What I am listening to : Los Camaroes

 I would say I’m not particularly good at listening to World Music. Americans, in general, probably aren’t, as evident that we group up all non-English language music as “World Music”.

But most of that has to do with exposure. It’s hard enough for most any artist to get airplay in the first place. It has been helpful that established musicians like Peter Gabriel, David Byrne and Paul Simon moved the needle some. So needless to say, my World Music collection is pretty attuned to Rock ears. Fela Kuti, of course, and bands like Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and OrchestraBaobab come to mind. Plus, of course, tons of reggae and ska, which generally gets thrown into the broader net of “World Music” if you want to throw that in there.

Fortunately, we live in unprecedented times and have access to so much music. One just needs to be ambitious to look. I generally am not that ambitious, but also taking advantage of the times, have dipped my feet in with friends’ recommendations. (As a side note, I used to catch the International show on the local college station, which was always interesting and certainly a different variety from what might normally get promoted on say, NPR)

So my ventures into what less concise programmers would call World Music is not only influenced by my likes but by friends, and to date, has been heavy on MPB (a genre of post- bossa nova Brazilian popular music with jazz and rock influences).

Anyway, definitely doing my best to keep my ears open. A great resource is Analog Africa- a German (via Tunisia) label that has been re-releasing some great “lost”African records from the past. For me, right now, I am really digging the Cameroonian band Los Camaroes. Resurrection Los from 1979 is considered a classic and I am really enjoying it.

It is pretty cool what they can do with guitar sounds and a dance beat, and I doubt I can describe it in anyway that does it justice, but Western ears will hear Jazz, Blues and Funk tinges as well. Check them out