music

Cheb-i-Sabbah and the spirituality of the musical moment

My wife Amanda Dates, a yogi from whom I've learned deep lessons, pointed me to this interview with San-Francisco-club-scene icon Cheb-i-Sabbah. She knew I resonated with the sentiment that dancing in clubs is akin to a spiritual moment. Below is another quote I liked from the interview, which - if you substitute "DJ" for "drummer" - expresses something I feel the same about (organized) percussion ensembles:

Refound: The English Beat's "I Just Can't Stop It"

I recently indulged in a musical flashback - the English Beat's first album. It's only now, listening to it in retrospect, that I appreciate what it taught me about rhythm. A tight tick-track drum sound permeates the entire album, and it's really the accents that create the effect - and pleasure of listening.

Lo Còr de la Plana

I don't know about you, but when people mention Western European folk music, I am unfortunately quick to judge and assume it's not going to be of my liking.  But then I'd never heard Lo Còr de la Plana (links to MySpace....), a group of guys out of Marseilles who sing in the traditional southern French language of "Oc" (from whence "Occitane").

Radio Nova

I came across this at a recommendation of a friend online, and I've been hooked ever since - Radio Nova, a French radio station that also broadcasts online.  At first I thought it was a station geared towards France's African diasporic population, because there's a heavy rotation of soul, hip-hop, rnb, etc.  And they call themselves "Radio Métisse."  But it's in no way recognizable to U.S.

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