Culture Musical Club - Shime!

I first encountered Taraab music, specifically Taraab music from Zanzibar a couple of years ago when Buda Musique released two fantastic albums: "Zanzibara Vol. 1 - A Hundred Years of Tarab in Zanzibar" by Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club, a set of new recordings and "Zanzibara Vol. 2 - Golden Years of Mombasa Taarab", a collection of classic recordings from 1965-1975 and then delved more into the music, by back-tracking and obtaining earlier releases. I also watched a great film about the "Queen of Taraab" - Bi Kidude entitled "As Old As My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude".

The Indian, African and Arabic influences in Taraab are irresistible with sweeping strings and the lush orchestral arrangements are hypnotic. The players are usually untrained and they play straight from the heart.

Culture Music Club are one of Zanzibar's oldest Taraab outfits, haivng been around for around fifty years. "Shime!" is more of what you would expect, so there are no surprises here. All nine tracks are great and are a great introduction to the music. But I would still direct you towards the two releases mentioned at the beginning of this review.

For clips of the album go here

Here's a clip of Culture Music Club in action.

Delroy Wilson - Dub Plate Style

Criminally, I have never had much Delroy Wilson material in my collection due to my leaning towards more roots orientated reggae over the years, with Delroy's songs being a bit too light or standard for me, but the tunes on this set are excellent and now I know what I was missing. Of course I already know "Better Must Come" and "I'm Still Waiting". Also, I had previously heard both "Find Yourself Another Girl" and "Joe Ligea" as dub versions from the album "King Tubby's Special 1973-1976" on Trojan.

The tracks on this album are dubplate mixes by Prince Jammy of what were Bunny Lee-produced material dating from the 1970s. Not having the originals myself, this is lost on me, but I imagine that the original cuts are more straight mixes than some of the tracks here that boast quite dubby and are harsher mixes than you would expect. Maybe that's why they appeal to me so much.

Full marks to Pressure Sounds for this. One of the few labels left releasing quality reggae reissues.

Not very interesting I know, but I worked with the late Delroy Wilson's cousin, an ex-Jamaican police officer at an oriental rug warehouse in north west London during the latter half of the 1990's. Now you know.

Anyway, for sound clips click here.