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Nearly fifty years after the US Congress banned the importation of enslaved individuals in 1807, the final slave ship arrived in Mobile, Alabama from West Africa, purposely breaking the law. Today, approximately 100 descendants of those who were enslaved reside in Africatown, a neighborhood located north of the city. This collection highlights the songs, stories, and recollections of this community in contrast with the industrial noises that surround their modern-day existence.
Leading the project is the dynamic duo of Italian-Rwandan filmmaker Marilena Umuhoza Delli and Grammy Award-winning producer Ian Brennan, known for their work with Tinariwen, Zomba Prison Project, and even the renowned John Waters. Through capturing their subjects in raw, unedited performances, they bring a captivating energy to the screen. However, the performers themselves remain nameless by choice, as the filmmakers wished to tell their story as a collective rather than individual parts. Despite this, the music still shines through, with tracks like the soulful Run If You Can (Don’t Go Down That Road) showcasing a gravelly-voiced male singer alongside the haunting notes of the Ghanaian kologo. It’s enough to make you wonder about the creators behind such powerful music.
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The sounds are a collision of different elements, resulting in diverse and chaotic environments. In Family Secret, a man recounts his experience of never having Africa mentioned during his youth, and the sounds of car and ship horns serve as forceful and emotive punctuation. The memories of segregation in Black Part of Town are accompanied by the vibrant wails of saxophones, and the eerie, eerie grooves provide the backdrop for the striking female-led piece, Haunted By Her Capture.
The album also includes spoken word and rap that evokes the energy of mid-20th century griots such as the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron. It also features sped-up vocals, computer startup sounds, and industrial noise reminiscent of Einstürzende Neubauten, symbolizing the disorientation and terror that come with progress. These elements are interwoven with folk and church influences, incorporating instruments like thumb pianos, hand drums, and plucked strings, as well as powerful gospel songs like “Kept Me,” “Do You Hear Me Now,” and “Walk With Thee.” All of these elements are performed in a compelling and distinctive manner by passionate individuals who truly deserve to be heard in every sense of the word.
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Also released this month:
Renowned folk singer, songwriter, and video artist from the UK, Marry Waterson, has released a new album called Cuckoo Storm (One Little Independent) with Irish-Maltese musician Adrian Crowley. The album has a noirish vibe and combines epic sound, captivating lyrics, and moments of intimacy. Waterson and Crowley’s voices complement each other perfectly, with Waterson’s deep, soulful tone providing a strong foundation for Crowley’s softness reminiscent of James Yorkston. Songdreaming (Cooking Vinyl), producer Bernard Butler’s collaboration with Mercury nominee Sam Lee, is a theatrical, ornate, and cinematic soundworld, a departure from Lee’s previous works and closer in style to Butler’s work with Jessie Buckley. Gjenskinn (Hubro) by The Nils Økland Band is another success for the label based in Oslo, featuring energizing instrumental pieces from renowned Norwegian Hardanger fiddler Nils Økland, including tunes inspired by Egyptian flautists, Shetland fiddlers, and Scandinavian waltzes.
Source: theguardian.com
