Friday, May 19, 2006  

Postrock and a Hard Place
You think it's difficult to communicate your love of porn soundtracks, hardcore punk, and upbeat Afropop to East Coast hipsters? Try convincing the Kenyan police that's not your weed.

By Christopher Porter
Washington City Paper, May 19, 2006

Click here to read my article about Extra Golden.

Click here to listen to excerpts from Extra Golden's Ok-Oyot System.

BONUS SIDEBAR - EXTRA VALUE MEAL
Rough Guide to Benga Music

East African music expert Douglas Paterson, who is quoted in the Extra Golden article, offers up a selection of recommended benga recordings:

For older-style benga with shorter tracks, Paterson recommends Ochieng' Nelly and Victoria All Stars International's Komala Express and Collela Mazee and Victoria B Kings Band's Jessica. For the current benga sound with longer tracks, try Okatch Biggy's Nyathi Nyakach. All three CDs are on the Equator Heritage Sounds label.

Two CDs that Paterson compiled feature several benga tracks, including The Nairobi Beat: Kenyan Pop Music Today on Rounder and The Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya.

While the Luo people of Kenya are responsible for a lot of benga music, Paterson also points to a CD made by Kamba musicians: Kakai Kilonzo and Les Kilimambogo Brothers' The Best of Kakai Volume One on Shava Musik.

Posted by CP | Link |

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