Transadelica
If someone asked me what Cuba and Algeria have in common I would probably have difficulties coming up with a quick response. After a few minutes more probably the first thing that would come to mind would be warm climate typical of the Tropics or North Africa that both countries share. Everyone knows how fundamental heat is when speaking about the melting elements. It could be that the torrid heat that has fused together these two distant cultures to give life to an amazingly unique musical project called Transadelica. Even though this group is situated in Barcelona, their original roots and distinct geographically mixture of sounds firmly remain.
The two leaders of the group, Amparo and Yacine , have both had rich musical careers and a number hits- Amparo with the group Amparanoia and Yacine with Cheb Balowski. Their encounter must have been out of necessity because both groups had been performing in the territory of mestizaje bring this traditional or ethnic music to large audiences, with a touch of elements typical of rock and pop.
A variety of instruments are used on Transadelica’s first LP- a lute, a darbuka , a double bass as well as dub club bases which all help to create a combination of sounds as Cuban son, bolero mixed with harmonic melodies of Arab music. All of these elements are rolled into one to create an intricate and unique world music sound experience. The question that I ask myself, as I wait for the chance to see them in live in concert, is what could be more “Utopic”than wanting to unite the cultures and traditions of two populations that live 8000km away from each other? Hats off to Transadelica!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Transadelica/213783511997323?ref=nf
Franco Rigato
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
Artist permanently and randomly on air at present date
A giant with delicate hands
Does it make sense discussing ‘post rock’ on the eve of 2012?
Delicay.
Savviness.
Intensity.
Fury.
Anger.
Desolation
Peace.
Abanonment.
The White Mega Giant rocks you, throws you for a loop, casts you into a bottomless pit, spins you around like a twister before rocking you again and exposing you to the light.
‘Polaris' and 'Cygni’ make you experience extremes like the blackness of darkness and the blinding effect of the light, pain through pleasure and severe emptiness that seems almost filling.
And I ask you again does it make any sense discussing ‘post rock’ on the eve of 2012?
Stay tuned
http://megagigantebianca.tumblr.com/
Jacopo Ravagnan
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
Artist permanently and randomly on air at present date
Noise is sexy
Blixa Bargeld, the long time member of the legendary group Einsturzende Neubauten, once said: 'Silence is sexy'. The idea of silence has always been appreciated by the German band but let’s face it; the noise of a screeching guitar, the blast of beating drums and a pumping bass all help to face life with greater enthusiasm.
It is a cry in the face of reality sending a warning that nothing will be taken simply sitting down. Kind of like a war cry signalling the fact that there is a certain readiness to defend ourselves, fearless and eyes wide open.
Recently another type of special “noise” has come from a band called DeVino G and the so-called “ noise” in question seems to be a mixture the stoner of Kyuss and grunge sounds of Soundgarden only a hell of a lot angrier. Listening you to them you seem to be confronted by an immense tumbling wall of sound with its height,weight and distortion.
The “destructive” sound is back and it is called DeVinoG.
http://www.myspace.com/idevinog
Jacopo Ravagnan
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
Artist permanently and randomly on air at present date