Rather Complicated Steps, Contortions, and Very Rapid Sudden Breaks

Music and Dances of Occidental Africa

(Photo to come)

When I find records as good as this one, I start to wonder how a record store could think to sell it for only 3 bucks. Folkways recordings usually go for at least 5 or 7 euros (though sometimes more). And most of them are dull and often poorly recorded. This record was released by the Olympic Records Corporation (200 West 57th Street, NYC) in 1974, and is part of the Atlas Series ("Music from around the world"). It's not just interesting and well recorded, it's also groovy and catchy.

The recordings on the first side are all made in Guinea. They are folk songs of the Malinké people. The first track, "Festival Music," sounds like a Steve Reich recording from the early 70s: a pop song built from simple xylophone lines repeated by three players accompanied by a chorus of women. Most of the tracks feature a large chorus singing in unison. But there's also a highly syncopated drum track—there's always at least one on these African field recording records—and "Solo for the Seron," which sounds like an African take on delta blues.

The recordings on the second side are all made in the Ivory Coast and are the songs of the Baoulé people. The liner notes to the record describe the Malinké as being strict puritanical people and the Baoulé as ostentatious. It's kinda odd, then, that the music from the first side is so festive, while the music from the second side is so much more reserved. "Duet for Flutes" sounds like a somber piece from Oliver Lake and Julius Hemphill's Buster Bee. Most of the second side is solos and duets, and even the choral song is quite relaxed—more about harmonizing than expressing overjoy. Not that this side doesn't also have its festive moments: it opens and closes with festival music full of hand percussion and large choruses.