Need a fresh fix of Afro-beat, but not ready to fly to New York to see Broadway musical Fela!? (Yes, really: youtube.) Listen to (KSPC to listen to) Tony Allen’s new album Secret Agent on Nonesuch records.

Allen is Fela’s lesser-known partner in the creation of afrobeat (with Fela as the other), and famously called “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived” by Brian Eno. Despite his incredible influence, Allen hasn’t let self-importance interrupt his flow of creativity. On Secret Agent he plays the role of musical director rather than solo artist, showcasing fantastic musicians (especially AYO) from his hometown, Lagos, Nigeria, and working discreetly in the background. He’s not a “purist” either, fusing afro-beat with electronic soundz and R&B.

The tracks with political and social commentary are particularly inspiring, especially final song “Elewon Po,” a surprisingly cheery protest song repeating: “too many prisoners.” Despite reaching his 70s, Secret Agent shows that not just wisdom, but also ambition and creativity expand and grow with age.

-DJ Space Cadet

On “Pomegranates” Finders Keepers has assembled a fine group of Persian tunes from the so-called “Golden Age” of Persian pop music. After classical forms dominated Persian pop music in the ‘50s, the emergence of artists like Googoosh was an unprecedented revelation. “Pomegranates” documents the dazzling movement before pop music was banned in ’79 after the Iranian Revolution, when many Persian pop stars fled to the US.
“Pomegranates” opens boldly with a funky track by Zia, featuring sharp horns and James Brown-esque grunts. The following tracks pull from a wide range of influences, from spy films to raga, and 70s soul to Latin percussion. Don’t miss songs by Googoosh, the most famous Persian pop star of her era. Folk songs like the fifth track “Gol-e Yakh” provide a wistful respite from the aggressive pop that comprises most of the compilation. The compilation’s diversity never allows a predictable moment.
This album is just like the fruit it’s named after: vibrant, juicy, and sharply sweet.

-DJ Space Cadet

Thanks to the on-stage shenanigans of Vinicio Capossela  and his band of merry musicians this past Saturday (a recent KSPC ticket giveaway), my spring break started out with a real BANG! The energy at the El Rey theater in downtown LA swelled and swarmed during the course of Capossela’s two hour show, and it was clear that he (and the audience!) could have gone a few more rounds past midnight. Capossela, who in his 17 year career has rarely ever toured in the states, seemed quite at home in the El Rey below the baroque faux-crystal chandelier and behind the red velvet curtains. Though he is barely known in the US, he is a mega-star abroad and it’s easy to see why. He is a truly talented musician with a flair for the dramatic, a love for the grotesque, a poetic sensibility, and an appreciation for the gritty side of life. The music was amazing and the lyrics (in Italian) at once hilarious and heartbreaking. Capossela has an incredible range of styles that swing (quite radically) from low-key bar-room ballads like “Con una Rosa“  (With a Rose) to the darkly wild and slightly disturbing “Brucia Troia” (Burn Troy). Among my personal favorite songs that evening was the fabulously absurd “Medusa Cha Cha” (which Capossela sang while wearing an actual mask of Medusa) and the sweet little number “Il Paradiso dei calzini” (about the fate of lost pairs of socks who die and have their own heaven). Coupled with the more conventional instruments (piano, drums, guitars) the musical arrangements featured the ukulele, marimba, accordion, trombone, toy piano, and plenty of theremin. The Saturday show also highlighted the antics of a mischievous magician named Christopher Wonder who emceed the madcap ball. A character with an outrageous act and the heart of an old-time carny, Wonder filled the air with laughter, glitter, and confetti.  It was truly un gran’ spettacolo (a great show) and the whole experience made me seriously consider running away to join the circus, which is always a good sign. Capossela’s most recent album (and the name of this tour) is Da Solo (2008), an import from Phantom Sound & Vision Records. Keep on listening to KSPC 88.7 FM for more ticket giveaways to shows like this one!!
abbracci e arrivederci!
~Djamila