Mario Lucio, founder and former leader of the musical group Simentera, has managed to record an album which drags people into dance and dreams, which delights the Cape Verdean people and the lovers of this culture, and which invites all the other ones to discover a new musical world. "Badyo“ impresses by its simplicity and its honesty, two qualities which the Badios of Santiago refer to themselves.
Afro Groove Band: The culture of her nation, the sound of the speaking Atombra-drums, the autobiographical histories of her childhood and adolescence - all this is in contemporary synthesis with the vocal acrobatic from her time at Zap Mama, with Hip-Funk, Rockattitude, Afro-Blues and a pinch of Djing. It’s overwhelming to see the unruly woman with her flying rastas on stage rushing from one corner to another between storms of drumbeats and funky bass.
Manou Gallo Women Band: In a semi-acoustic formula, closer to and more intimate with her audience, woman of all women, sensual and generous, Manou gathered around her two female musicians and a percussionist who play the crossbreeding card, hinting at a beautiful reality…her reality!
LaXula
Album: In X-ile
Booking: D, AUT, CH
www.laxula.com
LaXula leads audiences on a journey of wonder and decadence. Songs drift effortlessly from the dusty sun-baked routes of Southern Spain to the urban vibrancy of the East London underground. There is a plaintive fiesta of influences from Flamenco to Arabic, Tango to Roma, laced with indie-rock psychedelia… the result is a uniquely dark and beguiling sound, that sounds oddly new and familiar at the same time.
Boubacar Traoré
Album: Kongo Magni
Booking: D, AUT
www.jechanteraipourtoi.com
Boubacar Traore a.k.a. Kar Kar is a harmonious contradiction, a musician whose art and biography are striking less due to balance, more due to extremes. In the 60‘s, an idol for the whole west coast of Africa, forgotten in the 70‘s, rediscovered in the 80‘s and on extensive tours of Europe and America in the 90‘s, those are the rough data of his career. Kar Kar does what he always wanted to do: music. For him, they are melodies, songs, to which his instrument sings the second vocal part. Boubacar Traore is not a musician whose songs you can explain, whose images and moods you have to analyze, you have to expose yourself to them. Perhaps then you will experience an Africa beyond clichés and prejudices.
Weepers Circus
Album: Tout n'est plus si noir...
Booking: D, AUT, CH
www.weeperscircus.com
Not only did these fancy boys from Strasbourg publish six albums in the past 20 years, but they also wrote songs with numeral French bands e.g. Olivia Ruiz, les Ogres de Barback or Serge Bégout from Les Têtes Raides.
Live, the five musicians from Strasbourg – partly as crazy and freaky as their songs – will promise an evening filled with humour and melancholic songs, but primarily chansons that will invite everyone to rock with them. The air is filled with the sound of lavishing Strings, harsh guitar strikes and embracing woodwinds. Accompanied by keyboard and the piano, Weepers Circus’ music is sensual and passionate. This band has with out a doubt succeeded in creating a kind of music that is full of extraordinary sounds, without loosing its poetry and wit.
Titi Robin
Album: Kali Sultana
Booking: D, AUT, CH
www.titirobin.com
Thierry “Titi” Robin is a fringe artist. He is placed within a “World Music” movement that he does not acknowledge, as it seems to him to be motivated by a profound ethnocentricity, creating a barrier between Western “ethnic” music (rock, jazz…) and others! Natural virtuosity, inborn sense of improvisation, audacious adaptation of tradition and ability to change music into a physical pleasure explain why Titi Tobin’s creation has been for nearly fifteen years an incredible source of beauty.
Who is this Kali Sultana? And where is one to meet her? These are the questions Titi Robin answers in his new performance. It is the path of the poet, philosopher and mystic connecting North India with Andalusia. Kali Sultana is the female incarnation of grace, an ideal of beauty and quest of uncountable musicians whom Titi had the blessedness of working with.
Hé bonjour Thomas! contente de pouvoir faire un tour sur votre page myspace et au plaisir de se recroiser...malheureusement, pas de tournée berlinoise prévue pour nous pour le moment...mais peut-être en août alors?! Bonne continuation, à bientôt Lise
