“Review of Africatown, AL by Various artists – Ancestor Sounds: Music that Overcomes a Troubled History”

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Over fifty years after the US Congress ended the importation of enslaved people in 1807, a ship from west Africa illegally arrived in Mobile, Alabama. Despite being against the law, nearly 100 descendants of the enslaved people brought on that ship still reside in Africatown, a neighborhood located north of the city. This compilation features the community’s traditional songs, stories, and memories juxtaposed with the ambient sounds of industrialization that surround their modern lives.

Marilena Umuhoza Delli, a film director from Italy and Rwanda, along with her husband Ian Brennan, a Grammy-winning producer known for his work with Tinariwen, Zomba Prison Project, and even the live shows of his friend John Waters, are leading this project. They choose to capture their subjects in one take, live performances, but unfortunately, the names of the performers are not provided. This was a deliberate decision, as they wanted to tell their story as a collective. However, the music is incredibly impactful, especially the bluesy Run If You Can (Don’t Go Down That Road), which features a powerful bass voice and the delicate notes of a Ghanaian lute called the kologo. It’s natural to be curious about the creators of such beautiful music.

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Sounds mix and clash throughout, creating wildly varied worlds. In Family Secret, an older man’s story of never hearing Africa mentioned in his childhood, car and ship horns blare like expressive punctuation. Different horns – the bright wails of saxophones – accompany another’s memories of segregation in Black Part of Town, while unsettling metallic grooves spin behind the astonishing, female-led Haunted By Her Capture.

Included are also spoken-word and rap reminiscing the energetic style of griots from the mid-20th century like the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron. Additionally, there are quickened vocals, startup tones from computers, and levels of industrial noise resembling that of Einstürzende Neubauten, suggesting the disorientation and terror that progress can bring. These elements are intertwined with folk and church customs, featuring thumb pianos, hand drums, plucked strings, and spiritual songs such as “Kept Me,” “Do You Hear Me Now,” and “Walk With Thee.” All of these are performed in an urgent and unique manner by passionate individuals who deserve to be heard, in every sense of the word.

Also released this month.

Marry Waterson, a talented folk singer and songwriter from the UK, has recently released a new album called “Cuckoo Storm” in collaboration with Irish-Maltese musician Adrian Crowley. The album, released by One Little Independent, has a noirish vibe and is truly captivating, showcasing the pair’s epic sound, storytelling lyrics, and moments of intimate connection. Waterson and Crowley’s voices complement each other perfectly, with Waterson’s deep, soulful voice providing a strong foundation for Crowley’s soft, James Yorkston-like vocals. Additionally, Mercury nominee Sam Lee has returned with his latest album “Songdreaming” (Cooking Vinyl), which was produced by Bernard Butler. This album has a more theatrical and cinematic sound compared to Lee’s previous work, and has drawn inspiration from Butler’s collaborations with Jessie Buckley. Another success from the Oslo-based label is “Gjenskinn” (Hubro) by the Nils Økland Band, led by renowned Norwegian Hardanger fiddler Nils Økland. The album features a lively collection of instrumental tracks with international influences, including tunes learned from Egyptian flautists, Shetland fiddlers, and Scandinavian waltzes.

Source: theguardian.com