Blog Country 138 - Cuba

 

It's my Boys Brigade Battalion number again as we head to the Caribbean  and the Republic of Cuba.

I'm glad we got here in time as it is likely to be Trump's next "project" assuming he doesn't get his arse kicked by Iran. The fact that it is a Socialist state with the role of the Communist Party enshrined in it's constitution seems to get the American's very excited with their embargo contributing to abject poverty.

That does not stop the Cubans coming up with some excellent music though. I should imagine that many of you are familiar with Buena Vista Social Club and Ibrahim Ferrer. Both are on the shelves but I thought I would spread the net a bit wider.

Let's start with Chico Alverez who was born in New York City of Afro- Cuban origin but grew up in Cuba. He is also part of the Afro-Cuban band Mafimba. Here he is with Rumba En El Solar which i'm guessing translates as Dancing in the Sun

Chico is followed by Dayme Arocena who is an Afro-Cuban jazz singer from Havana who has been described as Cuba's "finest young female singer". Judge for yourself with Pot ti.

Next up is another female artist Brenda Navarrete a Cuban singer and multi instrumentalist born in Havana in 1991.Her offering today is  Atùnwà

Los Van Van founded in 1961 is one of  the leading musical groups of post-revolutionary Cuba. Their name translates as "They Go Go." I would imagine that the song Vanvaneo translates as something similar.

Mongo Santamaria is a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960's. His contribution is Monte Adentro.

Finally we revisit Monday's Music From the Chocolate Lands with Chocolate Sabroso from the band Chocolate Armenteros

We're off to the Balkans next time round.

Chico Alvarez - Rumba En El Solar

Dayme Arocena - Pot ti

Brenda Navarrete - Atunwa

Los Van Van - Vanvaneo

Mongo Santamaria - Montr Adentro

Chocolate Armenteros - Chocolate Sabroso

I Lykke

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #15 - Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

When I picked up Monday's Music From The Chocolate Lands this album was sitting directly underneath it as the CDs were stored vertically as opposed to horizontally.

The name Lykke Li rang the vaguest of vague bells and on the basis that it only cost 50p I though I may as well take a punt.

From 2011 on the LL/Atlantic label Wounded Rhymes is the second album by Swedish singer songwriter, actress and model Li LykkeTimotej Zachrisson who is thankfully known as Lykke Li for short

My vague recollection was confirmed when I got home as I had a couple of songs by her on compilations.

Her music blends elements of indie pop, dream pop and electronica. I find myself much more drawn to it than Anna Calvi

Further proof that it is a keeper is that I have played it the whole way through twice already and was not tempted to turn it off or skip a track. This came as a pleasant surprise.

Chapeau to Spence who mentioned her a a candidate for LL in my Double Initials series even although she did not make the final cut

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

Lykke Li - Sadness is a Blessingg

I-Pod Playlist - Devil Gate Drive

 

This week's Playlist is Devil Gate Drive.

There are plenty to choose from but it's only fair to kick off with the song and person who inspired the Playlist name

From Suzi to Suzanne and we have Dandy Livingstone with the great song Suzanne Beware of the Devil.

Talking of great songs here is the only great song that Sir Cliff ever released!

I know it's hard to follow that but here is Beck with Devil's Haircut something that even Sir Cliff is sometimes guilty of.

I thought I had a Devils and Angels compare and contrast series somewhere but apparently not. Something for the future perhaps.

The next Playlist subject is Drink so again plenty to choose from.

Cheers!

Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive

Dandy Livingstone - Suzanne Beware of the Devil

Cliff Richard - Devil Woman

Beck - Devil's Haircut

Music From The Chocolate Lands

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #14 - Various Artists -Music From The Chocolate Lands

Mrs CC is going through a decluttering phase at the moment. This involves me handing in bags of stuff to various charity shops. On one such visit I noticed the above CD in Barnardos on Victoria Road but did not pick it up. I returned a couple of days later with another load and pulled the trigger.

I was a wee bit apprehensive as to the title and a bit concerned that it may be  bland and one -dimensional like my Music of the Twana People here

I needn't have worried as  the music is varied, covers a good few countries and by and large is pretty good.

From 2004 it is on the Putumayo World Music label which travels the world  in search of exceptional songs from Congo to Cuba, Rome to Rio,New Orleans to Nova Scotia.

Today's offerings are  from in order Haiti, Hawaii and  Peru.

Well worth 50p of anyone's money as opposed to the £52.99 that some chancer os looking for on E-Bay. The median price on Discogs is £3.45

Beethova Obas - Rasanble

Teresa Bright - Tihore Mai Te Rangi

Susana Baca - Valentin

Making Singles Drinking Doubles

 

Here is yet another Compilation courtesy of Chicago's Bloodshot Records.

The title is a clever play on words from the classic Gary Stewart number She's Acting Singles (I'm Drinking Doubles).

As the blurb says Singles -they are the perfect medium for delivering a concentrated shot of musical delight-no time for filler or painfully long bass solos- just time to get in and out before anyone gets hurt.

On the negative side it is a bit of a pain in the backside to get up every 3 minutes to change the record.

From 2002 it has the honour of being the 100th release on the label.

Here's the tracklist. I've picked three - pretty much at random.

Oh, and Gary Stewart for good measure

Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys - Every Rose Has It's Thorn

Kelly Hogan & John Wesley Harding - It's Only Make Believe

Jon Langford - Nashville Radio

Gary Stewart - She's Acting Single (I'm Drinking Doubles)

Saturday Shuffle 138

 

Welcome to Saturday Shuffle 138 - my old Boys Brigade battalion number.

We kick off  with Linda Rondstadt who let's face it could stop a BB Battalion in their stride. Here she is with Birds a song written by Neil Young and is taken from her eponymous third studio album from 1972. She is still with us at the age of 79 but sadly has Progressive Supranuclear Palsy which sounds very unpleasant indeed.

Next up are Forest Hills, Queens finest The Ramones. 

Daytime Dilema (Dangers of Love) from their 1984 album Too Tough to Die is today's offering .Sadly that was not the case as all four original members Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy are no longer with us. Later members Marky, Richie and CJ who featured in later versions of the band are still alive.

From Westwood (East Kilbride's equivalent of Queens) we conclude with Aztec Camera and Walk Out to Winter from their masterpiece debut album 1983's High Land, Hard Rain. You will not hear anything finer today.

We will be back for another Shuffle next Saturday

Linda Rondstadt - Birds

Ramones - Daytime Dilema (Dangers of Love)

Aztec Camera - Walk Out To Winter

A Stay of Execution

 

The King is Dead the sixth studio album by The Decemberists from January 2011 was under serious consideration to be downgraded from a Burn to a Download to free up space.

However, after a listen it has been given a reprieve. Whether this is temporary or otherwise remains to be seen. As things stand it's a keeper.

It is significantly better than the only other thing I have by the band namely the CD version of The Crane Wife their 4th album from 2006. Had this been a burn it would certainly have been downgraded by now.

Apparently The King is Dead is the most pastoral, rustic record they've ever made. I must be a sucker for that sort of thing.

The Decemberists - Down By The Water

The Decemberists -This Is Why We Fight