Good news !! The long awaited new Think Of One album is ready and will be in stores on the 29th of October 2007 (Belgium) and February 2008 (rest of the world)
OFFICIAL BIO:
The antagonism between Belgium's two communities has never been as pronounced… the Arab world and the West are more at odds than ever… Yet, our favourite musical explorers (i.e. Antwerp-based band Think Of One) couldn't think of anything better than to put out a new album blending vocals in Arabic, in French and in Antwerp's Flemish dialect, written and recorded in collaboration with Moroccan musicians, and released on a rather francophone label…
Is this some form of provocation ? Of sheer irresponsibility ? Or a desire to try and bridge the gap between alienated communities ? There's probably some truth in all of these, but the main impulse behind this album comes from Think Of One's immoderate love for Moroccan shaâbi, that popular style which is directly derived from traditional Berber music and from its irresistible rhythms. Shaâbi songs were originally (and still are) performed at parties and weddings, mostly in an urban environment. But, for a good number of years, Shaâbi has become massively popular with the young : just listen to FM radio or lend an ear to the music blasting from car stereos, not only in Casablanca or Marrakech but also in certain areas of Brussels and Antwerp. Shaâbi is nevertheless still considered as a lesser, inferior form of music by many *, which makes Think Of One's current endeavour all the more exciting: the band's aim is to get as many of us Westerners deeply addicted to the groove of shaâbi…
So how did they create this album ? In the wake of their musical adventures in Brazil (which resulted in Tráfico, their previous album), the band decided to bring the fusion between shaâbi and Euro-American urban music to a completely new level, and started writing these songs in the company of five Moroccan collaborators (some of whom they had already worked with in the past **): singers and percussionists Amina Tcherkich and Lalabrouk Loujabe (who are both members of an all-woman Houara band based in Marrakech), Gnawi musician and singer Ab el Kebir Bensalloum (also from Marrakech), and "The Twins", Hicham and Hakim Bouanani Moulay, who are renowned musicians in Brussels' shaâbi scene. The album also features remarkable guest appearances by Mustapha Bourgogne (one of Morocco's biggest shaâbi stars), Belgian/Tunisian singer Ghalia Benali, Belgian/Algerian rapper Brahim Tayeb, singer Véronique Vincent (ex-Honeymoon Killers) and vocal group Laïs.
As always with Think Of One and their leader/composer David Bovée, this isn't about mixing things up in a crude kind of collage: Camping Shaâbi integrates the Moroccan elements into the fabric of the band's characteristic sound & compositions, to create a strange, original and delightful musical object. Many songs start off from the typical Berber 12/8 rhythm —the hallmark of Moroccan shaâbi –which sometimes becomes hardly recognizable as it is transmuted into some bizarre form of R'n'[Shaa]B[eat] (as in the title track), or into a quasi-punk cavalcade (in Alela Minena, based on a traditional counting rhyme). The album also includes tinges of abrasive rock (Hamdushi Five, based on a different North-African rhythm), of jazz (the always inventive horn arrangements), of electronica (with plenty of subtle sound treatments and deliciously vintage-sounding keyboards), of dub and hip hop (Oppressor). Moroccan percussion, violins and keyboards meet guitars, basses and drums, wailing houariyat voices respond to laid-back refrains in Flemish, and the whole thing is processed in typical TO1 style.
Let's not forget the lyrics: sometimes surreal and dream-like, but often connected to social issues which concern the band (racist stupidity, for instance, in the hilarious and politically explosive Trap het af). Other examples: the autobiography of an old car, recycled as a taxi (J'étais Jetée)… or the uncanny Mon Verre and its evocation of certain dangers with which lonely female moviegoers can be confronted (pay special attention to the text chanted by Amina and Lalabrouk: it's not all in Arabic…).
Camping Shaâbi was composed in Marrakech and in an Antwerp suburb, recorded in Brussels, mixed in Paris, and produced by Yann Arnaud (who has worked with Air, Syd Matters, Phoenix and Cibelle).
Of course this cd-release can’t go without a live album presentation. Therefor Think Of One will perform Camping Shaâbi live at the KVS (Brussels), Vooruit (Gent), Trix (Antwerp) and Het Depot (Leuven)
Support your local deejay! "March Of The Sultans" is doing great at iTunes. If YOU like it, buy it and play it loud!
As heard on Studio Brussel and BBC radio one!
Buy here:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=315252447&id=315252443&s=143446
Thanks for your support!
MARCH OF THE SULTANS TOUR with gigs at Belgium's biggest festivals! Pukkelpop, Dour, Sfinks, Cactus, Tomorrowland, 10daysoff and more!
You can't miss this party! Roots music like Ska, Reggae, Mambo, Soul, Boogaloo, R&R, Rockabilly, Swing, R&B, Country, Zydeco,... will keep you dancing until the morning light. Don't forget your dancing shoes 'cause you'll need them!
4/7 Tobi Neumann, Chris Tietjen, Markus Fix and Kia at forbidden fruit @ SiloLeuven - Saturday 4th July 2009 - Tobi Neumann (Cocoon Recordings, D)& . Chris Tietjen (Cocoon Recordings, D) . Markus Fix (Cocoon Recordings, D) and Kia (Forbidden Fruit/La Pena, D)
thanks so much for the Add! it's a pleasure to have ciberfriends like you!!
remember the show you gave many years ago in Ronda (Andalucía) between Win Wandekeybus' "Ultima Vez" and Macaco??? i was soooo lucky of beeing there (and at the disco later). huge fan of yours since then...
De Fabriek in Rotterdam is always looking for bands that want to perform. For example at their first edition of 'Friday Jam', next friday. If you're interested: info@defabriek.nu
Musiciens ayant joués avec Marc Ribot, Trevor Dunn, J Zorn, Tom Wait's, Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich... + le fameux Karim Baggili & le bientôt célèbre Fred Jacques.
TAKE THE DUCK is Daniel Noesig (AUT) on tp, Toine Thys (BE) on alt sax, Robert Jukic (SLO) on bass and Sean Carpio (IR) on ds.
28 May : Vertigo, 21:00, Draakplaats 3 B 2018 Antwerpen 29 May : Bonne Fooi, 21:30, 8,rue des pierres, 1000 Bxl, Brussels Jazz Marathon. 30 May : Maison du Peuple, 21:00, Parvis de St Gilles, Brussels. 31 May : Grand Place de Bruxelles, 16:00 Brussels Jazz Marathon
'Byrning Down The House': Talking Heads tribute met leden van o.a. Fixkes, Traktor, Daau, Milwaukee, De Roovers, Dzl & Meta, de Elsmakerij, Flowers For Breakfast, Kakkewieten,...…
concert.. vr 12 juni - Pekfabriek Borgerhout, + Dj Butsenzeller zo 14 juni - CC Schoten Schoten do 18 juni - Bar Mondial Antwerpen + Dj Butsenzeller do 25 juni - CC Berchem Antwerpen do 10 september - Spiegeltent Noord Antwerpen + Organised Happiness + Dj's Butsenzeller & Ungawa
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