It’s the most wonderful time of the month! Listen to some of the freshest new music that made its way into our earholes via the interwebs and thanks to Engineer/Drummer Jason Isaac at New Sounds World HQ. There’s music from South African vocal group Afrika Mamas, spiritual healing music from New York-based Moroccan trance band Innov Gnawa, and collaborative music by Barcelona-based Cuban pianist Omar Sosa from his East African travels, some 10 years in the making. Plus, electroacoustic works from Icelandic composer Eydís Evensen, Toronto-based sax player and composer Joseph Shabason, Berlin-based North Yorkshire-born violinist Simon Goff, and more.
The South African a cappella group Afrika Mamas have been singing together for over 20 years and perform music known as isichathamiya. (A diverse combination of Zulu acapella singing, Christian choral singing and theatrical entertainment originated in the 20th century and most typically performed by men.) Their latest, Ilanga, “the sun” is a collaborative effort, co-produced by Xolani Majozi of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and with some tracks written by the sons of the late Joseph Shabalala – the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Then, listen to the latest from New York-based band Innov Gnawa, who perform the traditional healing music of Morocco: Gnawa - a trancey, rhythmic music which is sometimes called “Sufi Blues.” Also, there’s music from Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and a sweeping record of collaborations, some 10 years in the making of music he’s made on East African travels. Hear work from Addis Ababa, Ethipia, with Sileshi Demesse, master of the Krar, a traditional 5-string bowl-shaped lyre.
Dive into electroacoustic works by Berlin-based British violinist Simon Goff, who on his latest, Vale, take motoric riffs and layers them into swelling systems music. Also, listen to piano-centric music from Icelandic composer Eydís Evensen, along with new ambient work from Sufjan Stevens. Plus, small ensemble music by Toronto-based sax player and composer Joseph Shabason, who calls his latest, The Fellowship, “an attempt at autobiography through instrumental music... but more specifically what it's like to lose your faith.” That, and more. -Caryn Havlik
Program #4489, New Releases, April 2021 (First Aired 4/29/2021)
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Seleshe Damessae
WORK: Tizeta [1:00]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
ARTIST: Afrika Mamas
WORK: Hlonipha [2:14]
RECORDING: Ilanga
SOURCE: ARC Music / LBM Records/LBM Mobile Academy
INFO: arcmusic.co.uk
ARTIST: Mmadi and Soubi
WORK: My friends went abroad & were swallowed by the waves [3:40]
RECORDING: Comorian - we are an island but we are not alone
SOURCE: Glitterbeat Records | Due out May 7
INFO: glitterbeat.com
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Seleshe Damessae
WORK: Tizeta [5:44]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
ARTIST: Innov Gnawa
WORK: El Ghaba [7:54]
RECORDING: Lila
SOURCE: Daptone Records
INFO: innovgnawa.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Scott Wollschleger & Karl Larson
WORK: Scott Wollschleger: Blue Inscription [5:45]
RECORDING: Dark Days
SOURCE: New Focus Recordings
INFO: newfocusrecordings.com | newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Eydís Evensen
WORK: Bylur [4:11]
RECORDING: Bylur
SOURCE: XXIM Records / Sony Music
INFO: https://eydisevensen.lnk.to/bylur
ARTIST: Joseph Shabason
WORK: The Fellowship [5:14]
RECORDING: The Fellowship
SOURCE: Western Vinyl
INFO: josephshabason.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Simon Goff
WORK: Wooden Islands [3:59]
RECORDING: Vale
SOURCE: 7K!
INFO: simongoff.bandcamp.com/album/vale
ARTIST: Sufjan Stevens
WORK: Celebration VIII [3:27]
RECORDING: Convocations
SOURCE: Asthmatic Kitty | Due May 6, 2021
INFO: music.sufjan.com/album/convocations
ARTIST: Florence Anna Maunders
WORK: None Of Them Are Ever Coming Back [3:02]
RECORDING: I hope this finds you well in these strange times – Vol. 4
SOURCE: Nonclassical
INFO: nonclassical.bandcamp.com