Azulejos
This is the first we've heard of Andrea Mangia, alias Populous, a gifted producer hailing from the small Italian city of Lecce, aka Italy's Jamaica. Which of course goes on to explain his reggae and hip hop tinged upbringing. Populous has been releasing music since his debut album "Quipo" (Morr Music) back in 2003 and steadily began making a name for himself on the global circuit. Drawing on a wide range of analogue influences, which he blends with digital sounds and enticing rhythmic patterns, he translates his surroundings into fascinating sonic tapestry.
Following on the heels of his acclaimed 2014 release "Night Safari" (Bad Panda), which he describes as "the embodiment of a dream", Populous just released his latest left-field effort "Azulejos" via Brooklyn-based Wonderwheel Recordings (see Novalima "Planetario"), a result of his recent move to Lisbon, which meanwhile has become both his studio and his home: "He wandered the city collecting field recordings – from trams to people singing on street corners. He sifted through flea markets for records to use for sampling (exclusively Portuguese and South American). [...] He channeled these poignant fusions into Azulejos, named for the typical tiled facades in Portugal – simultaneously bright and decaying."
"Azulejos" is a stunning love letter to the city of Lisbon, in all its multicultural beauty and glory, a city Populous describes as "halfway between South American soul and European modernity, African in some aspects, and dramatically melancholic". Whereas to us, this body of work much more resembles an intricate and infinitely warm celebration of life. You can stream the full album over here on Bandcamp.
More posts
Golden Day
There are some tunes that are instant classics. Take 1960s track "Goca Dünya" (Giant World) by Turkish icon Orhan Gencebay for instance, covered by Erkin Koray in 1972 and now rearranged by Amsterdam-based Turkish psych-folk formation Altın Gün (Golden Day) to make the A-Side on the second instalment of Swiss Bongo Joe Records imprint's brand new 7" vinyl series.
After performing in Istanbul alongside Jacco Gardner, bassist Jasper Verhulst discovered his [...]
Madjafalao
50 years are no joke, that's like half a century or something and that's exactly how long Benin's almighty Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou has speerheaded the worldwide afrobeat movement. Ironically enough, even though this potent polyrhythmic ensemble has played with Africa's biggest stars, including Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango or Miriam Makeba, they never performed abroad up until 2007. Thanks to a vibrant and flourishing world music scene and labels such as [...]
Origami
Finnish jazz? Why yes, that too is a possibility. Well, let's say we expected as much, ever since Finnish jazz sextett Dalindèo appeared on the scene back in 2003 or filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki introduced us to Finnish tango. It should not come as a surprise then that Finnland today has a budding jazz scene with a handful of key players, such as drummer Jaska Lukkarinen and Berlin/Helsinki-based composer Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen. Pöyhönen is known as the [...]
Oy, Jew Are Not Alone!
As our Jewish Monkeys continue their pursuit of fame across Germany, performing live in Hanover tonight and in Hamburg tomorrow (check our Shows page here), we decided to reference a recent article by Michael Croland for young Jewish online magazine Jewcy, fittingly entitled "Mosh Your Tuches Off!". The pop culturally highly relevant piece embarks on a short exploration of current Yiddish punk performers or punk bands incorporating Yiddish elements, "Oy" or [...]
Afro Golden Line
Tel Aviv-/Berlin-based tastemakers Raw Tapes return with a forthcoming digital/seven-inch vinyl release by Israeli drummer Amir Bresler, one of the most sought after percussionists on the block. Bresler, who was first exposed to the wonders of jazz music at age 15, today performs with some of the best jazz musicians in Israel as well as on prominent international stages around the globe.
Some time ago, Bresler was approached by Meinl cymbals and asked to [...]
Tour Be Or Not Tour Be?
The infamous Jewish Monkeys have arrived in Germany, again! Well actually they have touched ground in Switzerland, where tonight they kick off a string of eight live shows, to present their brand new longplayer "High Words" and shake some Teutonic limbs. "High Words" is now available to stream and download via Bandcamp, right over here, and comprises 10 newish tracks, including the recently released "Pupik", a tale of love in the age of social media. This [...]
Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra
Established back in 2006, the 20-something-piece Berlin-based Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra (AMEO) is definitely a musical force to be reckoned with. Unlike your average large ensemble, AMEO has created a whole new and genre-bending musical language that quite literally "dwarfs anything heretofore experienced" (Neue Zürcher Zeitung). With a penchant for experimentation this group of self-organized, like-minded and in-demand musicians, hailing from various [...]
Safar
Afghanistan suffered immensely under the Taliban regime and subsequent insurgencies, which took their toll on the country's rich cultural diversity and musical traditions. Music was forbidden under Taliban rule, but survived at the hands of master musicians, who continue to pass along their invaluable knowledge to younger generations.
One such project is "Safar" (meaning journey) that marks a continued musical exchange between the University of Music FRANZ [...]
Underwater Love
Today marks the official release day of "High Words", album number two by the crowd-pleasing Jewish Monkeys and well, what more can we say than: we are such proud parents!
Never ones to shy away from giving, this band of middle-aged crooners, psychoanalysts and self-proclaimed womanizers picked this day to air the brand new music video to their album track "Pupik". The clip tells a tale of love in the time of social networks, beautifully brought to life by [...]
High Words, The Remix
Hold onto your seats everyone as the Jewish Monkeys are about to officially drop album number two tomorrow! That's right, "High Words" is just around the bend and you can already stream/download the masterpiece in full via Bandcamp. Yes, word on the streets rings true as the mischievous bunch is back with a Yiddish vengeance that is very much contagious.
Among the latest mishpoche to have caught the proverbial Fever is Ukrainian-born/Berlin-based all-rounder* [...]
Monkeying Around
With only a week to go before their highly anticipated sophomore album's official release, the Jewish Monkeys are revving up the promo engine or as The Jerusalem Post called it, Monkeying Around. In a recent interview with Ariel Dominique Hendelman of the leading Israeli English newspaper, Ran Bagno (accordion) and Gael Zaidner (vocals) shared their thoughts on the band, talked about a momentous performance in front of Syrian refugees and hinted at the fact [...]
ZMEI3
"Rough Romanian Soul" is the title to their debut album and that is exactly what the Berlin-based quartet Zmei3 formed around two Romanian immigrants delivers. Classically trained vocalist Paula Turcas and band leader Mihai Victor Iliescu on guitar are joined by master vibraphonist Oli Bott and the full sound of double bass player Arnulf Ballhorn as the group conjures up a powerful blend of urban music inspired by its rural Romanian heritage. Recorded live [...]