I Love WOMEX

just got back a few days ago from an exhausting but great four days in Germany, I was there for womex, the annual gathering of people working in world music. I love it, see old friends, make new friends, do business, pick up tons o’ free cds and watch concerts at night while sucking down a beer. It’s times like that I realize how much I love my job (ill paying as it is)

Personal highlights from the showcases for me was Ojos de Brujos, a flamenco hip hop group that was powerful and spellbinding in performance. Two vocalists (male & female) two nylon string guitars, percussion and DJ (if I remember correctly) and at one point the singers got into this weird vocal harmonics thing that had me mesmerized. Everyone agreed that was the first great musical moment of Womex. flamenco hiphop, who knew?

Bembeya Jazz, the legendary group from Guinea had reunited after 15 years and they were great. One of the few shows I planted myself at from beginning to end. I understand now why the lead guitarist Sekou Diabate has the nickname “Diamond Fingers’ At one point a friend turned to me and said ‘if he plays another sole I think I’m going to have a heart attack’ They will be touring the US next summer so you must go see them. I had a huge grin on my face five minutes into the show which stayed there the entire night.

Globesonic was another standout for me. The NYC based party of global electronica was the closing event for womex and started at 11:00 Pm and shut down at 5:00 AM. Tho people were exhausted they stayed and danced until 5. GS works as a tag team so this round had Sultan32 whose brainchild it is, DJ Acidophilius, DJ Meta4 (Geosonic Grooves Vol. 1) Yossi Fine (bass player for ex-centric sound system) and kersh kale on tablas. Kersh cut short because of sound problems but the party was amazing. I haven’t danced that hard in years. Go to Globesonic if it comes to your town.

Shows I missed which were supposed to be great were Anima Sound System (described to me as Bjork meets Radiohead over Hungarian folk and woodpipes). They were on at the same time as Bemebeya and people planted themselves at one or the other. Bonga of Angola and Mariza, the young Portugese fado singer were supposed to be great as well but the halls were full so could not make it in.

The only thing I thought was absolute rubbish was a bhangra band called Achanak. Dreadful.

So far the CDs in constant play are the Ojos de Brujos, Sultan32’s great “Earth n’ Bass” compilation and DJ Dolores from Brazil. I’d never heard DJ Dolores before and I love it, traditional instruments of northern Brazil over loops and beats with different vocalists. It’s got a very funky laid back feel to it. Very happy about the discovery.

For some pics check out http://www.rhythmfoundation.com/womex.html