Music has inherently been used to convey a message. Since people sang along with Moses after crossing the Red Sea to thank God for deliverance, music has reflected the religious and political scene. Here are two albums with messages that someone thought needed to be conveyed
Fela Kuti seems to becoming Africa’s answer to Elvis Presley. Popular enough in his prime, slowly dwindling down in his later years, he has become 5 fold more famous (with someone making a ton of bucks) since meeting God face to face in judgment, with album tributes, musicals, movies and probably even books on the musical (and political) revolutionary.
Here, you’ve got 13 tunes performed by various artists to bring “awareness” to AIDS. Do we really need to be aware of it, or simply control the main vector of transmission, which is the open fly? Anyway, lots of earthy horns are flying around on most of these songs as well as rough and ready vocals as on “By Africa” by the baloji & L’Orchestre De La Katuba. An American style drum beat is featured on “Lady” by Tune-Yards,” and some folksy vocals and chorus mixes with lithe guitar work on”Sorrow, Tears and Blood” by the Krons Quartet, Kyp Malone Stuart Bogie and Tunde Adebimpe. There’s also lots of synthetic beats in the underbrush, making the songs sound a bit more contemporary, for better or worse.
While Gil Scott-Heron may have died not long ago, his legacy of social consciousness via (what is now termed “hip hop” ) music is represented here by emcee’s M1, Killah Priest, Chuck D and Stic.man. I guess names given by parents don’t mean much anymore. There’s lots of synthetic sounds and grooves on this collection of rants that include messages by Bobby Seale. Percussion is provided by Airto, Stanton Moore and Mike Clark, with Phil Jackson on bass. Other than that, the music is pretty machine driven. Gregory Porter loans his voice on a soulful “Losing Our Minds” and an intriguing “Song of the Wind.” But after awhile, the litany of complaints about injustice in the world brings to mind a quote by GK Chesterton, who, when asked what’s wrong with the world, said the famous line, “The problem, sir, is me.” Those five words should be put to song on the next tribute.
Knitting Factory Records
Motema Music
www.motema.com