L’Orient Est Rouge
SOURCE: Crammed Discs #craw19
INFO: crammed.be