Bob Dylan Ferro Gaita Wrote Propaganda Songs

Kidy - Fuzilerus (from Funana and Batuku vol 6 2010)

I don't know a lot about Kidy aside from a few of his music videos, but there are some overwhelming sound effects here. The gun shots aren't used as hi-hats or anything but there are helicopters, screams, and old western pistol sounds. My Portuguese tells me this is an anti-military tune, but I don't speak Portuguese. I think I'm generally interested in these sounds used in music and this sorta works in the way Rogério Duprat used Music Concret in Tropicalia. Meaning it's actually part of the compositional aspect of the story rather than a sound effect.

Acordeões

Kodé Di Dona - Seis Anus Na Tarrafal (Cap-Vert: Kodé Di Dona's Funana 1995)

Really beautiful earlier Funana song that I've been listening to a lot lately. This was on Ocora, one of my favorite labels ever. Love finding this stuff used for dirt cheap in shops, don't love owing the Harold Washington library late fees.

Soku Na Rosto Video

Just stumbled on this great Funana video via Europe. Wall murals backdrop some weird chase story with some great MCing from Ize. Dude has a pretty impressive collection of sunglasses as well. I believe the song title means "Punch in Your Face" in English, but I wouldn't bet money on it. Definitely one of the best modern Cape Verde appearances on Youtube that I know, both visually and audibly.

Some More Accordion Tweeness

Duda - Paque Lamenta (from Butuka and Funana vol 1 2009)

I had posted the video for Duda's Dja Txiga Nha Bes a few weeks back and I was happy to find another Funana Pop joint of her's that I don't have to listen to in shitty Youtube quality. More of the same quirky Synth and digital accordion business for those of us obsessed with Cape Verde right now. I'm guessing this is produced by the same folks who did the former track, which Vamanos was kind enough to point out is Normal Nada.

Half a Millennia Underground

Another reason why Cape Verde rules. Way ahead of the game over 500 years ago as far as ass shaking goes!

More Accordion Music

Os Tubarões - Djonsinho Cabral (from Djonsinho Cabral 1979)

When Lldo Lobo, lead singer of Cape Verde's' most popular band died, everyone got the day off work. Os Tubarões' (the Sharks) music is sorta Morna, sorta old school Funana. This is a lot slower than what people on the islands in 2009 are doing. I'm not so big on the saxophone, but it's a nice tune overall that I figured I'd throw up due to the attention that island has been getting.

Radioclit's recent Fu Na Na mix is pretty good by the way, though absolutely not strictly Funana. Gant Man Puerto Rican Juke and stuff.

DJ Michel

Some definite bentness to this

The Accordian Diaspora

Some folks out there have brought Funana, the accordion driven Soca-like sound of Cape Verde to my attention lately. Schlachthofbronx dig it, and the Ghetto Bassquake dudes were kind enough to throw up a short but great mix by DJ Velo the other day. Been looking at all the music videos on youtube, this one by Duda is pretty hot. Hopefully more of this stuff can be made available abroad.

Bellowed Creole

Unknown Artist - Minina Si Bu Dan n'ta Coré Mo (from Cap-Vert Un Archipel de Musique)

Real strange accordion driven track from the Cape Verde islands (or island really, people only live on one of them) that's kind of permanently stuck in my head tonight. At one point it just stops for some reason and I thought the 2nd accordion was a synth at first. Morna is the offical sound of Cape Verde like Tango is Argentina, a Creole spoken music with similar traits to those living in areas affected by the French such as Louisiana and Madagascar. These tales of ship crashes with accordions on board (Colombia ect) effecting the music and culture of an area are pretty nuts. A real shame these Ocora releases have been out of print since CDs were invented, the recording quality is always swell especially for the times (I believe this was recorded in the early 80s). While read as english the title suggests Cap-Vert the Peninsula of Senegal, the music is definitely from the islands.


Enjoy your MLK Jr days!