Tidiane Thiam :: Africa Yontii

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Not everyone in my life gets my many musical obsessions.

I grew up in Phoenix, which means that I didn’t have a whole lot of cultural options, but Bob Corritore and the Blues was always a constant in my life. I remember sometimes thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”

Years ago, I also knew someone that hosted a regular Reggae radio show that was 3-hours each week and I remember thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”

And here I am having professed my love for Tuareg guitar music and music from the Sahel region in general recommending yet another album. I could easily play five ours of Tuareg music, and no, it’s doesn’t all sound the same. In addition to the newest album album by Etran De L'Aïr :: 100% Sahara Guitar, the fabulous Sahel Sounds label recently put out the newest album from Tidiane Thiam :: Africa Yontii.

This one is laid-back.

Relaxing.

Meditative yet driving.

Exquisite interplay. With overlapping melodies.

Enjoy.

Watch “Yewende”:

Etran De L'Aïr - 100% Sahara Guitar Gets The Video Treatment

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By now you’re familiar with my love of Tuareg guitar music and music from the Sahel region in general. One of my favorite labels, Sahel Sounds, is releasing the newest album by one of my favorite acts, Etran De L'Aïr.

Entitled 100% Sahara Guitar, the album will be out next month. To celebrate, the band has released a video for one of their live staples, “Imouha.” Filmed on a green screen at Vancouver BC's Shoreline Studios Vancouver BC by Christopher Kirkley with additional footage courtesy of Abdou Hamani (Discothèque Ambiance de Tchiro), the song is a great teaser for the full album.

Enjoy.

  • Purchase 100% Sahara Guitar, Etran De L'Aïr at Bandcamp

  • Visit Etran De L'Aïr’s artist page at the Sahel Sounds website

  • Follow Sahel Sounds at Facebook

  • Follow Sahel Sounds at Twitter

  • Follow Sahel Sounds at Youtube

  • Support Sahel Sounds at Bandcamp

  • Browse “Sahel Sounds” at Amazon

Phish :: NPR Tiny Desk

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If you’ve ever visited this music blog, chances are that you’ve already watched this. Watch it again.

Phish recently stopped by NPR’s Tiny Desk for a 35-minute, 5-song set.

You enjoy myself . . .

Setlist:

  1. “Sigma Oasis”

  2. “Evolve”

  3. “You Enjoy Myself”

  4. “Sample in a Jar”

  5. “Chalk Dust Torture”

2024 Favorite Music (So Far)

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Here are my favorite 20 releases of 2024 so far.

  • Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin

  • Live in Paris 1973 by Can

  • Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons

  • the Collective by Kim Gordon

  • Blu Wav by Grandaddy

  • the Handover by the Handover

  • Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker

  • Drop 7 by Little Simz

  • Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  • Locust Land by Bill MacKay

  • Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar

  • the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics

  • David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance

  • Bite Down by Rosali

  • Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth

  • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka

  • Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces

  • Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance

  • Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam

  • Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee

Group Doueh Live at WFMU (2017)

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Continuing to explore the WFMU Monty Hall archives, here is Group Doueh Live at WFMU (2017).

From the show’s Youtube page:

“One of the most blasted psychedelic Western Saharan combos to hit American shores. Founded in the 1980's, headmaster and guitarist Doueh's raw distorted electric guitar stylings juxtapose western elements of Hendrix and James Brown with the poetry of Hassania language in Saharawi folk tradition, all centered around a big band environment that includes two vocalists. "Unhinged virtuosity" is a common phrase attributed to the sound of Group Doueh, truly a spectacle to behold, and thanks to some high profile releases on the Sublime Frequencies imprint, the band's audience has grown greatly. This gig, presented by Brian Turner's program, also featureed NYC's excellent 75 Dollar Bill supporting. Severe thanks to Doueh, Scott Konzelmann and Glenn Luttman for the mix, Ruth Polduk, Todd Abramson, Bridget Murray for cam work.”

Now if that 75 Dollar Bill set could just see the light of day . . .

Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on October 7, 2017.

  • Visit Group Doueh’s profile at Sublime Frequencies

  • Visit WFMU’s Youtube page

  • Browse Group Doueh’s music at Amazon

Kikagaku Moyo Live at WFMU (2019)

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WFMU recently announced the opening of their vaults and began sharing videos from their Monty Hall archives. So guess what we’ll be featuring more of lately!?

From the show’s Youtube page:

“Japanese psych band Kikagaku Moyo played at WFMU's Monty Hall in 2019, following the release of their album Masana Temples on the Guruguru Brain label in 2018. The powerhouse group announced their final tour in 2022 and are on an indefinite hiatus.

Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on June 27, 2019.”

The Deets and Setlist:

Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on June 27, 2019.

  1. Green Sugar

  2. Nazo Nazo

  3. Kogarashi

  4. Tree Smoke

  5. Fluffy Kosmich

  6. Entrance

  7. Dripping Sun

  8. Gatherings

  9. Streets of Calcutta (Ananda Shankar cover)

  • Visit the group's official website

  • Follow the group on Facebook

  • Follow the group on Twitter

  • Purchase the group's music at Bandcamp

  • Purchase the album at Amazon

  • Visit WFMU’s Youtube page

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea Kikagaku Moyo posts

Sylvan Esso Live at NPR's Tiny Desk (2015)

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Sylvan Esso perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk (2015)

Setlist:

  • "Coffee"

  • "H.S.K.T."

  • "Come Down"

  • Visit the official Sylvan Esso website

  • Follow Sylvan Esso at Twitter

  • Follow Sylvan Esso at Facebook

  • Purchase Sylvan Esso’s music at Amazon

Saturday Sessions :: Billy Strings and Chris Thile :: CBS Saturday Sessions (2024)

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By now I’m sure you’ve seen the videos of Billy Strings and Chris Thile for CBS’ Saturday Sessions. That’s OK. You can watch them again and again and still be amazed by the interplay between these two master musicians. The duo performed three songs (I don’t know the order they originally appeared):

  1. "I've Been All Around This World,”

  2. "I Am A Pilgrim,”

  3. "Wild Bill Jones.”

Enjoy.

  • Visit Chris Thile’s website

  • Visit the Billy Strings website

  • Follow Chris Thile at Facebook

  • Follow Billy Strings at Facebook

  • Follow Chris Thile at Twitter

  • Follow Billy Strings at Twitter

  • Purchase Chris Thile’s music at Amazon

  • Purchase Billy Strings’ music at Amazon

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Live At KEXP (2017)

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KEXP presents King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded October 11, 2017.

Setlist:

  • Welcome to an Altered Future

  • Digital Black

  • Han-Tyumi The Confused Cyborg

  • The Lord of Lightning

  • Altered Beast I

  • Alter Me I

  • Altered Beast II

  • Alter Me II

  • Altered Beast III

  • Alter Me III

  • Altered Beast IV

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s website

  • Follow King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Twitter

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Facebook

  • Support King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Bandcamp

  • Purchase King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s music at Amazon

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily :: Tiny Desk Concert

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Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily live at NPR’s Tiny Desk (May 12, 2023).

Setlist:

  • Eyes Of The Endless

The Deets:

Musicians:

  • Vijay Iyer: Fender Rhodes, piano

  • Arooj Aftab: vocals

  • Shahzad Ismaily: bass, Moog

Tiny Desk Team:

  • Producer: Bob Boilen

  • Director/Editor: Maia Stern

  • Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin

  • Series Producer: Bobby Carter

  • Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel

  • Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna

  • Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer

  • Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer, Pilar Galván, Jill Britton

  • VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

  • Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

Raz Mesinai and Shahzad Ismaily Live

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Today we feature a live duo performance from Raz Mesinai and Shahzad Ismaily.

The Deets:

  • Raz Mesinai - frame drum, effects

  • Shahzad Ismaily - bass

Bob Marley and the Wailers :: Live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl :: 11/25/79

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Bob Marley and the Wailers, live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, 11/25/79.

Setlist:

  1. Positive Vibration

  2. Wake Up And Live

  3. I Shot The Sheriff

  4. Ambush In The Night

  5. Concrete Jungle

  6. Running Away

  7. Crazy Baldhead

  8. Them Belly Full

  9. Heathen

  10. Ride Natty Ride

  11. Africa Unite

  12. One Drop

  13. Exodus

  14. So Much Things To Say

  15. Zimbabwe

  16. Jamming

  17. Is This Love

  18. Kinky Reggae

  19. Stir It Up

  20. Get Up Stand Up

  • Visit Bob Marley’s official website.

  • Purchase Bob Marley music at Amazon.

  • Browse Bob Marley posts at Holiday at the Sea

Talking Heads :: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival (1982)

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Saw this come across my Twitter feed. Sorry, I can’t remember who posted it if it was you, THANK YOU!

From the show’s Youtube page:

“This is full footage of Talking Heads performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, July 9th 1982. Originally broadcasted on Swiss TV and radio, but this footage is from an archive of the master tapes (except the last song)”

Setlist:

  1. Psycho Killer

  2. Cities

  3. Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)

  4. Once in a Lifetime

  5. Mind

  6. My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)

  7. Big Business

  8. I Zimbra

  9. Swamp

  10. Slink

  11. Houses in Motion

  12. What a Day That Was

  13. Life During Wartime

  14. Take Me To The River

  • Visit the Talking Heads website

  • Follow Talking Heads at Facebook

  • Follow Talking Heads at Twitter

  • Purchase Talking Heads music at Amazon

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea Talking Heads posts

Goat :: Live at Le Guess Who? (2022)

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We recently highlighted Goat’s fabulous 2023 album “Medicine” as one that we heard too late to make our favorites list. I still can’t believe we missed it. Goat has been a long-time favorite around the Holiday at the Sea Fake Offices.

In penance, I offer you this short but terrific live set from 2022.

From the Youtube page: “Swedish psych outfit Goat perform live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their latest album 'Oh Death' via Rocket Recordings.”

Setlist:

  1. Under No Nation

  2. Gathering of Ancient Tribes

  3. Do The Dance

  4. Disco Fever 

  5. Goatman

Deets and Credits:

  • Captured at TivoliVredenburg’s Ronda on Saturday, 12 November during Le Guess Who? 2022.

  • Direction: Dammes Kieft

  • Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Jonathan Sipkema, Nicky Pajkić, Rikash Gobardhan, Yuma Eekman, Dammes Kieft

  • Production: Claudia Rison, Studio Dammes

  • Coordination: Barry Spooren Montage: Nicky Pajkić S

  • ound recording: Marc Broer

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Goat :: Medicine

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Welcome to the third and pen-ultimate (for now) of our Heard Too Late 2023 series. Today, I humbly present to you a band I love with an album I somehow missed last year. Scandinavian Pscy-Rock-Folk-Space Voyagers Goat put out a solid album of space out music called Medicine. It is indeed medicine for what ails ya.

This one’s right up my alley for working and studying. I think you’ll dig it too.

Watch the video for “Join The Resistance”

Watch the video for “Tripping In The Graveyard”

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Dosh, Ismaily, Young

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Yesterday we began a short series of posts highlighting 2023 albums I didn’t get a chance to spend enough time with prior to compiling my year-end list with Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah’s “The Falcon Ate The Flower.”

Next up is the self-titled release from Dosh, Ismaily, Young. Featuring “drummer Marty Dosh (Dosh, Andrew Bird, Fog), bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3, Arooj Aftub), and guitarist Tim Young (Wayne Horvitz’s Zony Mash, David Sylvian, Michael White).”

With Shazad already appearing on the 2023 round up with Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, this marks Ismaily’s second appearance on my favorite albums of 2023.

This is not so much a review as a profile, so I take no shame in quoting the Bandcamp page to help you get a picture of this wild ride: “On their debut self-titled release, these master musicians effortlessly deliver six solid tracks including an 11-minute krautrock mindblower, a meditation on the end of the world, and explorations into Stax-soul, space-rock, and free-jazz.”

If you’ve taken the time and effort to read this far, it’s probably because we share the same music vibes. I highly recommend this release, especially since physical copies are in short supply.

Watch the official video for the opening track, “Blast:”

  • Support Dosh, Ismaily, Young at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Dosh, Ismaily, Young’s music at Amazon

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah :: The Falcon Ate The Flower

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Welcome to Heard Too Late, a short series of posts where I highlight artists and albums I didn’t spend enough time with to put on my 2023 year-end list. However, with hindsight being what it is and all, it is safe to say that if I had heard these albums sooner, they would most definitely have made the cut.

First up is “The Falcon Ate The Flower” by Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah. As you might ascertain from the name, Gallagher’s CA (by way of Ohio) cosmic country space rock taps in to the spiritual side of life without being preachy. Maybe we’ll call it existential rock? Anyways, having recorded with Victoria Williams and others after moving to CA, Gallagher has continued to expand his sound and scope. Reviewers and biographers are quick to point to Gram Parsons, Workingman’s Dead, Humble Pie, and, surprisingly enough Rod Stewart (that last one came up a few times!) and, of course; all of these apply, but only as touch-points.

Album opener “Planes” soars in perhaps the most psychedelic country jam the album reaches, but it sets a great opening bar. Though “The Falcon Ate The Flower” doesn’t quite reach those same heights throughout the rest of the album’s songs, we take a journey through ballads, and no review would be complete without mentioning the stellar performances by violin legend Scarlet Rivera (probably best known to this crowd by her appearances in the Rolling Thunder Revue. She here appears on the tracks “Something Better,” & “Can Anyone Hear Me?”, both of which are well worth your time.

Head out on a road trip. Blare this and then let’s talk.

Watch the official video for “Baby I’m There:”

Listen to “Something Better:”

Listen to Half Lit (The Future’s Ours):

  • Visit Lee Gallagher’s official site

  • Support Lee Gallagher at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Lee Gallagher’s music at Amazon

2023 :: Favorite Music

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Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?

the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:

  • Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //

  • Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • New Blue Sun by André 3000 // site // Amzn //

  • My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily // site // Amzn //

  • Black Duck by Black Duck // BC // Amzn //

  • Sun Arcs by Blue Lake // BC // Amzn //

  • Sahel by Bombino // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy // BC // Amzn //

  • Dimanche à Bamako by Bounaly // BC // Amzn //

  • the Record by boygenius // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) by jaimie branch // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Nocturnal Country by Sammy Brue // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Villagers by Califone // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Chitinous Mandible by Chitinous Mandible // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Hostile Environment by Creation Rebel // BC // Amzn //

  • Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan // site // FB // Amzn //

  • & the Charm by Avalon Emerson // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Some Kinda Love Performing The Music Of the Velvet Underground by the Feelies // site // BC // Amzn //

  • A River Running To Your Heart by Fruit Bats // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Let the Moon Be a Planet by Steve Gunn & David Moore // BC // Amzn //

  • Philanthropy by Hauschka // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Days In The Desert by High Pulp // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //

  • Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //

  • New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //

  • No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Since Time Is Gravity by Natural Information Society // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Travel by the Necks // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Jump On It by Bill Orcutt // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Switched-On by Pachyman // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • The Times by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Drag On Girard by Purling Hiss // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Window by Ratboys // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Garden Party by Rose City Band // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Live at Third Man Records by Rich Ruth // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Robed In Rareness by Shabazz Palaces // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Everything Is Alive by Slowdive // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Javelin by Sufjan Stevens // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Music Is Victory Over Time by Sunwatchers // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Secret Stratosphere by William Tyler And The Impossible Truth // BC // FB // Amzn //

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard :: Live at Lowlands 2023

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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard :: Live at Lowlands 2023.

Setlist:

  1. Gila Monster

  2. Converge

  3. Witchcraft

  4. Self-Immolate

  5. This Thing

  6. The Garden Goblin

  7. Hypertension

  8. Magma

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s website

  • Follow King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Twitter

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Facebook

  • Support King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Bandcamp

  • Purchase King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s music at Amazon

20 Songs That Make Me Happy

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Many of you have probably seen the “Name 20 songs that make you happy” thing going around the social medias. Well, I took the time to make a quick playlist of 20 songs that make me happy. Listen/stream/download below.

Hope you enjoy.



  1. Manchester by Kishi Bashi

  2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Time) by Jaimie xx

  3. Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals

  4. Love, Love, Love 2 (Reprise) by Akron/Family

  5. Mustt Mustt (Extended) by Kiran Ahluwalia

  6. Konkon by Oki Dub Ainu Band

  7. Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest

  8. Baba O’Riley by the Who

  9. Here Comes Sunshine by Grateful Dead

  10. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  11. Sun Hands by Local Natives

  12. Reality Used to be a Friend by P.M. Dawn

  13. Swerve . . . The reeping . . . by Shabazz Palaces

  14. Bam Bam by Sister Nancy

  15. Lalo Schifrin by Blue Scholars

  16. I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  17. Baby Baby by the Vibrators

  18. Love of My Life Worldwide by Erykah Badu

  19. Boogie on Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder

  20. Ooh La La by Faces

  • Download a PDF of some pretty bland CD artwork