#4299: Cross-Cultural Electro-Hybrids

Listen to music from around the world that shows the impact of Western music technology, instruments and styles. Hear Sami vocalist Mari Boine, Inner Mongolian folk/rockers Hanggai, Ivorian singer and percussionist Antoinette Konan, Syrian dabke-tronic singer Omar Souleyman, and more. 

The Sami style of rhythmic singing known as yoik is rooted in the language and traditions of the traditional reindeer herders of the Arctic circle. Hear music by Sami musician Mari Boine (Persen), a singer and activist from northern Norway, who fuses Sami yoik with jazz and rock. 

There’s also music by inner-Mongolian folk-punk band, Hanggai, who combine throat singing and traditional instruments in their contemporary updates of roots music from the grasslands. Then, hear infectious music from the prolific Syrian wedding singer Omar Souleyman, whose bumping dance music is a nod to the celebratory dabke, a combination Middle Eastern folk-circle and line dance.

Listen to music from singer and percussionist Antoinette Konan from Ivory Coast.  She plays the ahoko, a curious percussion instrument that consists of a ribbed stick that is rubbed with a shell, which magnifies the overtones produced. Over the years she has recorded many albums that mix her traditional sounds with her modern instruments - synths, bass guitar, and drum machines. Hear music by Antoinette Konan from a recent reissue of her work. And more. - Caryn Havlik

ARTIST: Omar Souleyman
WORK: Shlon [1:00]
RECORDING: Shlon
SOURCE: Mad Decent/Because
INFO: due out Nov. 22

ARTIST: Mari Boine
WORK: Vuoi Vuoi Me [4:47]
RECORDING: In the Hand of the Night
SOURCE: Universal 9855486
INFO: Try Amazon.com, Apple Music, Spotify

ARTIST: Hanggai
WORK: Hershut Hero [3:57]
RECORDING: Baifang
SOURCE: Harlem Recordings HRCD 007
INFO: Try Amazon.com or iTunes

ARTIST: Antoinette Konan
WORK: Kokoloko Tani [3:59]
RECORDING: Antoinette Konan
SOURCE: Awesome Tapes From Africa
INFO: awesometapes.com |  antoinettekonan.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Wassim Halal, Erwan Keravec, Mounir Troudi
WORK: Le Reve d'Achille (The Dream of Achilles) [6:28]
RECORDING: Revolutionary Birds
SOURCE: Buda Musique 860314
INFO: budamusique.com

ARTIST: Omar Souleyman
WORK: Shlon [5:56]
RECORDING: Shlon
SOURCE: Mad Decent/Because
INFO: due out Nov. 22

ARTIST: Aziza Brahim
WORK: Leil [3:12]
RECORDING: Sahari
SOURCE: Glitterbeat Records
INFO: azizabrahim.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Sylvain Leroux & l’école fula flute
WORK: Fouta [3:55]
RECORDING: Tyabala
SOURCE: ecolefulaflute.bandcamp.com
INFO: Due out Nov. 26

ARTIST: Zila Khan
WORK: Rubai (Sufi Darvesh) [8:50]
RECORDING: Ishq Ki Nayee Bahar
SOURCE: Music Today 04068
INFO: Try Amazon.com, Apple Music, Spotify