Everything That Happens In Africa Is Extraordinary

Senegalese polymath Tidiane Thiam released the album Africa Yontii in May 2024 on the fabulous Sahel Sounds label.

Twelve months later, Sahel Sounds issued a second single and video for Néené Africa. The visuals mix footage of Tidiane with archive mobile shots of Pethity, a village in Fouta-Toro, the same region where Tidane lives.

Pulaar is a dialect of the Fula language spoken by the Fula and Toucouleur peoples in the Senegal River valley and surrounding regions, particularly in Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, and Guinea. 

Africa Yontii is a Pulaar phrase that translates to “Africa, It's Time”.

"It’s time that Africa changes," Tidiane explains further. "It’s time our leaders change. Everything that happens in Africa is extraordinary. We have everything: water, earth, sun, fields of oil, gas. We have all this in Africa, but Africa is still poor. It’s time we change our way of thinking. It’s time for Africans to take their destiny into their own hands. If not, others will take it.” 

The beautifully intricate, disarmingly gentle sounds that emerge over the nine instrumentals on Africa Yontii may at first seem at odds with the strength of the message. 

Yet, it called to mind a place I worked nearly thirty years ago, and a Chief Executive who used to advocate mental gardening. It was the mid-late 1990s and I didn't really get on board with the concept; my equivalent up to then had been sticking on an ambient/chill out album and getting out of my head, not into my head.

Since then, I have a better understanding of where he was coming from, and whilst I still haven't embraced it in my life, Tidiane Thiam's music resonates with me for similar reasons. 

Listening to Africa Yontii isn't about escapism, it's more about allowing the listener to create a mental space - a plot of land, if you like - to plant seeds, nurture them and help them to grow. Only in this case, those seeds can be manifesting change, shaping and steering destiny on a personal level or, in the case of Africa Yontii, an entire continent.

If, on the other hand, you think the last four paragraphs and 184 words were a load of old bollocks, I am certain that you will not have the same opinion of Tidiane Thiam's album and music in general. Truly a thing of beauty.

 

An Eye In The Glass On The Parquet Floor

I still think of The Creatures as relatively recent, but in October it will be twenty two years since Siouxsie and Budgie released their fourth and final album, Hái!

October will also mark twenty seven years since the release of 2nd Floor, the lead single and opening track of third album, Anima Animus.

A remix of the song popped up on my random shuffle and a subsequent YT search unearthed the promo video, which I'd never seen before. Monochrome (mostly), make up and manic moves make for a compelling four and a half minutes. Then again, I need little motivation to watch a performance by Siouxsie Sioux, she is superb.

The promo 12" and CD single came with an extended version, labelled the 'Album Mix', by Siouxsie, Budgie and album co-producer Warne Livesey. Ultimately this was ditched in favour of the single version, so it remains a relative obscurity.

The flip side of the promo featured 2nd Floor (Siouxsie, Budgie And Warne's Club Mix). I've not been able to track down the original 9:43 version, but I have found a 5:24 edit by Erasercuts, synched with the promo video.

Another promo 12" single featured a further remix by Girl Eats Boy aka one half of The Drum Club and Slab, Lol Hammond...

...whilst the regular single release featured a 2nd, very similar Girl Eats Boy remix.

In 1999, The Creatures released Hybrids, a compilation of previously released and newly commissioned remixes. One of the latter was a fresh take on 2nd Floor by the mysteriously named Vito Bonito. 

Apartment door

Is left ajar

An eye in the glass

On the parquet floor

All the guests

Have left and gone

But I'm still here

On the 2nd floor

Aftermath

In an amber glow

A vodka bath

For this shipwrecked soul

Seconds fly

As the years flow by

But I don't care

I'm on the 2nd floor

2nd Floor

And I still want more

2nd Floor

Coming back for more

Why fear death

When death never hurt

No one

2nd Floor

There's A Lifetime Of Stories Here

I bought the latest album from James Yorkston on Friday and it's been on repeat throuout the weekend.

As the title suggests, Songs For Nina And Johanna features James duetting with Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Söderberg (First Aid Kit); Nina gets five songs, Johanna four and there's one solo from James halfway through.

It's a joy from start to fiinish, and despite it's late August release, the album is the perfect soundtrack to what has really felt like the end of summer and the start of autumn these past few days.

Both voices are a fine complement to James voice, dry, wistful, on the cusp between spoken word and trying not to disturb the neighbours. Nina lends beautiful melancholy, Johanna an exuberant uplift; the combination is a treat for the ears.

I've pulled together seven videos, spanning four songs. Starting with a surprisingly and delightfully restrained remix of A Moment Longer by Vince Clarke, and including three songs performed for Monitor Sessions in Stockholm, Sweden in June.

Go on, buy the album, your life will be better for it.

1) A Moment Longer (Vince Clarke Remix): James Yorkston & Nina Persson

2) Oh Light, Oh Light (Official Video): James Yorkston & Johanna Söderberg

3) A Moment Longer (Monitor Session, Stockholm): James Yorkston & Nina Persson

4) Love / Luck (Monitor Session, Stockholm): James Yorkston & Johanna Söderberg

5) Love That Tree (Monitor Session, Stockholm): James Yorkston & Nina Persson

6) Love / Luck (Official Video): James Yorkston & Johanna Söderberg

7) Love That Tree (Official Video): James Yorkston & Nina Persson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songs Spill Into The Air

A 12-song selection of The Sundays. On a Sunday. 

A little on the nose, I get it, though I'm surprised it's taken 248 Sundays since I started this blog to get around to it...!

To be honest, I wasn't particularly a fan of The Sundays when they first appeared on the scene in 1989/1990. In retrospect, it was probably more to do with the music rags going OTT (in my opinion) with their praise of the band, instilling some kind of knee-jerk response that I absolutely would not be told that I should love their music.

It was hard to escape the reach of The Sundays, especially as Harrier Wheeler's hair-in-a-bun/jumper/loose fit jeans with big buckled belt became a singular look for students in the early 1990s. 

For all that, I resisted until I met my indie/jangly music-loving girlfriend and we started living together in the mid-1990s. She compiled a C90 for me sometime in 1996* in an attempt to educate in a stack of music that had largely passed me by.

The penultimate track on Side Two was You're Not The Only One I Know by The Sundays.

It also helped that in 1997, The Sundays released their third album, Static & Silence, preceded by the fabulous single Summertime, which sealed the deal for me and I fell hook, line and sinker for their lyrical and musical charms.

Sadly, Static & Silence has also proved to be The Sundays' final album. Although Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin have continued to make music, it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be released. 

What a body of work to savour, though, as this selection hopefully demonstrates. I haven't included either of the aforementioned singles, and the balance is heavily weighted towards my entry point, Static & Silence. That said, I've also omitted my favourite song from the album - and arguably by The Sundays - which is Monochrome.

You will find their debut single from 1989, Can't Be Sure, a rare edit/remix of Here's Where The Story Ends from an obscure Italian bootleg compilation and their final single, Cry. I've also featured songs from Reading, Writing & Arithmetic (1990) and Blind (1992), as well as a couple of B-sides. All brilliant, in my opinion.

The sadness that there is no reasonable prospect of a new album or single by The Sundays is offset by the love story at the heart of the band. Harriet and David met and fell in love whilst studying at Bristol University, formed a band, created a family and a house and life on their own terms, which continues to this day.

If that doesn't tug at your heartstrings, then the next 45 minutes definitely will.

1) So Much (1997)

2) Love (1992)

3) Cry (Album Version) (1997)

4) Here's Where The Story Ends (Remix) (1996)

5) Through The Dark (1997)

6) Can't Be Sure (Album Version) (1990)

7) I Can't Wait (1997)

8) A Certain Someone (1990)

9) What Do You Think? (1992)

10) She (1997)

11) 24 Hours (1992)

12) Gone (1997)

1990: Reading, Writing And Arithmetic: 6, 8

1992: Blind: 2, 9, 11

1996: Confuse The Masses: 4

1997: Cry EP: 5

1997: Static & Silence: 1, 3, 7, 10

1997: Summertime EP: 12

Songs Spill Into The Air (45:11) (GD) (M)

* and it would be mean of me not to include refreshed links to Side One and Side Two of Now That's What I Call Jangly, so here you go!

A Brief History Of Dub

... according to Adrian Sherwood, that is.

Having taken The Collapse Of Everything and The Grand Designer EP through the Bandcamp Friday checkout and looking forward to a weekend of Sherwood infused sounds, on a whim I've created a 45-minute Dubhed selection of Adrian's previous work with other artists.

Some old, some new, some familiar, some less. All heavy duty and guaranteed to satisfy your dub palette.

1) Jungle (Album Version By Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Adrian Sherwood): Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Dub Syndicate (1987)

2) Down In It (Singe) (Remix By Adrian Sherwood & Keith LeBlanc): Nine Inch Nails (1989)

3) Death Of A Party (12" Death) (Remix By Adrian Sherwood): Blur (1998)

4) To Let Go (Adrian Sherwood ON-U Sound ReMix): R34L, Mark Pistel, Adrian Sherwood (2022)

5) What Silence Knows (Unreleased Version By Adrian Sherwood & Style Scott): Shara Nelson (1994)

6) Danger Dub (Adrian Sherwood 'Reset In Dub’ Version): Panda Bear & Sonic Boom (2023)

1987: Time Boom x De Devil Dead: 1

1989: Down In It EP: 2

1994: Uptight EP: 5

1998: Bustin' + Dronin': 3

2022: To Let Go EP: 4

2023: Reset In Dub: 6

A Brief History Of Dub (44:59) (GD) (M)

Bag It Up, I'll Take It

Bandcamp Friday beckons and my shopping bag demands to be fed yet again.

Here are a dozen hors d'oeuvres to whet your appetite. What else will I bring home?

1) Brand New Me (Brand New Me EP): Saint Etienne x Confidence Man

2) Better (All That Is Over): SPRINTS

3) Housin' (Planet Roll): Wagon Christ

4) Greasy Off The Racing Line (Tremor): Daniel Avery ft. Alison Mosshart

5) Weeping Roses (Lomond Campbell Remix) (Subconsciousology): Dot Allison

6) Tales Of Freedom (Cosmikuro Remix) (Tales Of Freedom EP): Jay-Son

7) Thinkin' Bout U (Mercury) (Thinkin' Bout U EP): Psychederek

8) A Moment Longer (Songs For Nina & Johanna): James Yorkston ft. Nina Persson

9) Militants (Atomized Dub) (Imploded Versions EP): The Bug vs Ghost Dubs

10) Under the Bed (Buddhist Hipsters): The Orb

11) Porcupine (Madder! EP): Sparks

12) Everybody Needs (On The Edge Of A Lost And Lonely World (Deluxe Edition)): Humanist ft. Emily Breeze

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Rainy Thursday Morning

The Divine Comedy with Invisible Thread, from upcoming album Rainy Sunday Afternoon, out on 19th September.

I woke up this morning, tired from lack of sleep, alerted to the cat being ambushed by another that seems to be staking out Casa K as a potential new home.

The early morning sunrises are now a thing of the past, the temperature's dropped several degrees, it's hammering with rain outside and I have a long commute via the M4 to the Forest of Dean.

On the plus side, I get the same twinge of joy crossing the Severn Bridge into Wales that I did as a child heading on family holidays to Pembrokeshire, the latter part of my commute will be through some spectacularly beautiful landscapes (even if it is raining) and Neil Hannon's delivered another beautiful song that feels like a warm hug from your best friend.

Oh, and the video features Ardal O'Hanlon.

Not so bad, after all, then.

Walk On Glass In The Twilight Belt

Lucrecia Dalt is an example of a 'new' artist that I discovered through my curiosity in another, 'established' artist.

Earlier this year, my inbox bursting with the barrage of Bandcamp mailshots, urging me to buy the latest music releases, my attention was caught by Lucrecia's EP, cosa rara, featuring "a rare appearance by cult music legend" David Sylvian.

I enjoyed the EP so much that I featured two of the three versions in a couple of Dubhed selections in May, one focusing on David Sylvian, the other a round up of 2025 highlights.

As is frequently the case with my discoveries, 'new' is subjective. Colombian born María Lucrecia Pérez López has been releasing music since 2005, initially as Lucrecia for two albums and an EP, then as Lucrecia Dalt from 2010, with several albums, soundtracks, EPs and collaborations under her belt in the last decade and a half.

A Danger To Ourselves is added to the discography, coming out in full on Friday (5th). Thirteen songs, opening with cosa rara, and featuring the other three singles/videos to date, no death no danger, caes and divina. There's a bonus dub version of caes on the digital version.

To these ears, finding a sweet spot somehwere between Bebel Gilberto, Laurie Anderson and David Sylvian's own work, I can appreciate why the latter was drawn to work with Lucrecia, not only providing spoken word vocals and "feedback guitar" on cosa rara, but also co-producing and mixing the entire album.

One for the curious and another addition to my Bandcamp Friday shopping bag.

 

 

 

The Ghosts And The Shadows Fill The Living Scene

Today's random shuffle is courtesy of "Australia's larger-than-life electro-glam-pop duo" Empire Of The Sun.

Walking On A Dream, their debut single in 2008, was everywhere, impossible to ignore yet laden with enough aural and visual hooks to justify it's ubiquity. A friend lent me the album of the same name and it was on constant rotation.

Standing On The Shore was the third single from Walking On A Dream, released in 2009. i've included the original widescreen video, a live performance from Club Nokia in Los Angeles on 16th October 2011 and, finally, the version that popped up on my player, the 8-minute Lifelike remix by Laurent Heinrich.

I bought third album Two Vines in 2016, but I assumed that Empire Of The Sun had since gone their separate ways, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that they released a fourth album, Ask That God, in July 2024.

 

No Sleepy 'Til Biddinghuizen

Horace Andy with Dub Asante Band and Matic Horns in concert at the Lowlands Festival in Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands on Sunday 17th August 2025, in the 'lunchtime slot', 12:30-13:30.

The festival's own promo blurb (admittedly auto translated to English) takes what I will diplomatically describe as an unusual approach from the start...

Reggae legends abound, 

but many are dead and buried. 

Fortunately, Horace Andy isn't, 

even though the singer with the 

instantly recognisable high-pitched voice 

has long since surpassed the seven crosses 

and his dreadlocks have turned white-gray. 

The Jamaican's iconhood is undeniable, 

if only for his all-time classic "Skylarking" 

and a career spanning six decades. 

Many Lowlanders will know him 

as the regular guest vocalist for Massive Attack, 

but nothing is more powerful than 

Horace Andy's own shows.

Unsurprisingly, Horace's hour-long set speaks for itself.

1) untitled (Dub Asante Band intro)

2) It Must Be Hell
3) Spying Glass
4) Man Next Door
5) Fever
6) Problems
7) Money
8) Elementary
9) Safe From Harm
10) Skylarking 
11) Cuss Cuss
12) Leave Rasta