December 31, 2021

In remembrance 2021

It sure seems to me as though a lot of my favorite musicians died in 2021.  Maybe it's just that I'm getting older.  Maybe it's that I've been thinking more about my own mortality lately.
 
Mostly it's that we're living through a golden era of death -- a (hopefully) once-in-a-century pandemic.  Just in 2021, about 13,000,000 more people died worldwide than would have been expected had there not been a COVID pandemic.  (My source for this number is The Economist's excess deaths model.)  More than a few of the unfortunate have been great musicians.
 
This week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday January 2, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), we'll celebrate the lives and times of 21 musicians from around the world who passed away last year, leaving us to safeguard the evidence of their genius.  And I do mean genius -- just about every track on this show is a stone-cold classic.

December 23, 2021

Top ten compilations, reissues & historic recordings of 2021

This week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday December 26, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), I'm wrapping up a 3-week-long look at my favorite recordings of 2021 by playing my favorite compilations, reissues and historic recordings of the year.
 
I love finding out about music of the past that I missed out on back then.  And I'm a sucker for the lengths that the producers of sets like the ones featured in this week's program are willing to go to in order to bring this forgotten music back into the daylight.
 
For example, this year's #5 is the result of a multi-year negotiation between the album's producer and the government of Djibouti, with all royalties paid directly to that country's Ministry of Culture.  And #6 got its start in a Vietnamese-American woman's curiosity about her mother's singing career; it turns out that her mother was an early Vietnamese rock 'n' roll icon who hadn't heard her own recordings in 55 years.

Without further ado, here's are my top compilations, reissues and historic recordings of 2021:

December 18, 2021

Top ten new singles & EPs of 2021

In the current era of home studios, direct-to-consumer distribution, mobile listening and streaming, the single is no longer just for Top 40 music.  If you're not following singles and EPs in whatever genres you listen to, much of today's most compelling music is breezing right past you.
 
I've made a concerted effort in recent years to play singles and EPs on Global A Go-Go, and for the past 3 years I've done a year-end recap of the best singles and EPs of the year.  This year's recap (Sunday December 19, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) once again has some killer material, just as good if not better than what I played on last week's top albums of 2021 episode.  Tune in and hear for yourself.

Without further ado, here are my top singles and EPs of 2021:

December 13, 2021

Charts December 6-12, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 HAMDI BENANI, MEDHI HADDAB AND SPEED CARAVAN | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique
2 BALKAN TAKSIM | Disko Telegraf | Buda Musique
3 DELGRES | 4:00 AM | PIAS
4 LA MAMBANEGRA | Los Ultimos Buses De Colores | Tambora
5 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | 16 Rayos | Daptone
6 A ESPETACULAR CHARANGA DO FRANCA | The Importance Of Being Espetacular | Mais Um
7 MONEY CHICHA | Chicha Summit | Vampisoul
8 LOS CHAPILLACS | Lo Bueno, Lo Malo, Lo Feo Y Los Alarcosos Chapillacs | Vampisoul
9 ADRIAN QUESADA | Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul | Nacional
10 TOKYO GLOW: JAPANESE CITY POP, FUNK AND BOOGIE SELECTED BY DJ NOTOYA | various artists | Wewantsounds

December 11, 2021

Top ten new albums of 2021

It's the most wonderful time of the year, the time to find out who's been naughty and nice.  No, I'm not talking about the holiday season; I'm talking about when everyone's Best Of The Year lists come out.
 
I'll be rolling out my own lists over the next three weeks on Global A Go-Go.  On this week's program (Sunday December 12, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) I'll present my top ten new albums of 2021 plus ten honorable mentions.
 
Next week you'll hear my favorite singles and EPs of the year gone by, and in two weeks it will be selections from my favorite compilations, reissues and historic recordings of 2021.
 
In terms of themes for 2021's best new albums, I thought it was a great year for Latin music and in particular for music from Colombia, a country that's rapidly gaining attention for its broad and deep music scenes.  And an unusual number of my favorite new albums this year could be classified as rock 'n' roll, a genre that's widely viewed in the USA as past its sell-by date.
 
Without further ado, here are my top new albums of 2021:

December 6, 2021

Charts Nov 29 - Dec 5, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 QUANTIC AND NIDIA GONGORA | Almas Conectadas | Tru Thoughts
2 MUKAMBO PRESENTS GLOBAL AFROBEAT MOVEMENT 2 | various artists | NYP
3 PHUONG TAM | Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul 1964-1966 | Sublime Frequencies
4 LOS BITCHOS | "Las Panteras" [Single] | City Slang
5 ELIA Y ELIZABETH | Elia Y Elizabeth | Vampisoul
6 CONTENTO | En Lancha Pal Futuro | El Palmas
7 JUCARA MARCAL | Delta Estacio Blues | QTV Selo/Mais Um
8 SHAGGY AND RAYVON | "Drive Me Insane" [Single] | Mr. Doo
9 META AND THE CORNERSTONES | Dia | Metarize
10 THEON CROSS | Intra-I | New Soil/Marathon

December 4, 2021

Chicken no dey fly

I have a whole lot of new African and African-inspired music in this week's (Sunday December 5, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) first hour: the legendary Omar Pene of Senegal, the Scorpios bringing Sudan through a current London filter, Femi Koya with Nigerian Afrobeat made in South Africa, and the Afro-futurist sounds of Onipa.
 
In this week's second hour you'll hear new Latin favorites from Quantic & Nidia Gongora, Grupo Pernil, Contento and Malamanya, reggae meets boogie featuring a long-lost single by Desmond Chambers, and we'll finish up with jit and kalindula from Zimbabwe and Zambia including great new reissue of Robson Banda & The New Black Eagles.

November 30, 2021

Charts November 22-28, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ETRAN DE L'AIR | "Adounia" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
2 DELI TELI | Tsifteteli Club | Rebel Up-Catapulte
3 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | 16 Rayos | Daptone
4 CONTENTO | En Lancha Pal Futuro | El Palmas
5 SARAH AROESTE | Hanuka! | self-released
6 JUSTIN ADAMS AND MAURO DURANTE | Still Moving | Ponderosa
7 TRUDII HARRISON | True Story | CKM Infinity Studio
8 IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE | "Electricity" [Single] | Merge
9 JAGUAR | Madremonte | El Palmas
10 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa

November 26, 2021

When Hanukkah comes around

Global A Go-Go has been a Christmas-song-free zone since 2005, just because (as Geoff Berner sings) "The Christians irritate us with their Christmas-ness / It seems like every year."  Not like there will be a shortage of Christmas music from now until the day in question, amirite?

But Hanukkah?  Heck yeah I'll play Hanukkah songs.  Irreverent songs perhaps, like one by the aforementioned Geoff Berner, or a new one in the nearly-extinct Ladino (Sephardi) language by Sarah Aroeste, or how about Katey Red giving her dreidel a sissy bounce spin?

Also this week on the eve of Hanukkah's first night (Sunday November 28, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): another reissue from K. Frimpong's back catalog, Cuban big bands, and that's life (adounia in Tamasheq).
 
Plus sets themed around two events happening in Richmond next week: the Fania Forever party at the Hotel Greene's Crown Room on Thursday (more info here: facebook.com/events/672418733738581) and Yeni Nostalji's first post-lockdown performance on Friday (more info here: facebook.com/photo?fbid=566034447978053&set=a.395309925050507)

November 23, 2021

Charts November 15-21, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ATAKORA MANU | Omintiminim/Afro Highlife | BBE
2 LOS POPS | No, No, No [EP] | Munster
3 MAXADO | Upon A Smile [EP] | Badasonic
4 PROFESSOR WOUASSA | "Thiebou Djaga" [Single] | Matasuna
5 MUKAMBO PRESENTS GLOBAL AFROBEAT MOVEMENT 2 | various artists | NYP
6 MONEY CHICHA | Chicha Summit | Vampisoul
7 BATILA | Tatamana | Galileo
8 FRANK Y SUS INQUIETOS | Frank Y Sus Inquietos | El Palmas
9 SONIA AIMY | Reconnect | Slammin Media
10 KADIALY KOUYATE | Aado | Naxos World

November 19, 2021

Like Eric Clapton but not a douche canoe

José Luis Carballo is one of the greatest rock 'n' roll guitarists you've never heard of.  His compressed, piercing, fuzzed-out sound will be familiar to any fan of 60s and 70s classic rock, and his long, endlessly imaginative lead lines call to mind players like Duane Allman and Eric Clapton.
 
Carballo is from Lima, Peru and is one the people who shaped the sound known as chicha, or Peruvian psychedelic cumbia.   The first of his bands to make an impact was Los Hijos Del Sol; he went on to form La Mermelada and Chacalón Y La Nueva Crema (the latter named for Clapton's old band).

This week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday November 21, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear music from throughout Carballo's career, including a wonderful featured appearance on the new album by Money Chicha where he shows that he's still got his chops.

Also this week: Jamaica's rocksteady sound, Get In The Garage presents more of los nuggets (Spanish-language garage rock hits), Moonlight Benjamin's new single, Afrobeat from Belgium and Switzerland, and new Igbo highlife by Oliver Nayoka.

November 16, 2021

Charts November 8-14, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 DELI TELI | Tsifteteli Club | Rebel Up-Catapulte
2 CEU | Um Gosto De Sol | Urban Jungle
3 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | 16 Rayos | Daptone
4 A ESPETACULAR CHARANGA DO FRANCA | The Importance Of Being Espetacular | Mais Um
5 ETRAN DE L'AIR | "Toubouk Ine Chihoussay" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
6 KHOOMEI BEAT | Changys Baglaash | ARC
7 JAGUAR | Madremonte | El Palmas
8 BONGA JEAN-BAPTISTE | Boula | Buda Musique
9 JOANA ROCHAEL | "Blues Para Luiza" [Single] | Brasil Calling
10 ELIA Y ELIZABETH | Elia Y Elizabeth | Vampisoul

November 13, 2021

Enhanced actual reality

Hi, and welcome to this very natural setting.  Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach to connect our world without being super weird.  Some said it's not possible.  Some said it's out of reach.  To them we say: it's already here.
 
And what do we call this not so new chapter in human connectivity?  We call it listening to the music of people who aren't the same as you.  Enhanced actual reality without silly looking headsets.  Also without Facebook, or should I say Meta?

[Apologies to this fabulous video for my direct theft: bit.ly/30pNhje]

This week (Sunday November 14, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site)'s enhanced actual reality includes music from Brazil that goes in a few unexpected directions, multiphonic voices of Tuva and Mongolia, psychedelic saz and bouzouki from Turkey and Greece, Haitian mizik rasin, guitar heroes of the Sahel, and the record label that traded the reality of Berlin for the enhanced actual reality of Kumasi Ghana.

November 9, 2021

Charts November 1-7, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 QUANTIC AND NIDIA GONGORA | Almas Conectadas | Tru Thoughts
2 LAGARTIJEANDO | La Tercera Vision | Wonderwheel
3 PHUONG TAM | Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul 1964-1966 | Sublime Frequencies
4 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | 16 Rayos | Daptone
5 LPT | Se Quema El Mundo | self-released
6 MUKAMBO PRESENTS GLOBAL AFROBEAT MOVEMENT 2 | various artists | NYP
7 LOCOS POR JUANA | "Mundo En Llamas" [Single] | Rock The Moon Productions
8 LOS BITCHOS | "Las Panteras" [Single] | City Slang
9 DOGO DU TOGO | "Soke Wo" [Single] | self-released
10 MOKTAR GANIA AND GNAWA SOUL | "Alla A Soudane" [Single] | Musjomusic

November 5, 2021

New this fall on Global A Go-Go

Well, it's been a busy last month here on Global A Go-Go.  Over the past five weeks we've had a Halloween special, a special fund drive program and an hour-long interview with Taj Weekes during the Richmond Folk Festival.  Oh, and two weeks off.

As a result, I'm way behind in bringing you the excellent new releases that have been piling up in my inbox.  To remedy the situation, I'm going to do something I pretty much never do: an all new music program.  Almost everything I'm playing has come out this fall (a handful of items go back to the summer) and a couple are new reissues, but everything else is brand new and none of the songs have been played yet on this show.

So tune in this week (Sunday November 7, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) and find some new music to love.

November 3, 2021

Charts October 18-31, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | 16 Rayos | Daptone
2 CIMAFUNK | El Alimento | Thirty Tigers
3 DOGO DU TOGO | "Soke Wo" [Single] | self-released
4 LOS BITCHOS | "Las Panteras" [Single] | City Slang
5 QUANTIC AND NIDIA GONGORA | Almas Conectadas | Tru Thoughts
6 KEITH HUDSON | Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood | VP
7 BISHOB MEETS MANJUL | Tears | Baco
8 LA MAMBANEGRA | Los Ultimos Buses De Colores | Tambora
9 SUPER BITON DE SEGOU | Afro Jazz Folk Collection Vol. 1 | Mieruba
10 OMAR PENE | Climat | Diamono Production

October 30, 2021

World wide spoopy

First of all, let me start by thanking the approximately 470 donors who contributed more than $47,000 during WRIR's Fall 2021 fund drive, topping our $45,000 goal (the highest goal we've ever set) and making this drive the second largest in our 16+ year history, trailing only this past spring.
 
One thing that long ago stopped surprising me about "The Sound of Surprise" (one of Richmond Independent Radio's favorite nicknames) is the generosity of our supporters.  But you folks really went above and beyond this time!  So let me give each of you a pat on the back.  Or at least a fist bump.  And if donating somehow slipped your mind, it's still not too late: just visit wrir.org and click on the red Donate button.
 
Now, on to the music.  You may have thought you'd heard the last of WRIR's Halloween 2021 shows.  But Global A Go-Go is here on the day in question (Halloween Sunday October 31, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) bringing stories and sounds macabre, supernatural, demonic and bone-chilling from the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, England, Latin America and Africa.  Now that's scary, kids!

October 23, 2021

WRIR's Fall 2021 fund drive

WRIR's Fall 2021 Fund Drive is now underway -- we're working to raise $45,000 by Wednesday October 27 to power "the tower of low power" in Richmond for another six months. Thank you if you have previously donated to Richmond Independent Radio; I'm writing to encourage you to make a donation once again this fall, if you can. You can make that donation in two minutes by clicking this link: wrir.org/donating.
 
This time around, WRIR's Social Media folks asked all of our DJs to submit a photograph of ourselves and a response to the question "Why do you volunteer at WRIR?" My photograph is above, and my answer is the same today as it was when I started volunteering back in 2004, a year before we went on the FM airwaves: "Because the public airwaves belong to the public."

October 19, 2021

Charts October 11-17, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 JUCARA MARCAL |  Delta Estacio Blues | QTV Selo-Mais Um
2 LOS BITCHOS | "Las Panteras" [Single] | City Slang
3 QUANTIC AND NIDIA GONGORA | "Balada Borracha" [Single] | Tru Thoughts
4 HAILU MERGIA AND THE WALIAS BAND | Tezeta | Awesome Tapes From Africa
5 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
6 BOMBA ESTEREO | Deja | Sony Latin
7 JOSEPH SPENCE | Encore: Unheard Recordings Of Bahamian Guitar And Singing | Smithsonian Folkways
8 BACAO RHYTHM AND STEEL BAND | Expansions | Big Crown
9 TONY ALLEN | There Is No End | Decca France
10 ATONGO ZIMBA | From A To Z | Jinn

October 12, 2021

Charts Sep 27 - Oct 10, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 TAJ WEEKES | Pause | Jatta
2 JOSE GONZALEZ | Local Valley | Mute
3 BACAO RHYTHM AND STEEL BAND | Expansions | Big Crown
4 MONEY CHICHA | Chicha Summit | Vampisoul
5 PAHUA | "El Traketeo" [Single] | Nacional
6 LOS CHAPILLACS | Lo Bueno, Lo Malo, Lo Feo Y Los Alarcosos Chapillacs | Vampisoul
7 MERIDIAN BROTHERS AND CONJUNTO MEDIA LUNA | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe
8 FRENTE CUMBIERO | Cera Perdida | La Roma
9 KEITH HUDSON | Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood | VP
10 BOMBA ESTEREO | Deja | Sony Latin

October 8, 2021

Let your vibes be high & your message mighty

It's time for the Richmond Folk Festival, back in person after a pandemic year in the online format.  One of the artists I'm most excited to see at this year's festival is the St. Lucian reggae singer-songwriter Taj Weekes, who combines an ethereal voice like John Holt's with cutting lyrics reminiscent of Peter Tosh.
 
Taj will join me in WRIR's Studio A for an interview beginning a little after 1:00 PM, before he heads over to the Community Foundation Stage at 3:10 for the "Songs: Stories of Hope & Home" panel discussion and then to the Dance Pavilion at 5:15 to close out this year's festival.  We'll talk about his new album Pause, the pandemic days which he has called "the most important year of my life," his recent trip to Ghana and whatever else seems worth discussing.

Also this week (Sunday October 10, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Haitian mizik rasin (roots music) and an all-Latin second hour with electronica, cumbia and chicha.

September 28, 2021

Charts September 20-26, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 SHAGGY AND RAYVON | "Drive Me Insane" [Single] | Mr. Doo
2 LA MAMBANEGRA | Los Ultimos Buses De Colores | Tambora
3 SUSANA BACA | "Sorongo" [Single] | Real World
4 LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds
5 HAILU MERGIA AND THE WALIAS BAND | Tezeta | Awesome Tapes From Africa
6 META AND THE CORNERSTONES | Dia | Metarize
7 BOMBA ESTEREO | Deja | Sony Latin
8 KUTIMAN | "Guruji" [Single] | Siyal
9 SUPER BITON DE SEGOU | Afro Jazz Folk Collection Vol. 1 | Mieruba
10 SONIDO GALLO NEGRO | "Planet Claire" [Single] | self-released

September 25, 2021

El callegüeso y su malamaña

Start with a base layer of heavy NYC salsa dura.  Mix in an equal amount of modern Cuban big band music: songo and timba.  Leaven with Colombia's Afro-Pacific sounds, add some Bronx hip-hop and Kingston dancehall, and the result is La Mambanegra from Cali, Colombia and a style they call "break salsa."
 
La Mambanegra is one of the most powerful dance bands in the world right now.  No one else sounds like them, and La Mambanegra sound like nothing but themselves on every single one of their songs.  Yet somehow this great combo is criminally underrecognized.  Global A Go-Go will do its part this week to change that situation, spinning four La Mambanegra tracks including two from their new album.

Also this week (Sunday September 26, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): more of Zimbabwe's mbira and the Sahara's desert blues, the sound of digital dancehall circa 1992, new music from Cyprus by Monsieur Doumani and the latest from Afro-Peruvian icon Susana Baca.

September 22, 2021

Charts September 13-19, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 CAMEROON GARAGE FUNK | various artists | Analog Africa
2 FANFARE CIOCARLIA | It Wasn't Hard To Love You | Asphalt Tango
3 SONIA AIMY | Reconnect | Slammin Media
4 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | "Mi Conga Es De Akokan" [Single] | Daptone
5 MINYO CRUSADERS | Live At Le Guess Who? | Mais Um
6 ZANZIBARA VOLUME 10 | various artists | Buda Musique
7 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
8 JOSEPH SPENCE | Encore: Unheard Recordings Of Bahamian Guitar And Singing | Smithsonian Folkways
9 FLORENCE ADOONI | "Mam Pe'ela Su'ure" [Single] | Philophon
10 4 MARS | Super Somali Sounds From The Gulf Of Tadjoura | Ostinato

September 17, 2021

Who invented Black & White?

Let me introduce you to my favorite band of this moment.  They're from London and they play Afrobeat the way Fela Kuti intended: as a weapon.  The name of this band is Eparapo ("Join Forces" in Yoruba), they've released three songs so far and you'll hear all three of them this week on Global A Go-Go.
 
Also this week (Sunday September 19, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): women of Afrobeat; a continuation of last week's big ol' Balkan brass throwdown; East African sounds; a tribute to "the Ethiopian Elvis," Alemayehu Eshete, who passed away on September 2; and new Latin sounds from Japan (!).

September 14, 2021

Charts September 6-12, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 SONIA AIMY | Reconnect | Slammin Media
2 LOS CHAPILLACS | Lo Bueno, Lo Malo, Lo Feo Y Los Alarcosos Chapillacs | Vampisoul
3 FANFARE CIOCARLIA | It Wasn't Hard To Love You | Asphalt Tango
4 MONEY CHICHA | "Maria Teresa b/w Cumbia Del Desierto" [Single] | Vampisoul
5 TAJ WEEKES | Pause | Jatta
6 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
7 MAMAKI BOYS | Patriote [EP] | Sahel Sounds
8 FLOR DE TOLOACHE | "La Tierra" [Single] | ADA Music
9 FRANK Y SUS INQUIETOS | "Resignate" [Single] | El Palmas
10 YORK | "The Days In Brazil (feat Guida De Palma)" [Single] | Upper Level

September 10, 2021

Rumput at Firehouse

With live music gradually returning to Richmond's stages, I'm joined in WRIR's Studio A this week by Andy McGraw and Hannah Standiford of the music and art collective (and long-time Global A Go-Go fave) Rumput, who are Richmond's first, only and therefore best Indonesian keroncong string band.
 
Andy and Hannah will tell us what Rumput has been up to during the pandemic, we'll play some of Rumput's new recordings, and he'll talk about the band's first performance in many moons, coming up Monday September 13 at the Firehouse Theatre.

Also this week (Sunday September 12, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): another tribute to an African musical genius gone too soon, Barthelemy Attisso of Orchestra Baobab; more burners from the Islamic Funk Belt; new chicha by Los Chapillacs and Money Chicha; and a big ol' Balkan brass throwdown.

September 7, 2021

Charts Aug 30 - Sep 5, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ADRIAN QUESADA | Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul | Nacional
2 KADIALY KOUYATE | Aado | Naxos World
3 HAMDI BENANI, MEDHI HADDAB AND SPEED CARAVAN | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique
4 KANE MATHIS | Geminus | Nyaato
5 DANAKIL | Rien Ne Se Tait | Baco
6 NIL'S JAZZ ENSEMBLE | Nil's Jazz Ensemble | Vampisoul
7 FADHILEE ITULYA | Shindu Shi | Naxos World
8 ELIDA ALMEIDA | Gerasonobu | Lusafrica
9 FAT FREDDY'S DROP | Wairunga | The Drop
10 CAMEROON GARAGE FUNK | various artists | Analog Africa

September 3, 2021

Guitar boy and mami wata

(Sir Victor Uwaifo's sculpture self-portrait in his living room, photograph by Morgan Greenstreet)
 
Sir Victor Uwaifo, one of the great artists and characters of African music, passed away on August 28 at the age of 80.
 
Uwaifo's "Joromi" became Africa's first gold record in 1969; he went on to revolutionize highlife music, build a hotel and an entire music industry in his hometown of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and in his spare time earn his PhD in Architectural Sculpture and turn his home into the Revelation Tourist Palazzo.  We'll celebrate the amazing, colorful life of Sir Victor Uwaifo on this week's edition of Global A Go-Go with an assortment of his tracks and one very special Sir Victor sample.
 
Also this week (Sunday September 5, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): new music for the kora, hard rock from Algeria, reggae en francais, Congolese soukous to warm you up for the USA premiere of The Rumba Kings (Saturday September 11 at the Byrd Theater as part of the Richmond International Film Festival), and some Chicano soul from the American southwest.

August 31, 2021

Charts August 24-29, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 MERIDIAN BROTHERS AND CONJUNTO MEDIA LUNA | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe
2 A ESPECTACULAR CHARANGA DA FRANCA | "Nao Para (Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" [Single] | Mais Um
3 ORQUESTA AKOKAN | "Mi Congo Es De Akokan" [Single] | Daptone
4 LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds
5 MDOU MOCTAR | Afrique Victime | Matador
6 SUSANA BACA | "La Herida Oscura" [Single] | Real World
7 LOS SIDERAL'S | "Virgines Del Sol/Dongoh" [Single] | Munster
8 COCHEMEA | Vol. II Baca Sewa | Daptone
9 RECORD KICKS AFRO SIDES, VOL. 2 | various artists | Record Kicks
10 ACHOLI MACHON | Sons Of South Sudan [EP] | Good Deeds

August 26, 2021

Sunday kind of love

(photograph by Tanja Softic)
 
Dobrodosli means "welcome" in Serbo-Croatian and many of the related South Slavic languages.  Every week, I start Global A Go-Go with this word and today I get to welcome some new listeners.
 
Because this (Sunday August 29, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) is my first program in a new time slot: Sundays from 1 to 3 PM.  I'm looking forward to sharing Sunday afternoons with you.
 
If you're not familiar with Global A Go-Go, let me tell you a little bit about the show.  I describe it as "music from around the world in the universal language of groove."  I like to say that the program's purpose is to decolonize your ears: to get you out of the bad habit of behaving as though the music of your culture and time is the sun around which all other musics orbit.

While I do play some things that could be classified as "folk music," Global A Go-Go isn't particularly folkloric: mostly I play music that is or has been quite popular, just not popular in Richmond or Virginia or the USA.

A typical two-hour episode will include artists from 10 or more countries, and performances recorded over six or more decades.  This week's show is pretty typical, with 11 countries from five continents spanning eight decades.  Without any further ado, let's jump into the program; I hope you enjoy the journey with me today.

August 24, 2021

Charts August 17-23, 2021

 
WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 BEN HARPER AND ZIGGY MARLEY | "Spin It Faster" [Single] | Mad Bunny
2 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
3 JAGUAR | Madremonte | El Palmas
4 CARWYN ELLIS AND RIO 18 | "Ola" [Single] | Legere
5 KEVIN FLOREZ AND CAPTAIN PLANET | "Borracho Bailando Champeta" [Single] | Bastard Jazz
6 KENYA EUGENE | "Bun It" [Single] | SOA Group
7 FRENTE CUMBIERO | Cera Perdida | La Roma
8 MONOSWEZI | Shanu | Riverboat
9 TAJ WEEKES | Pause | Jatta
10 JOSEPH SPENCE | Encore: Unheard Recordings Of Bahamian Guitar And Singing | Smithsonian Folkways

August 21, 2021

Monday I've got Sunday on my mind

Listen: Global A Go-Go is changing its time slot.  After a year and three-quarters on Mondays at 3 PM, my next port of call will be Sundays at 1 PM.  I'm switching slots with Michael Murphy, whose fabulous program Mellow Madness will be in this time slot beginning next week.  Here's more information about Mellow Madness, it's one of my favorite WRIR programs: wrir.org/show/mellow-madness
 
I'm going to miss all my Monday peeps -- hopefully a lot of you will become my Sunday peeps!  And I'll miss the record-nerd camaraderie of Freddie J of Banji Kaicho (Mandays at 1 PM) and Garry of The Lost Music Saloon (Mondays at 5 PM).  So it goes ....
 
As for this week's program (Monday August 23, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), we're leaving Mondays with a bang, with one of the most varied playlists I've put together in some time.  You'll hear Brazilian psychedelia, mbiras from Zimbabwe and Ethio-rock in the first hour.  The second hour all comes from the Caribbean, featuring reggae from Saint Croix and Saint Lucia, Colombian champeta with a whole lotta Congolese in it, and some soca excursions.

August 18, 2021

Charts August 10-16, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 DOBET GNAHORE | Couleur | Cumbancha
2 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
3 JAHRUKUS | "Ashes To Ashes" [Single] | Soul Messin'
4 MERIDIAN BROTHERS AND CONJUNTO MEDIA LUNA | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe
5 DAG TENERE | Iswat [EP] | Nomada
6 LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds
7 ZANZIBARA VOLUME 10 | various artists | Buda Musique
8 OKUTE | Okuté | Chulo
9 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 1 | Bongo Joe / Catapulte
10 MOH ALILECHE | Humanity Is Falling Apart | Flag Of Freedom Productions

August 13, 2021

Turntable Report's global grooves

This week on Global A Go-Go (Monday August 16, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) I'm joined by Tracy Wilson, who will be spinning the best international recordings she's heard so far in 2021.
 
Tracy is my former colleague here at WRIR, where she founded our still-running program Cause And Effect.  You might be familiar with her own music from the bands Dahlia Seed, Positive No and Ringfinger.  Tracy has spent much of her career working in the music business at big-time distributors like Caroline and Fontana.  She's moved on to a different occupation, but she still has the same music avocation, or should I say obsession?
 
Tracy's free newsletter Turntable Report (tinyletter.com/turntablereport) is an invaluable summary of new releases you probably haven't heard yet.  And her micro-store Courtesy Desk (courtesydesk.bigcartel.com) makes it easy for you to buy the hard-to-find items she's uncovered for Turntable Report.
 
Most importantly, Tracy has the biggest ears in the business, so it's my pleasure to hear two hours of new music she's selected specifically with a Global A Go-Go vibe in mind.  I think it will be your pleasure as well.

August 10, 2021

Charts August 3-9, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
2 OKUTE | Okuté | Chulo
3 MARCUS GAD MEETS TAMAL | "Tempo" [Single] | Easy Star
4 LE FERRAND, JOHAN | "Yerna Fasse (feat Khaira Arby)" [Single] | self-released
5 HAMDI BENANI, MEDHI HADDAB AND SPEED CARAVAN | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique
6 HAILU MERGIA AND THE WALIAS BAND | Tezeta | Awesome Tapes From Africa
7 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 1 | Bongo Joe/Catapulte
8 NIL'S JAZZ ENSEMBLE | Nil's Jazz Ensemble | Vampisoul
9 COCHEMEA | Vol. II: Baca Sewa | Daptone
10 BALIMAYA PROJECT | Wolo So | Jazz Re:Freshed

August 7, 2021

Balimaya

Balimaya means kinship, fellowship or brotherhood in Bamana and the other Manding languages of West Africa.  It's also an organizing principle for a 16-piece band from London called Balimaya Project, led by percussionist Yahael Camara Onono, featuring musicians from Kokoroko and the SEED Ensemble, and including kora, balafon and a six-piece African drum section.
 
Balimaya Project's debut album Wolo So was released on July 30, and it's a must-hear for fans of  progressive African music and jazz.  I'll play you a track this week on Global A Go-Go.

Also this week (Monday August 9, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): dreamy Turkish psych-pop; the deep grooves of Cuban rumba and timba; new African music from Yeko & Khaira Arby, Guy One and Vaudou Game; and some North African music for the dance floor.

August 4, 2021

Charts Jul 20 - Aug 2, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
2 MERIDIAN BROTHERS AND CONJUNTO MEDIA LUNA | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe
3 JAHRUKUS | "Ashes To Ashes" [Single] | Soul Messin'
4 LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds
5 QUANTIC AND NIDIA GONGORA | "Balada Borracha" [Single] | Tru Thoughts
6 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 1 | Bongo Joe/Catapulte
7 NATIK AWAYEZ | Manbarani | Sublime Frequencies
8 COCHEMEA | Vol. II: Baca Sewa | Daptone
9 RECORD KICKS AFRO SIDES, VOL. 2 | various artists | Record Kicks
10 LOS SUPERSONICOS | "Introduccion" [Single] | El Palmas

August 1, 2021

Down by the river

If you're a frequent Global A Go-Go listener, you're probably aware of my ongoing obsession with reggae versions: songs originally from other genres repurposed inna Jamaican stylee.  And the more unlikely the cover, the better.
 
This week I'm fully engaging my obsession by devoting the first hour of the program entirely to reggae versions of songs you'll hear on classic rock radio: you know, Classic Rock 96.5 in Richmond, Channel 26 Classic Vinyl on SiriusXM, that kind of thing.  There's a lot of this type of material out there!  Some of it is actually good!  Those are the ones I've selected (or at least tried to select) for you.

Also this week (Monday August 2, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): an all-Latin second hour with new music by Quantic & Nidia Gongora, a set of left-of-the-dial cumbia and a set of Peruvian chicha.

July 21, 2021

Charts July 13-19, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten 
1 MDOU MOCTAR | Afrique Victime | Matador
2 LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds
3 DAG TENERE | Iswat [EP] | Nomada
4 MINYO CRUSADERS | Live At Le Guess Who? | Mais Um
5 URUTAU | "Oracao (feat Iuri Resende)" [Single] | Cena Cerrado
6 LOGA | "C'est La Vie (feat Valeria Sattamini)" [Single] | self-released
7 GANKINO CIRCUS | "Schock" [Single] | Beste! Unterhaltung
8 HAILU MERGIA AND THE WALIAS BAND | Tezeta | Awesome Tapes From Africa
9 META AND THE CORNERSTONES | "Breeze" [Single] | self-released
10 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa

July 17, 2021

Sayonara tomodachi

I don't play a lot of music from Japan on this program.  Fortunately for WRIR listeners, you have Banji Kaicho to more than cover for me: two hours of Japanese music of any genre, hosted by Freddie J, right before Global A Go-Go every week, Mondays at 1 PM.
 
But somehow this week I went down a Japanese cumbia rabbit hole.  I was chasing Minyo Crusaders, whose album Live At Le Guess Who? was released earlier this month, and I was wondering about other Japanese bands playing cumbia.  Turns out there's a lot of them!  I've chosen a few of my favorites to share with you on this episode.

Also this week (Monday July 19, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): new Brazilian rock, the return of Balkan brass bangers, and an all-African second hour featuring desert blues, juju, highlife and Afro-funk.

July 13, 2021

Charts Jun 29 - Jul 12, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 OKUTE | Okuté | Chulo
2 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
3 MDOU MOCTAR | Afrique Victime | Matador
4 LAS CAFETERAS | "La Sirena" [Single] | ONErpm
5 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 1 | Light In The Attic
6 CONKARAH | "Papaya (Sick Wit It Crew mix)" [Single] | BMG
7 SOFI TUKKER X AMADOU AND MARIAM | "Mon Cheri" [Single] | Red Hot
8 MOH ALILECHE | Humanity Is Falling Apart | Flag Of Freedom Productions
9 PHIRPO Y SUS CARIBES | "Comencemos (Let's Start)/Mi Moooto" | Matasuna
10 COLOR DE TROPICO, VOL. 2 | various artists | El Palmas

July 9, 2021

Happy 40th, Plan 9!

(photo by Tom Campagnoli)

On July 11, 1981, Plan 9 Records opened for business at 2901 W. Cary Street in Richmond's Carytown neighborhood, backed by $1,200 in tax refund money and stocked with the consigned records of the owners and their friends.

It's rare for an independent record store to stay in business for 40 years.  And a few things have changed in their industry since then: the death and rebirth of the LP; the birth and death of the CD; the birth, death and rebirth of the cassette; competition from national and international mega-retailers; the rise and fall of Napster and file-sharing; the digital music revolution and the rise of streaming services.

Somehow Plan 9 has survived it all, not to mention a few recessions including a doozy in 2008, more store moves than you can count, expansion and contraction, even a bankruptcy filing.  40 years later, Plan 9 is still Richmond's premier indie record store and in many ways it's just like the store it was when it first opened.

I speak from experience on this last point, since I was one of Plan 9's early customers.  I stumbled across the store in about September of 1981, and if I hadn't found it I probably would have moved out of Richmond and never returned.  Plan 9 introduced me to Richmond's independent music community, which back then was pretty far underground but nowadays has moved from the basement to the penthouse of Richmond's cultural scene, thanks in no small part to the persistence of Plan 9.

This week on Global A Go-Go (Monday July 12, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), I'm going to play some of the international recordings I bought at Plan 9 in their first three years of business.  These were the albums that set me on the path I'm on today; these are the records that invented the idea of Global A Go-Go.

And I'll be joined in Studio A by Plan 9's co-founder and owner Jim Bland (on the left in the photo above; on the right is co-founder Pedie Kurzman).  In between musical selections, Jim and I will talk about Plan 9 and the Richmond music community then and now, why Plan 9 was selling African, Caribbean and Latin records way back then, and why the directive "Bathe" used to be posted over the front door, among other things.  We're going to have a great time and I think you will too if you tune in.
 
For more about Plan 9's 40th anniversary, here's a Facebook group for the milestone filled with photos, video and stories from staffers and customers: facebook.com/groups/1402410666792334.  Harry Kollatz Jr. has a terrific feature in this month's Richmond Magazine: richmondmagazine.com/news/features/a-matter-of-records.  And Brent Baldwin put Plan 9's 40th on the cover of Style Weekly's annual Music Issue back in April: styleweekly.com/richmond/look-whos-40/Content?oid=17316524.

July 3, 2021

Everybody on the floor

This time on Global A Go-Go it's nuthin' but a global dance party: two continuous hours of music, spanning 30 countries and six decades, that will put your hands up in the air.  To paraphrase my WRIR colleague Mr. Jazz, it's all platter and less chatter.  And as my WRIR colleague DJ Graybeard always says: Crank it up and share with your neighbors.  Are you with me?

This week's program (Monday July 5, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) was inspired by my sister-in-law, who recently became the first woman to serve as president of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration.
 
To kick off her term as president, and to introduce herself to the arbitrators, attorneys and staffers from over 100 countries that make up the Court, she asked me to create a two-hour mixtape that would get a wide variety of people up and dancing.  Everybody on the floor!

June 30, 2021

Charts June 22-28, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten 
1 HAMDI BENANI, MEDHI HADDAB AND SPEED CARAVAN | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique
2 LAS CAFETERAS | "La Sirena" [Single] | ONErpm
3 ZANZIBARA VOLUME 10 | various artists | Buda Musique
4 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
5 MOH ALILECHE | Humanity Is Falling Apart | Flag Of Freedom Productions
6 MDOU MOCTAR | Afrique Victime | Matador
7 COLOR DE TROPICO, VOL. 2 | various artists | El Palmas
8 NATIK AWAYEZ | Manbarani | Sublime Frequencies
9 INNOV GNAWA | Lila | Daptone
10 JUPITER AND OKWESS | Na Kozonga | Everloving

June 27, 2021

L'ange blanc du malouf

Hamdi Benani was dubbed "l'ange blanc du malouf" (the white angel of malouf) for his white violin and matching suit, and for bringing Arab-Andalusian malouf music around the world.  Supposedly he was given the nickname in 1972 by Kim Il Sung; we all know how North Korean maximal leaders feel about nicknames (see "Dotard").
 
Benani died from COVID in September.  One of his last sessions was a decidedly untraditional approach to the malouf tradition alongside electric oud player Mehdi Haddab and his band Speed Caravan.  That session, under the title Nuba Nova, will be released on July 2 and it is just fabulous: soulful, radical, stirring, just the kind of album Rachid Taha would be making if he were still with us.
 
This week on Global A Go-Go (Monday June 28, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear two tracks from Nuba Nova and a whole lot more from North Africa: Moroccan gnawa, Egyptian and Sudanese thinking (and dancing) person's pop, music of North Africa's indigenous Amazigh people (you might know them as Berbers), even Swahili taarab bearing unmistakable North African influence.  And we'll finish with some Chicano rock and soul from 1949 to today, just because.

June 23, 2021

Charts June 15-21, 2021

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 JOAO SELVA | Navegar | Underdog
2 NGOMA ZETHU | 7 Chapters Of Mystery | Bantu Entertainment Network
3 ANTHONY JOSEPH | The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives | Heavenly Sweetness
4 KHALAB AND M’BERRA ENSEMBLE | M'berra | Real World
5 HAILU MERGIA AND THE WALIAS BAND | Tezeta | Awesome Tapes From Africa
6 OKUTE | Okuté | Chulo
7 MITCHUM YACOUB | "Cumbia Divina" [Single] | All-Town Sound
8 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 1 | Bongo Joe/Catapulte
9 VAUDOU GAME | Noussin | Hot Casa
10 SOFI TUKKER + AMADOU AND MARIAM | "Mon Cheri" [Single] | Red Hot

June 20, 2021

Hailu & Moges

The Walias Band was one of Ethiopian music's pioneers: they were the first independent band not financially tied to a hotel, club or theater; they released the country's first fully instrumental albums on their own label; they owned their own equipment, recording studio and record store.  And Walias music was so ubiquitous on Ethiopian media in the late 1970s that some people just knew them as "that music from TV."
 
The band broke up after they toured the USA in 1981, as four of their members including leader Hailu Mergia and saxophonist Moges Habte went into exile in the large Washington DC Ethiopian diaspora community.  Hailu and Moges both still live in suburban Maryland, and they remain active in music.  This week on Global A Go-Go, you'll hear the Walias Band from back in the day, including a new reissue of one of those early instrumental albums, and you'll also hear what Hailu and Moges are up to these days.
 
Also this week (Monday June 21, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): new Anatolian rock from Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek, new cumbia from Frente Cumbiero and Mitchum Yacoub, new rumba from Okute and not-at-all new South African township soul and bump jive circa 1975.